Chicago's Iconic Summer 2013 Dishes - Food Trends
What to eat in the heat
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In our pursuit of total warm-weather mastery, we've provided outdoor drinking and dining strategies, and pointed you toward slam-dunk picnic plans.
But no seasonal hit list would be complete without iconic dishes. Don't let summer pass you by without seeking these out:
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| DISH | WHY WE LOVE IT |
| Tomato Pasta | Though it's a year-round menu staple, Balena's bavette pomodoro ($15) is exceptional in summer. A simple sauce of simmered fresh tomatoes dresses dense house-made spaghetti. It's finished with olive oil and basil, and it's pitch-perfect. |
| East Coast Seafood | Loading a table with fried scallop rolls ($16) and crab cakes ($14) at New England Seafood Company is one of our favorite ways to be transported to Eastern shores. The fish market's dishes are available to go, too. |
| Dinner on Ice | Mott St.'s Ice Cold Noodles are aptly named: Ice cubes bob in rosy kimchi broth along with buckwheat noodles, slices of brisket, scallions and shaved turnips ($8). Save this one for a scorcher. |
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Melon Salad |
Longman & Eagle compresses its melons–vacuum-sealing slices to intensify the flavor–before combining them with figs, pine nuts and local greens dressed with honey-chile vinaigrette ($12). Delicate and complex, it's one of the most interesting seasonal salads in town. |
| Heirloom Tomato Salad | In a month's time, these multicolored beauties will be on every local/seasonal menu in town. You can trust Trenchermen's chefs, Mike and Pat Sheerin, to take a creative approach; last year's salad ($12) involved white balsamic ice cream and a shower of herbs. |
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Southern Barbecue |
Our idea of a perfect summer night at Lillie's Q begins with fried pickles ($5) and boiled peanuts ($4), crescendos with pulled pork ($17 a pound), tri-tip ($21 a pound) and coleslaw ($3), and ends with shortcake loaded with strawberries or stone fruit ($5). |
| A Backyard BBQ | Lacking a yard (or motivation)? Use Publican Quality Meats instead. One Sunday per month, it rolls a grill into the adjacent parking lot and invites industry friends to man it, including chefs from Spiaggia (7/14), Butcher & Larder (8/18) and Yusho (9/22). |