It’s January 14. Have you broken your New Year’s resolution? If you’re hanging by a thread, please, let us put you out of your misery. Whether you’ve sworn off red meat, fried food, carbs or chocolate, we’ve found great ways to end your New Year’s nightmare. There’s always next year.
It stinks!
Cheese is often considered the ultimate indulgence. Those with a nose for what truly “stinks” (which in the world of cheese means “Yum!”) should head to Uptown’s offbeat Tweet for a cheese plate. For $18, you get six different cheeses, including Rouge et Noir camembert, Mindoro blue and Woodmere artisanal Wisconsin cheddar. Each comes with fennel-braised olives, cornichons (tiny French pickles), cognac-braised winter fruit tarts, sliced apples, fruit puree and homemade whole grain white-wine Dijon mustard. Also available with three cheeses for $12. 5020 N. Sheridan Rd. 773-728-5576.
Atkins schmatkins
Fall off the no-carb wagon in style and let a real Italian mama feed you. Rogers Park’s new addition, La Cucina di Donatella, specializes in family recipes brought from Rome to Chicago by Donatella herself. In fact, she admits to reloading on recipes daily over the phone with her mother, who provides inspiration for the restaurant’s nine daily specials. We love the pasta prosciutto, spirals of spinach pasta rolled with smoked turkey “ham,” sliced provolone, sage and parmesan cheese topped with butter-sage sauce ($10.50). Also try the lasagna Bolognese, a five-layered stack of pasta, cheese and meat sauce that takes eight hours to make ($11). 2221 W. Howard St. 773-262-6533.
An oily indulgence
Ringo, a casual sushi spot in Lincoln Park, takes fried food to new heights of unhealthiness (and crispy goodness) with its tempura-fried Snickers bar dessert. If you’re able to put aside the state of your arteries for 10 minutes, you’ll receive a battered and deep-fried candy bar on a stick, crunchy on the outside, warm and gooey on the inside. We can’t think of a better (or worse!) way to kill a diet. 2507 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-248-5788.
Sugar rush
Dying for something sweet? Try this on for size: La Creperie, Lakeview’s lovable hole-in-the-wall Euro cafe, makes a crepe filled with Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut cream) for $5.50. Not rich enough? Add bananas, strawberries, creme anglais or creme caramel for $1.25. Sweeten the pot by adding ice cream or a shot of Chambord or Grand Marnier for $2 each. 2845 N. Clark St. 773-528-9050.
Mad for cow?
Promised yourself you’d give being a vegetarian a try in 2004? Ha! Admit defeat at Brazilian-style churrascaria Fogo de Chao, where all-you-can-eat meat is the main attraction. Fifteen cuts of meat are available, including leg of lamb, pork loin, pork ribs, chicken and various cuts of beef, from filet mignon to bottom sirloin. Sides include unlimited trips to the salad bar, plus fried yucca, fried bananas, mashed potatoes and cheese biscuits. Fixed prices are $46.50 for dinner and $25.50 for lunch. 661 N. LaSalle St. 312-932-9330.
Eat your heart out
Make your Valentine’s Day reservations now. Some of our favorites:
Le Passage is offering a five-course, aphrodisiac-packed “Lover’s Menu.” $65. 937 N. Rush St. 312-255-0022.
Vermilion’s special menu includes three tapas, an entree and choice of dessert. $60 W. Hubbard St. 312-527-4060.
Cafe des Architectes at the Sofitel Chicago offers a four-course French menu. $65. 20 E. Chestnut St. 312-324-4000.
All prices are per person.
