Buitoni Spinach Cheese Tortellini (9 oz.)

Item Purchased: Buitoni Spinach Cheese Tortellini (9 oz.)
Location Purchased: Dominick's / 3145 S. Ashland / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.99 + tax

Review: Two observations before I assess the pasta I just ate. Number 1: From a graphic design point of view, do you really think it is a good idea to put the "dated for freshness" logo on this package right next to the text that says "since 1827. Number 2: The first listed ingredient in this pasta is "extra fancy enriched durum flour." You can stop with enriched. You've got me. I'm not looking for fancy when I'm only spending four bucks on a meal.

This "fresh" pasta that can stay in the refrigeration section for months on end scares me sometimes. This is especially true when the pasta contains a foodstuff that caused an outbreak of plague-level sickness a while back.

My reservations shouldn't be so dire, but rather more down to earth. The fact is, though this pasta is just fine, I've had dehydrated pasta with grated cheese that tasted just as good as this stuff. Sure, the texture of the pasta is much fresher than your run of the mill boxed pasta, but if texture was the only thing I cared about while eating, I'd chew on Play-Doh all day long. Besides, this pasta didn't even cook evenly because of the bunched up and flattened edges.

Even the fine mix of cheeses inside of each tortellini doesn't make this product worth the price.

Spend less than a third of the money on a bag of dehydrated wheat pasta and throw some grated cheese on top. You'll be better off.

Rating: 2 / 5

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Belgian Waffle from Huck Finn's

Item Purchased: Belgian Waffle
Location Purchased: Huck Finn Restaurant / 3414 S. Archer Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $4.75 + tax

Review: I've got eggs and bacon in my fridge at home, so I decided to order something I don't normally eat for breakfast... A Belgian waffle.

Huck Finn's Belgian waffle is pretty basic. Buttery, naturally sweet (sweeter with the ocean of syrup I put on it), about an inch and a half thick and the circumference of a compact disc.

Nothing special, but it filled me up and went well with my watery diner coffee. You can't ask for much more from a place like this.

Rating: 3 / 5

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Deep Fried Pigeon from Lee Wing Wah Restaurant

Item Purchased: Deep Fried Pigeon
Location Purchased: Lee Wing Wah Restaurant / 2147 S. China Pl. / Chicago, IL
Price: $11.95 + tax

Review: Ask any Chicagoan what the most annoying animal is and, nine times out of ten, they will tell you that is is the pigeon (it's actually the cockroach, but nobody wants to admit that they have frequent contact with roaches). Now ask the same 90% from the original question if they would ever eat a pigeon and, nine times out of ten, they will tell you "hell no, that's friggin' disgusting ("friggin'" represents a true Chicagoan).

Well, I wouldn't answer in the majority for the first question (I'd probably tell you that the most annoying animal is people who dress their small dogs in cute sweaters) and now, I cannot truthfully answer in the majority for the second question.

That's right... I ate a pigeon... And I'd do it again!

Lee Wing Wah serves up their pigeon deep fried. You get everything but the feet (including the cute little head). The meat of the pigeon is dark and a bit tougher than chicken meat or other meal birds. With very little fat and less meat in relation to the bird's body mass than a chicken, a fried pigeon at Lee Wing Wah makes for a slightly expensive meal. I am banking on the belief that a part of this price represents the fact that this pigeon isn't a native of Chicago (at least I'm hoping that is a fact). Though the deep frying infuses a bit of flavor of its own into the pigeon, the inner most meat of the bird has a natural lean meat flavor that is ever so slightly salty, but not overbearing. This is one food that definitely doesn't taste like chicken, or many other animals, for that matter. The closest I can come to describing the pigeon experience with comparison is to suggest you imagine a Cornish game hen that was crossed with the leanest pork chop.

But why, you ask, would I ever choose to eat a pigeon? Well... why do people eat crunchy fish eggs that pop inside of your mouth and taste like urine soaked Styrofoam? Who came up with the general consciousness campaign that made people think that was a tasty food? I ate it because it was different and to try new foods from other cultures is one way to experience life outside of your normal patterns without waiting for a vacation. Some people travel halfway across the world and decide to eat at a McDonalds. I guess I'm just the opposite kind of person. I traveled halfway across the world by walking a mile down the street and eating something that isn't normally served in my daily routine.

Unless, of course, that pigeon was simply scooped off of the streets of Chicago. If that is the case, then I suppose I got my just desserts and technically ate the cigarette butts and McDonald's French fries that have seen pigeons on State St. eating so many times before.

Either way, it was an adventure... A tasty one.

Next time you're in Chinatown... Order a pigeon. You won't be sorry. Knowing what we know about factory farming, pigeon is most likely better for us than the majority of mutant chicken we put into our bodies.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Three Treasures Chow Mein from Lee Wing Wah Restaurant

Item Purchased: Three Treasures Chow Mein
Location Purchased: Lee Wing Wah Restaurant / 2147 S. China Pl. / Chicago, IL
Price: $8.95 + tax

Review: Who doesn't like treasure? Let alone three treasures? Our waitress told us that the three treasures in this chow mein dish were pork, chicken and ham. This led to a discussion between my roommate, Josh, and I about the difference between pork and ham. He said it was the same thing. I said it was something different by restaurant standards. Josh was right.

So our treasures were pork, ham and more pork?

Not really.

I considered the third treasure to be the perfectly fried chow mein noodles in this dish. On the outside, the noodles were crispy and almost dry. Near the center, the noodles were tender and soppy with delicious brown sauce. Absolutely delicious!

Lee Wing Wah is a great restaurant in Chicago's Chinatown to take larger groups of friends or just a couple of people to share plates. The staff is pleasant, but quick. You may feel rushed, but with such a limited seating plan, they simply must be, in order to generate the highest turnover rate of customers. Inexpensive food in large portions, cheap and strong mixed drinks and a somewhat loud, but pleasant atmosphere makes this one of the better lunch stops on your trip to Chinatown. We're not talking fancy gourmet food, but real, good and hearty Chinese fare that will keep you going.

Rating: 4.25 / 5

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Ziyad Imported Tahini (16 oz.)

Item Purchased: Ziyad Imported Tahini (16 oz.)
Location Purchased: Sultan's Market / 2057 W. North Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.99 + tax
Purchased on: 01/28/2007

Review: The Ziyad Brand company was formed in Chicago in 1966 and is one of the foremost producers, importers and exporters of Middle Eastern foodstuffs in the Chicago area. They are still family owned and operated to this day and distribute to ethnic grocery stores as well as large chains. I have been buying Ziyad brand products since my first couple of months in Chicago when I would travel to the end of the brown line to visit that fragrant corner grocery with all of the flavored tobacco in its adjoining room just to buy fresh honey and falafel mix. Now that I'm more Chicago savvy, I need only to stop off at Sultan's Market for a great lunch and a few grocery essentials.

Tahini is much like peanut butter, only made from sesame seeds. I like to have it on hand with a can of garbanzo beans to make fresh hummus. It's just too bad that my blender sucks everything but what you put in it.

Ziyad's tahini is creamy and rich in flavor and one of Ziyad's imported products, so you're getting the real deal and not some American cheese rendition made by Kraft. Sure, you may pay a bit more than you may like, but if you know what to do with it, this Tahini is well worth it.

Rating: 4 / 5

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Lunch Special (Create A Lunch) from Kohan (Steamed Rice w/Beef, Pepper, Green Beans, Scallion, Tofu and Red Curry)

Item Purchased: Lunch Special (Create A Lunch) from Kohan (Steamed Rice w/Beef, Pepper, Green Beans, Scallion, Tofu & Red Curry)
Location Purchased: Kohan Japanese Restaurant / 730 W. Maxwell St. / Chicago, IL
Price: $7.95 + tax
Purchased on: 02/20/07

Review: Japanese cuisine isn't known for red curries, but I'm smart enough not to beg and choose at the same time. Lunch specials are never a good place to start if you are looking to partake in a cuisine's specialty dish. You take what you can get and try to order the dishes with ingredients that haven't been sitting around for days on end. Specials are basically the clearance rack of the restaurant industry, but with a little knowledge and a bit more acceptance, you can sometimes come up with a meal that tastes pretty damn good.

Such is the case with Kohan's "Create-A-Lunch" specials on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Stay away from the shrimp and peanut sauce, and you should be okay.

The size of this lunch special is always ample, but it was a great surprise when I received a red curry sauce that tasted better than most Thai cafes I've tried here in Chicago. Unexpectedly complex in flavor, Kohan's red curry seeps into the fresh vegetables, perfectly fried silken tofu (usually I hate silken tofu) and medium-cooked beef strips. Not only did the curry make everything taste jucier than it probably was, but also gave my tongue and nostrils a decent tingle with its ample spiciness.

So, while Kohan has several items on their menu that are sure to be better than this red curry lunch special, you can do a lot worse (and probably will if you go anywhere else on Maxwell St. for lunch.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

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Chicken Tostada Dinner from Mexico Steakhouse

Item Purchased: Chicken Tostada Dinner from Mexico Steakhouse
Location Purchased: Mexico Steakhouse / 2983 S. Archer Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $7.95 + tax
Purchased on: 02/17/07

Review: No one actively seeks out a Mexican restaurant here. Mexican restaurants in Chicago are a dime a million and most of them aren't that good. Residents of this portly city eat at these restaurants quite often. Most of us will even tell you that we like them, but there is rarely a moment in the average Chicagoan's day when their mind is pre-occupied, thinking about that great taco, burrito or carne asada that they are going to get after work at the local taqueria.

Yes, Mexican food is everywhere here, but with the exception of a few choice restaurants' output, Mexican food from the midwest is greasy, soggy and just another meal.

It is for these reasons, and more, that I feel fortunate to have discovered Mexico Steakhouse on Archer Avenue. I feel even more fortunate to be able to walk to this Central American jewel from my apartment even if the snow is up to my knees.

Mexico Steakhouse is much more than a taqueria, but holds no pretensions about being fine dining or family style. With a large dining room, friendly, attentive staff and prices that are more than fair, dining at this establishment gives you the feeling of attending a happy family reunion (what are those like?).

The food also speaks and makes you wonder if you were, in fact, raised in a Mexican household and question whether it is your mother preparing the food just for you.

Forget everything you know about Chicago's soggy tacos, grease balloon burritos and dry tortilla chips. This place takes actual pride in their modest, yet substantial work.

My plate came with three sizeable tostadas, fresh refried beans and a lightly seasoned helping of Mexican rice. Each tostada was piled high with lettuce, cheese and meat of your choice (steak/chicken). I wouldn't normally say this, but choose the chicken! You can tell by just tasting this bird that the meat was recently picked off of the bone and cooked to juicy perfection that you would never find in shredded and torn taco meat anywhere else. The flavor actually convinces you, for a second, that everything is right and just in America's poultry industry.

In addition to the feast you paid less than the price of a haircut for, Mexico Steakhouse also offers the Midwest's best tortilla chips and a complimentary cup of their daily soup.

It would be nearly impossible to leave this restaurant unfulfilled or with a bitter heart. Though out of the way for most of Chicago's dining public, Mexico Steakhouse is worth the trip. There's nothing fancy here... But sometimes something good is all that you need.

Be warned, though. You might just find yourself consciously thinking about Mexican food after eating here.

Rating: 4 / 5

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Bag of Fresh Tortilla Chips from Mexico Steakhouse

Item Purchased: Bag of Fresh Tortilla Chips from Mexico Steakhouse Steakhouse
Location Purchased: Mexico Steakhouse / 2983 S. Archer Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.50 + tax
Purchased on: 02/17/07

Review: I've been known to rave about Chicago's El Ranchero Tortilla chips. They have been a staple in my households for years now. They are tasty, inexpensive and can hold their salsa. Bar none, El Ranchero makes the best tortilla chip to be found in any grocery store... Ever.

I stand by that opinion, but what I am about to say may shock you.

Mexico Steakhouse's tortilla chips are tastier, less expensive and, yes, even better.

I know what you are saying... "How can this be?"

I'll tell you how.

You can't find these chips at your local grocery. Made fresh daily and served as a complimentary appetizer, Mexico Steakhouse on Archer will sell you a bag for a buck and a half if you ask them, but they're not coming to you. For chips this good, you have to go to them.

Oily, crisp and full of natural flavor, the salting of the chips is up to you. Each bite packs a crunch unlike any you can get from a snack food that has been sitting in a bag on a storage shelf for months. These crisp corn delights are kept warm from the time they are made until they land in your lucky, lucky hands. "How's their salsa tensile strength," you may ask? Well, they wouldn't win in a contest against El Ranchero, but unless you are more thrifty than I am and are using tortilla chips as a replacement for spoons, they'll do just fine.

It has taken me a while to find a neighborhood treasure close to my current residence. Now that I have, it is even better than expected since I am able to take a delicious little piece of it home with me.

Rating: 4.8 / 5

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Strawberry, Banana & Chocolate Crepe from Eat, Drink & Surf NetCafe

Item Purchased: Strawberry, Banana & Chocolate Crepe
Location Purchased: Eat, Drink & Surf NetCafe / 246 East 14th St. / New York, NY
Price: $7.95 + tax
Purchased on: 02/01/07

Review: I came for the coffee... That's all.

As I do in most eateries that are new to me, I glance at the pastries and other goodies offered behind glass counters. All this place had was a few muffins and a cookie or two. When the owner saw my wandering eyes, he thrust a menu into my hands and assured me that there was more than meets the eye. "You should try the crepes!" he urged me.

I'm pretty open to suggestion when traveling and tired... so I did try the crepes.

Two crepes, to be specific, stuffed with fresh strawberries, banana slices and ooey, gooey chocolate syrup. The crepe's themselves had a natural sweetness built in and were obviously home-made. Even though I asked for no whipped cream, the owner saw deep into the bashful decadence of my soul and loaded me up anyway. Bless/damn him in the same breath.

I probably shouldn't have eaten these crepes so soon after I had eaten lunch, because once I started, I couldn't stop. This odd little ex-copy shop turned cafe comes highly recommended!

The owner assured me that the space was still in transition. There are already several internet computer stations where you can pay per minute for computer access, but the remainder of the space will be filled with couches and more comfortable lounge-style furniture soon. I'll be sure to check in the next time I'm in NYC. If for nothing else, for a crepe!

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Slice of Fresca Style Pizza from Famous Famiglia

Item Purchased: Slice of Fresca Style Pizza
Location Purchased: Famous Famiglia / LaGuardia Airport / Flushing, NY
Price: $3.99 + tax
Purchased on: 02/03/07

Review: I'm not quite sure what all the fuss is about regarding Chicago vs. New York style pizza. The thick gooey blocks of buttery dough and layered cheese thicker than a February snow that you get in Chicago is far more preferable to the crisp, tortilla-like thin slices that New York offers up. Don't get me wrong, they are both tasty, but when it comes to rich flavor and substantial filling that doughy Midwesterners like myself enjoy, Chicago wins hands down. We may not do much right, but hot dogs and pizza are the two things that the school of Chicago can teach.

When in New York, however, I have to say that the best choice of thin crust concoctions that I have seen has to be the Pizza Fresca. It is a minimalist slice which begins with the dry and dusty crisp crust that New Yorkers love so well and continues only a few millimeters upward with a thin brushing of tomato sauce and a uniform platform of mozzarella cheese. Atop this is nothing more than a few tomato slices and a dusting of torn or chopped basil. The oddest thing about this style of pizza is the way that the mozzarella is compacted together to make one flat slice-like layer of cheese that is white and resembles a crayon's wax.

Sometimes the simplest flavor combinations are also the best. The minimal tomato-cheese-tomato reminds me of a Caprese on a cracker.

Famous Famiglia does a great job with the minimal. If I've learned anything, it's to not expect much from airport eateries. Sometimes, however, when you aim low, the outcome surprises you. That's exactly what happened here.

Rating: 4 / 5

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Khan Vindaloo w/Lamb from Panna II

Item Purchased: Khan Vindaloo w/Lamb
Location Purchased: Panna II Garden Indian Restaurant / 93 1st Ave. Ste. 5 / New York, NY
Price: $6.95 + tax
Purchased on: 02/01/07

Review: Take one look at this East Village Indian restaurant and you might think that they have nothing more to offer than a surrealist mise-en-scene. When I was younger, I used to think that my mother went a bit overboard with Christmas decorations around the house. Sorry Mom, you've got nothing on this place. Panna II prides itself on its colorful display of strung lights, chili pepper light bulbs and overall weirdness. If it weren't for the tables, napkins and silverware, I would have been tempted to think that I wandered into a Coney Island fun house. The narrow dining room is so laden with lights and ornaments hanging down from the ceiling, that it is nearly impossible to stand up straight and a minor challenge to maneuver into your seat.

Beyond all of the colorful glee, however, is a restaurant that offers affordable Indian Cuisine that could put some of the more elegant eateries on Manhattan's Curry Row to shame. For only seven dollars, I received a healthy serving of tenderly cooked lamb meat and potato chunks swimming in a spicy vinegar curry mixture that will have you drinking the complimentary lentil soup that comes with it like it was a glass of soothing milk. Though spicy enough to have you breathing digestive fire, all of the complex flavors required for any lamb dish are present. Served atop the generous serving of rice I received, this lunch filled me up and sent me on my way, ready for whatever hurdles a whirlwind walk through Manhattan had in store for me.

In addition to the quality of the food, Panna II's service is impeccable. Though the typical tourist may be easily discomforted by the stone-faced servers here, they are attentive and concerned with your dining experience. It may have been due to the fact that I was taking pictures of everything on the table, but my waiter responded to my compliments on the food with a complimentary cup of tea at the end of my meal. Appetizer and meal in New York's East Village for under $10.00? You can't beat that. Even if you paid double the price elsewhere, I doubt the dining experience, atmosphere or taste of your meal would come close to equaling Panna II's output.

Mark this oddity as a regular stop for me when I visit New York in the future!

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich from Jet Rock Bar and Grill

Item Purchased: Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich
Location Purchased: Jet Rock Bar and Grill / LaGuardia Airport / Flushing, NY
Price: $8.49 + tax

Purchased on: 01/31/07

Review: Pop quiz... What's wrong with buying a Philly Cheesesteak in New York?

Answer: Nothing, unless you buy it at an overpriced airport sports bar & grill.

The beef in this thing was bland and dry. The cheese was the same type of substance as that Velveeta that comes in long pillars of jelly. It amazes me that some establishments think that just because a cheese is melted, no one will notice how crappy it is. It amazes me even more that most people don't notice. To top off all of these points against this sandwich, the price was more than I would ever choose to pay for something four times as good as this sandwich.

The fries were the best part about this meal. Unless it's a Figs, it's probably a good idea to let yourself starve in an airport than to waste your money at some cut-rate hot plate with a few neon beer signs and four hundred flat screen televisions hanging on the wall.

The French fries were the best thing about this meal. That's never a good sign.

Rating: 0.25 / 5

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Sun Belle Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes On The Vine (14 oz.)

Item Purchased: Sun Belle Greenhouse Grown Tomatoes On The Vine (14 oz.)
Location Purchased: Dominick's / 3145 S. Ashland / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.99 + tax
Purchased on: 01/27/07

Review: A true testament to the quality of these particular tomatoes lies in the fact that I forgot about them. Shortly after purchasing these tomatoes, I was sent to New York City on business for four days. Add on the few days it took me to get my sleep schedule back on track and the couple more days it took me to remember that I had some tomatoes sitting on the top of my fridge, and we're talking at least a week and a half before I used these vine-ripened fruits.

Most grocery-bought tomatoes (or any tomatoes for that matter) would have gone all squishy and pear shaped by then. These tomatoes, however, only went slightly squishy.

Yes, these fruit/vegetable/things were still firm enough to chop up without having them bleed and turn to liquid immediately. I was able to fry them up and make some pretty tasty tofu tortillas with them.

Three cheers for vine ripened goodness!

Rating: 4.25 / 5

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Trader Jose's Corn Tortillas (10 oz.)

Item Purchased: Trader Jose's Corn Tortillas (10 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.99 + tax
Purchased on: (1/23/07)

Review: Here in Chicago, corn tortillas are a dime a dozen (sometimes literally), so why would I pay a dollar for the same?

Trader Joe's corn tortillas are your typical pressed corn discs with a bland flavor. When pan fried in oil, they crisp up nicely and absorb the flavor of the oil you use more than other brands. Their primary difference (and the one that wins me over) is that even if you don't fry them thoroughly (or at all), these tortillas don't taste as mealy as other brands. You wouldn't want to just eat them straight from the bag, but the un-mealiness is an important factor when dealing with the foundation of another culture's cuisine.

Rating: 4 / 5

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Smoked Salmon Entree from Figs LaGuardia

Item Purchased: Smoked Salmon Entree
Location Purchased: Figs LaGuardia / LaGuardia Airport / Flushing, NY
Price: $18.99 + tax
Date Purchased: 02/02/07

Review: When inside of an airport, I expect to pay too much for too little of something that isn't too good. This is why my girlfriend and I decided to try the fanciest looking place in LaGuardia while we were there. One, two, three, knock out! Figs totally pulled the carpet out from underneath my expectations. If you ever find yourself inside of LaGuardia Airport with a few hours and about thirty dollars to kill, I urge you to make a bee-line for this unassuming food court feast factory!

For about two thirds of what I would pay in Chicago for a comparable dish, I received a substantial chunk of fish that was expertly seasoned, smoked, blackened and served atop a pan-continental salad of baby spinach greens and cold cous cous. From the moment I took the first bite of this meal, I didn't want it to end. The fish was perfectly cooked, with a moist inner flesh and crispy outer carbon casing. Both the salmon and the salad were prepared with a mild vinaigrette which accented each individual element's flavor and served to bring the entire entree together.

Never... I say, never did I think I would find something this delicious and this reasonably priced in an airport food court.

Rating: 4.75 / 5

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Green Onion Bundle from Dominick's

Item Purchased: Green Onion Bundle from Dominick's
Location Purchased: Dominick's / 3145 S. Ashland / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.79 + tax
Purchased on: 01/27/07

Review: To the extended disappointment of many of my friends, I use green onions/scallions in just about every dish I come up with. I love the things. Maybe it is a leftover habit from working in a Chinese restaurant for so long. The floral and spicy flavor these shoots add are just what most dishes need to make them pop.

Dominick's green onion section is usually low on stock when I go grocery shopping. I can't figure out if this is because winter is the only season that these dirt dwellers don't grow very well or if it is simply because Dominick's stock is so good.

I think I'll stick with the former. These are good, but not the best I've had. For instance, I had to vigorously wash my mouth out with water after taking this picture because of the bitter flavor that was left.

It is precisely that subtle bitter flavor that tastes so good when cooked and mixed with other foods, but these scallions could stand to be a bit more subtle.

Rating: 3 / 5

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2 Trader Joe's Organic Black Beans (15 oz. cans)

Item Purchased: 2 Trader Joe's Organic Black Beans (15 oz. cans)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.99/ea. + tax (01/23/07)

Review: To be completely honest, I can't tell the difference between these beans and the regular Trader Joe's black beans. I suppose it comes down to trusting the label "organic" or fishing around in my pocket to see how much bean change I have left.

These beans taste fantastic, are not mushy like many canned beans end up and fry up nicely. The only difference I noticed was that this can of beans did give me more gas than the average can of beans. My girlfriend tells me that I just need to eat more to get my body used to it. Well... as long as she can stand me, I'll keep eating these delicious and affordable legumes.

Rating: 4 / 5

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2 Lightlife Three Grain Organic Tempeh (8 oz.)

Item Purchased: 2 Lightlife Three Grain Organic Tempeh (8 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.69/ea. + tax
Purchased on: 01/23/07

Review: If tofu is a vegetarian's staple, then tempeh is a nail gun. Tempeh has enough substance and natural flavor that it is much more likely to be the food that will make a stubborn carnivore stop ridiculing you for hugging cows and eating plants. Made from whole soybeans that are soaked and partially cooked then fermented, tempeh takes the form of a dense and solid brick. Often mixed with varying other beans and whole grains, tempeh often has a nutty rich flavor before it is even cooked.

Unlike Tofu, tempeh's natural firmness makes it much more manageable, yet it is still absorbant enough to fare exceptionally well with a marinade. Its firmness also allows for thinner slicing (I've heard of people making tempeh bacon), easy sandwich construction and finger food accessibility.

$1.69 for eight oz. of tempeh is a price that cannot be beat in Chicago (prove me wrong... I'm cheap) and the nutty flavor of Lightlife's three grain is some of the best store-bought tempeh I have tried. Tonight, I'm making Fajitas with the recipe to be found on the inside of each package.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Trader Joe's Limes (bag of 6)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Limes (bag of 6)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $0.99 + tax
Purchased On: 01/23/07

Review: The good thing about Trader Joe's produce is the freshness and the price. To put it plainly... they're fresh and affordable. The bad thing about Trader Joe's produce is that most of it must be bought in bulk. Of course, this isn't so bad if you cook regularly like me.

TJ's limes, in particular are a bit on the small side. They would be perfect if I were a bit Corona drinker, but some of you already know how I feel about that sorry excuse for a beer. As it stands, these limes are great for that little squeeze of juice you might use as a garnish, but if you are looking to get a cup full for a recipe, skip Trader Joe's and head for the next corner store. Or, I suppose you could just buy two bags and do a bit more squeezing. It would probably still save you a significant amount of money.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

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Trader Joe's Indian Fare Palak Paneer (10.5 oz.)

Item Purchased: Trader Joe's Indian Fare Palak Paneer (10.5 oz.)
Location Purchased: Trader Joe's / 1840 N. Clybourn Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $1.99 + tax

Review: Palak Paneer is one of my favorite (and one of the most ubiquitous) dishes in Indian cuisine. I don't usually like to go the convenience route with a dish I enjoy so much, but while browsing the aisles at Trader Joe's I just couldn't resist.

Palak Paneer looks like a leftover fluid prop from The Exorcist, but don't let that turn you off. The pea-colored viscous stew in Palak Paneer is a mixture of pressure cooked spinach, garam masala, garlic, ginger, green chili paste and a handful of other spices. The cubed chunks are a form of mild unaged cheese (no rennet used in its making, for those of you who are strict vegetarians) called Paneer. The dish can range from mild to hold-on-to-your-hats spicy. I prefer the latter.

I didn't expect much from this modest and inexpensive box of pre-made palak paneer. It has been so long since I have had Indian food, that I would have been happy with something resembling it the way Chef Boyardee foods resemble fresh pasta.

To my surprise, this boil-in-bag convenience food was not only moderate in flavor, but extreme in spiciness. Despite all of the reaching for my water glass that eating this stuff caused me to partake in, the mild-but-competent flavor was still present and somewhat impressive.

Though nowhere near the quality of flavor that one can get on Devon Ave. here in Chicago, Trader Joe's Palak Paneer is a convenience product I can get my taste buds behind.

Rating: 3.75 / 5

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