Windy City Beef- Angus burgers! (and fresh authentic food from Chicago)

Unfortunately for all of us, Windy City Beef has closed and is going to become another Chicago on a Bun outlet.  Similar, but not as good, in my opinion.  Truly a loss . :-(

mmm-yoso is not on vacation.  Kirk and Cathy are alternating days of reporting some good food we like that is local!  Today, it's Cathy's turn.

Hello again.  I think you know by now that I grew up in Detroit.  OK, that isn't Chicago, but it's close enough..it is about a 6 hour drive and in another time zone, but the Midwest accents are the same and the flavors and foods are Italian, Polish and just hearty American...you know, beef is a primary ingredient.  Well, since February, there has been this place on Fletcher Parkway, just off the 125, (southeast corner) called "Windy City Beef".  I know about the Windy City...I like beef...hmmm. Oh, and I'm doing Part 2 of a Week of Burgers!

Gotta stop in and try it. Hey- they call it "pop" here, not "soda", not "beverages"...pop.  Look at that menu!  Check out the website by clicking here. The family is Italian, from Chicago and they use their own recipes and make it fresh.  Family run...Well, The Mister and I had to, you know... here is a close up of the menu for those of you looking at prices. I didn't realize the photo would not be as clear, sorry. So, its basic food that I grew up with.  Burgers, beef sandwiches, Italian sausage sandwiche, a chili dog, a brat, a Polish dog, pizza, and ... oh and that "Windy City"- a Chicago Style Hot Dog, which is a Vienna Beef hot dog with mustard,  relish, fresh chopped onions, tomato wedges, kosher pickle, celery salt and your choice of hot or sweet peppers, served on a freshly steamed poppy seed bun.  OK, one of those  ($2.95) and an Italian sausage sandwich, called "Da Mayor"...a home made deliciously seasoned Italian sausage, char-grilled to perfection served in au jus gravy on fresh baked Italian bread ($3.95)..and a side of chili cheese fries, just to see what the chili tastes like, of course...($2.85)  :)

You order, pay, sit down and it is brought to your table, in brown paper bags, just like I used to get in Detroit (with your order written on the outside of the bag) at the local Coney Island Restaurant.

Open up those bags, and the packaging..

and look at that- juicy, plenty of food AND the authentic *NEON GREEN* Chicago relish..wow! It smells so good!  It is the Vienna Beef regular hot dog, (not the old fashioned one with natural casing) and the flavors are *excellent*; the taste brings back good memories. The Italian sausage sandwich-oh yes, that is *not* a Costco Italian sausage (which I do buy when I can't get to Little Italy downtown).  You can taste the fennel pieces in it, and its juicy and oh so fresh, and char grilled the correct way.

Oh, here is the a close up of those buns (with a bite taken out of each; we couldn't wait). The Italian bread was definitely fresh with a nice light crispy crust.   The poppy seed roll was steamed and eggy tasting.  I'll get to the chili/fries in a minute.

Previously (for the sake of this blog, heh heh) I had brought home some other basics and photographed them...

The Big John Burger (1/3 pound juicy Angus ground beef with lettuce, tomato, sliced onion, ketchup and mustard, served on an old fashioned potato bun) ($3.95).  They say they cook the burgers to medium well, I asked to be as less of that as possible and it was cooked more to a medium..and gosh was it *very* juicy and flavorful!..Angus beef is sooo much better... (I will get into my meat doneness preferences in another post; the people who work here are following the law about cooking raw meat.  Point is, it was medium done and *still* was juicy and great tasting. )...oh and that potato roll!  My very-very-VERY first job was working in a Polish Bakery..I know bread; I know what I like..and I do *so* like potato rolls and bread.  This was excellent..the burger and everything about it...and for only $1 more, you can make it a 2/3 pound burger! (and its called a "Sears Tower", of course)

This is "Da Boss" The famous thin sliced slow roasted Italian seasoned beef served in au jus gravy on fresh baked French bread and served with hot or sweet peppers (these are the sweet ones) ($5.65).  Excellent.  Juicy.  Perfectly seasoned. A lot of just beef.  That bread. mmm!

So, back to those chili cheese fries...well, guess how the chili is made...um, the trimmings from that thinly sliced beef  from "Da Boss" can't go to waste, you know...yep- look at the chili up close (you can click onto those pictures up there) *chunks* of beef..homemade chili...*mmm-yoso!*  There are pinto beans that are blended in; you don't bite into any whole ones- the beans are used as the thickener and you know they are in the chili, its a nice background flavor...and yes, this chili could win a few contests, I think.  Oh, the fries are double fried, so they stay crispy with the chili and cheese on top of them...a great detail making that little side dish..well, superb!

So, this little placard is on every table. What is that?

Fresh, hand cut potato chips?  I went up to order some, but alas, they were out of those sliced potatoes.  Next time.  However, the owner, who was working, asked me if I liked Cannoli..well, duh...its a dessert  that is not too sweet, a ricotta cheese filled pastry shell...um, OK, I'll take the Cannoli, please.  So, He went in the kitchen area (its an open area; you can watch everything being made) and filled a Cannoli shell for me, dipping each end in pistachios and brought it out to our table.

Oh My!  The freshest, crispiest, most delicate pastry shell, filled with the freshest ricotta, powdered sugar and slight vanilla flavor Cannoli filling I've ever had! (and, I've had a few, thankyouverymuch).

I asked, and the pizza is made from the owner's Grandmother's recipe..the dough risen on the pan (it is Sicilian thick pan style) and then  a light tomato sauce (He said usually his grandmother just put on spaghetti sauce) and lots of cheese.  That's for next time, too.

Windy City Beef- Family owned and operated, helping out the local Community with fund raisers (see the website) and making fresh, good food that people from the Midwest miss, all while serving pop as the beverage...and *really* excellent Angus burgers.

Like the sign says- They don't serve fast food, they serve fresh, homemade quality food- quickly.

Windy City Beef 2872 Fletcher Parkway El Cajon 92021 (619) 465-BEEF (2333) Open 7 days, call for hours. www.wcbsd.com

There is quite a bit of  some great Chicago memorabilia contained within the space...and a very telling poster for those of us who understand....

Comments

[Captain Jack]

Nice post Kathy, I am sold. I will try Windy City soon.
Happy Holidays

[cathy]

Hey, Jack...I knew you'd appreciate this post. Let me know when you go to WC; I'll meet you there.

[Jon]

What a great read over my morning cup of Joe. I saw this place advertised in the Tribune last week and I got excited over the possibilities. You have just confirmed that I need to pay a visit in the next few days. Thanks!

[wandering chopsticks]

Aww, thanks Cathy.

That brought back some nice memories of my college days. I can't believe they got that neon green relish. Where do they buy that stuff? And why do I insist on having it in my Chicago dogs? Heh.

[cathy]

Hi Jon- If you are on the 125, its at the Navajo exit, SE corner. The smell when you walk in is memory-triggering.
Hi WC- If you go to the Vienna Beef site, they sell the relish. I don't know why, but it makes the dog taste 'right'...and its just kinda cool looking.

[Birdie]

So, I take it there are no veggie dogs on the menu??

Everything really looks fantastic and I look forward to trying this place. I am glad you did this post because I missed the Tribune ad and I may have never known about this little slice of sausage heaven. Thanks Cathy!

[cathy]

Hi Birdie- Its good. Its all good here. (I snorked when I read the veggie dogs comment). There have been only two ads in the U-T so far this year anyhow. I saw the sign on the back of the building off the 125 one day, but usually am watching for all those motorcycle officers who seem to patrol that stretch. The exit closest is Navajo, BTW.