Project: LOOP

This weekend the sun has finally shown its face! I had previously planned to use my Saturday as a homework catch up day, but things quickly changed. I dropped some things off at the drycleaners and met up with a friend to walk the streets of downtown Chicago.

After getting dragged into shopping, three hours later (shopping with a woman can be overwhelming) we decided to hit up a restaurant for dinner. Walking around all day had built up our appetites. We didn’t want to eat at the usual Bennigan’s or burger/bar joint (nothing against either), so my friend who’s Indian decided to take me to Gaylord’s for my first taste of Indian dining.

As we walked to the restaurant, we saw tons of people out enjoying the evening. I didn’t see many people opting for a cab. As we got closer to the Gaylord’s, the smell of spices filled the air. I looked at my friend and told her, “I think we made the right choice”. As we entered the low-lit dining room, the sun’s rays slowly disappeared. As expected, the smell of spices intensified. We sat down at a nice white-linen draped table. Fresh flowers served as centerpieces. The restaurant was about ¾ full. A group of older ladies looked like they were out celebrating – they had a row of tables in the middle of the room to accommodate about 15 people. Music played from overhead ever so softly, leaving room for guests to converse and actually hear each other without shouting. The staff was friendly and were dressed to a “T”.

The waiter started us off with a glass of water (no ice) but it was cold as could be! The complimentary starter was fried tortillas (shaped like a taco without the fillings) with the choice of two dipping sauces – herb & mint and spicy-mango. I hit it off with the spicy-mango. Then it was time to order, I turned that over to my friend. She ordered Samosas which essentially seasoned beef and peas stuffed into a deep fried tortilla shaped like a fortune cookie on steroids. That was delicious. I even put some of the spicy-mango sauce to jazz it up. Then came the main selection Makhani (or Butter Chicken) which was chopped chicken in a spicy curry like sauce, steamed rice with spices along with peas, and a floury flat bread. The chicken and rice came in separate containers so you could mix at your own will. The idea is to lay some rice down on the plate, add a scoop of chicken (or in my case a couple) and use the bread as a soaker-upper. At first it didn’t look like it was going to be enough food, but after digging in I quickly became full. The food was great spicy but not overbearing. And the most important thing: it didn’t leave me feeling bloated. For drinks (since I’m under 21) I opted for a Coke. My friend has a Mango Lassai which is a smoothly like concoction with mango and yogurt (a staple in India). It all came in under $40 and was a great way to experience Indian food for the first time. When we left, the sun was beginning to disappear permanently for the night, and we were ready to hit the town and enjoy the still mild temperatures. What a way to spend a Saturday that was originally intended for homework.