An Afternoon at City Harvest Cafe

Anyone who was in Chicago on Saturday knows how insanely beautiful it was outside for a day in mid-January. I took this as a perfect opportunity to go for a long walk and explore my neighborhood. After stopping in Reckless Records and some used bookstores, I decided to stop in City Harvest Cafe (an establishment that has long been on my to-do list) to get some juice. City Harvest is located on Broadway on the North Side in an area full of cute shops, restaurants, and cafes. The cafe itself is very quaint on the inside with benches along the window and a few tables on the side. The music playing was that of any nice coffee shop or cafe and the overall vibe was very calm.

I asked the woman behind the counter what she recommended and she listed off several cold pressed juices that all sounded magnificent. I ultimately decided on the Limoncello because I am a complete lemonhead and love anything with lemon in it. 

Limoncello juice (golden apple, lemon, on the rocks) $6.50

I was so happy with this decision. The Limoncello was ice cold and extremely refreshing. It tasted like a more intense version of lemonade and left a foam on the ice that made the ice cubes taste like lemony candy. The server pointed out that it almost tastes like there's something beyond just lemon and apple in this juice even though there isn't, which I completely agree with! This would be the perfect beverage for a hot summer day. Mmm.

While I was waiting for my Limoncello to be made, the kind woman behind the counter informed me that City Harvest has recently started pressing their own hemp milk. The hemp milk is made with hemp seeds, bourbon vanilla, dates, pink himalayan salt, cinnamon, and alkaline water. She gave me a sample and I have to say this was one of the best things I have tasted in a long time. It tasted like a lighter form of horchata and was just positively divine. My only complaint about City Harvest Cafe, and all juice bars in general, is the prices. $7 for a glass of juice is a little steep and $12 for a small jar of hemp milk is a tad outrageous too. However, I completely understand that these prices are necessary in order for juice bars to continue using the fresh, organic, and delicious ingredients that they use in their juices. High quality offerings means high quality prices! I just want it to be known that if it weren't for the steep prices, I'd be stopping by City Harvest every day. I noticed a sign for fresh goji bowls next to the counter and started drooling... I will definitely be back for one of those soon!

Overall, my afternoon at City Harvest Cafe was extremely pleasant. After I sampled the hemp milk and had my juice, I sat by the window and read Emma (I'm on a bit of a Jane Austen kick right now) and soaked up the warm atmosphere. The staff here is so friendly and I definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the mood for a delicious treat that is just as good for you as it is tasting. 

A Lovely Lunch at Cafecito

Hello everyone! After a short hiatus for winter break, I'm back to food blogging for winter quarter. Tuesdays are my most jam-packed days in the week with two classes and a work shift, and with all the snow, today was the perfect day for a lunchtime pick-me-up. I've been meaning to try out Cafecito after reading about it in an article on The Infatuation.  What I didn't realize is how ridiculously close Cafecito is to DePaul's loop campus! It was a mere two blocks from my class in the CDM today which was great in the chilly weather. 

The cafe is located near Columbia College's campus on Congress Parkway. It is situated right next to a hostel for college students and therefore has a very trendy, college vibe. The menu is extremely extensive and everything looks delicious. The only reason I didn't completely struggle with what to order is because I had already made up my mind that I would have to try what is supposedly Chicago's Best Cuban Sandwich, the Cubano. Cafecito's menu includes Cuban espresso items, traditional espresso items, sandwiches, plates, pastries, and an arrangement of exotic sodas! They even had Inca Kola, which is my all time favorite soda after having discovered it on a service trip to Peru my senior year of high school. 

Caldo Gallego (white bean soup) $3.50 for 8 oz

Because of the chilly temps, I opted to order a soup with my sandwich. I originally planned on getting a black bean soup, but I ultimately opted to try something new and get the Caldo Gallego, a white bean soup. This soup was positively delightful and warming. It is filled with white beans, potato, bits of bacon, onions, and a chicken broth. I'm normally not the biggest fan of bacon bits in anything, but in this case they added a nice savory texture to the soup. It was served with warm bread for dipping, which I swear is my kryptonite. 

Cubano (roasted pork, ham, swiss, pickles, mustard) $5.79

I definitely have no qualms about Cafecito's Cubano being considered the best Cuban sandwich in Chicago. The sandwich is a generous portion and I was able to save half of it for my night class tonight which was definitely a needed pick-me-up. The roasted pork and ham complement each other perfectly and Cafecito has mastered the art of spreading the mustard throughout the sandwich. It was delicious when it was hot and fresh, and it was still delicious a few hours later when I finished it in my night class. The only cuban sandwich I have had that has rivaled this was Le Cubain at Olive et Gourmando in Montreal. The service here was friendly and quick and the overall vibe of the cafe was great. The wifi is free (with a password) and the cafe plays upbeat, fun Cuban music throughout the day. My only complaint is that the music was playing too loud for me to really attempt studying, but if this is an attempt to keep people from camping out on the wifi I can understand that completely. All in all, my experience here was delightful and I look forward to many lunch trips back throughout the quarter, especially since it is so close to my classes. There are so many menu items that I'd like to try, such as their chorizo sandwiches or a PB&J made with Guava jelly. I also cannot complain about the prices, as a generously sized gourmet sandwich and soup were just over $10. If you're in the loop, definitely check out Cafecito!