sugarcrook

As someone pointed out, the anti-semetic attack on the woman in France was staged by the woman in question and her boyfriend. The follow-up to the BBC article is here.

I should have posted a follow-up sooner.

Tech breakdown nearly stops Tribune presses

Two weeks ago, my quest for the perfect breakfast burrito took me to Jane’s. I’ve been wanting to check out Jane’s for some time, mostly because of the collection of stylish people that always seem to be enjoying themselves on the sidewalk. Attractive, well-dressed people aside, this is about food. Specifically, breakfast burritos.

Overall, I was happy with the burrito. I would have liked more of the avocado sauce that came with it, and some spicy salsa, but it was reputable all the same. That’s the good news. The bad news is that I wanted it to be great and it wasn’t. Toast ( 2046 N. Damen Ave. map) and Kitsch’n (2005 W. Roscoe St. map) both have much better burritos, almost comparable to the holy grail of this breakfast wonder, which can be found Bar Harbor, Maine, at a place called Two Cats (318 Main Street map) .

Apparently, I should have had the eggs benedict. Almost everyone there was having a bloody Mary and the benedict. I was told that it was quite good, but still not as good as Two Cats. (Yes, they do eggs benedict as well.)

The service was great. Probably the most attentive waitress I’ve had in ages. We were seated promptly, impressive for a Sunday morning. And even though I was left wanting more, the food was good.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Jane’s
1655 W. Cortland St. map

A little offbeat news for Monday.

CNN.com - Cigarettes and portable toilets don’t mix - Jul 19, 2004

The BBC ran this story on Sunday. While the attack was appalling, what I found more shocking was that nobody on the train volunteered to help the women under attack. I believe that there are two possible reasons for the lack of intervention by other passengers:

• The French are far more cowardly than I’d imagined, or
• The people on the train sympathized with the attackers.

It will be difficult for France to maintain its self-proclaimed moral high-ground if these acts continue. To quote another BBC article:

On Monday, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said: “Anti-Semitism is a disgrace. We want to fight this kind of intolerable racism.”

If the French populace refuses to fight racism when directly confronted with it, does anyone believe serious steps will be taken to prevent future attacks, or to increase understanding and tolerance?

I never plan on going to Darwin’s. The goal is always to try someplace else in Bucktown but events always work against me. Either I’m in a bit of a hurry or the place I wanted to eat at decided to close its doors and I’m stuck at Darwin’s. Again.

Having eaten there about four times, it’s surprising how inconsistent the kitchen staff can be. Each time I’ve ordered a burger, medium rare, and it’s anybody’s guess if it will arrive charred or still moving. I also have issue with the buns used. Either they’re impossibly small - croutons taken from the salad perhaps - or they dwarf the pattie. Why do I keep getting burgers? The menu is extremely limited, with the bulk of the menu consisting of burgers and sandwiches.

One saving grace is the barstaff. Each time I’ve visited they’ve been friendly and reasonably attentive. Unlike some places I’ve visited lately, most of the waitstaff are also competent. (Goose Island on 5 July was a complete disaster. We left in disgust. More on that shortly.) The beer listing is good for a place as small as Darwin’s, but for a more complete listing you should visit The Map Room (1949 N. Hoyne map) or Green Eye (2403 W. Homer map ).

The crowd in Darwin’s ranges from couples getting a quick bite to guys out for beers. I’ve never stayed for a second beer after I finish eating. It just doesn’t have the feel of a place that you can hang out at. I’m always left expecting more.

Rating: 6 out of 10.

Darwin’s
1935 N. Damen map