Mario’s Italian Lemonade

September really snuck up on me. Kids are back in school, leaves are starting to fall off the trees…. I’m not fooled into corduroy and pumpkin lattes just yet though – it’s still hot AF outside. It’s still Mario’s weather.

A tiny little glorified lemonade stand in the heart of Chicago’s Taylor Street Little Italy, it’s only open Memorial Day – Labor Day, and I’ve waited for those Memorial Day – Labor Days for as long as I can remember. No fakey, sugary sweet colors or flavors – just cold, refreshing frozen lemonade complete with chunks of fruit. No plastic, corporate signs – just the same hand-drawn pictures dangling from the ceiling. The sidewalk is littered with watermelon seeds and lemon rinds, and the street is often parked with cars 3 deep (and sometimes those cars include sympathizing cop cars).

Suggested flavors:
watermelon (chunks of watermelon!)
cantaloupe (chunks of cantaloupe!)
coconut (shreds of coconut!)
lemon (they all have lemon added, but still…)
peach (when it’s in season (look for the sign) and just get it!)

But truth be told, they’re all amazing! I even had a friend once order grape (not my fave of flaves), and even that was good! Plus if you can’t decide, you can get 1/2 and 1/2 (you know, half cantaloupe/half coconut, for instance).

Suggested pairings:
cashews
lupini beans (if you’re really feeling authentico)
a combo from Al’s across the street
a dry sausage with provolone from Al’s (my go-to. it is not photogenic.)

Mario’s is one of the best things the best thing about summers in Chicago. I promise if you go there even once, it will continue to taunt you in your December dreams for a lifetime.

desserts at the Farmers’ Market

Don’t worry, I’m not going to suggest that a carrot is just as good as carrot cake, or tell you that a kumquat is nature’s sour patch kid (it is). I do not consider a simple orange to be “dessert,” and avocados don’t need to be snuck into pudding as some kind of whimsical paleo ingredient. Gross. I will tell you this: the Hollywood Farmers’ Market is amazing. Not only will you find some kind of unknown new produce – even if you think you could win Produce Trivial Pursuit (if such a sad game existed) (also, I’d play that) – but there are some excellent dessert treats to be found if you know where to wander. Plus, this weekend was the 24th birthday celebration of the Hollywood Farmers’ Market, with slices of cake being delivered to all the vendors, so what better time to celebrate? Here we go!

1. coconut cakes from Sri Windsor Cafe – you guys, the dessert angels were in my corner today, because for the last few years these coconut cakes were no longer being served in banana leaf boats, but rather in reg old fries cardboard bowls. But look!!!!! Banana leaf boat!!!!!!!!! These coconut cakes come to you piping hot and I almost always burn my mouth because I can’t wait for them to cool off. They’re not very sweet, the exterior is slightly crispy, the center is slightly puddingy, the aftertaste is slightly backyard grill. I’ve never seen them at an actual Thai restaurant, but I guess if you go to the actual Sri Windsor location, well…..

2. pie from Marcie’s Pies & Goods – um, Marcie gives you pie samples. And she is so nice even when she knows you’re probs not going to buy a pie every week. She keeps her flavors seasonal and has traditional or crumble versions. My faves are the blackberry, the strawberry rhubarb crumble (bringing home for later), or the peach in late summer. Also she has quiche, which I’ve actually never tried, but if I had to guess, I’d guess it’s wonderful.

3. sorbet or ice cream from Carmela – so many flavors it’s hard to decide. Today was warm and breezy, and the lemon basil sorbet tasted like a garden party. So did the lime mint sorbet. So did the cucumber sorbet. I bet the rose petal ice cream would have been at the same party, but I didn’t want to seem greedy. Also, that’s not a fleck of dirt on the computer screen – this sorbet was infused with bits of basil til the last bite!

4. aebleskiver from House of Lemonade – this place is more than just fresh lemonade, strawberry lemonade, mango lemonade, watermelon lemonade, limeade, raspberry limeade. They have aebleskiver. What the hell is aebleskiver? When it looks as delicious as this, who even cares? But I’ll tell you: it’s a hot Danish pancake in the shape of a sphere cooked right there in an iron skillet before it’s covered in raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar. Basically a hot jelly donut, and basically still good for you because it’s sold at the farmers’ market. Why are they being sold alongside lemonades/agua frescas? Unknown, but no complaints here!

(not pictured, but worth mentioning: Figgy, my new fiddle leaf fig tree, who called out to me for the tune of only $25! And when I walked past the lotion man carrying Figgy, he said I looked like I was in a jungle. Compliment accepted.)