| Sure, in any world-class city, especially one the size of | | | | Table Fifty-Two |
| Chicago, you can pretty much get any food or cuisine | | | | A bit pricier than A&L's, this may be upscale dining -- |
| you desire. | | | | but it's still Southern all the way. |
| Chinese? Please, give me something difficult. | | | | Apparently the chef is from Florida and used to be |
| Brazilian? Fogo de Chao. Next. | | | | Oprah's personal chef (if that's true, she has good |
| Ecuadorian? La Humita. | | | | taste!) |
| The trick is not finding a particular food in a restaurant | | | | Because this guy totally nails the taste of Old Florida. |
| -- it's finding a restaurant that does the food justice. | | | | It's getting harder and harder to find -- in Florida! Get |
| One that would be right at home in the culture or | | | | away from the resorts -- away from the shore |
| country. | | | | entirely and you'll find joints selling buttermilk fried |
| One where the expats and recent arrivals eat. | | | | chicken, spicy low-country-style shrimp with grits and |
| That's the trick. | | | | fried green tomatoes. |
| Being from the South, I know Southern American | | | | Which is exactly what you will also find at Table |
| Cooking. Heck, I grew up on Southern Cooking. | | | | Fifty-Two. |
| So allow me to give you 3 places to try that I think nail | | | | Skip the wines. They are not authentic and very |
| it cold. | | | | expensive. |
| Army & Lou's | | | | Visit low-country Florida in the Windy City at 52 W. |
| Deep-fried catfish is always in season at Army & | | | | Elm. |
| Lou's -- and you don't get much more Southern than | | | | Wishbone |
| fired catfish with coleslaw and cornmeal muffins. | | | | This is Southern comfort food at it's best -- and most |
| Luckily, all three are always available and always | | | | reasonably priced. Golden corn cakes, cheesey grits |
| delicious. | | | | and shrimp, juicy grilled chicken (with mango salsa -- |
| The fried chicken ain't half bad either if you are in the | | | | okay, it's not ALL authentic), crab and crayfish. |
| mood. Crank it up with some sweet tators and corn | | | | Also don't miss the pecan topped mashed sweet |
| bread dressing. I usually skip the bean-of-the-day -- but | | | | potatoes. Unless I am there and there is only one last |
| that's just me. I'm sure they are killer too. | | | | helping.;-) |
| Finish with my favorite desert, bread pudding. | | | | Desserts include my weakness, peach cobbler, and |
| Find Army & Lou's exactly where it has been for 50+ | | | | chocolate pecan pie. |
| years -- at 422 E. 75th. | | | | Drop in anytime to Wishbone at 6611 W. |