Canadian World traveller Winter 2017-18 Issue

54
Relishing Chicago (but not the Deep-dish Pizza)
by Jennifer Merrick
‘“Have you tried the pizza, yet?” my family
asked whenever I phoned home on a
recent visit to the Windy City.
“Not yet,” I’d reply. “But I will.”
I had fully intended to try a few slices of this
thickly layered pie with the sauce on top on
my trip. After all, this is a quintessential
tourist experience of Chi-town and it’s even
listed on the ‘Chicago Bucket List’, located
at Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower)
110 stories above the city.
Having braved the first item of that list,
which was taking a photo while standing
on the tower’s glass Skydeck (easy, as long
as you don’t look down), I vowed to tick off
number seven and sample the city’s
famous pizza.
I didn’t end up keeping my promise. Why
not? Well, there was simply too much other
fabulous food to try and not enough hours
in a day.
Here were some of the culinary highlights
we enjoyed on our Chicago getaway.
Bertha’s Brownies
Bertha Palmer, an eminent turn-of-the-century
business woman, socialite and philanthropist
has a legacy that lives on today in
more ways than one. She promoted
women’s rights, brought kindergarten to
Chicago and collected art, especially
impressionist paintings. Bertha amassed an
impressive collection of Monets, Renoirs,
Degas and others, which now form the core
of the Art Institute of Chicago’s impressionist
galleries that hold the largest collection
of these works outside of France (a truly
inspiring and a must-see attraction).
The Queen of Chicago, as Bertha was
known, is also given credit for something
more frivolous but equally enduring – the
brownie. According to local lore, she
desired a new treat for the 1893 World’s
Fair, and so she directed the pastry chef to
create a confection denser than a cookie
but not quite a cake. An American classic
was born. We tasted the original recipe in
the kitchen of The Palmer House Hilton on
a “History is Hott!” tour led by historian
(and I would add entertainer), Ken Price.
The gilded and lavish Palmer House was
brimming with stories, and Price brought
them to life with flare. Quoting Kipling, he
believes that, “If all history were taught in
the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”
Personally, the intriguing stories of
the extraordinary Bertha Palmer will be
remembered for quite some time as will the
taste of her brownie creation.
A Foodie Haven
Chicago’s cuisine is legendary, and the city
has consistently been on top of best food
lists for years, including “Best Restaurant