18 | January 25, 2018 | The lake forest leader Dining Out LakeForestLeader.com Quick Bites Bacon mania runs wild on North Shore Eric DeGrechie Managing Editor In the late 1990s, enthusiasm for bacon seemed to hit a fever pitch here in the United States. Now, years later, it doesn’t appear that what some have coined “bacon mania” is slowing down anytime soon. Bacon is so popular that it even has its own day on Dec. 30. While some argue for or against the health merits of the salt-cured pork, few outright dislike the taste. Even vegetarians get in on the fun by adding meatless bacon knockoffs to the diet. Finding ways to slip bacon into every dish is a challenge many chefs are more than willing to take on. Last week, 22nd Century Media editors ventured out to different North Shore establishments to get their bacon fill and taste some unique creations. The results were delicious. The Defibrillator — Chief’s Pub, Lake Forest Chief’s Pub in Lake Forest put its own spin on nachos by substituting a few ingredients and changing its name. At Chief’s Pub, 502 N. Western Ave., Lake Forest, guests can try the Defibrillator appetizer ($8.99), which substitutes nachos for tater tots and ground beef for bits of bacon. The dish is also covered with cheddar cheese and jalapenos. The bacon is cut up into tiny chewy pieces making it easy to dive into. The tater tots are soft and are a great combination with the melted cheese. Joe Knesley, owner at Chief’s Pub, said the dish was coined by his father and former owner, Chuck Knesley. “My dad loves bacon and he is kind of nutty. He wanted to make nachos with tater tots and we chose to put bacon on it instead of pulled pork [or other traditional meat toppings on nachos],” he said. The name ‘Defibrillator’ comes from a device used by paramedics when a patient is having a heart attack. Joe Knesley said the staff at Chief’s Pub know this is not the healthiest of STEM CELL MAGNET THERAPY Now Covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield Dr. Angelo Reyes, MD is a Leading Provider of Non-Surgical Treatment Options & Provider for Medicare & Most Insurances *Published in American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation PM R 9 (2017) 1236-1243 Glenview, Highland Park, Vernon Hills, Bloomingdale & Hinsdale Offered by Get Natural Relief from Arthritis & Soft Tissue Pain Relief, Regenerate, Rejuvenate QUALIFIED CANDIDATES: • Diagnosed with Osteoarthritis • Have a Soft Tissue Injury • Want a Non-Steroidal Option • Want to Avoid Surgery • Other Interventions have Failed CLINICAL STUDY: 92.5 % PATIENT SATISFACTION* 847.243.6978 Most Appointments available within 48 hours www.PAINfreePAINrelief.com dishes and many people look at it and think “heart attack,” which is how it got its name. Chief’s Pub is open from 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 11 a.m.- 11 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit www. chiefspub.com or call (847) 234-3444. Story by Contributing Editor Alyssa Groh Bacon pancakes — Walker Bros., Wilmette Bacon and pancake lovers, rejoice. I introduce you to the ultimate twoin-one: the bacon pancakes at Walker Bros. The Original Pancake House. The Wilmette restaurant’s manager, Tom Zehnder, said the restaurant has served up the speciality pancakes for as long as he could remember. And, that’s not by chance, but by choice. “We make maybe 35 orders or more a day,” Zehnder said. “It comes in a close second as the most popular dish to our apple pancakes.” When ordered, customers can expect six fresh pancakes to come straight from the kitchen’s griddle. The fresh bacon is sliced and added to the pancake batter — a secret recipe — just for this dish. “We’re not going the cheap route here. We actually use the same bacon that would be served as a side, not just dry bacon bits,” Zehnder added. When I tried the pancakes for myself, I could tell. The bacon wasn’t overly cooked or sparse. The flavor wasn’t odd either; the bacon complemented the pancake nicely. The Defibrillator ($8.99), at Chief’s Pub in Lake Forest, is a twist on nachos made with tater tots and covered in bacon, melted cheddar cheese and jalapenos. Alyssa Groh/22nd Century Media It also came with a side of maple syrup and whipped butter, which provided a sweet flavor to the more savory pancake. The bacon overload doesn’t stop there. Recently, the restaurant’s bacon cheddar omelette was featured on Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate.” For more information, call (847) 251-6000 or www.walkerbros.net. The restaurant is open daily from 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m. at 153 Green Bay Road, Wilmette. There are also locations in Highland Park, Glenview, Arlington Heights, Lake Zurich, Lincolnshire and Schaumburg. Story by Contributing Editor Megan Bernard GH loaded tots — Glenview House, Glenview Walk into any restaurant in Glenview, and I’m sure you’ll find a handful of bacon-centric menu items. Yet, none do bacon better than Glenview House, 1843 Glenview Road. When I visited the longtime North Shore staple, I immediately keyed on the GH loaded tots ($10), complete with tater tots, jalapeno, nacho cheese, roasted peppers, over-easy eggs, Tabasco and chive sour cream — oh yeah, and plenty of bacon. The dish was delicious, and while the bacon added a much appreciated level of tastiness, I’d order it again even if meats vanished from the menu. The cheese, egg, Tabasco and sour cream soaked into the potatoes at the bottom of the bowl, and the peppers and jalapeno provided a nice kick. Other bacon-infused menu items include the GH potato skins ($10), chopped salad ($10), roast turkey salad ($10), habanero ham melt ($11) and roasted turkey sandwich ($10). Glenview House is open from 3 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday. For more information, visit www. theglenviewhouse.com or call (847) 724-0692. Story by Contributing Editor Chris Pullam
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