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northbrooktower.com Quick Bites
the northbrook tower | November 29, 2018 | 39
A taste of seven
22CM editors offer
up seven North
Shore samplings
for full-course meal
Staff Report
Calories don’t count this
time of the year, right?
Although that’s likely a
case of wishful thinking
on our end, 22nd Century
Media editors are taking
that claim to heart.
On the heels of everyone’s
favorite meal of the
year, we’re taking it one
step further, loosening
our belts once more. And
what better way to combat
the horrible feeling of finishing
off the last of your
Thanksgiving leftovers
than thinking about more
food?
So, before we all join together
in post-holiday regret,
let’s bask in glory of
food again and check out
the fine-dining options the
North Shore has to offer.
One of Marcello’s most popular pasta offerings is its
penne pasta with tomato cream sauce ($13.95). Photo
Submitted
Crostini — Convito Cafe &
Market, Wilmette
For the past 35 years,
the folks at Wilmette’s
Convito Cafe & Market
have been perfecting their
crostinis. Judging by the
popularity of these Italian
appetizers, the effort has
paid off.
“We are creative with
our toppings. We have
four to five different options
for any catering order
that travel well and are
delicious crowd-pleasers,”
said Candace Warner,
owner of Convito.
Crostini, which means
“little crusts” in Italian,
consist of small slices of
grilled bread and toppings.
Convito uses extra virgin
olive oil and fresh ingredients.
The caponata crostini
(24 for $20 take out/
catering or $7 as a shared
plate appetizer) is made
of eggplant, tomato, black
olives and sweet and sour
dressing.
“It’s a great dip or spread
for a variety of items. You
can also eat it by itself,”
Warner said. “It’s a difficult
recipe to make just
right.”
Convito sells many crostinis
during the holiday
season for catering and
parties. Warner said crostinis
are also ordered often
during the summer as they
feature fresh tomatoes.
Other popular options
include apple and brie, and
chicken liver mousse on
multi-grain crostini with
cornichons.
Following increased
business for Thanksgiving,
Convito looks to remain
busy for the remainder of
the holiday season. The
cafe will feature dishes
that best reflect the homey
flavors of the Italian countryside
with a Christmas
Eve brunch and Christmas
Day dinner planned.
The food and wine market
has also rolled out its
holiday menus with what it
calls an “in-depth selection
of Italian prepared foods
as well as other dishes
from around the world.”
Convito is open from
10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-
Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday. To
find out more about Convito
Cafe & Market, visit
www.convitocafeandmarket.com.
Story by Eric DeGrechie,
Managing Editor
Cod fish soup - Manooben
Japanese Cafe, Glenview
If you find yourself
searching for something to
break up the stick-to-yourbones
stews and chowders
winter is known for, look
no further than the cod fish
soup at Manooben Japanese
Cafe.
The restaurant’s chefs
serve up thick cuts of cod
in a thin, Korean-style
spicy pepper paste broth.
The dish is served in a hot
stone bowl with the broth
still rapidly boiling to finish
cooking the fish and
large clams that are added
to boost the soup’s earthy,
salty notes.
Thinly sliced potatoes
are paired with the seafood
to give the soup a hearty,
familiar bite.
Tucked away in Glen-
Please see taste, 40
PHOTOS BY MATTHEW MURPHY