Chicago tips

Olympic Store Fixtures Has A Huge Inventory

services, shopping

I've passed this place numerous times on my way to Midway Airport and today I stopped for a visit.  Olympic is a family business that's been around over 30 years;  father Tony and mother Vicky are joined by their daughter and son Harriet and Tony.  All seem to know their business "cold."

Harriet says that Olympic has the greatest variety of commercial equipment in the city.  They can  order from all manufacturers.  I noted many brands of those currently cool commercial stoves but all kinds of kitchen machinery (coffee systems, hot dog grills, french fryers, slicers and some mystery machines are just a sampling of items on view) are readily available.  Reconditioned equipment is carried as well and is fully warrantied.

If your mom's kitchen is always "open" here's the place to find a pretty reasonable electric sign that says so.

Clients include small restaurants just starting out as well as large chains, hotels, fast food places, churches, schools, etc.  Any home cook with a desire for a tortilla container or an amazingly substantial looking self cleaning stainless garlic press (just $10!) can find it here.  Every kitchen tool I could imagine is in stock along with multitudes of pans.  There are great ones for baking muffins in quantity.

Olympic has become known mostly through word of mouth.  Employees speak Spanish and Greek, both helpful in today's restaurant world.  English too, of course.

You might want to check out www.olympicstorefixtures.com but I recommend a personal visit as a lot more satisfying.

Hours are weekdays only from 8AM-6PM.  Olympic is at 4758 South Cicero Av.  Call 773.585.3755  for more specific info and prices.

Don't Miss "Don Pasquale" From da Corneto Opera

music (opera), current calendar

A special treat for opera lovers takes place this Sunday, November 18 at the Gorton Community Center  in Lake Forest at 3PM.  Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti is a fully costumed production with piano accompaniment and English subtitles.  The performance will be in preparation for da Corneto's upcoming performance at Festival Cultural Mazatlan in Mazatlan, Mexico on November 24.

Advance tickets at $25 may be purchased by calling 847.662.2694.  Prices at the door are $30.   The student rate is $15.  What a terrific bargain for genuine opera! 

Da Corneto Opera has been operating in the Chicago area for 11 years, the venue changing depending on the availability of appropriate space.

You'll find a synopsis of Don Pasquale at www.dacorneto.org (click on read more) along with directions and parking info for this Sunday's performance.

So, head out to Baggett Auditorium at Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road in Lake Forest on Sunday at 3.

Additionally da Corneto offers the Mozart Requiem at their home venue on Tuesday November 20 at 8PM.  That's at Church of St. Hilary, at the junction of California and Bryn Mawr Avenues.

Think Think Cafe For Food And Atmosphere

food and drink

Casual eating in a civilized setting.  A pretty rare bird these days in Chicago where both the restaurant and bar scenes are often over the top frenzied.

We've been here with friends a number of times and all have been delighted.  Imagine a 10 x 10 foot kitchen providing cooked to order dinners for 150 diners.  Truly amazing.

Think, is the result of many years of exploration by Ryvkah Goodman and her husband,  Omar Rodriguez the restaurant's co-owners.  I was immediately captivated by this couple and their unarranged marriage and asked how they pulled off both that and of course the restaurant.

The two met about 15 years ago at Carlucci's, a former Lincoln Park outpost where Omar worked.  Ryvkah was there with some friends late one night and Omar seemed particularly taken with her.  His parents were Mexican and Brazilian, a combo not usual in her own parents' circle.  She figures they were finally so desperate for grandchildren that they acquiesced pretty easily.

After about 3 years, the couple married and opened an upscale sandwich shop in the west Loop.  The fare included special turkey and corned beef made by Omar but even that didn't bring in the larger numbers of patrons they'd wanted.

A storefront on Western near Fullerton seemed better so they moved about 5 years ago, continuing the sandwiches but 1 1/2 years into it Ryvkah suggested that Omar try offering the food he really loved best, more sophisticated offerings with an Italian focus.  That did the trick so now they have two dining rooms and are open seven nights a week.  There's also a room upstairs available for special events.

Think is a BYOB and the couple prefers it that way.  Once you have a liquor license you must be willing to accept deliveries all day long, a problem for this dedicated couple with two school age children.

Conveniently, there's a liquor store, Danny's Liquors kitty-corner from Think.  Funny place.  They accept cash only and even have a cash station just inside.  The wine selection seemed considerably better than most.

We especially liked the duck risotto, the seared scallops, and the Prince Edward Island mussels with a magical red sauce.  (I hope you're not scared of mussels!)  Pastas are homemade with few exceptions.  The Think and arugula salads are both easy favorites.  Specials are available every day.

The name.  "Think of a good restaurant to go to" says it all.

Think cafe is at 2235 N. Western Av.  Phone 773.394.0537 for reservations.