Tac Quick, take 2: "secret" menu edition

This should be considered an addendum to my previous Tac Quick post.  A few of my wine folks gathered to explore the menu & pair it against many older Rieslings.  This made for a great night.

The Food
From multiple sources, I have seen mention of Tac Quick’s “secret Thai menu,” but never took the opportunity to explore it (somehow, even when taking a date of Thai descent).  We changed that on this trip, ordering many items from the “secret” menu that is actually posted and available on the front page of Tac Quick’s website.  Our group ordered several dishes, feeding 5 of us family style.  Nothing disappointed.  Crispy fried pork was a highlight, and river snails (pictured) provided chewy enjoyment to those of us who enjoy eating odd things.  Duck with noodles (Kuay Teaw Pet) was also excellent.  Once all said & done, I owed only $20 after tax and hearty tip.  For my wine group, this low tariff is unheard of--another reason that I am thankful to have Tac Quick within walking distance.

The Wine
Thai food and Riesling is a no-brainer; it‘s like milk & cookies or cheese & crackers--they just work.  Find a Riesling with a hint of sweetness & a Thai dish with a little heat and the results will be good.  This night brought many older (10+ year old) bottles, most with significant residual sugar, and all were great with the food.  I prefer my Riesling a bit on the leaner (less sweet) side and found the Austrian bottlings a bit more enjoyable than the German offerings, but there were no losers on this night.  If I began to think a wine was too sweet, I need only to add a bit more sauce to the food & the extra sugar then made perfect sense (yes, wine can give us permission to play with our food). 
Ask your local wine salesman for a Riesling with a touch of residual sugar.  They will most likely point you to a German bottle with a lot of strange words on it, but just trust it--especially if it says Spatlese (slightly sweet) or Auslese (a bit more sweet).  In Chicagoland the best place to start is Wine Discount Center on Elston.  There's a good German selection, and over the past 6 months they have had a glut of outstanding Austrian Rieslings at closeout prices (Prager & Hirtzberger being two fantastic producers).  Fear not the $11 bottle that was once $45--it’s legitimate and will give a peek into serious Riesling at a price where many wines are seriously lackluster.

The Whole
Go to Tac Quick and take a Riesling.  I’ll throw a bone & say that a nice beer (Half Acre Gossamer, Anchor Liberty) would be good too, but I hope you experience the balance between Thai food & Riesling.  Tac Quick remains the best Asian cuisine I’ve had in Chicago and I hope you get a chance to explore the “secret” menu alongside a nicely chilled Riesling, as I believe that anyone who does this will have a great dining experience.

2000 Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Hochrain - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau (2/26/2010)
Opened cold, drank over several hours while it warmed & opened.
Nose of soft white peach, apricot, white floral tones, a hint of tangerine, and just a little underlying peach pit & a mineral tone. Up front this brings great, pure white tropical fruits that juicily transition to a finish that fans out with medium acid, full fruit flavors, medium acid, and a thin bit of stoniness. (91 pts.)


Posted from CellarTracker

Tac Quick

I'd been to Tac Quick once before, and this past week when I felt like a decent dinner out it came to mind as a place worth revisiting. I recalled a large menu with interesting specials & well done entrees. It repeated a good performance, giving me a good dinner out for not much cash.

The Place
Tac Quick is just about directly underneath the Sheridan redline stop. Inside is hardwood & nice tables. It feels urban enough and the glass front maintains that city setting with its view. I like the simple decor & felt it a good setting. They also have pretty impressive stemware for wine--always a plus.

The Food
On my first visit, I'd had the fish cakes (can't remember the Thai name--sorry) appetizer & Basil Duck special. Both were very good. This go around we had grilled octopus as an app. The meat was good, and the dipping sauce served with it packed a punch. My date & I split the clay pot noodle dish and both enjoyed it. Big shrimp, plenty of veggies, and tasty noodles. With mild heat, it was a tasty entree. Notably, Grilled Snails were a special of the day that tempted us, but we refrained.

The Wine
Thai food = heat; heat = sweeter wine. On my first trip I took an off-dry German Riesling that did great with my spicy duck & the heated fish cakes. This go around, I brought an Austrian Riesling that was a little too dry to handle the heat of the dipping sauce beside our appetizer, but worked great with the entree.

I'd look for an off-dry German Riesling here. Urbans-Hoff bottlings are a widely available, affordable option that I can recommend. Stepping up to Zindt-Humbrecht can give a higher-end option worth the extra bucks. Or, ask your wine merchant for a German Riesling with some residual sugar, but not more than medium sweetness. They'll probably hand you something with "Auslese" or "Spatlese" on the label--this means it has noticeable sweetness, which in our case means it will pair great with Thai heat.

The Sum
Tac Quick is great affordable Thai food with interesting specials and they do a great job covering the basics. Try out a special or give your favorite Thai dish a try here and my experiences tell me it won't disappoint. $2 corkage is reasonable and it's a great place to showcase a tasty Riesling. Worth the trip, which is an easy one if you're taking the redline, and worth the few bucks for a good atmosphere & enjoyable dinner.

Yuki Hana

On Friday night I felt like sushi. Hmmm...Restaurant.com lists a Yuki Hana coupon for $25 off of $45. When I visited a few months back the spicy rolls dominated my wine selection and the sushi wasn't overly inspiring. I took this visit as a chance to try a better fit of wine & order rolls that weren't dominated by heat--a second chance for Yuki Hana.

The Place
...is not much to look at. It occupies a small space on Clark street. Inside, it's filled with typical Asiany decorations--nothing remarkable, really, but at least it's an adequate space.

The Food
As mentioned earlier, take heed that the spicy rolls are pretty spicy. This trip I aimed to avoid exorbitant heat. Miso soup and edamame weren't bad; Yuki Hana checked the box with those. We ordered a Tuna/Avocado roll and a roll with eel, avocado, and cucumber. Both were plated nicely (sorry, forgot pics this time) and pretty tasty. We also ordered the spicy scallop entree, which was good but not great. Mochi ice cream was good, but $2.50 per piece surprised us when the bill came. Overall, the food is good but nothing is memorable as creative or outstanding.

The Wine
I took along a bottle of Cava that, while not as sweet as I had expected, went pretty well with the food. As mentioned in my Sura post, sushi=bubbles and spicy food=sweeter wine. Try a Cava for good value drier bubbles (Seguras Aria, Cristalino are good budget choices) or Prosecco for if you plan to order spicy food (Riondo is my go-to cheapie here). I wouldn't be afraid of a demi-sec Vouvray either. Ask your wineshop worker for something "slightly sweet and lighter bodied. Bonus points if it has bubbles."

The Whole
Yuki Hana serves up pretty good food & sushi (although the spicy rolls are overdone, IMO--maybe try one but they were not to my taste). The service is good, fish wasn't bad, and while menu items aren't overly creative all the standards are here. The bill surprised us a little bit; even after the $25 coupon ours was $33 before tip (damn you Mochi). I probably would have been happier spending $33 elsewhere and would certainly say to skip this place if paying full price. Yuki Hana did not deliver on this 2nd chance opportunity, and will likely not get a 3rd from me.

Friday's bubbly, a Cava:
N.V. Segura Viudas Cava Aria Brut - Spain, Catalunya, Cava (2/19/2010)
Nose of apricot, white pear, and citrus-basted toasted nuts. Good fleshy white fruits lead to a citrus, nutty, clean finish with nice length.

Had the Extra Dry last weekend and believe they are both excellent. These set the standard for value in wine buying. (88 pts.)
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Sura

As a weeknight / Christmastime treat, I ventured out this Monday and dined at Sura. It's a BYO (few bucks for corkage) on Broadway a block south of Belmont. The menu is perfect for a bottle of slightly sweet wine, which can typically pair with a wide variety of foods—and Sura offers plenty of Thai food & sushi options served with good presentation and a few interesting twists.

The Place
Sura is a little futuristic and struck me as somewhat odd when first entering; the room is almost entirely white, the tables are irregularly shaped, and the chairs & booths are also unique. If this is out of your comfort zone, don’t fret—the initially sterile impression is soon removed by dim lights and tabletop candles. Here are a few pictures of the room…

What can you expect at Sura? A modern, extremely clean layout with details leaning toward futuristic.

From Drop Box

What you don't see in the below picture is the DJ booth—no joke.

From Drop Box

The back quarter of the room is partially divided with an interesting, hole-filled wall (it's more art than wall, really)

From Drop Box

The Food
A quick scan of the menu shows several chili, peanut sauce, and basil dishes typical of Thai cooking. These are mixed with chicken, beef, tofu, or shrimp. Some incorporate other seafood, and Sushi has a large presence here as well (Monday nights are $22 all you can eat Sushi & select appetizers, FYI).

My date and I divided a couple of sushi rolls, an appetizer, and an entree to comprise our meal. The Hulk roll came first, which was very good--just crunchy & warm enough to highlight all that raw, tasty fish.

From Drop Box

Next came the Spicy Scallop roll, served with large scallop chunks & a seaweed wrapper—this was good & went well with the wine. Then the waiter brought our "fritters." These had crab, chicken, and shrimp filling inside of crunchy wonton wrappers. The presentation (below) was slick, and the sauce was an interesting tropical sweet & sour marmalade. Very tasty, and the pairing was absolutely rocking with the juicy sweetness of the wine.

From Drop Box

Finally, our entree was the "Oceanic Basil," which had fish, mushrooms, peppercorns, shrimp, calamari, and basil. It was a typical Thai dish, done pretty well. Recommended, if you want some Thai-style spice & enjoy seafood.

The Wine
I can't recall what bottle of wine I took on my first trip to Sura (nearly a year ago), but Thai food and Thai heat make me reach for a white that is a little off-dry (slightly sweet) to absorb heat, but also shows good flavors to enhance tamer dishes.


Visit a nearby wine shop (try The Gourmet Grape, Binny's, or Kafka) ask for a wine with some of the following components: "off-dry/slightly sweet, floral or fragrant, structured." This could lead to a Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Prosecco, or perhaps a Vouvray Chenin Blanc, all of which will do well with most of the food at Sura. No fear with any of these selections.

While I think it’s more interesting to talk to a shop’s wine expert to pick a bottle, here are some specific suggestions I would like with Sura's menu: Riondo Prosecco ($12), Pichot Vouvray la Moriette ($15), St. Urbans-Hof Riesling Spatlese ($24), Zind Humbrecht Riesling Herrenweg de Turckheim ($45).

This night I went with a bottle of off-dry Gewurztraminer. Gewurz may be an unfamiliar grape to some, but trust me that they are easy to enjoy (impress your date by calling out the obvious lychee & nuanced rose scents found in most Gewurz wines). Italy’s Prosecco is probably what I try on my next visit, as it’s typically sweet and often bubbly (bubbles + sushi = sublime pairing).

The Wrap-Up
And what if you're at Sura trying to impress someone and would like to keep a good vibe going after dinner? Hop across the street to Intelligentsia for some coffee drinks. Is there anyone who isn't at least a little romanced by latte art? I think not. (I can also vouch for Paciugo Gelato and Phoebe's Cupcakes as quality, nearby dessert options)

From Drop Box

On the whole? Sura is worth the while, and an especially good value if you use a Restaurant.com coupon (a $25 savings). Lots of dishes pair well with a wide variety of wines, and the good service combines with a unique atmosphere to make for an enjoyable, upbeat, and interesting experience. A lively neighborhood with options for dessert makes it a great date spot. Visit a wine shop, grab a bottle, and head to Sura for a fun night out on a lively section of Broadway. Enjoy!

Wines mentioned:

• 2006 J. Hofstätter Gewürztraminer Kolbenhof - Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Alto Adige - Südtirol (12/21/2009)
  When first open & chilled, this was a bit muted and the 15% alcohol really bared some ugly teeth. Air and some time in the glass changed this wine quite a bit. My note is from it's better side.
  
  Very perfumey nose with rosewater, a little honey, obvious melon & lychee, a touch of juicy pear. Quite fragrant and feminine. Tasting brings these feminine flavors, juicy white tropical fruits, and some sweetness. Transition presents adequate acid, good juicy sweetness, and a medium finish that has light white fruit & tropical floral flavors. Nice wine, although it shows some alcohol late in the midpalate & could use a little more acidic backbone.
  
  I especially enjoyed the full body brought about by the sweetness matched against the great floral tones. This went well with moderately spicy Thai & sushi dishes. (88 pts.)
  

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• N.V. Riondo Prosecco Veneto IGT - Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT (8/25/2008)
  Nice nose driven by citrus & mineral tones. Good texture from the fizz on the palate and nice, acidic citrus zest up front that fleshes out to the finish that gives a kiss of sweet grapefruit. Definitely liked that transition part of the wine. Ok finish. Went great with seafood pasta & cream sauce. (86 pts.)

• 2007 J. C. Pichot Vouvray Domaine Le Peu de la Moriette - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (1/26/2009)
  Good lemon, grapefruit/tangerine, floral/tropical nose. Very nice, balanced weight in the mouth with a great lemony / juicy citrus taste that bursts into a slightly sweet finish and leaves me wanting more. Bits of mineral tones show up now & then. Just a little more acidity would have made this an outstanding bottle, but as is it's everything I could want from $14. It even went pretty well with sushi. (88 pts.)

• 2007 St. Urbans-Hof Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (3/20/2009)
  Gorgeous Riesling. Great floral nose, a hint of minerality (think quartz) and plenty of luscious fruit scents--pineapple, pears, mango, peaches, and a bit of green grass hidden underneath all of that. Palate has great juicy weight anchored to pineapple, peach, pear, and mineral flavors. These are then cut by a good lifted acid and the finish brings home floral, mineral, and luscious tropical white / yellow fruit tones. Went great with a basil & duck Thai dish. Absolutely outstanding bottle, looking forward to a couple more bottles in the future. 91-92 (92 pts.)

• 2005 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Turckheim - France, Alsace, Turckheim, Alsace AOC (11/14/2008)
  Binny's Alsace Tasting (Binny's South Loop, Chicago): Lemon, soap, dryer sheets, lime, and minerals on the nose--great nose! Palate is rich and elegant with some good acid supporting lime, honey, fruit & flower flavors. Pretty good finish with enjoyable sweetness. Fairly complex throughout. (91 pts.)