Stanley's

Like the Chicagoist , we've often noticed Stanley's but never gotten off the bus to explore. Yesterday's trek to "Market Place" on Diversey and Clark had Fresh Pict (with a t!) strawberries at 4 dollars for the 1 pound carton, and M was sure we could do better elsewhere. So after work today I got on the bus and trekked out there. It wasn't that far and it was so totally worth it. I got a whole lot of produce for under 10 dollars: and those strawberries I almost bought yesterday for convenience? 1 dollar, people! 1!!!

Stanley's also has olive oil (tons of it) and a deli selection. Lots of organic things, if you're into that. It's all so cheap I just wanted to stay for hours. Unfortunately, at this point it was already 7 pm (but I'm pretty sure they're open until at least 10) and I had some food to make, so I regretfully pulled myself away from the alluring shelves of produce and made my way home. But don't worry, I'll be back, Stanley. Probably in like three days. My days of being disappointed by high farmer's market prices are pretty much over. I blew a good 20 at the Southside Farmer's Market (61st and Dorchester) this past Saturday.

Pictures of the fruits (vegetables?) of our labor coming soon!

Not your Mama's pancakes: Crepe and Coffee Palace/Icosium Kafe

While coffee and pancakes are standard diner fare around the Lincoln Park area, variations on America’s favorite breakfast are a little harder to find.  Luckily, authentic crepes and Turkish coffee are just down Fullerton at Clark at the Crepe and Coffee Palace, also called the Icosium Kafe.  It is easy to walk past the restaurant and take no notice, but those of us who have discovered the small gem will not likely forget its bright and welcoming interior or its decadent crepes.

The setting of the Crepe and Coffee Palace is intimate, and the walls are covered with exotic tapestries, mirrors, and maps of Algeria.  Beaded lamps and shiny coffee pots bring additional charm.  The mood is completed with the soft sounds of Arabic music.

The Crepe and Coffee Palace offers a wide range of meal and dessert crepes.  Meal crepes run around $8.50 and include a side soup, while sweet dessert crepes are between $4 and $7.  We ordered two sweet crepes: Crepe D’Amour, with raspberries and our choice of Belgian or Nutella chocolate (we chose Nutella), and Crepe Icosium, with raisins, pears, rosewater, and pistachios.  Ice cream is available on the side for an additional $2 (but sometimes they throw it in for free).

When the crepes arrived, we were impressed before we even reached for our forks.  The crepes were drizzled with chocolate and adorned with a paper umbrella.  For birthday occasions, the Palace is known to center an intricately cut strawberry atop the mound of chocolate and fruit with a birthday candle placed in the center of the strawberry.

The crepe was warm and fluffy, the fruit was fresh and sweet, and the chocolate was melted to the perfect consistency.  They were just the right size to fill our hungry stomachs, and were washed down by many glasses of water, with a cucumber floating in each glass for extra crispness.

The waitress was very friendly and urged us to come back in the morning for some Turkish coffee, which is thick and rich, and comes in a very small pot.  There is also a wide selection of teas and sodas, including Orangina, usually only found in Europe.  The drinks complement the wide range of mouth-watering crepes.

We highly recommend the Coffee and Crepe Palace to anyone with a sweet tooth and an appreciation for international cuisine.  The Palace is east on Fullerton, and another short distance north on Clark at 2433 N. Clark Street.  A new location of the Crepe and Coffee Palace has opened at 5200 N. Clark Street.  Although the Crepe and Coffee Palace is not open for late night dessert, the delicious crepes, charming setting, and friendly waiters are not likely to disappoint at this Mediterranean café at any time of the day.