| Sure, in any world-class city, especially one the | | | | <b>Table Fifty-Two</b> |
| size of Chicago, you can pretty much get any | | | | A bit pricier than A&L's, this may be upscale |
| food or cuisine you desire. | | | | dining -- but it's still Southern all the way. |
| Chinese? Please, give me something difficult. | | | | Apparently the chef is from Florida and used to |
| Brazilian? Fogo de Chao. Next. | | | | be Oprah's personal chef (if that's true, she has |
| Ecuadorian? La Humita. | | | | good taste!) |
| The trick is not finding a particular food in a | | | | Because this guy totally nails the taste of Old |
| restaurant -- it's finding a restaurant that does the | | | | Florida. It's getting harder and harder to find -- in |
| food justice. One that would be right at home in | | | | Florida! Get away from the resorts -- away |
| the culture or country. | | | | from the shore entirely and you'll find joints selling |
| One where the expats and recent arrivals eat. | | | | buttermilk fried chicken, spicy low-country-style |
| That's the trick. | | | | shrimp with grits and fried green tomatoes. |
| Being from the South, I know Southern American | | | | Which is exactly what you will also find at Table |
| Cooking. Heck, I grew up on Southern Cooking. | | | | Fifty-Two. |
| So allow me to give you 3 places to try that I | | | | Skip the wines. They are not authentic and very |
| think nail it cold. | | | | expensive. |
| <b>Army & Lou's</b> | | | | Visit low-country Florida in the Windy City at 52 |
| Deep-fried catfish is always in season at Army | | | | W. Elm. |
| & Lou's -- and you don't get much more | | | | <b>Wishbone</b> |
| Southern than fired catfish with coleslaw and | | | | This is Southern comfort food at it's best -- and |
| cornmeal muffins. Luckily, all three are always | | | | most reasonably priced. Golden corn cakes, |
| available and always delicious. | | | | cheesey grits and shrimp, juicy grilled chicken |
| The fried chicken ain't half bad either if you are in | | | | (with mango salsa -- okay, it's not ALL authentic), |
| the mood. Crank it up with some sweet tators | | | | crab and crayfish. |
| and corn bread dressing. I usually skip the | | | | Also don't miss the pecan topped mashed sweet |
| bean-of-the-day -- but that's just me. I'm sure | | | | potatoes. Unless I am there and there is only |
| they are killer too. | | | | one last helping. ;-) |
| Finish with my favorite desert, bread pudding. | | | | Desserts include my weakness, peach cobbler, |
| Find Army & Lou's exactly where it has | | | | and chocolate pecan pie. |
| been for 50+ years -- at 422 E. 75th. | | | | Drop in anytime to Wishbone at 6611 W. |