Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

The common thread among most of my daily internal conversations is what am I craving right now and how am I going to satisfy that calling. Here's a 2004 round-up of some of the most intense obsessions and where I headed to take care of them; where I knew the dish would be awesome every time, forever my saviour and always consistantly delicious.

1. Hash Browns: Diner Grill
What in this world is better than a whole platter of thinly shaved potatoes, fried up to order and served just the way they should be; lightly crunchy on the outside, moist and soaked in loads of butter on the inside. Thank God the joint is open round-the-clock and the ketchup bottles are always full.

2. Chocolate Croissant: Ba Le
Don't ask me why but the Vietnamese seem to know how to bake up a croissant better than the French do; especially the chocolate kind. Flaky and full of thick, bittersweet chocolate, their version is so wonderfully dense with butter it weighs in at about a half-pound and tastes like you've wandered into a narrow, back alley of Paris and discovered heaven.

3. Pancakes: The Hot Spot
Thin like the Swede's make 'em but loaded with the flavor of all-American-style flapjacks, the sour cream lingonberry stuffed pancakes here are to die for. There's three to a serving and they come with a side of housemade honey butter and a dish of mixed berry compote. The best way to eat them is to just cut off a bite and dip accordingly. After tasting this version, you won´t remember any other silly 'ol pancake.

4. French Toast: Victory's Banner
With the initial bite being utterly breathtaking, these super-thick wedges of toast are light as air and perfectly eggy. Skip all other versions except the plain, slather them in the homemade peach-flecked butter, douse them in real maple syrup and you´ve got yourself an unbeatable hangover nirvana.