This Week’s Episode: Macku, Coalfire, White Fence Farm

Macku, chef/owner at his eponymous restaurant is not Japanese – as one might assume of a sushi chef – but Chinese. Interestingly, if you chat with Macku he will tell you that sushi actually originated in China, not Japan. I had never heard this before and my curiosity was piqued. I am heading to Japan this month and I’m looking forward to doing a bit of research on the subject myself, even if the only result is many sushi dinners and few answers.

Coalfire is not far from where I live, nestled quietly on a fairly nondescript strip of Grand Avenue in the old Italian neighborhood. I’m a committed carnivore, and it’s worth noting that the sausage they use at Coalfire is homemade and from a family recipe at Bari, an old school Italian deli and specialty foods shop that has been around for 40 years…it’s the real deal. Coalfire’s Nduja, a spreadable spicy Calabrian salami, comes from Publican Quality Meats and is the stuff of dreams. I’m addicted, and it’s my go-to topping at Coalfire. I may be a Chicago gal but when it comes to pizza, thin crust, not deep dish, has my heart (and palate!).

It’s pretty far from where I grew up, but I loved going to White Fence Farm as a kid. My parents had friends that way so we would meet for dinner, and they would give my brother and me a couple bucks and set us off into the arcade and petting zoo that are connected to the restaurant. Yes, there’s a petting zoo. And the arcade…you wouldn’t find Ms. Pac Man or Q-bert (wow am I dating myself) but old-fashioned viewfinders, mechanized fortune-tellers (remember the one in the movie Big?), and an attached antique car museum. This was a child’s paradise and revisiting the restaurant brought back a flood of memories. And it seemed to do the same for some of my guests who have been going there since they were kids and now take their families there. This is definitely a unique restaurant. Check it out tonight and let us know what you think.

This was such a fun episode for me and the guests. Tune in tonight and see for yourselves. See you then!

Cheers,
Catherine

Catherine De Orio is the host of Check, Please! Follow her on Twitter @CatCalls and Instagram @catdeorio.