Entries associated with the tag "Lem's":

Southern Foodways Alliance oral historian Amy Evans was in town this month doing fieldwork in preparation for Camp Chicago: An Up South Expedition, an event to be held May 23-25. It's an exploration of the connection between the foods of the city and the south, but no dry, academic exercise. It's going to include a tamale tour with Peter Engler, bourbon drinking with Chuck Cowdery, soul food at Edna's with the Trib's Donna Pierce, a south-side barbecue tour, a show at the Hideout, dinner at West Town Tavern with Edna Stewart, and more. Anyone with a passing interest in Chicago soul food (or the mother-in-law) will recognize some of the subjects Evans collected material from while she was here: they include Stewart, James Lemons of Lem's, Barbara Ann Bracy of Barbara Ann's BBQ, Izola White of Izola's, and John Pawlikowski of Fat Johnnie's. But if you've ever read her work in the SFA's Oral Histories Project archive--colorful in-depth discussions with Kentucky ham makers, New Orleans bartenders, Birmingham Greeks, Western Tennessee whole hog smokers, and more--you know she's going to bring plenty to the table. She's planning to post the transcripts on the SFA's site before the 23rd, but in the meantime, there's a beautifully shot flickr set from her visit.

Last Monday I was headed west on 75th Street, looking forward to a quick tipple at the New Apartment Lounge before some rib tips on the trunk outside Lem's. For some reason both the pilot and I blinked and missed the NAL, and instead pulled up a stool one block east at Laristo's. A nice enough place, though fairly empty. While ordering a round we noticed three red plastic gas cans among the bottles behind the bar.

When we inquired, the barkeep Randy and a few patrons snorted and rolled their eyes. "That's Crunk Punch," Randy said, declining to reveal the components, but not bothering to hide his utter revulsion (he was quick to mention that the drink wasn't his invention). He tried to talk us out of one, but we couldn't be persuaded. What arrived was a painfully sweet concoction of pink lemonade and vodka, perfect for poisoning insects and rats (there was a blue version also). Maybe because there were no females present, someone observed that the drink was popular with the ladies, or rather for guys trying to get them home.

Anyway, stiff pours of Maker's there at Laristo's . . .

Laristo's Night Club, 606 E. 75th, 773-651-2862