Time Out Chicago has published their annual list of the 100 Best Things We Ate (And Drank) in 2011, which is always more fun than the inevitable year-end ten best lists simply because it doesn’t get hung up on class distinctions (“I simply can’t rank $1.95 dim sum above the sole meuniere at Le Snootipants”) and just spreads a lotta lotta love all over the map. Personally, we work pretty hard at eating fabulous things every week, and we’re not sure we get to a hundred per annum (we also realize we’re spoiled just living here and deserve a beating), but Time Out’s Laura Baginski assured us last week that the problem is always cutting the list down, not filling it up. Some things on it are ephemeral with the seasons— good luck getting the Swiss chard tortelloni at Due Lire or anything with the word “Next” on it— but others are eternal, and you’ll find lots of budget-priced things worth eating your way around town for, from the mushroom and kale pie at Pleasant House to the motawma at Al-Bawadi to the Montreal pastrami at Fumare in the French Market to the baked creamy egg yolk buns at Cai to the sweet potato pie at Jimmy Jamm to… wait, this is turning into our list.
