Daily life as a culinary entrepreneur can be pretty strange sometimes. You don’t have set hours. You don’t have an official office. You don’t have to get up at 8am, run to Starbucks by 8:30am and be at your desk at 9am like everyone else in the world. Someday’s I love the freedom of making my own schedule. Other days, I wish I could succumb to corporate america and feel more normal.
So what do I do? I make my own schedule to structure my life. I go to yoga four days a week and take it as seriously as having a business meeting. I assign specific days each week to get out of my pj’s, put on a cute outfit, and work at a coffee shop with other self-employed people in Chicago. What continues to amaze me is how many people are working for themselves these days. Coffee shops make “the outsiders” feel comfortable. I look around as I sip on my chai latte and feel understood.
As a result of my coffee shop work days, I have tasted all kinds of cafe food in Chicago. My expectations for the “soup de jour”or cafe “signature salad” are never high, but once and I while I am impressed. Today I was at my favorite cafe in the city, Swim Cafe at 1357 Chicago Ave (Ukranian Village). It’s not my favorite place to do work because it’s posh or decorated nice. But they have THE BEST cafe food in the city. You could easily pass by this place without any idea that it’s a hidden gem. But believe me, GO INSIDE!!!!! Everything I have eaten at this dive is delicious. (including their Seitan Gyro with feta cheese….I have never liked seitan before trying this sandwich)
My favorite thing on their menu is definitely the Summer Salad. It’s full of basically every ingredient I am in love with: avocado, tomatoes, hearts of palm, toasted sunflower seeds, thinly sliced shallot and mixed greens. The best part is their signature Green Goddess Dressing. The flavors are herbaceous, acidic, yet well-rounded and earthy. Every time I order the salad I spend at least 10 minutes tasting the dressing and thinking about why it is so damn good. It never occurred to me to simply ask the chef what is in it. Today….I got the goods. (and obviously I am sharing them with you!)
Swim Cafe’s Green Goddess Dressing:
1 bunch parsley, stemmed
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup tahini
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Blend all of the ingredients together and store it in a air-tight container.
*It’s fabulous on any salad but would taste great over fish, chicken, scrambled eggs or bread. I’m obsessed.
Let me know what you think!
Chow Bella 