Chundy's 2

Went to Chundy's and ate a great Indian meal. Also, I bought a chocolate croissant and decided to take it home and photograph it before eating it. Here it is:

Bob's Pantry

On Monday November 24th, our local neighborhood convenience store (which is actually way more than a convenience store) re-opened. Bob Crimo, the owner and manager, had previously owned the White Hen franchise in Highland Park which he ran for 18 years. Last year when White Hen was bought out by Seven Eleven, Bob was forced out and left with no store and no job. Well, not one to get screwed by the man... Bob got the financing together, bought an old rundown location, fixed it up and re-opened as Bob's Pantry. So, on Monday morning Nic and I showed our support by arriving at 3:30am with video and photo cameras in hand to help document the opening day. It was a day of many "firsts":

The first customers arrived at 4:00am for the 4:30 opening:







At 4:30 am sharp, Bob opened the store with a ceremonious and always popular "take-down-the-brown-paper-covering-the-'now open sign'" moment.







The first customers and the first bills given to the store:



Paulie (Bob's brother and trusted super-sidekick) makes the first sandwich. Paulie makes the BEST sandwiches:



There...it...goes...



The first sandwich brings this young man much confidence:



The first multi-flavored icee may induce early-onset puberty in this young ruffian (watch out ladies)!



The first "Nicky D" (one POUND of meat topped with every available vegetable and a kaiser roll) is made:



This young lad is the first to try the Nicky D. Little does he know that in 20 minutes he'll be leaning over the garbage can trying not to vomit!



The first (and proudest) to use the bathroom:



Here we interview him about his experience:



A final shot of Bob with his wife and kids (a great day!!!):



Bob worked that first day for 24 hours because so many people came out. Nic and I went back two days later and Bob declared that in 25 years working in the field he has never seen so much business. The people of Highland Park have officially welcomed him back with open arms.

Viva Bob's Pantry!

Curad

On set for the Curad commercial Bitter Jester shot a few weeks ago for the Lou Beres Ad Agency. The three 10 second spots are running on national cable. If you blink you'll miss them, but it's still cool to have them in our little bag of projects. Photos shot with my iphone:

Chundy's

This first post is very important as it will truly show the direction of this blog as a whole.

Chundy's:

2957 West Diversey Avenue, Chicago, IL
Vegetarian Friendly.
Coffee (intelligentsia) available.
Price: $8.95 gets you a main dish and two sides.

We begin with Chundy's. Oh Chundy's. You used to be Golden Rise Bakery. Then you closed. Then one day a few months later, we walked by and there you were, alive and well with a new name and a new "menu." The menu is whatever the great owner and his son come up with. We went for the first time and had meatloaf and chicken pot-pie. They were both unique like no potted pies and loaves of meat I've ever had. They also had an amazing chickpea dish. I hate chickpeas but that night I ate them all, so that attests to the greatness. There are also fresh baked pies and breads to choose from for a little or not so little dessert. These people really like preparing hearty meals with love and care.

The owner is Indian and he was there that first night with his adorable wife (I assume wife) and his son and all of them were talkative and gracious. A great example of local business run by local people.

During the summer they come every week to the Logan Square Farmers Market to sell those delicious pies and breads so you can check them out there as well.

I'm scared they can't survive with the new chain restaurants coming in to the Logan Blvd. area since most people seem to like eating the number 1 or 3 or 10 or 25 and getting the same generic food every time.

We shall see!


Viva Chundy's!