#26 Oak Lawn Portillo's

I had a tough time sleeping last night.  Seems it goes in spurts where I can’t fall asleep and I’m up until the wee hours of the morning, or I go to sleep right away but then I wake up in the wee hours of the morning and can’t get back to sleep.  Perhaps it has something to do with the “wee hours?”  I have no idea what that means except that I’ve been up since 4am.  We took a drive down to see Josh at the U of I today.  It was a great day for a drive even though I was exhausted.  Thank goodness there are rest areas along the way.  Okay, seriously, how can anyone rest at a rest area?  I’ve just been sitting motionless for two hours.  Do I really need more rest?  I’ve rested so much that my legs are stiff, I have to take a wee, and highway hypnosis rendered me a zombie.  Perhaps they should call it a “revival area.”  Now that couldn’t be misconstrued, could it?  How about a “regeneration station,” at least that rhymes.  In any case, it’s slightly better than, but perhaps not as safe as, taking a tinkle next to the car on the shoulder.  A word of warning; Don’t be foolish and walk off into a corn field to protect your modesty!  You are likely to run into an alien making a crop circle or an old baseball player looking for a game.

We had a nice visit with Josh and on the way back Joy and I decided to make a stop at the Oak Lawn Portillo’s.  It’s not too far off the tollway.  I was pleasantly surprised that the person at the counter knew exactly what a tamale boat was.  If you get a chance sometime, order a tamale smothered in chili, cheese, and onions. It’s a favorite of my friend Jim S.

Jeff
Tamale Boat (not on the menu – tamale, chili, cheese, onions)
Cake Shake (I have to try everything!!)

Joy
Italian Beef

#25 Schaumburg Portillo's

The 50th state in our union was established in 1959 and no, you cannot find a Portillo’s there.  However, you can find Spam, and plenty of it.  According to Hormel, Hawaii is the largest consumer of Spam.  Quite possibly you are wondering why I’m writing about Hawaii, or Spam for that matter.  No, there are no Portillo’s in Hawaii and no, Portillo’s does not serve Spam.  Although, I could swear that I’ve seen a picture of Dick Portillo wearing a Hawaiian shirt.  That’s enough of a reason for me.  And, if you buy that, I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you.  Oops, “had” some swamp land.  I sold that to Disney.  Once again I digress.  Oh, the joys of writing.  Here’s the real reason I’m writing about Hawaii.  Hawaii is the home of our friend Nobu.  Nobu (pictured below) works for a company that makes and sells Hawaiian shirts.  We met through our mutual friend Kathy, who happens to be his publishing sales rep.  Fortunately, for us at least, Nobu and Kathy travel to Chicago a few times a year to review and approve the company’s catalog.  Yes, the catalog is produced here.  Well, strange as it may seem, it’s actually produced in Wisconsin.  One time Kathy tried to explain it to me.  She said something about paper, shipping, and labor costs, just before I derailed the conversation to talk more about ghosts with Nobu.  Hawaii is, if you’ve ever seen that Brady Bunch episode, chock full of ghosts.  According to Nobu, there are good ghosts and bad ones.  If you are unsure which witch is which, you better study up before you travel to Hawaii.

I think Nobu really enjoyed his first Italian Beef sandwich.  Joy said it was exceptionally good that night.  I just can’t wait to get to Hawaii for a big slice of fried Spam.  Just kidding Nobu.

Jeff
Char-Grilled Italian Sausage (very sweet and awesome)
Chocolate Éclair Cake (should be illegal it’s so good)

Joy
Italian Beef
Chocolate Éclair Cake (I’m not the only one who likes it)
Kathy
Jumbo Hot Dog
Fries
Chocolate Cake

Nobu (can eat)
Italian Beef
Onion Rings
Beer
Chocolate Cake Shake

#24 Shorewood Portillo's

Many of you who know me know that I enjoy working on computers.  I know it’s kind of geeky, but we all need hobbies, right?  In any case, I usually only work on friend’s computers and I always refuse payment.  That doesn’t stop my friends from occassionally trying to compensate me (thank you Denise and Jim for the Omaha Steaks!), which, if it makes them feel better, I guess that’s all right with me.  I mention this because today I enjoyed lunch at the Portillo’s in Shorewood thanks to Bonnie.  Bonnie hasn’t had much luck with her dad’s PC and now that she has her own laptop she’s being super careful about viruses, right Bonnie? 

I know this is the wrong forum, but I can assure you that whatever links or attachments your friends send you are not that funny.  Computer viruses are a pain.  Also, don’t be naive, Internet content can be written anyone, even people like me.  I assume you know that because you are reading this now.  In any case, DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ, even if it sounds plausible. 

Shorewood is 32.4 miles from our home.  Ok, it should be that far, but it’s considerably farther when you don’t use a GPS or a map and you get lost.  Consequently, we had a nice drive in the country where we got to see some corn fields and barns and such; it was a beautiful sunny 80 degree day.  Shorewood, in case you don’t know is south of Plainfield.  This Portillo’s is on Route 59, which down that way is called Brook Forest Ave.  Don’t you just love it when streets change names?  That’s a rhetorical question although, there actually may be people who enjoy streets with multiple names.  For example, the people that name them.  In any case, it was a nice day and we stopped in downtown Plainfield.  I forced Joy to eat some ice cream at a little shop.  Ok, I didn’t have to bend her arm behind her back, but she really didn’t want it.  Honestly I just stopped at the joint to use the bathroom, and I felt guilty, so I had to buy something …

Jeff
Breadded Chicken Croissant (Order a small side of coleslaw and add it to the sandwich. If you’re going to consume that many calories already, you might as well go for it.)

Joy
Charbroiled Chicken Sandwich
(2) Root beers