I've seen the future and it is trendy.

Rodan ain't just a monster in Japanese fiction.

A group of us ventured to the resta-lounge in Wicker Park last week to celebrate my first day as a legal drinker.

Rodan's location is no mistake since it's seething with self-awareness much like the neighborhood. The website touts, "Rodan is a restaurant and lounge of simple and modern design" which is to say that walking into Rodan means walking into the year 3000. Just look at what we found in the bathroom!

The menu is enough to woo the most cynical of martians with its South American-Japanese-Thai-Pan-American-Homestyle fusion cuisine.

We tried as much as we could afford. Up for honorable mention are the Tuna Kilawin, a Philipino-style ceviche [stale chips aside]
grilled terriyaki salmon maki
and the grilled adobo wings that came with tempura fries. Yesss!

For those of you living on the proverbial edge, try dipping your maki in the Adobo wing sauce. It'll change your life and grease your fingers!

Another plus: There's a hidden DJ off in one of Rodan's dark corners. He had the decency to spin Feist alongside roots Reggae. That's about as sweet as the lychee martinis.

It's that attention to detail that I fully appreciate. They totally know their clientele. Rodan's entire selection from the eats to the treats

were well within range of our lowly incomes.

Oy vey!

My camera's on the fritz! I don't know what that means for my blogger career, but it's definitely not going to stop the Adventures in Eating. I've got some back up meals that are going to be posted and tons of weekend gorging took place so maybe I can slip my memory card into another device and be back in commission? I'll let you know how it goes. Until then, here's your intermission refreshment. Thanks for stopping by!

Summer in the City

Tom Skilling wasn't lying. Highs reached the upper 70's. And the lows? They were emotional, to say the least. When night fell, a mighty hail storm pounded Chicago. Naturally, I celebrated the Al Gore-validating weather conditions just before the apocalyptic display with purple yam ice cream.

1. Yes, that's cone-shaped china.
2. Yes, that's a snail-shaped spoon.
3. Of course, those are coco sticks.

The oralgasm didn't end there. Our adorable waiter leaving us with two sprinkle shakers with enough variety to please even the pickiest of sweet fiends. Some were your traditional sprinkle, while others came in the form of red hots, flakes, and even pellets!


Only these pellets were candy coated/rainbow colored and tasted of chocolate and sweetened wax. Ole! I'm a sucker for table side presentations so I didn't hesitate to pour some sugar... on my frozen sugar.

Exotic alternatives included green tea, mango, lychee, red bean, avocado, Asian fruits medley, jack fruit, and cantaloupe.

This dream come true cost a whopping $2.

Restaurant: Azha