Tastes of summer will give you a winter break
I look out the window to see snow falling and the whirling yellow lights from a passing snowplow. I've seen this scene before this winter ... several times ... more times than I can count.
If you're like me, you've seen it so much you're not looking forward to a weekend of sledding, but rather to the day when you can trade your boots for flip-flops. You want to ditch the snow for the sand, your shovel for a beach towel and you want to do it now - before the hordes head south for spring break and great deals on summer timeshares disappear.
Find your shades and sandals; your summer getaway can begin today, if you know where to go. Around the suburbs you can find places serving drinks, dinner and other treats that will have you believing you're sitting on the deck in the middle of July recalling that day back in February when it snowed, again.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe,
500 Hough St., Barrington
(847) 277-7590; tropicalsmoothiecafe.com
Tropical plants, a thatched roof above the soda bar, reed ceiling fans and bamboo walls lend to the beachfront atmosphere.
Summery sips: Citrus Split smoothie with less than 200 calories in a 24-ounce cup will fill you up and help get you bikini ready.
Pair it with: Jamaican Jerk Chicken wrap provides a kicky bit of heat to melt any ice still clinging to the fur on your parka.
Cocoa Cabana
651 S. Eighth St. (Route 31), West Dundee, (847) 851-8775 thecocoacabana.com
A lighted palm tree and colorful umbrellas give this strip-mall chocolate shop character. The hand-dipped chocolates fare better in cooler temps, so this is the season to visit, lest you want melted chocolate on your fingers.
Summery sips: The Frozen Hot Chocolate is not simply a chocolate shake, it's an icy cup of hot chocolate - really.
Pair it with: Pineapple rings dipped in a decadent coat of dark or milk chocolates; this is how every pineapple hopes to end up. Also, small-batch ice creams, chocolate scooped into homemade waffle cones and white chocolate lattes.
Key Wester Fish & Pasta House
1975 Glacier Blvd., Naperville
(630) 778-8700; portillos.com/keywester
Colorful fish in tanks and on the walls, fishing nets, rocky coves, palm trees; this can't be the Western burbs.
Summery sips: Fruity drinks with fun names abound. The Bahama Mama is a fan favorite with strawberry purée, piña colada mix and a blend or rums.
Pair it with: Man cannot live by Mai Tais alone, so munch on succulent coconut shrimp or the macadamia halibut.
Tiki Terrace
1591 Lee St., Des Plaines
(847) 795-8454; thetikiterrace.com
Tiki statues flank the stage where drums beat and hips hula in this paradise away from paradise. Yes, that's Don Ho you hear in the background.
Summery sips: Colorful cocktails come in tall glasses garnished with lots of fruit and go down easy. One too many Pama Coco Delights or Singapore Slings and you'll be swaying with the hula girls.
Pair it with: On Hawaii's Big Island, Kalua pork slow cooks in a pit covered with banana leaves. The dish doesn't get quite that same treatment here, but it still comes out juicy and full of flavor.
Sonic Drive-in
1121 Stearns Road, Bartlett; 1090 S. Randall Road, Algonquin; 2974 Kirk Road, Aurora; sonicdrivein.com
The hamburger stand that's all the rage in the West features drive-in stalls and car hops on inline skates (when weather permits).
Summery sips: You can almost hear the Ventures playing in the background as you quench your thirst with a cherry limeade (chilled with chewable ice pellets, not huge cubes). Small fruit slushes are on the dollar menu!
Pair it with: Send your hunger pangs packing with a SuperSonic Cheeseburger and tater tots smothered with chili and cheese. Ask the car hop to leave extra napkins.
Rainforest Cafe
Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg (847) 619-1900
and Gurnee Mills, Gurnee, (847) 855-7800
When the cooling rains let up, gorillas and cheetahs come out to play in this animated Amazon oasis.
Summery sips: Jungle juice tastes sweeter when toucans squawk nearby. The menu offers an array of drinks in every color of the rainbow for both adults and kids.
Pair it with: The Paradise House Salad comes loaded with jicima, tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers. Save room for the Sparkling Volcano, a giant ice cream creation suitable for sharing.