Practicalmadness

I've just learned that my favorite supplier of pancakes and other breakfast foods, Orange¹, is opening a second location in the South Loop.

Upon reading on Metromix that Orange on Harrison was to open in January, I called them and asked, "when are you open?" I figured that this ambiguously-worded question would suffice whether the place were open already or not.

After a moment's hesitation, the guy said that O.o.H. would be opening this very weekend (i.e., Friday), "barring any unforseen catastrophes. (Beat.) Like an explosion or something." Assuming that this mysterious explosion remains shrouded in the mists of this man's imagination, pancakes can be had starting at 7 AM on weekday mornings.

Metromix claims that O.o.H. will be carrying over the eclectic, tasty menu from the Lakeview place, which includes:

• Green eggs and ham (that's ham and eggs with pesto)
• Ham & cheese omelet, with a dash of dijon
• Steak & eggs benedict, which is poached eggs atop a tender beef filet, atop toasted brioche, drizzled with a balsamic reduction and served with po'taters
• The Pancake Flight, which is five stacks of silver-dollar pancakes all based on that week's theme, e.g., flowers or booze or something
• Fresh juices of all kinds
• Frushi. That's fruit sushi.

I'd imagine that this move into the South Loop is at least partly in response to the opening of Room 12, which is a recently-opened South Loop version of Wicker Park's Bongo Room. Which is in turn a response to the South Loop's emergence as the next hot neighborhood. Which is in turn a response to Lincoln and Wicker Parks being, like, over.

As pertains to Chicago's brunch joints, I claim allegiance to neither Orange nor the Bongo Room/Room 12. However, if war is to break out, I will side with either one against Toast, whose day of reckoning is at hand. (But only between the hours of 7 and 3.)²