Best Cheese Plates In Chicago: Mindy's Hot Chocolate
By Erika Kubick in Food on Jun 18, 2015 6:10PM
Mont St Francis from Capriole Farm with candied clementine, glazed nuts, and Baker Miller oat brioche. Photo by Erika Kubick.
While we all enjoy cozying up to a wedge of cheese at home, sometimes you need to take your cheese habit out on the town. Whether you’re out with someone special, a group of friends or just yourself, the best meals begin or conclude with a killer cheese plate— but you’ve got to know where to get them. That’s why we're rounding up our favorite places to order a cheese plate in Chicago for this new series.
First up, we’re featuring everybody’s favorite date-night cafe, Mindy’s Hot Chocolate, in Bucktown. We love Mindy’s for their unstoppable pastry program and knock-out burger, but they’re also one of our favorite spots to get a little cheesy.
Their board is dedicated to one cheese at a time paired with tailored accoutrements. While we love trying several types of cheese on one plate, Mindy’s highlights one at a time in order to ensure that it is always at its best. The current cheese is Mont St Francis, a raw goat milk cheese with a full, beefy flavor from Capriole, a goat creamery in Indiana. “We often feature cheese from Capriole Farms,” says executive chef Amanda Barnes. “Their cheeses are just beautiful.”
Barnes paired this cheese with candied clementine, glazed nuts and Baker Miller oat brioche. Mont St Francis is a stinker by itself, and the sweet pairings play nicely with the more savory notes in the cheese. We recommend completing the plate with a classic Manhattan or a well-hopped pale ale. Mont St Francis is also excellent alongside Mindy’s half-and-half hot chocolate, an equal mixture of dark chocolate and espresso.
Burrata with unfiltered extra virgin olive oil and tomato-soaked sour dough. Photo by Erika Kubick.
If you’re looking for another light, summery cheese dish, we also strongly recommend the burrata, a fresh Italian cheese that changes frequently and never disappoints. The current set-up includes a pool of unfiltered extra virgin olive oil that cushions the fluffy ball of burrata. Balanced on top the cheese, there’s a slice of tomato-soaked sourdough, which tastes like a salty bread custard.
While it’s hard to go wrong at Mindy’s, you can always count on their cheese. Word of the wise: if you’re lucky enough to spot the word “cheesecake” on the dessert menu, don’t pass it up. The renowned pastry department is also privy to the wonders of cheese. If you aren’t into sweets, we suggest completing your meal with their perfect macaroni and cheese.
Mindy’s Hot Chocolate is located at 1747 N. Damen Ave. They’re open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 12 a.m.