Trib food staff has a nice Valentine’s day homage to the defunct food places and people they love. In that spirit, Southside Shrimp House, how I’ll miss your honest dinginess and your butterflied garlicky Chicago style shrimp, the best in town (I know because I ate 60 pieces in one afternoon at a bunch of second class shacks before I found you). Goin’ to watch Buehrle hurl and Konerko ding will never be the same, now that your roiling vats of oil have been silenced.

Though I arrived in Chicago well after Ambria’s heydey, meeting and interviewing Chef Gabino Sotelino last year has been a highlight of my food writing career so far. His stories about working on old French brigades to kicking Mr. T out of Ambria because he was wearing tennis shoes were priceless. I’ve met lots of passionate chefs, but rarely one so colorful. Though, we still have Babareeba and Mon Ami Gabi, it’s not quite the same since we lost those big comfy sink in like a rat packer leather banquettes and rich wood paneled walls. So Happy Valentine’s day Gabino. I hope Vegas is warm.