Every time we survey our accepted and new students, we hear again and again that our campus locations are important factors in the decision to apply to MWU. The two cities that are home to our academic community are both outstanding. I am lucky to get to live in both of them. While their weather profiles are vastly different (too hot in the summer! too cold in the winter! too dry! too humid!), Chicago and Phoenix share an abundance of great restaurants. And, despite my New Year's Resolution to lose 20 lbs (I am really still working on that), I do love to eat. So, when I run out of important health care and educational matters to discuss, I may resort to a restaurant review or two. This entry may be considered a "TGIF" lunch location, or "The World's Best Cheeseburger and Most Delicious Chocolate Cake."

Our Downers Grove Campus is not far from both the Yorktown Mall and the Oak Brook Mall, both of which have plenty of good dining options. Tucked back behind my favorite store (The Container Store) just beyond the Oak Brook Mall is J. Alexander's. Yes, it's a chain, but it's still good. Our favorite print vendor, let's call him "Bob," will occasionally take my director of communications and I to lunch. Here we happened upon what is arguably the world's most delicious hamburger. I'm assuming the meat is soaked in butter for quite a while, cooked to order, slathered in melted Tillamook cheddar, and placed on a toasted, seeded bun. It comes with fries (which are just average), but you can also choose mashed potatoes (skin-on and just the right consistency); a loaded baked potato (claiming to weigh 1 lb); or wonderful baked mac & cheese (with croutons on top).



I would suggest splitting it with a friend, and each person getting their own side dish, because you must save room for dessert. Now, I admit to having a huge sweet tooth (hence the need to lose 20 lbs). And I have enjoyed delicious desserts throughout the country and around the world (last year alone I sampled creme brulees from Paris and daily gelatos in Italy). But, I am willing to say that J. Alexander's chocolate cake is unrivaled. My dining companions refer to it as "damp bundt cake," which tastes better than it sounds. The chocolate is incredibly rich and the moisture content is exactly perfect. Add a scoop of real vanilla ice cream and a dollop of hot fudge (ask for an extra dish of the fudge), and this is dessert heaven. As you note the "before" and "after" photos below, please bear in mind that I shared this plate with two other people. And, yes, it really did make me that happy. Have a great week and take time to enjoy the simple things in life--like a great cheeseburger and some delicious chocolate cake!