So excited for this year's restaurant week. I made reservations WAY in advance from my sad experience last year where some of the restaurant were already completely booked the week before the promotion went into effect. I think the restaurants that participated last year will turn things up a notch and I can't wait to see what they have to offer. My line up for this year:
Friday, 20th: Aja Steak (at the Dana Hotel)
Sunday, 22nd: Naha
Wednesday, 25th: Aigre Doux
Friday, 27th: Nomi (lunch)
Minus Aja Steak, I picked the other restaurants based value. I've been wanting to try Aja since they first opened so I can't wait to see what it's all about. I need to get to the gym if I'll be hitting up all these restaurants next week!
Showing posts with label Eating Out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eating Out. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
great deals, good eats, old friends
An old friend of mine from pre-college summer camp at Amherst contacted me via Facebook (what an amazing and scary thing that site is!) that she was going to be in Chicago for residency program interviews. I hadn't seen her in over 8 years so I wondered what would be the best way to break the ice? A delicious dinner and lots of wine. One of my favorite places in Chicago is Sweets and Savories - the food is always at its best and the atmosphere is comfortable and casual making it the perfect place for a Sunday night dinner between two girls on a mission to fit in 8 years of conversation.
I was surprised at the menu - the prices had dropped significantly! My feeling is Chef David has taken cues from the current economic climate that people aren't as willing to drop 25-40 dollars on an entree anymore. All of his appetizers are priced below $10 and his entrees range from $17 - $19! I wondered if this meant a drop in the quality also, but that is never the case at S&S. I had the tomato bread soup and lobster risotto. The soup was so filling by the time I got my risotto I had to keep pawing big spoonfuls over to my friend who was really into her food also.
We shared the blueberry cobbler with white pepper ice cream - what a great dessert! The white pepper ice cream was a nice touch and added a kick to the dense cobbler.
After all was said and done we each paid $42 dollars for a glass of wine, two courses, a shared dessert and coffee. I'd say pretty good for the quality of food.
The next day we met at Blackbird to try out their $15 dollar lunch special. What another great deal! You get a salad, choice of white fish sandwich or short rib burger, and a cute little box with two warm donuts to go. The salad was a simple mixed green with vinaigrette dressing. The white fish sandwich was the best sandwich I had ever had. It came with homemade veggie chips. The highlight was the delectable donuts. They were like fried dough topped with chocolate - they went perfect with the intelligentsia coffee which is the house coffee. $15 + $2.50 for coffee and tip put us at $22/person. I plan on coming back once a week!
My friend also decided to put both U of Chicago and Northwestern as her #1 and 2 choices for residency programs. I like to think I had a part of that =)
I was surprised at the menu - the prices had dropped significantly! My feeling is Chef David has taken cues from the current economic climate that people aren't as willing to drop 25-40 dollars on an entree anymore. All of his appetizers are priced below $10 and his entrees range from $17 - $19! I wondered if this meant a drop in the quality also, but that is never the case at S&S. I had the tomato bread soup and lobster risotto. The soup was so filling by the time I got my risotto I had to keep pawing big spoonfuls over to my friend who was really into her food also.
We shared the blueberry cobbler with white pepper ice cream - what a great dessert! The white pepper ice cream was a nice touch and added a kick to the dense cobbler.
After all was said and done we each paid $42 dollars for a glass of wine, two courses, a shared dessert and coffee. I'd say pretty good for the quality of food.
The next day we met at Blackbird to try out their $15 dollar lunch special. What another great deal! You get a salad, choice of white fish sandwich or short rib burger, and a cute little box with two warm donuts to go. The salad was a simple mixed green with vinaigrette dressing. The white fish sandwich was the best sandwich I had ever had. It came with homemade veggie chips. The highlight was the delectable donuts. They were like fried dough topped with chocolate - they went perfect with the intelligentsia coffee which is the house coffee. $15 + $2.50 for coffee and tip put us at $22/person. I plan on coming back once a week!
My friend also decided to put both U of Chicago and Northwestern as her #1 and 2 choices for residency programs. I like to think I had a part of that =)
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
food, fun, and philanthropy
One of my favorite restaurant row establishments is having a spectacular anniversary celebration. Looks like a good time!
Click on image for larger view:
Click on image for larger view:
Thursday, October 2, 2008
mussels, good writing and karaoke!
I met up with some friends for dinner at the Hopleaf before the Bookslut reading last night. I had forgotten how great the food is there! We shared two orders of the always delectable mussels and fries, the brisket sandwich and the CB + J (toasted cashew buttered bread, fig spread, and morbier cheese). The two sandwiches and two orders of mussels were more than enough! After stuffing our faces we headed upstairs for the reading which didn't end up starting until 7:45 because Rolf Potts had a delayed flight. He came rushing in straight from the airport but had time to breath while the other two writers read ahead of him.
Peter Ferry, a lifelong teacher decided to finally sit down and write a novel. At age 61, his (first) truth based novel (he called this "walking the fine line between fiction and non-fiction by jabbing the reader in the eye a few times") Travel Writing was published. He read an excerpt from his book and you can definitely hear the maturity and grace in his writing. His excerpt was based on his travels to Mexico and reminded me of John Updike's short stories. His stories were extremely personal and almost too nostalgic - but he used "boob" twice - I mean, it doesn't get better than that.
Next Dubravka Ugresic read from her latest book Nobody's Home. Ugresic is already a highly acclaimed writer and has over 8 books to her name. A native of Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia) Ugresic's writing reminded me of Orhan Palmuk's writing. They follow a long line of classic novelists like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Gogol, etc who have lived under oppressive heads of state and governmental systems. They both came from countries in constant turmoil whether it be religious, political, or philosophical wars. She bring a different kind of perspective to the table - she much more aware of her surroundings, of the little cultural quirks that cause misunderstanding between people of different ethnicities, and of her own insufficiencies. Her sentences are crisp; her words sharp; and her accent beautiful. All her books have been translated into English which makes me wish I could read it in Croatian because it must be 10 times more powerful.
Finally, Rolf Potts shared one of his more famous short stories - Tantric Sex for Dilettantes. He got a lot of light hearted laughs. After reading that piece he read us some endnotes from his latest book, Marco Polo Didn't go There. This book compiles his last 10 years of travel. He actually expands his already published pieces and added the endnotes as a sort of commentary to fill in any holes. He admitted that he had to omit many direct quotes and character sketches of people that he encountered because they were so odd that they seemed unbelievable. He finds as a travel writer, he actually has to tone down stories to make them more believable. I can believe that!
After the book reading I headed over to Angels and Kings to hit up live karaoke with Pete Wentz. Last night's event was hosted by AM Vodka/Energy drink which happens to be something a friend of mine is behind. Everyone invited by AM got a complimentary bottle of the drink (which you can get 2-3 glasses out of). I test tasted it back in March and thought it was great - the healthier, tastier version of Red Bull + vodka. This was my first time at Angels and Kings - the space reminded me of Elm Street Liquors but with a LA punk rock vibe. It's a long space with the bar smack dab in the middle. At the furthest end of the bar is the stage which is the most crowded area. There are tables and lush couches at the space near the main entrance and then there is an elevated walkabout parallel to the bar that is lined with benches and more tables. Honestly, it's an uncomfortable space but has an energetic crowd. The live band was excellent and the karaoke singers ranged from professional to...lets just say took a lot of liquid courage.
All in all a fun-filled night.
Peter Ferry, a lifelong teacher decided to finally sit down and write a novel. At age 61, his (first) truth based novel (he called this "walking the fine line between fiction and non-fiction by jabbing the reader in the eye a few times") Travel Writing was published. He read an excerpt from his book and you can definitely hear the maturity and grace in his writing. His excerpt was based on his travels to Mexico and reminded me of John Updike's short stories. His stories were extremely personal and almost too nostalgic - but he used "boob" twice - I mean, it doesn't get better than that.
Next Dubravka Ugresic read from her latest book Nobody's Home. Ugresic is already a highly acclaimed writer and has over 8 books to her name. A native of Croatia (formerly Yugoslavia) Ugresic's writing reminded me of Orhan Palmuk's writing. They follow a long line of classic novelists like Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Gogol, etc who have lived under oppressive heads of state and governmental systems. They both came from countries in constant turmoil whether it be religious, political, or philosophical wars. She bring a different kind of perspective to the table - she much more aware of her surroundings, of the little cultural quirks that cause misunderstanding between people of different ethnicities, and of her own insufficiencies. Her sentences are crisp; her words sharp; and her accent beautiful. All her books have been translated into English which makes me wish I could read it in Croatian because it must be 10 times more powerful.
Finally, Rolf Potts shared one of his more famous short stories - Tantric Sex for Dilettantes. He got a lot of light hearted laughs. After reading that piece he read us some endnotes from his latest book, Marco Polo Didn't go There. This book compiles his last 10 years of travel. He actually expands his already published pieces and added the endnotes as a sort of commentary to fill in any holes. He admitted that he had to omit many direct quotes and character sketches of people that he encountered because they were so odd that they seemed unbelievable. He finds as a travel writer, he actually has to tone down stories to make them more believable. I can believe that!
After the book reading I headed over to Angels and Kings to hit up live karaoke with Pete Wentz. Last night's event was hosted by AM Vodka/Energy drink which happens to be something a friend of mine is behind. Everyone invited by AM got a complimentary bottle of the drink (which you can get 2-3 glasses out of). I test tasted it back in March and thought it was great - the healthier, tastier version of Red Bull + vodka. This was my first time at Angels and Kings - the space reminded me of Elm Street Liquors but with a LA punk rock vibe. It's a long space with the bar smack dab in the middle. At the furthest end of the bar is the stage which is the most crowded area. There are tables and lush couches at the space near the main entrance and then there is an elevated walkabout parallel to the bar that is lined with benches and more tables. Honestly, it's an uncomfortable space but has an energetic crowd. The live band was excellent and the karaoke singers ranged from professional to...lets just say took a lot of liquid courage.
All in all a fun-filled night.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
everything looks better in sepia
I FINALLY got a group of friends together to try out Sepia which had opened to amazing reviews last year. I failed to make the reservation enough in advance so we ended up with a 9:30 reservation. The hostess suggested that if we came in an hour early, they'd try to seat us as soon as another table turned around. So at 8:30 on the dot I met my friend Jamie at the bar and we asked the mixologist for recommendations. I wanted something strong, dry and not too sweet. I ended up with the Sepia Mule and Jamie with the French 75. Both were handled with care and came out a beautiful color. Every sip of our luscious cocktails made us feel as if we were drinking our way through a portal taking us back in time to another era. The bar furnishing are really lavish and make you feel like you're sitting by the fire with family. We struck up a conversation with the couple next to us who were celebrating their 1st year anniversary at their new favorite spot and I decided that this too was my favorite.
By 8:50 the other two in our party had arrived and we didn't even have to tell the hostess that the whole party arrived - she met us at the bar and was ready to seat us. What a good eye!
By 8:50 the other two in our party had arrived and we didn't even have to tell the hostess that the whole party arrived - she met us at the bar and was ready to seat us. What a good eye!
The ambiance in the main dining room right behind the walls of the hostess stand is in one word: lush. The chairs - large and comfy. The lighting - dim and mysterious. The servers - on their feet and at our service. Our server explained the menu from top to bottom and started us off with a great French burgandy and two orders of flatbreads - the smoked apple bacon and jonah crab. The flatbreads were excellent and left us thinking we could survive the whole meal on just those. But the night went on and so did our stomachs. Megan and I had the bank cod with saffron noodles. The cod filet was cooked to perfection and the slightly sweet and spicy saffron noodles offered a nice contrast to the salty marinade on the fish. Katie had the amish chicken - the best she's ever had. She said the chicken was so moist and soft that she could just cut through it with her fork. Jamie had the skate wing - another winner. We were perfectly satisfied but not overly stuffed so we ordered three desserts (We had the apple turnover, a chocolate dessert and the peach cobbler) and another french red.
Come 12:15, the restaurant was empty and we were just finishing up! We hadn't even noticed that we were the last ones there. The server never rushed us and the other wait staff just finished their business quietly as they allowed us to top off our night out at our own glacial pace. What a night! Three courses, a cheese platter, two bottles of wine, a cocktail each, tax and tip set us over $80 a person. Well worth EVERY penny.
Come 12:15, the restaurant was empty and we were just finishing up! We hadn't even noticed that we were the last ones there. The server never rushed us and the other wait staff just finished their business quietly as they allowed us to top off our night out at our own glacial pace. What a night! Three courses, a cheese platter, two bottles of wine, a cocktail each, tax and tip set us over $80 a person. Well worth EVERY penny.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
chicago style birthday bash
Last night we celebrated a friend's birthday in true Chicago style. Deep dish pizza at Pizzeria Due and Karaoke at the Blue Frog after. I've actually never been to Pizzeria Due before and I have to say, it wasn't so bad! It's not Lou Malnati's but it's bearable. There were 8 of us and we ordered 3 pies. HUGE mistake. We had a whole pie left over so we took it to the Blue Frog and gave it to the bartenders to eat.
The Blue Frog was packed like sardines as usual, but it was a fabulous time! There were several other parties there that night which made it more festive. The highlight of the evening, when my friend and her boyfriend sang "Me So Horny." Oh yes.
The Blue Frog was packed like sardines as usual, but it was a fabulous time! There were several other parties there that night which made it more festive. The highlight of the evening, when my friend and her boyfriend sang "Me So Horny." Oh yes.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
drawn into the drawing room
My girlfriends and I braved the arctic cold temperatures and tried out the The Drawing Room at Le Passage which had been getting a lot of press for its recent opening. The basement restaurant is warmly lit with cushy seats, glossy tables and of course the Gold Coast requisite of a good looking staff. We started off with a look at their short but creative cocktail list. The bartender...ahem, I mean mixologist offered some great recommendations. I didn't want anything sweet, so she suggested the Gloom Lifter (Jameson Irish, Hennessy VS, fresh lemon-sour, and fresh raspberries). It took her a good 7 or 8 minutes just to prepare the ingredients which included fresh lemons and raspberries that she crushed and painstakingly strained into the shaker. The outcome? One very thick and fragrant martini that was warm and refreshing all at the same time.
When we were seated, our waiter walked us through the short menu of small plates. We decided on the 'fish and chips', burger, crispy fried rice and ahi tuna bruschetta. The bruschetta was very delicious and easy to share. The crispy fried rice was simple yet filling and the burger was just delectable. I thought the execution and presentation of the dishes were thoughtful and original except for the fish and chips. The battered fish bites reminded me of the cod nuggets that used to come out once a month at my dormitory dining hall in college - fish fry can only be done one way I suppose...don't even bother trying to spruce a classic item like that up.
The portions were slightly larger than typical small plates and easy to share. We topped off our meal with the brownie and ice cream dessert. The brownie was very decadent and was a nice finish to our dinner.
Our server offered to set up a table for us at Le Passage next door, but none of us had the desire let alone the possession of a disposal income to spend the $500 minimum on table service, so we opted to just hang out at the large bar, have some drinks and people watch. Overall, I spent a total of $35 bucks for dinner and about $15 for two drinks at Le Passage after.
A pretty good deal for 4 hours of fun with the girls.
When we were seated, our waiter walked us through the short menu of small plates. We decided on the 'fish and chips', burger, crispy fried rice and ahi tuna bruschetta. The bruschetta was very delicious and easy to share. The crispy fried rice was simple yet filling and the burger was just delectable. I thought the execution and presentation of the dishes were thoughtful and original except for the fish and chips. The battered fish bites reminded me of the cod nuggets that used to come out once a month at my dormitory dining hall in college - fish fry can only be done one way I suppose...don't even bother trying to spruce a classic item like that up.
The portions were slightly larger than typical small plates and easy to share. We topped off our meal with the brownie and ice cream dessert. The brownie was very decadent and was a nice finish to our dinner.
Our server offered to set up a table for us at Le Passage next door, but none of us had the desire let alone the possession of a disposal income to spend the $500 minimum on table service, so we opted to just hang out at the large bar, have some drinks and people watch. Overall, I spent a total of $35 bucks for dinner and about $15 for two drinks at Le Passage after.
A pretty good deal for 4 hours of fun with the girls.
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