I’m a diner-food kind of guy. I consider Ann Sather’s Diner upscale because their fruit dish has a couple of blueberries in it. No foodie I. Actually, I’m not even sure “foodie” is a compliment or an insult. But either way, I’m not one. But I have friends who are. Recently, my friend Keith visited from San Diego and he, by any definition, is a foodie (which in his case I mean as a compliment). So while he was here I became a gourmand, eating way higher on the hog, metaphorically speaking, than I usually do—well, since the last time Keith visited.
Chicago has become one of the top three foodie cities in the U.S., after New York City and, probably, before San Francisco. So Keith and I ate really, really well—mostly, I am embarrassed to admit, on his dime. Dime? Ha! One of our meals cost around $180 per person—and we had to bring our own wines. But I thought I would share some of our finer meals as I go back to Stella’s Diner and Monroe Diner.
He arrived on a Friday and I had made reservations at one of my favorite downtown restaurants: Trattoria 10 (http://www.trattoriaten.com/). So after getting him checked into his hotel in the Gold Coast, we headed downtown, first to look at some of the monumental sculptures and then a rather late dinner. Trattoria 10 has been around for many years and is most famous for its ravioli; however, since I had decided to break my usual rule of no fish while he was here (I’ll save the explanation of that convoluted logic for another blog), I decided on the seared day boat scallops. What a great choice! Four huge, delicious, and perfectly cooked scallops. We also had a cheese plate, cocktails, and wine. It was altogether an outstanding meal (and I even paid for this one).
Saturday was El Idea (http://elideas.com/), which has a Michelin star, a fact, I’m given to believe, that is significant for foodies. I’ve never been to any place like this, and I certainly have not paid those prices: I think the final tab was about $180 each—and we brought our own wine. It is so exclusive they don’t even have a sign out front. You pay when you make the reservation. Sounds stuffy! But, in fact, it was a delight. It was very casual, most everyone in jeans and shirt sleeves, including the chef and crew; people moved from table to table sharing wine (“Have you tried . . .”). Each of the courses was explained as they were served. For the first one we were not given silverware and were told if we used our fingers, we would be embarrassed and thrown out: so we picked up the plates and licked them! Later, a dish had a whole radish; the chef, in his explanation of the dish, said, “Pick it up with your fingers; fuck, you just licked your plate, pick it up with your fingers!” There were thirteen courses; the photo above is of the turbot dish. All the dishes were small and artfully arranged—and delicious. One dish was french fries and ice cream—and it was amazing. This restaurant was definitely not stuffy. After the meal, which took close to three hours, some of us hung out in the kitchen with the staff, sipping coffee and, for some, downing shots of vodka. What a delightful—and delicious experience.
We ate twice at Nico Osteria (http://www.nicoosteria.com/). The first time was quite by accident; we were heading for another restaurant at Keith’s hotel’s concierge’s suggestion for brunch, but when we got there the line was too long. So we saw this place nearby and took a chance. It was simply a wonderful brunch. I had scrambled eggs with crab. Delicious. So, we also booked dinner one night. I had—damn, I can’t remember what I had there. Anyway, it was excellent whatever it was.
We went back to The Green Zebra (http://www.greenzebrachicago.com/) where Keith, his husband Victor, and I had eaten on their previous visit. This is an upscale vegetarian restaurant, with excellent service and terrific food. I had the chilled somen noodles as an appetizer and for a main course had the spicy marinated tofu. Anyone who says tofu is bland should try this!
For a special treat my friend Phil took Keith and me to Paladar’s (http://www.paladarchicago.com/), a Cuban restaurant owned by a friend of Phil’s—with recipes by the owner's Cuban mother. Another delightful meal—and my first mojito. We started with plantains served two different ways, with a variety of sauces, and then I had a stuffed poblano pepper along with garbanzos in a kind of soup and fufu, another plantain dish. And live Cuban-jazz fusion music to boot. Thanks, Phil for a delightful evening!
And then finally, on Keith’s last night, we went to the legendary Pump Room (http://www.pumproom.com/). Remodeled since it’s days a a hangout for the rich and famous (see the photos on their web site), this is still a lovely restaurant with excellent service. I had a ricotta ravioli and shared some of Keith’s truffle flatbread. Wine and cocktails, of course, as with every meal.
And once we even had breakfast at Ann Sather’s Diner, too, and there were blueberries in the fruit dish.
