Best Bite: The meatballs boasted major beef flavor, with enough moisture to retain a smooth texture, and the house-made ravioli was silky and nutty. But it was the chocolate budino dessert that stole my heart: a rich chocolate pudding with a salt-flecked layer of caramel, and crunchy coated cocoa nibs on top. I didn’t understand why the handle of its accompanying spoon was quite so long, but it didn’t stop me from finishing every drop. See full menu.
Bill’s chocolate budino with salted caramel and cocoa nibs (plus an extra-long spoon)
Other notes: Bill and Giuliana Rancic are partners in the restaurant, so I assumed the dining room’s aesthetic would be ultra-polished for its clientele – and it was, everything in stylish black and white. The “cicchetti” of provolone-stuffed peppers and florentine frittelles were nice snacks to start off the meal.
Ravioli a la RPM with walnuts and arugula pesto
The details:RPM Italian, 52 W. Illinois St., Chicago.
Red apple orchard sangria (shiraz, brandy, apple juice, and cinnamon sticks) at our fireside table
Best Bite: ZED451’s churrasceria-style format was a hit with our group of nine. The $33 menu price included all we could eat from the “harvest table” of salads and charcuterie, plus unlimited chicken, steak, and salmon, and a final dessert, so it was an especially good Restaurant Week value. Several of the harvest table’s offerings were creative, flavorful mash-ups, such as guacamole deviled eggs and caesar salad made from brussels sprouts. With so many more eclectic options than that of a standard salad bar, it was even easier to fill up before the meat arrived. I also took the suggestion of a sign at the charcuterie station and saved some of the Shiraz butter to spread onto a piece of sirloin (it was a great suggestion). A pitcher of cinnamon-apple sangria also suited the festive occasion. See full menu.
Broccoli cheddar soup, brussels sprout caesar salad, guacamole deviled eggs, spicy Thai apple and carrot salads, sautéed wild mushrooms, and more bounty from the harvest table
Other notes: Somewhere between our second round of salads and the first round of meat, our server brought miniature, meat-studded biscuits served in a repurposed escargot pan – with melted butter in the middle round spot – that were very popular at our table. The buzzing atmosphere was great for a large group, with our long table extending out from a sizable round fireplace in the center of the room. As a final touch that was befitting of tony River North, the restaurant offered us a free private shuttle that took us a few miles north toward our next destination.
Braised pork shank “off the bone” and carnaroli risotto with squash, caramelized onions, and wilted kale
Best Bite: Naha is a Chicago institution for locally sourced, seasonal cuisine, and I was really looking forward to finally dining there. Uncharacteristically, I ordered pork for both my first and second courses, but I certainly did not regret it. I still can’t decide which impossibly tender preparation I preferred: the sweeter belly with apples and fennel atop pastry crust with a swipe of sweet quince marmalade; or the rich braised shank, with flawless risotto and the best crispy kale I’ve ever had. See full menu.
“Tarte tatin” of winter harvested apples and pork belly with quince marmalade and shaved fennel
Other notes: I was charmed by the cookie platter, although I’m glad my dining companions also shared their chocolate cheesecake and cheese plate with me – the latter’s selection of three cheeses were unanimously proclaimed to be “stupid good.” Service was appropriately attentive for the elegant atmosphere. My wine-savvy friend selected an outstanding bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir to pair with our meal, but I doubt you could go wrong with anything from the luxe wine list.
Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.
Fried sweetbreads with endive, capers, and pear mustard
Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: The server talked me into ordering this sweetbreads special as a snack on an unseasonably warm fall evening, and it turned out to be an excellent decision. The richness of the crispy sweetbreads (which, to be clear, are pancreas or thymus glands) mellowed their bright accompaniments of bitter charred endive and salty capers. A swipe of pear mustard and pink peppercorns on top both added sweetness for balance. The dish was a nice sophisticated alternative to another fried appetizer – although, let’s face it, I’d also make a trip solely for Farmhouse’s incredible beer-battered cheese curds.
The details: Farmhouse, 228 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago.
Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.
Bourbon Bloody Mary with Stu’s mix, Benchmark bourbon, bacon, and pickled quail egg
Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: I rarely order Bloody Marys, but I was happy to try this one, since the briny mix was produced by my friend Stu (recently covered by Tasting Table) and it seemed to fit the festive brunch occasion. I loved what the bourbon added to the smoky, peppery base, and could easily see why an entire strip of bacon made sense as a garnish. The pickled quail egg and the rest of the vegetables were nice punctuation marks after spicy sips.
Each day in December, I’m celebrating the rest of the best bites (and sips) that I didn’t get to blog about in 2013, posted in chronological order. Browse all of this year’s Best Bites, or look back at 2012’s Best Bites.
Roasted corn fundido with queso, lime, and cilantro Why it’s another 2013 Best Bite: Over dinner with friends one summer evening, there was one bite that rose above the rest at this pan-Latin restaurant in River North: tortilla chips dipped into a generous bowl of roasted corn fundido. The roasted kernels received a cheesy, creamy, elotes-style treatment, but in a more refined, cob-free form with plenty of lime. Since mixologist Adam Seger runs an excellent beverage program – including quite possibly the best mojitos in the city – you’ll want to start off with a creative cocktail or two and enjoy this as your snack.
The details: Nacional 27, 325 W. Huron St., Chicago.
Pulpo (octopus) with chimichurri, fried garlic, and olive sauce
Why it’s this week’s Best Bite: Nearly three-month-old Tanta is carving a new place in the Chicago culinary landscape for its upscale take on Peruvian food, a type of cuisine that I consistently enjoy. I was immediately refreshed by the Lima Llama (think Moscow mule, but with Peruvian pisco and lots of lime), one of the two cocktails on draft. It was the perfect precursor to one of the best octopus dishes I’ve ever had, right up there with Taxim’s Greek version from earlier this year. Cooked in the style of street-food skewers, the plump tentacles were draped with roasted red pepper, which added its own complementary char and spice. The extra-garlicky chimichurri potatoes underneath were like a more exotic version of hashbrowns, brought together by a briny, brilliantly purple olive sauce. The bright colors were what really made the plate – which seems to be Tanta’s strategy across its vibrant menu.
Lima Llama draft cocktail with pisco, lime, and ginger beer
Painkiller No. 3, with Bajan rum, Jamaican rum, coconut liqueur, passionfruit, pineapple, and cream
Why it’s this week’s Best Bite: Three Dots and a Dash has been generating buzz ever since bartender Paul McGee announced last year that he was leaving the Whistler to be involved with a tiki concept. The basement bar finally opened in River North two weeks ago, and it truly is a tiki paradise, down to every last swizzle stick. The drink menu is extensive – and fully illustrated, of course – so for a girl who really likes rum, it was a paralyzing task to decide which tropical concoction to order first, even with a significant head-start while I waited for friends to arrive. I was thrilled with my first selection, the Painkiller No. 3, which was a frothy, just-sweet-enough blend of pineapple, rum, coconut, and cinnamon, topped off by a flower and cinnamon stick. It’s worth noting that every drink we ordered came in a different ornate tiki vessel with its own beautiful set of garnishes.
Blue crab rangoon with four dipping sauces: mustard, chili, sweet & sour, and peanut
The snacks we tried proved to be a suitable match for the outstanding cocktails. My favorites were the crab rangoon, fried golden-brown with a thin, smooth filling that actually tasted like crab rather than a hunk of cream cheese. I also adored the divided dish of four dipping sauces (chili, mustard, peanut, and citrusy sweet-and-sour) that were versatile enough to mix-and-match with our Thai fried chicken and coconut shrimp as well. I have no doubt that Three Dots and a Dash will become a major River North destination, but I’m hoping that at least the alley entrance, marked only by a single tiki torch, might take the crowds a little longer to find.
Another great drink: Bunny’s Banana Daiquiri, with Jamaican rum, spiced rum, overproof rum, coconut liqueur, banana, lime, and nutmeg – plus the dolphin garnish!Greeted by this wall of skulls on the way downstairs into the bar
Lobster club, with citrus-poached lobster, frisee, pancetta-cured bacon, tomato, herb aioli, toasted brioche, and parmesan-sage fries
Why it’s this week’s Best Bite: Siena Tavern has been on my radar primarily because of executive chef Fabio Viviani, best known for appearing on Top Chef and whom I got to meet at Chicago Gourmet a few years ago. I went for the first time for brunch over the weekend, eventually choosing from the lunch side of the menu. The lobster club sandwich had a lot going on, in a good way, while still letting the citrus-poached lobster be the star of the show, enhanced by smoky bacon. The juicy tomato and frisee made it a little messy, but the bright herb aioli soaking into the brioche held everything together. And I’m a fan of crispy sage on pretty much anything, but it worked especially well on the fries, also tossed with salty parmesan and garlic. Aioli and ketchup were both served in metal measuring cups, which added a nice rustic touch to the plate. My leather barrel chair also happened to be outlandishly comfortable, which made the experience extra luxurious.
The details:Siena Tavern, 51 W Kinzie St., Chicago.
Since my job affords me the privilege of working from home one day a week, I’ve made a habit of working from different coffee shops and cafés all over the city – I’m one of those people who’s more focused in that setting, rather than more distracted. My main criteria are good coffee and food options, free WiFi without a time limit (the only exception here is a two-hour timeout at Whole Foods), and reasonably comfortable seating. This list is by no means exhaustive, and in no particular order. I also excluded a few places I love because they’re usually crowded (I’m looking at you, Wormhole and Star Lounge).
Falling into the “hidden gem” category, KnockBox is a tried-and-true favorite, with friendly staff, easy parking, and a great variety of coffee drinks, sandwiches, and snacks (plus I’m a sucker for applesauce being offered as a side).
I had high hopes last summer when I found out that a new coffee shop was opening within walking distance of my apartment, and Gaslight has exceeded expectations, with excellent coffee roasted on-site and a suitably Logan Square-ish aesthetic.
Latte and pain au chocolat in a window seat at Gaslight Coffee Roasters
Let’s be honest: this gargantuan grocery store is one of my favorite places in the city, period, so I’m always content to assemble a hodge-podge of tastes from a few of the kiosks, then settle in with a laptop in the upstairs river-view seating.
I’ve spent many hours at this convenient Logan Square mainstay, sipping either bottomless Metropolis coffee or a delicious Hail Mary (New Wave’s version of “dirty chai”, or a chai latte with espresso) and sometimes splurging on a spinach and feta croissant, if there are any left.
A pleasant discovery in the River North area, I especially appreciate Robust’s relaxed vibe and its impressive selection of local sweets (Brown Sugar Bakery, Dat Donut, Lucia’s Homemade Aljafores, and more).
Iced latte and bagel sandwich on the patio at Robust Coffee Lounge
This bicycle and coffee shop hybrid has proven to be a pleasant, laid-back working environment with lots of natural light; pourover coffee and Glazed and Infused donuts don’t hurt either.
Eva’s Cafe is another gem within its neighborhood, refreshingly spacious with good coffee and lots of interesting seating areas (think wrought-iron furniture and a fireplace).
Globe and other pieces along the counter at Eva’s Cafe
Where are your favorite places to work remotely? I’m always open to new suggestions!
