A Rick Bayless Classic: Topolobampo
Every time I go to Chicago, I try to make it to a few new restaurants. Over the past eighteen months, it's been harder and harder to abbreviate my list as the Chicago dining scene is always evolving. When one place closes, three more open making it exhausting for this Nashville girl to keep up.
Bringing a little Napa Valley to Chicago: The French Laundry @ Next Restaurant
Even though it's been almost ten years, I remember it like it was yesterday. We were driving to Yountville, sipping champagne and exchanging stories about dishes we'd heard about and speculating on what the experience would be like. It was almost as if we were kids in school gossiping about what took place on the playground. Quite possibly the shortest 45-minute drive I've ever taken.
Finding the Sweet Spot in Chicago
Those of you who know me realize that I have quite a fondness for Chicago. Arctic freezing temperatures, inches of snow and canceled flights can't stop this girl, and yes I realize that is just December- April.
Ready to Roister!
When the Alinea Group announced in 2015 that they were introducing a casual dining concept, people were waiting with bated breath to see what would develop, myself included. Well known for its innovative and provocative spin on food, the group boasts quite the list of high-caliber restaurants and bars within the Chicago area. Roister was no exception.
I’ll be honest: fish just isn’t my thing. I’m not the person at the table ordering the branzino or raving about the quality of the crudo. Seafood, for me, has always been that category I quietly sidestep. Of course, there’s always an exception, but rest assured, you won’t find me ordering salmon for dinner. So when everyone in my orbit started raving about Kase X Noko as if it were some sort of spiritual experience disguised as a tasting menu, my reaction was exactly what you would expect. I was skeptical. Very skeptical, in fact.