Gastronomy is alive and well and located at 217 W. Huron in the art gallery district of downtown Chicago. This white tablecloth restaurant is not at all stuffy. They play an eclectic, if not questionable, mix of rock music in the dining room. The waiter was friendly, bordering on too familiar by constantly calling me "love".
The 5-course tasting is $75/person, but you can order a la carte. The food is very good, but served artistically and sparingly so you can indulge in 5 courses without feeling like a glutton. 3 courses were just enough to satisfy me, but for just a few dollars more next time I would spring for the prix fixe.
Instead of bread each table is graced with a basket of fresh popcorn tossed with truffle oil, parmesan cheese and black pepper. Our basket emptied within minutes, but our waiter expected as much and instantly reappeared with a second basket.
For appetizers: ($11-14)
"C" had the Signature Caeser Salad: romain hearts, brioche twinkie (inside was warm oozing cheese), spanish anchovies, parmesan fluff.
"I" had the Kung Pao Sweetbreads - broccoli florets, black sesame, scallion puree, chili oil.
I ordered the Lobster corn dog - which did resemble a traditional corn dog, but much larger with chunks of lobster inside.
I ordered the Lobster corn dog - which did resemble a traditional corn dog, but much larger with chunks of lobster inside.
"T" and "W" both had the White Tuna Sashimi - paper thin slices of tuna with plaintain chips, whipped avacoda, cilantro and passion fruit.
For entrees: ($31-33)
"C" and I both had the Tamarind Lacquered Duck - sliced duck served with forbidden rice, banana blossoms, thai basil and curry coconut.
"T" had the Deconstructed Lamb Gyro - a slim bar portion lamb served with pita bread, crumbled feta, pickled cucumbers and mint yogurt.
"W" had the Pan Roasted Scallops - 3 scallops served with potato salad, fried pickles, ham hock and cornbread sauce.
"I" had the Hertiage Pork Loin - sliced and served with Italian farro, grilled peaches, baby spinach, and pistachio grem0lata.
For dessert: ($10)
"C" had the Blackberry Panna Cotta - with Michigan blueberries, almond streusel, lemond balm, and buttermilk sorbet.
"C" had the Blackberry Panna Cotta - with Michigan blueberries, almond streusel, lemond balm, and buttermilk sorbet.
"I" had the Dark Chocolate Cake - with crunchy meringue, angostura bitters, ice milk, and cocoa syrup.
"T" and "W" both had the Untraditional Strawberry Shortcake - pound cake, strawberry gelato, whipped cream, and strawberry gel.
I had the Homemade Sesame Shortbread (which was GE's take on PBJ) - prickly pear, homemade halva, banana gelato, and salted caramel.
We even saw the chef himself, Graham Elliot, strolling through the dining room. He acknowledged us with a smile.
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