IMBB #22: Rice Noodles in Beijing

We have arrived at our final destination before returning home --Beijing.  This city is full of friendly people, mind-boggling cultural sites, and of course-- delicious food.  One restaurant that we have been to twice so far is Chuannriver Restaurant.

I will post one day soon about the extent of our meals at this establishment.  Though, for now I will simply post about our Sichuan Style Rice Noodle dish in the spirit of IMBB, which I have been a lousy participant in of late.  But how could I be in China and not submit an entry to the noodle theme?

These noodles were not as spicy as we thought the double chili pepper image on the menu might entail, but they had a bit of a kick.  They had a very strange texture, though that is not to say they weren't delicious.  The noodles were served cool, seasoned with a wonderful combination of spices, and bathed in a savory broth.  They were also beautifully garnished with spring onions and minced garlic.

If you are ever near the main Beijing railway station and looking for a bite to eat, I would heartily recommend this restaurant.

Thanks to Cooking with Amy for hosting this event!

Rome, Italy

I spent the last few months traveling from London to Beijing. Here is a taste of one place we spent time. Follow the links to read about others.

October 27th- November 1st, 2005

When John was young he spent a few summers living in Rome with his family.  As a result he has many fond food memories from the city and we were excited to seek them out together after visiting Venice.  The two favorites concern two very important food groups: Gelato and Pizza.

We sampled the Gelato at Giolitti, which is often heralded as the best gelato in Rome, and found it pleasing.  The best thing about our visit was watching a well-to-do middle-aged man in a suit slink up to the gelato counter looking like a heart-broken small child with an empty cone in one hand and a palm full of fallen gelato in the other.  The help behind the counter quickly repaired the situation with a fresh serving and the man went back to his table with a huge smile.  I think a country where ice cream is not just reserved for small children must be doing something right.

However, the best gelato by far can be found at Fonte Della Salute on Trastevere.  As well as having tastier gelato and a better flavor selection, this establishment feels more welcoming and than Giolitti. John used to live nearby Fonte Della Salute and became quite a regular here as a child.

Though I sampled countless flavors of gelato in Rome, I always come back to the pistachio.  The sweet, slightly salty, nutty flavor combined with the impossibly creamy texture is irresistible.

Just down the street is Pizzeria Ai Marmi (Trastevere, 53-55-57-59) where, conveniently, the best pizza in my opinion can be found.  Sit outside, enjoy some wine, and people watch for the best experience.  Our favorites are the four cheese and the unmissable zucchini blossom pizzas.  The flavor on the later is so simple, yet so thick and unctuous, that it pairs perfectly with the thin, fire-baked crust.

In keeping suit with our picnic theme, which is both enjoyable and inexpensive, we put together a lovely lunch and sat in the enormous. Villa Borghese park. We purchased breads at Forno Campo dei  Fiori bakery and produce in the Campo dei Fiori market.

We enjoyed a flat bread (pizza rustica) which was seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper.  It wasn't too oily and had a good, simple, straight forward flavor and a perfect chewiness.  We stuffed panini, which I learned are crusty rolls that you can pull the top button off of and you find a hollow bowl of bread that is perfect for stuffing with meats, cheeses, and vegetables. 

The olive bread had lots of green olives, a crisp crust, and a dense white interior.  Though the crust was a bit too dry.  It was a decent bread, certainly far more palatable than our olive bread experience in Venice.

We ate extremely well in Rome.  The gelato and pizza are the best I have had (unless you are talking about Chicago style pizza of course) and I eagerly anticipate returning to Rome one day to enjoy them again.  We had a great time seeing the sights and, of all things, our hostel was evicted on our second night in town.  We had a humorous and memorable (though of course only in hindsight) experience when we returned from the Trevi Fountain late one night to find the contents of our hostel spread out on the street with tired and worn looking travelers and employees curled up beside our belongings.  After several hours of being thoroughly confused, we were finally taken to another hostel around 4am, handed a beer by the lovely staff, and showed to our rooms.  I bet that hasn't happened to many people.

Lastly, I would like to leave my readers with these fantastic photos of a street-food-joint near the St. Sebastian Catacombs.

Does that make you hungry?

Next up, Zagreb, Croatia.

La Petite Crêperie

Last Saturday John and I went out to see my parents in Woodstock and attend a concert at the Opera House. Before we headed back to the city the next morning we all ate breakfast at a new restaurant on the square, La Petite Crêperie.

Located on the Woodstock square, this tiny French restaurant was quite nice. We opted to sit outside, hence the pink cast from the umbrella that you see in the following pictures.

I ordered a breakfast crêpe, la compléte, of "fried egg with country ham, mushroom, Gruyere and pommes rissoles" and a lightly dressed side salad.

My mother ordered the french toast du jour with carmelized apples. Though a bit too sweet for my tastes, this was comfort food at its finest. John and my father each ordered the eggs benedict and my parents shared their dishes with one another.

Everything we ordered was made with fresh ingredients and great attention to detail. The owners, Kristine Ferru and the French-born Frank Ferru, were very pleasant and friendly and spoke with all of the patrons.

Before leaving I was sure to buy a tiny brioche. It was excellent. I highly reccomend La Petite Crêperie if you are in the Woodstock area. The service was excellent, the restaurant attractive, and the food was high quality.

My only complaint is that the second time I dined at La Petite Crêperie I ordered the Santa Fe benedicte which is described on the menu as "two poached eggs, fresh salsa, avocado, and sour cream." When mine arrived it had these things, as well as Canadian bacon and Hollandaise sauce. They either made me a regular eggs benedict, realized they messed up, and put the other ingredients on top because they didn't feel like making another or they just neglected to include these ingredients on their menu so vegetarians should beware and ask their server about these "extra" ingredients.

La Petite Crêperie serves lunch Tuesday to Saturday from 11 am to 2:30 pm, dinner Tuesday to Thursday from 5 pm to 9 pm and Friday and Saturday from 5 pm to 9:30 pm, and breakfast on Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm. Dishes are priced between $4 and $20.

La Petite Crêperie
115 North Johnson Street
Woodstock, IL 60098
815/337-0765

Waupaca Chain O' Lakes

Last week my parents, my brother, and I drove four hours north to Waupaca, Wisconsin.  We have spent a week in Waupaca every summer of my life.  Waupaca is a tiny town situated about an hour and a half North of Madison by car.  While Wisconsin is home to many lakes, Waupaca itself boasts 22 inter-connected lakes.  Thus, it is known as the Waupaca Chain O' Lakes.  We have been staying on McCrossen for years, renting a tiny three room boathouse for the four or more of us.  Things get cramped, but it encourages us to stay outdoors where we should be.  The Menomini Native American tribe was among the first to inhabit the area.  During this time "McCrossen Lake was thought to be a lurking place of the great fish monster, Ma-shenomak, who was believed to have destroyed the “first people” " according to the Chain O' Lakes Protective Association.

One of the greatest features of the Chain is the ability to boat to restaurants and bars.  When using this mode of transportation our favorite destination is Clearwater Harbor.  Boaters may dock and choose to be served right in the boat or find seating on the ample outdoor deck. There is an often raucous crowd of half naked-sunburnt-and not so fit-patrons and either a band playing on the floating stage or a volleyball game being played in the shallow water. 

While known for their burgers (the Blues Burger is a family favorite), I keep coming back for the fried cheese curds. These warm and breaded bite-sized beauties of Wisconsin Cheddar cheese curds are like nothing else I have tasted in the world.  Sure, every restaurant in Wisconsin has their own version of breaded cheese curds, but none that I have tried even begin to compare to Clearwater Harbor's.  The texture is perfect, they are light, airy, and crisp, and they are seasoned with a perplexing and divine combination of savory flavors.  A basket of cheese curds, a pint of New Glarus Spotted Cow, the Clearwater bar crowd, and the blazing sun make up a meal that I crave from vacation to vacation and enjoy in large quantities when we finally make it back for a week.

One other favorite place is the tiny village of Rural.  With just a fifteen minute bike ride from our boathouse one can reach what is simply a gorgeous and unspoiled town.  It has a few obligatory antique stores but it also boasts some incredible historic landmarks such as the old Red Mill and many spectacular old homes.  The Crystal River winds through the village and is a popular resting point for tourists who partake in the Crystal River canoe trips.

The Weller Rural Store is by far my favorite place in Rural.  It is run by an sweet older couple and it basically seems to be an excuse to talk with a variety of people during the day.  They sell a few grocery items such as Wonderbread and peanut butter and you can rent an inner-tube to use on the river for a dollar.

They also sell some garage sale style items such as ten cent books and household items.  When we visit the Weller Rural Store, we go for the ice cream and the Ting.  They sell ice cream cones of the standard chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry variety for 25 cents and for 50 cents you can purchase a fancier flavor such as maple pecan or pistachio.

Ting pop (not associated with the Jamaican grapefruit drink of the same name) is manufactured and bottled in a nearby town.  Each bottle still costs 25 cents, though it is imperative that you return the bottle because they are no longer being made.  The way I have heard it, it appears an older man runs a bottling company that likely bottles popular beverage brands for local distribution.  However he used to also bottle this local Ting beverage and it appears he will continue to until the bottles run out (which they are reportedly quite close to doing).  The pop bottles are heavy glass and they are capped with a random assortment of bottle caps that are often unassociated with the beverage in hand.  The pop itself is sugary and comes in flavors such as lime, cream soda, grape, and 'blue'.  I do not ordinarily drink pop, but I love Ting when I able to drink it once a year from the Weller Rural Store.

Waupaca is one of those places that a new-comer might not see correctly at first.  I can imagine being taken to another family's 'Wisconsin lake destination' and wondering what the big deal is.  Due to such a life-long attachment to Waupaca and through seeing it change year by year yet still keep much of its character, I love it like a local and it holds a special place in my heart. 

I took so many more pictures and it pains me to have lost them forever.  But, I will be back to Waupaca next summer and I will be sure to report on some of the places I intended to this year.

6th Annual Feast of the Senses: Part 2

The second half of our evening at Feast of the Senses:

The Marx-Saunders Gallery (230 W. Superior St.) hosted Wave restaurant of the W Hotel Chicago-Lakeshore.

We spoke with Executive Chef Kristine Subido who was unfailingly welcoming and clearly proud of her work.

And the fennel encrusted salmon with citrus and arak glaze we were served made it clear that she deserves to be.

The detail in site set-up for this table was far and away the most thought out and beautiful. The Cuvaison Winery of Paterno Wines International was available for tasting.

We walked to the adjacent Schneider Gallery (230 W. Superior St.) to find ristorante We of the W Hotel Chicago-City Center. I believe Executive Chef Charlie Brown was busy preparing the items, though John and I were able to speak at length to Mark DiDomenico, who much like Chef Subido was impressively warm and charismatic.

ristorante We served a chilled poached garlic soup with grilled asparagus and olive oil croutons and topped with greens. This was easily the most delicious dish we tasted that evening.

The velvety-smooth texture of the soup was punctuated with the resoundingly clear flavors of garlic and asparagus creating a near perfect sensation. DiDomenico informed us that at the restaurant the soup is served warm, however the chilled version had been a huge hit that night. I hope that John and I can make it over to ristorante We sometime during the next few weeks.

(Event-goers taking a break near the el stop.)

We moved on to the Judy Saslow Gallery (300 W. Superior St.) and took a pass on the Izze sparkling juices. Though quite good, we needed to save room for new things. The Spice House had a table set up with, according to the pamphlet, "Ginger nibs and cacao nibs, in the form of baked nibbles."

Regardless of what you might call them, we ate some amazing cookies here. The gingersnaps were so soft and the ginger so pronounced, giving them a warm and filling flavor. The chocolate brownies tasted of high-quality chocolate rather than cocoa powder and flour as some might, thanks to the "nibs". Quite good.

Also hosted in this gallery was Dave DeWitt, author of the Spicy Food Lover's Bible. The book was available and DeWitt was offering to sign copies. At the table he had samples of wasabi. The first (on the left) was a bright green wasabi made with commercially available wasabi powder.

This wasabi was one we are all likely familiar with, it has a sharp and prolonged spiciness which is readily available at any sushi establishment (and sometimes may even be horseradish with food coloring!). The next dish was made with freshly grated wasabi. It was dark green in color and had a very mellow and smooth taste. It was less spicy but at the same time tasted more complex. It was exceptional and quite eye-opening to see the difference between the two types of wasabi.

(Your author at work. Thanks to John for keeping me on task.)

We descended a staircase to the Catherine Edelman Gallery (300 W. Superior St.) to find the West Town Tavern closing up their stand. Determined to use our last half hour wisely we crossed the gallery to find the Barboursville Vineyard of Virginia. Of the Barboursville wines we were able to sample, the best was their Octagon 2002. The real treat of this table was the Monti Erei extra virgin olive oils. Infused with flavors such as garlic, mint, arugula, and pepperoncino these oils provided a delectable and unique array of flavors. Behind the garlic soup at ristorante We, these olive oils were the best tastes to be had. They can be purchased at Sam's Wine here in Chicago.

Walking through the lower entry way we came upon the zg gallery (300 W. Superior St.) and Lula Cafe. Chef Jason Hammel and Chef Amalea Tschilds served a very refreshing seasonal dessert of sweet biscuit shortcake with honey, lavender crème fraiche and local berries. The dish had a lovely presentation as well.

I have had the pleasure of eating several meals at Lula Cafe and would highly recommend it to anyone.

Also in this gallery we found Paringa White Blend wine. These was one of my favorite wines of the night. If memory serves this was a blend of Chardonnay, Semillon, and Sauvignon Blanc. It was crisp, light, and refreshing and would be a fantastic summer white for a hot evening.

Lastly, we made our way briskly to the Carl Hammer Gallery (740 N. Wells St.) to sample the chilled ahi of Chef Paul Kahan and friends from Avec.  (Their website appears to be down currently.)

This too was an excellent summer dish boasting a festive array of colors, a very nice way to end the evening.

The three men were sweet and their humor provided a nice segue-way into the night as we left with full bellies and heads cushioned by wine.

I would like to thank Portia Belloc Lowndes for inviting John and I, it was a lovely opportunity. Check out the book she co-authored, The Slow Food Guide to Chicago.

6th Annual Feast of the Senses: Part 1

The Chicago Art Dealers Association: Feast of the Senses.  Food, art & wine.

Thursday, July 14th John and I met in river north to attend the sixth annual Feast of the Senses.  This was our first.  The proceeds from this event were used to benefit three not-for-profit organizations: Purple Asparagus, Common Threads, and Slow Food.

We checked in, received our wine glasses and neck holders, and proceeded to our first stop.  The Maya Polsky gallery (215 W. Superior St.) hosted Andersson's Chocolates and Patisserie. We missed the gazpacho and salad that was set up later in the night, though their chocolates were quite nice. They had an exceptionally smooth texture, though left something to be desired with flavor that might set it apart from other gourmet chocolates. Sadly, there was no attendant while we were there so we were unable to learn more.

The gallery also hosted the Illinois River Winery.  Using grapes grow at the Starved Rock Vineyards, these wines were nice, especially their dryer whites. They offered about six wines to sample and Gregg Kane, the vintner, was quite helpful in offering us the best wines for our individual tastes and a pleasure to speak with due to his enthusiasm.

Crossing the street we entered the Ann Nathan Gallery (212 W. Superior St.) which hosted Vie of Western Springs, IL.  Chef Paul Virant served crostini of grilled and marinated eggplant, and eggplant caviar with domestic asiago.
This dish was excellent.  The soft, cool eggplant went well with the crisp crostini and the sharp, salty cut of the asiago.  Chef Paul Virant and another attendant were exceptionally nice and warmly encouraged John and I to make it out to their restaurant soon.  We both hope to.

Also hosted in this gallery was the M. Chapoutier Winery of the Rhone Valley.  Touted as 'Eco-Friendly,' these vineyards rely on flora and insects rather than chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In addition they employ horse-drawn plows, hand tools, naturally occuring yeasts, and lunar cycle timing for composting. The wine can be found through Paterno Wines International.

Next we entered the Habatat Gallery (222 W. Superior St.) to find Thyme which served a nice and refreshing cold ratatouille salad. Goose Island Brewery had their 312 Urban Wheat, India Pale Ale, and Demolition Ale available for sampling.  John and I are frequent Goose Island customers and were familiar with all three beers.  We shared a bit of their IPA and some of their Demolition ale.  They make a solid IPA with a nice amount of hoppiness.  It isn't overpowering like a west coast IPA, which is actually something I miss.  The Demolition is a serious beer that I highly recommend if you can find in your area.

Next door in Perimeter Gallery (210 W. Superior St.) we found 610 Magnolia of St. Louis, Missouri.  Chef Edward Lee was serving a chilled asparagus and Col. Newsome's Kentucky ham in tomato water gelee, sumac (ground spice berry) and dill.  The soup was quite light, yet offered an impressive array of flavors.  I would venture to say that this was the most complex dish of the evening and it worked nicely.  Chef Edward Lee was sweet and helpful. The space also hosted the Sokol Blosser Winery from Dundee Hills, Oregon, also associated with Paterno Wines International.  They too rely on natural methods rather than chemical to care for their vineyards.  John and I are quite familiar with their white, but were far more impressed with their red which we had never tasted before.

We next entered the Andrew Bae Gallery (300 W. Superior St.) to find the circus that was the Whole Foods Market smorgasbord.  Taking up two giant tables, Whole Foods offered Thai chicken satay, teriyaki shrimp satay and spicy tofu satay, Southwest eggrolls, and vegetable potstickers.  The spicy tofu satay was excellent, with a fabulous texture and well matched sauces. In the same gallery Merchant du Vin offered a selection of their beers including the delicious Lindemans Framboise Lambic and assorted Samuel Smiths. Lastly, the Glunz Family of Winery & Cellars offered some tasty sangria with plenty of fruit.  On the way out we were given a Whole Foods shopping bag containing a box of 365 brand organic truffles.

Read about the second half of our night here.

Renn Fayre/Portland

(More pictures coming soon.)

John and I returned from Oregon last night. It was refreshing to see so many people I have missed this past year, to revel in the general mayhem of Reed and Renn Fayre, and to smell the crisp mildewy Portland air whilst adoring unbelievably green foliage. In order to ensure this post isn't entirely off topic, I will give you a brief description of some of the bars/restaurants I was able to reacquaint myself with this weekend while also telling a bit about Renn Fayre.

Thursday: We flew in late, ran around campus enjoying the decorations and gave our greetings, then we went to The Pub at the End of the Universe with Meg, Harold, and Skye. The Pub is a bit of a hike from campus, but was close to my apartment senior year. They have some of the best Northwest beers on tap including my favorite, Terminal Gravity. The selections rotate often and the clientele is laid back. I wish I still had such a dreamy local bar.

Friday: I woke up at a decent time and went to Meg's for breakfast. She made Harold and I delicious blini. We then met John and headed to campus with many pounds of champagne and proceeded to partake in thesis parade. Soon after Urupan opened it's tent and we were all able to happily coat our stomachs with the best burritos in Portland. The beer garden opened at 6. The beer garden is a classy endeavor run by the excellent kids that make up Beer Nation. Beer Nation is a smoothly (and legally!) run student organization with the express purpose of getting of-age Reedies drunk (and on top-quality beers too). Here's to those that make it all happen! Aesop Rock put on a great show in the SU. That night I stayed out too late in the beer garden.

Saturday: We slept late and tried to go to Putter's for breakfast. However, they had just stopped serving breakfast when we walked in. We went across the street to the Village Kitchen, this adorable hole in the wall diner next to the giant Safeway. I paid for my wild night by not having the ability to consume my lovely looking scrambled eggs, toast, and potatoes and then we went back to campus and proceeded to drink more. Oh Renn Fayre.

We watched the Jigsaw Gentlemen and the Jailbait Philosophers play on the lawn during feast, played some pool in the pool hall, and watched the Black Peppercorns. That night was filled with the fireworks, glo opera, more beer garden, and sitting on the front lawn for a long time waiting for something to burn. John and I are old and went to bed early.

Sunday: I woke up super early (well, 9) and met a friend from high school, Jessica, at Fat Albert's for breakfast. Ask any Portlander what their favorite place for breakfast is and you might get as many answers as there are reproductions of tight Motorhead t-shirts, but mine is Fat Albert's. I used to go nearly every weekend when a past boyfriend lived near the place. It is tiny and you have to wait during peak hours for bit, but they make the smoothest, fluffiest eggs, and bar-none the best biscuits I have tasted. It was lovely to see Jessica again, I miss her.

I then went back to campus where they were giving hot air balloon rides and found John who had just gotten up. We then finally made it to Putter's where I attempted to drink a too-spicy-for-me bloody mary. Then back to Reed and back to the beer garden. We watched some lube wrestling and some high-profile Reedies get wet in the dunk-tank and, um. . back to the beer garden. Then sadly, as all things must do, we realized Renn Fayre was ending as we were ushered out of the beer garden and into a confused mass by the Urupan stand. We collected a few people (John, Erik, Leah, Elly, Meg, Harold maybe. . It's not my fault, they had Old Rasputin on tap in the beer garden.) and walked up the hill to the Delta for some greasy southern food. The Delta is great. Nice decor, delicious food (the southern sampler is a steal), and 40s of Pabst served in a bucket of ice. Now that's class. If you can wade through some of the hipster pretension it is one of my favorite restaurants in Portland (even though the formerly mentioned past boyfriend broke my heart there). We then moved on to the Lutz . I was pretty out of it so I didn't stay long, but the Lutz is a highly frequented bar just up the hill from Reed. I spent quite a bit of time here during my college years. They served $1 Pabsts, a good juke box with Neko Case on it, and familiar faces. I hear the Pabst is now $1.25. Whew, it seems I skipped town just in time. We went to bed very early.

Monday: We woke up early and said a quick goodbye to Noah who was leaving for his orals. We then met Meg, Harold, Dan, Leah, and Sam for breakfast at the Cup & Saucer . I didn't go here that often as student, but it is a nice place. Reasonably priced and inventive options, daily specials, lots of vegetarian dishes, and crummy diner coffee. And we were off. I miss Portland. I didn't really love the city while I was there, but of course I am nostalgic now.

Finally, thanks to Scott Foreman-Murray, Leah Johnston, and Dan Morrell for a great Renn Fayre. (Especially Dan, I remember how hard running Renn Fayre AND finishing a thesis is--an amazing feat few have attempted.)

Grumpy Troll Brew Pub (Wisconsin Odyssey Part III)

After our stop at The Mustard Museum in Mt. Horeb we went right up the block to the Grumpy Troll Brew Pub.

Located in a neat old building, the interior is modern and family/meal oriented. There is a nice wrap around bar a bit away from the seating, however no smoking. The staff was super friendly and we even spoke with the brewmaster. Their food was good, not great. We ordered some fried cheese curds, but they were beer battered instead of breaded and it just didn't cut it in my book. (The best can be found at Clearwater Harbor in Waupaca, Wisconsin.) The beer was great, however.

(clockwise from bottom left) Trolls Gold Lager, some kind of ale. . , Trailside Wheat, English Brown, Rye Bock, Red-Eyed Troll, Imperial Stout (It is entirely possible that I have mis-remembered this list.).

Best of all, the beers are $3 a pint and $1.50 a pint during happy hour! (Which I believe runs from 4-9pm). Up above you see the sampler that Harold purchased for around $6.00 in order to sample them all.

I wish I had a cheap, friendly, and tasty real brew pub near me. Mt. Horeb seems to be a good place.

Stay tuned for the last part of our Wisconsin Odyssey.

Chicago Foodies

Josh of Chicago Foodies has invited me to contribute Chicago bakery reviews and the occasional Hyde Park restaurant review to his fantastic site.  You can currently read about my recent trip to Argo Georgian Bakery as well as a wide variety of posts by other authors about the Chicago food scene.  I'm flattered to become part of such a great Chicago resource.

Green Zebra

Last night Harold invited me to go to the Green Zebra (which I have learned is a type of heirloom tomato).  It was out of both of our normal price ranges, but his grandmother had told him to take a friend out to dinner on her for his birthday and he sweetly invited me.  Harold had been there before and gave it rave reviews, so I was thrilled to hear I would be able to go as well.  The Chicago Tribune describes the restaurant as an “inventive, almost entirely vegetarian small-plate menu (a few chicken and fish dishes are thrown into the mix) is among the city's most sophisticated. Its globally inspired menu, which changes frequently, may include options like avocado panna cotta and chilled organic beets with a creamy mascarpone foam; poached organic chicken breast; and Alaskan halibut with shaved artichoke, pearl couscous and tandoori spices.”

The restaurant is beautiful and simply designed.  It is small with room for about 50 guests.  As we sat down our server (who was a very animated, excited, and sweet woman) brought us four small bowls as our amuse-bouche.  The first was simple air-popped popcorn seasoned with garam marsala.  It was a simple idea with a superb result.  I was quite impressed.  Second, edamame which was pre shelled.  Third peanuts with a mix of exotic spices and fourth,  yellow beans with a citrus-vinegar seasoning.  All were fantastic and had distinctive and well-complimented tastes.

We ordered NV Pinot Noir, “H”, Hamacher, Willamette Valley, Oregon  and then proceeded to order our food.  The menu was split into three sections beginning with lighter flavors and moving towards the most heavy and rich.  Harold and I each ordered one item from each section and then shared the six dishes as each course arrived.  Here is what we ordered (all descriptions take from the Green Zebra website unless otherwise noted):

Gemma:
Avocado Panna Cotta, with tomato gelee, crème fraiche and sweet corn chips

        -this was incredible.  The avocado was so creamy and the other textures were a great contrast.  It melted in my mouth. Truly outstanding and unique.

Cave-Aged Gruyere Soufflé, endive, and heirloom apples

        -this was also quite good.  I am not well-versed in soufflés but the top seemed a little too thick and dry.  However, once I got to the center it was divine.  The endive and heirloom apple salad was superb.  It was garnished with watercress which was a fantastic touch.

Greengold Farms Chicken Egg, spinach puree, lentils & country sourdough

        -Amazing.  The presentation was superb.  And all the flavors were rich and velvety.  The egg was perfectly boiled with a warm liquid center.  You could definitely taste that they used fresh farm eggs.

Harold:

I could not find their description for his first course, so here it is from memory.  A warm and creamy celery soup with walnuts, a bit of black truffle and topped with black truffle oil.

        -This was also fantastic.  Harold and I were both surprised and pleased with how well the different flavors complimented one another.  It was very rich, but wonderful.  It went nicely with my first course, especially in texture and temperature.

Prospera Farms Baby Carrots, carrot cake, black truffles and aged balsamic vinegar

- I have to say that I think this was the winner of the night.  Amazing.  The baby carrots were julienned and cooked in a balsamic reduction and black truffle oil.  There were flakes of black truffle interspersed as well as some watercress. There was also a 'carrot cake' on the side.  Ultimately neither of us were too thrilled with this. It was interesting, but rather dry and without a whole lot of flavor.  Alone it would have been enjoyable, but it was overpowered and overshadowed when served next to the other carrot offering.

I also could not find their description for his third course.  (This memory is a little hazier, most likely due to the increased wine consumption at this point.) A tiny bowl made out of buttery, flaky pastry with a lid.  The bowl contained steamed red cabbage, black truffles, small walnut pieces, all topped with black truffle oil.

        -Yes, lots of black truffle and black truffle oil.  Absolutely wonderful.  Obviously Harold had a more consistent theme to his selections.  We both agreed that this dish went the best with the wine.  It was a perfect match.  The pastry was amazing, very buttery.  And the cabbage mixture was delicious.  I think the highlight was the texture combined with the warm temperature.

For dessert Harold and I split  the Tasting of Creme Brulees, jasmine green tea, Japanese yuzu and lavender
        - We were a bit stuffed, but I had to try these.  As I told Harold, I am fool for green tea flavored desserts.  They were superb.  The lavender was actually a lavender-ginger.  Creamy, rich, and full of flavor (not to mention the fantastic aromas.  The presentation was clever as well.  It was served in three small cuts on a long board which was vaguely reminiscent of Japanese serving ware.

To begin with, it was awesome to go to a restaurant where I could order off the whole menu (with two exceptions) and moreover this was one of the most delicious meals I have ever had.  Perhaps the best.

Afterwards, Harold and I went to Sonotheque.  It was a very nice lounge behind a misleading facade.  The crowd was small and chill.  The service was efficient and polite.  The drinks were normally priced and there was no cover (I hear there is on the weekends though).  It was dimly lit, stylishly designed, and it had fantastic music with an outstanding sound system.  The music was consuming but it was not an effort to speak over it.  This is my kind of upscale lounge.  Inexpensive, chill, relaxing, and no dancing.  Whew.

It was an amazing night and I owe Harold much gratitude for inviting me with him.

Green Zebra
1460 W. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Sonotheque
1444 W. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60622