Culinary Conquests

No, You have not been forsaken!

2010-02-21T00:57:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been posting, but now that I've found my USB cable again, new posts will be forthcoming. Including... *gasp*... Things that I've been cooking recently. Gourmet at home? You be the judge.

Twist

2009-05-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

Dinner at Twist: A Tapas Cafe.
3412 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL

After a long day of eating, we decided to eat some more. But since there wasn't much room remaining, and we wanted to squeeze in as much variety as possible, we thought we'd try a tapas place. This isn't really the authentic Spanish tapas experience, but its European fusion cuisine in tapas sizing was perfect. I wish there were more restaurants willing to try their hand at small plates.

Set in a casual partial bar environment, we were able to grab a tiny low table near the window. Among the items we tried were their escargot offering and a Jalapeno Gnocchi that was a little different, but definitely delicious. Don't miss the poached pear in raspberry mascarpone sauce!

Leona's

2009-05-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Dessert at Leona's.
1419 W Taylor, Chicago, IL

Enormous portions seem to be the norm at this Italian restaurant. We dropped by for desserts on a rainy Sunday and were treated to a pleasant surprise as the Kitchen Sink really was about the size of my sink. Don't try to eat this by yourself unless you plan on visiting the nearby University of Illinois Medical Center for stomach surgery immediately afterwards.

Tru

2009-05-03T18:42:00.000-07:00

Dessert at Tru.
676 N. St. Clair St, Chicago, IL

Commonly mentioned as one of the finest restaurants in Chicago, Tru's usual 3 course prix fixe menu will lighten your wallet by $95. But he trick to trying some of the best restaurants without becoming immediately homeless afterwards is to go for dessert. And so we did.

The decor was elegantly understated, and the instant focus of attention was the flower arrangement at the center of the dining room. That is, until your food arrived in the cutest little dishes, beautifully presented. The service was generally delightful, but do brush up on your culinary French before arrival, or else someone might kindly correct you on your pronunciation. Oh, and gentlement, don't forget your jackets.

As for the treats, they were wonderful. My favorites? The exploding truffles, which release a burst of cold caramel liqueur immediately upon entering the mouth were everything we were warned it would be. The gianduja crèmeux was paired with a grape sorbet and manchego cheese, an unlikely but delightful combination. Finally, we cannot forget the apricot jelly and the mini rootbeer float, which I again consumed so quickly, I didn't have the chance to photograph. You've got to love a serious restaurant that makes their own lollipops.

Emilio's Sunflower Bistro

2009-05-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

Dinner at Emilio's Sunflower Bistro.
30 S. LaGrange Rd, LaGrange, IL

A classy but cute restaurant in downtown LaGrange reminded me of what Main Street America is supposed to look like. It was a little too bourgeois to be truly Main Street, but that didn't make me like it any less. "See, if it weren't for you, I would be way more blue collar," T told his elder brother. "I'd be drinking beer and watching ESPN. Not sitting here having a cheese plate and pate."

But to be fair, our cheese plate was fairly grounded in the Real America. It even included a Parmesan to ensure that there was something familiar. The garnish pairings were quite nice though. I was also happy to see a salad made of leaves other than iceberg. :)

Rather quiet on the Saturday evening we visited, it was just the right mix of flavorful food and an elegant, but not too stuffy setting. Plus, the cushy couch seating was great.

Richard Walker's

2009-05-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

Brunch at Richard Walker's.
1300 N Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL

Known for their massive baked apple pancake, it puts IHOP to shame with its deliciousness. This pancake was about the size of a small pizza and around the same thickness. Filled with apples and covered with cinnamon sugar, it was love at first sight. But what was really unexpected was the excellent service we received. From the moment we walked in, the level of down-to-earth personal attention was incredible, and it never stopped. No wonder it's such a local breakfast favorite.

More Cupcakes

2009-05-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

Dessert from More Cupcakes.
1 E. Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL

The gourmet cupcake revolution hits Chicago. Tons of delicious cupcakes, displayed most enticingly. I liked the white chocolate (vanilla cupcake with buttercream frosting and white chocolate curls on top), but I ate it too quickly to take a picture.

Beware: They close early on Fridays, so be there before 8, or prepare to be the sad onlooker outside while everyone else enjoys their desserts.

Avec

2009-05-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

Dinner at Avec.
615 W. Randolph St, Chicago, IL

This cute little place serves Mediterranean-inspired new American food. Too hip to take reservations, Avec also doesn't believe in purely savory or purely sweet concoctions and tends towards dishes that combine elements of both. Hints of citrus and mint found themselves everywhere and I started wondering if the head chef really loved mojitos.

But I really can't complain. Everything we tried was delicious. The concept behind the restaurant is quite simple: plates large and small, designed to be shared with your companions. The communal atmosphere made talking to one's neighbors less awkward, which makes Avec the place to go to get additional recommendations from local foodies! I loved the Chorizo-stuffed Medjool dates and Prosciutto with ruby red grapefruit, cucumber, and mint.

Russian Tea Time

2009-05-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

Afternoon tea service at Russian Tea Time.
77 East Adams St, Chicago, IL

You always hear of these Chicago Area institutions, and this is oftentimes mentioned as one. But having passed by it a million times without going in, I made up my mind to actually go and sample the food for once. For all that's made about its Russian-ness, the cuisine turn out to be not so... exotic, shall we say.

I ordered the $22.95 Afternoon Tea set and received one of those towers with lots of little finger foods. Prettier to look at than to eat, unfortunately, although I did enjoy the Salmon and Cream Cheese mini sandwich. Not terribly impressive, but still a cute, albeit overpriced, little snack before hitting the CSO.

As I was told previously, the Russians aren't exactly known for their food. My recommendation? Try the potato dumplings and skip out on the uninspired beef stroganoff.

Welcome to Culinary Conquests

2009-05-03T16:59:00.000-07:00

We eat a lot, and we're proud of it. Join us on our adventure to delight our taste buds as we try restaurants and recipes from both near and far. I think our friend might have expressed it best when she said,

Everybody looks happier with food.

We hope you're no exception.