Due to the bad economy there is a surge of prix-fixe menu options at some of Chicago’s best restaurants. For those that have extra cash to blow on food it is a great time to try some new places. One such must try is Café Des Architectes in the Sofitel. Both Executive Chef Martial Nouguier and pastry Chef Suzanne Imaz were recently snatched from one sixtyblue to head up Café Des Architectes. They’ve developed a family friendly menu using local ingredients from Chicago’s Green City Market. The prix-fixe menu is offered Sunday and Monday night from 5PM to 11PM through April 27th. The three-course offering is priced at $29.00. Children under 10 for $19.00 and children under five can enjoy a gourmet meal for free.
However, Café Des Architects is not the place I’d go to for a family friendly meal but more for a swanky night out on the town. I decided to give it a try myself for the first time during restaurant week and was not disappointed. The dinning room is urban chic with leather seating, large, low-hung fixtures and a sleek red booth that lines the floor to ceiling windows.
The food presentation is equally as sculptured as the décor. For the first course I choose the spiced duck confit that was served in its own pot with Satsuma orange, honey, caramel and frisee. The spice put a nice twist on the traditional confit but it didn’t wow. I actually preferred my dining partner’s pork belly starter served with Jerusalem artichokes, hedgehog mushrooms and white truffle oil. For the main course our table almost unanimously ordered the hanger steak and braised short rib combo with shallot puree and watercress salad. The rich flavors of the meat did not disappoint but also did not surprise. The highlight was the lake Superior whitefish on top of chestnut purée, red cabbage confit and apple foam. The sweet and salty flavors complemented well and was not something I had eaten before. To complete the meal we finish with a chocolate and pistachio dome, which was a Jivara milk chocolate mousse (a 40% cocoa milk chocolate with a touch of malt flavor) with a pistachio cream center that was covered by a thick milk chocolate dome and placed on top of sour cherry foam. All in all it was an enjoyable first try and for $29.00 I now have an excuse to try it again but I’m still not convinced it’s the right place for kids.
Café Des Architectes
20 E. Chestnut
312-324-4000
www.cafedesarchitectes.com
For the 3 course menu go to:
http://www.cafedesarchitectes.com/happenings/#friends
Nice information. I'll have to give it a try next time I visit.
Posted by: Chris | March 24, 2009 at 03:15 AM