Chicago Foodies

Aigre Doux: Restaurant Week

Better late than never, right? My first trip to Aigre Doux and why not get a prix fixe. I'd say upfront that
it's not generally a good way to evaluate a place. That said I had a very good meal and even though we were a fairly large group up against the back kitchen-wall, I did find the place to be nice and comfy. Then again it could have been the girl drinks.

The other thing to note is that 3 cosmos has the tendency to make any night a remarkable night. The menu option of braised spare ribs made any decision a formality. I've been on a braised meat kick lately and was excited. The haricot vert was a great starter... what better to go with a cocktail. Technicolor.

Le Lan

For quite some time I have heard great things about Le Lan, a French-Asian restaurant in River North. It turned out to be a wonderful restaurant with personable and helpful staff, as well as an open plan atmosphere.  A gift certificate for Christmas made it easier to visit.

Bistrot Zinc: My Offal Meal This Past Weekend

One of my favorite haunts, Bistrot Zinc, changes its core menu once a month.  And with frequent $25 off coupons in the mail I come back quite often..and order the wine.  And appetizers.  And dessert.  And get a good meal for two for $60 after the discount, not including tip.

This month I'm pleased to announce the rognons on the menu, called Rognons de Veau à la Sauce Moutarde.  Not knowing much French I understood veau but had to ask what rognons were, and much to my delight they were...

Fondue: Home Cookin'

When you get fondue pots for gifts, it's a waste to watch them sit on the shelves.  And, of course, you can get fondue at a restaurant.   Geja's is quirky and interesting, but their decor and menu are stuck in 1975, and while I like the decor in a time warp, it's a challenge getting excited over tartar sauce and shrimp cocktail.  Melting Pot looks like it has an interesting menu, but it has too much of a shopping-mall chain feel to it.

So why not have a fondue party?   So for starters I went over to my favorite shop, Pastoral.  And no, they're not paying me to say this.  Seriously.

Sweets and Savories

For anyone dieting before the holidays who, like me, try to preserve some sanity in the process with one, big fat “cheating” meal a week to take the edge off - I’ve got the perfect one for you. You can find it at Sweets and Savories on Fullerton and you can find it for half price on Wednesday nights (10 dollars down from 20 dollars).

Le Bouchon: As close as it gets to the real thing

A bouchon is a cozy, often family-run unpretentious restaurant in Lyon, France, specializing in Lyonnaise dishes, such as tablier de sapuer (breaded, fried stomach) and boudin noir aux pommes (blood sausage with apples).  Not for the faint of heart, if you do like this type of thing you will not be disappointed.  Le Bouchon in Bucktown offers food for those really craving authentic French cooking, and the menu isn't entirely watered-down.   With items on the menu like "Rognons de Veau à la Moutarde", which is veal kidneys with mustard sauce, it certainly sets the tone for people like me who don't have hangups about baby animals or exotic organs.

Le Colonial: What were we thinking?

When my fiancee and I took her parents to Le Colonial, the "what were we thinking" had more to do with "Why haven't we come here more often?" not why would we ever come back.  In this Gold Coast restaurant prices are a bit higher than what you find in the north side neighborhoods, but reasonable for the immediate area and overall, good value for money.  The atmosphere is tropical, bright and airy with white woods and ceiling fans, purportedly to evoke the colonial era. 

Bistrot Zinc: Solid French Bistro

Located on State just south of Division in the Gold Coast Bistrot Zinc is a good, dependable French bistro (a bit more like French/Italian) that is never too crowded and exudes a classic bistro feel to it with antique-looking brass fixtures and tile floors. I tend to go there often for two reasons: first, it’s close to my fiancées place; and second, the menu changes monthly, which always makes it interesting. 

Rick's Cafe Casablanca

Rick's is a small restaurant next door to a wonderful Wrigleyville pizza place, Pizza Rustica. Walking in we met another couple and made a comment that we should get a quick appetizer and go next door for their wonderful potato/rosemary pizza. Maybe next time...

Avec

Right next to Blackbird, the big brother (or sugar daddy) of Avec, is a simple rectangular restaurant that seems to want to stress form over function. The 1-room has a row of tables running the length of one half of the restaurant and a bar/counter and kitchen along the other. It looks like something out of Dwell magazine. The irony is that the food is fairly complicated with a traditional grounding. While the food fattens your ass, the stool will flatten it.

And the food is good. The menu is an assortment of small plates, that aren't too small, and large plates that we didn't try. When you get knee-deep into the menu you might also have the desire for variety. Dishes like the crispy duck confit with blood oranges in a blood orange vinaigrette and crispy short ribs with red peppers, cilantro, red onion and harissa aioli were ones that, as I left, I wish I tried.

Froggy's

Froggy's in Highwood has been on my short list of North Shore restaurants for a while. On Green Bay Rd. just north of Highland Park, is a mini-restaurant row and Froggy's is right next to Gabriel's. I was expecting good French food at a reasonable price. In addition to that we had very little hassle for a Saturday night. It was, after all, the suburbs.

They offer a $32-$37 price fix with choice of entree, cold appetizer, hot appetizer and dessert. We were in a group of 8 and all of us but one went that route. They brought out a salad for that lone diner during one of the appetizer courses so there would be a plate in front of everyone. That's dining.

La Tache for Brunch

La Tache on Balmoral in Andersonville is a cute little French bistro that is priced out around Le Boucheon $15-$22 for entrees. I've been there once before for dinner and remember enjoying it, promising to return. Though it's been a while, I finally did go back... for brunch.

Brasserie Jo

I've been to at least a half dozen different Lettuce Entertain You restaurants and I must say, I've never had a bad meal, execpt for Maggiano's, which isn't necessarily bad but extremely glutonus and in my opinion a "chain" restuarant, which I don't do.  No matter which one it is, the atmosphere is always enjoyable, the service always helpful and the meal, always good.  Not great.  I'd never say great, but then again I haven't been to Tru or Everest.