three years later or more...

a number of years ago we went to a Chicago Gourmets dinner at Tallgrass - a renown restaurant on the far southwest side in a town called Lockport.  The dinner was our second event to attend with the Chicago Gourmets and we didn't really know too many people.  Seating assignments are made in this organization so we found ourselves seated with some woman we didn't know and made virtually no connection with. She spent the evening telling us about how her house was "underwater" basically because she had used it as an ATM (my interpretation not hers) and depleted all the equity in it.  She was forced to leave it when the bank took it over in a foreclosure.  Now this was not a rare occurrence at the time but it was rare in the circles we travel in.... and we were perhaps less than sympathetic about her plight when she spent a the next segment of the evening telling us about how we should join this high end dining organization (the Chaine des Rotisseurs) that went only to the top restaurants in town and did so in tuxedos and formal wear (Check Please!!!!!)

Phil told her in no uncertain terms that he would NEVER wear a tuxedo again in his life except for his daughter's wedding - if she were to ever get married and have a formal wedding ceremony.  She harped on and on about how much "fun" it was - we were beyond skeptical. We are old hippie types who believe in comfortable casual clothes to fit our lifestyle or living life the way we want rather than by someone else's idea of the appropriate way of dressing.  Despite sitting on three Boards of Directors I still managed to never wear a dress for the last ten+ years of my career.  To say we completely dismissed this woman out of hand would be giving her more than she was due- we simply paid no more attention to her (despite sitting at a three top that night) and went on our merry way....

LOL- years and years and years ago - long before that dinner I just mentioned, I had a spiritual teacher who used to frequently tell his students "what you judge you are stuck with..."

I mention this because time went on - we didn't give it much thought - occasionally someone would mention the Chaine to us - and we would nod politely....  

And then this happened... several years back we went to goosefoot for new year's eve and at the NYE party I saw a man who was clearly enjoying himself and I said to Phil "there's somebody we should meet, he clearly knows how to live life!"  And so we stalked the guy (LOL) not really-  but we did ask Nina Nugent the next time we were in about the man.  I told Nina I thought he might be Thai- and he was at the NYE dinner having a great time and before I went any further she said she knew exactly who I was asking about and that he and his wife were dear friends of hers and she would make sure we would be introduced....

time went on and fortunately we ended up at goosefoot , celebrating brother Steve's birthday the same night these folks were celebrating the wife's birthday. I went up and boldly introduced myself to the guy with a bottle of wine to pour from - with his party of eight hooting at him when I called him "boyfriend" (which is an expression I have used for years with my doctor/client/insureds and I use "girlfriend" too...)

this is getting to be an awfully long story but we did exchange cards and low and behold - he is the head of the local chapter of the Chaine des Rotisseurs.  (LOL- see it does all tie together)  We promised to get in touch (which of course means nothing) but after about a week I heard from Beth (my new boyfriend's wife and my new girlfriend) about going to Schwa. The Shwa night Phil had other plans so I went and met Mon, Beth and their friend Rene for dinner.  We had a very nice evening and then I think one more meal before we headed off for the winter to SRQ.

fast forward now two years more and we are back again to Chicago for the summer and have been to a couple of Chaine events as guests of our now good friends and over the course of time have met a dozen more members at one event or another - some at A10, some at Yusho, some at Cai etc... so I suggested to Phil that it was finally time to reconsider our "written in stone" position and at least one of us should join rather than continue to be guests of our friends. And so- we found ourselves last night at my first Chaine event (with my guest Phil LOL) as an inductee....

So things go full circle in the way of the world.... The event was held at Eataly Chicago - and here are the details-  but first a food photo to start you thinking about eating----

the menu for the evening- starting with the salumi above- and then moving on to the menu items...

we got a full tour of the various food halls/stations - including cheese and pasta and fish etc...

and here is the funny thing -  the other guy who was being introduced with me as our first Chaine event - I knew from more than thirty years ago (small small world)

so while Phil still won't have to wear a tuxedo - we will be able to participate with the events and look forward to many more lovely evening with friends old and new...

I was stuffed before we got to the fish course - LOL - so there was waaay more than enough food! And we met some new folks along the way as well as renewing some acquaintances... tomorrow night next: Tappas

so always more to see and do.... stay tuned!

chef's choice

Omakase (Chef’s choice) from Japanese "to entrust"

This style of dining essentially offers the chef the choice of what to serve you based on what he feels best represents his skills, while using the freshest fish that is available today. Expect the chef to be innovative and surprising in the selection of dishes. The meal can be likened to an artistic performance by the chef.

we met our friends at Kuni's in Evanston on the early side - but found the sushi bar already nearly full! It turns out the Japanese Consul to Chicago and staff members were eating there and had the full attention of the eponymous Kuni. Still we managed to get a good meal despite his split attention.  We started with seaweed salad and oysters (the sake box was filled with very nice sake - about which I know not a thing....)

the oysters were terrific

then we went on to other things- udon in rolls and tempura fried- served in broth-

yellowtail jaw (I am only repeating what I was told) it turned out to be extremely tender mild white fish that pretty much fell off the bones - not a tiny boned skeleton but large bones easy to pick from

the next dish with quail egg and salmon and tuna and green onions was mixed up and the "glue" tasted just like glue  and was stringy and slimey all at the same time- clearly an acquired taste - our friend said not many "round eyes" like it---- so I fell in the category of true to form...LOL - next time I won't mix it up but just eat the parts I like LOL

tempura shrimp balls - a great course to follow the challenging one -

then on to sushi

I also got salmon roe (YUM) to make up for the uni I choked down LOL- and we had shrimp heads for some crunch with sriracha mayo (another YUM)

the palate cleansing end of a veggie roll -

so we all had plenty to eat and when we left the restaurant we found it raining and the Blackhawks up 1-0.  A mixed bag...  tomorrow dinner with Ross and Dario and their darling almost two year old Andrea! We haven't seen them in ages so it will be good to catch up.  Then Monday a Chaine event at Eataly - progressive dinner through some stations and several of their restaurants... Wednesday the upcoming next menu: Tapas -  so a couple more meals before Phil leaves town... stay tuned....

EATALY CHICAGO RESTAURANTS 

Eataly Chicago boasts 23 eateries. On the 1st floor: Il Panino di Eataly, Il Gran Bar Lavazza, Nutella, Làit Gelateria Alpina, Il Gelato di Eataly, La Pasticceria di Luca Montersino, Baffo Ristorante e Enoteca. On the 2nd Floor: La Birreria, La Rosticceria, La Piazza with La Mozzarella, Il Crudo, I Salumi e Formaggi and Il Fritto, La Pizza & La Pasta, La Focacceria, Il Pesce & Le Verdure, Osteria di Eataly, Caffè Vergnano, Vino Libero and La Scuola

So those look like something you might want to come back for don't they?

reporting back

on the concert at SPACE late last night-

above a close up of the way cool light fixtures in the club and below - our table 11 menu holder-

the one word review- outstanding!

so here are the two featured artists- and artists they were-

Janiva Magness - is an American blues and soul singer and songwriter. The Blues Foundation named Magness the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year in 2009, becoming only the second woman, after Koko Taylor, to be so honored. In the same year, she was named the Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, which she had already won in 2006 and 2007, and was nominated for again in 2012. Since 2006, she has had 22 similar nominations. "Magness is a blues star."

Doug Macleod - is an American storytelling bluesman. Although now associated with his home in Los Angeles, he has lived and worked in North Carolina, St. Louis, Port Washington, New York, and Norfolk, Virginia, where he was stationed in the United States Navy. He became acquainted with the blues in St Louis in his teens and started his career playing country blues on acoustic guitar, finding that singing eased a chronic stutter and helped him to eventually overcome it. Although predominantly associated with acoustic guitar, his skills were developed as a blues bass player, and honed by his subsequent journeys into jazz and electric blues.

so we started the night with a stop at Edzo's - for a char grilled burger for Phil and a crispy griddled burger pour moi... shared "old fries" and topped off our retro meal with milk shakes... can't go wrong there...

Doug played first starting right before 10pm - and he was downright amazing on guitar - his blues singing was very traditional spiced with some humor and upbeat interpretation of some low down tunes.  Really terrific surprise - we loved him!!! hope to see him again (maybe at Bradenton Blues Festival in the future)

and then Janiva- and she commands with the voice of a woman (no little girl folkie whispery voice for her) - came out and knocked the socks off everyone - - - 

some heavy hitters in the guitar back up - three varying leads and even Doug came onstage for a number near the end-

the concert ended at 1am and we headed home in awe of the talent on the small stage last night- we heard four terrific guitarists and Janiva's blow you away vocals... the small but appreciative audience left murmuring accolades to their friends as they entered the cool night air...

tonight Omakase - so always more to return for....