City Exploration: The Chicago Experience

This is a recap of our Chicago long weekend a couple weeks ago.

Every time I visit Chicago, I have a list of places where I want to eat, and most of them, I never get to. I have had Hot Doug’s on my WANT list for far too long. Added as well was Kuma’s Corner (a burger place). With plans already set for Whiskey Fest on Friday night and dinner plans for Saturday night with friends, there was not much time in between for much else. There never seems to be enough “free” time, and it’s nearly impossible to plan extra-curricular activities into our visit with the number of friends we have who now live in Chicago.

Then, we missed our Publican reservation for brunch on Sunday. “Missed” meaning, we were already on our drive back to Cleveland. AB had to get back to work. Yes, on a Sunday. And yes, I was exceptionally cranky about it. Moving on…

Upon our arrival, we upgraded our room at the Swissotel. It’s a gorgeous hotel (windows all around us in the corner suite!), but a bit distanced for anything resembling comprehensive customer service. It all felt very apathetic… or European, as it were. And the room service prices were RIDICULOUS. After unpacking, we walked Michigan Avenue a bit, then had lunch at Giordano’s Pizza. I’ve eaten here several times (there are locations throughout the city) and is possibly the best Chicag0-style pizza in the city.

And we needed some solid grub for a date with whiskey and bourbon — Whiskey Fest 2010. For majority of the scotches that AB drinks, I despise. He likes these smokey, peaty Islays that resemble burnt campfire marshmallows and that’s just not my bag. So most of what we had on our shelf stayed in his possession. Thankfully (for me), Whiskey Fest had a growth in bourbon “presenters” and even a few rye whiskeys this year. Surprisingly, I found a few scotches I did enjoy — particularly the 1991 Glenrothes. It tasted like butterscotch-covered apples. Delicious. My new favorite bourbon is Bulliet Bourbon. There is also a White Lightning whiskey which was curiously easy to drink. A lot.

We attended one of the seminars too, called: A Shotgun Wedding: Blending Bourbon, Kentucky Style. Yes, that IS a lot of bourbon. The Golden Anniversary blend was fantastic!

We were able to blend our own bourbon, given their sample sizes of (I think) 5-, 7-, and 14-year whiskeys. Near the beginning of the session, Craig Beam was interrupted by a guest delivering flowers… who then came to the end of my table and set them down.

They were ”delivered” from the drunk who sat down beside us. He brought them all the way from the front hotel lobby. He was a “fun” personality, but OMG the embarrassment.

It was a great event — we even ran into Blogging Jason. I had to cut myself off an hour before the event closed down. Those sips can quickly take a toll.

We struck out at three different bars after the event. Each was more lame and touristy than the last. And I almost got in a fight with a drunk who called my boyfriend a dick. After yelling at him to leave us alone, I had to finally grab a manager to assist in his removal. We left shortly thereafter. That sort of vibe was oozing from every corner of the bar.

We had brunch the next morning at The Bongo Room, had maybe an hour to walk around the city before we had to return to get ready for an early dinner at Graham Elliot. Not only a MEAL, mind you, but THE EXPERIENCE — literally-named — and at $120/per person, was worthy of a Chicago trip in itself.

There were twelve courses, all of which were deconstructed by way of individual ingredients, and the portion sizes are incredibly small. Even for me. The realization of the silliness in plating started with our Caesar salad (which I’ve never had before even its common inception). This contained one  tiny anchovy on it (which is strange, but I know a part of the salad), and was surprisingly delicious. There was also a giant crouton. ONE. Giant crouton. Actually, it is called a “brioche Twinkie” which is actually a brioche stuffed with parmesan-laced mascarpone. For REALS. Understandable why it’s the most popular item on his menu.

Not until this year did I start eating fish again — with a shellfish allergy, I am constantly anxious about cross-contamination and figure the best defense was to stay away from ALL fish. That said, when I became bored with restaurant options, I strayed from my rule. It has opened up a whole new eating arena for me. Good thing because we had two fish as part of our twelve courses.

The pea soup came flash-frozen to our table (with a mint marshmallow even), then the server poured the hot liquid soup base over all everything in the bowl. It was incredible. With the aforementioned menu items, we also had a duck satay, a chicken, steak and two desserts.

There is something in all that foodgasm, I forgot, but you get the picture, I’m sure.

I love Chicago. It’s essentially Cleveland on a grander scale. I think my reasons for not living there are based that nearly every one I know there is from here. I don’t want to follow the herd of others who have done this exact same transition. There are plenty of Midwestern or medium-sized cities that would otherwise suit me just as well. Or better.

Plus, I can’t stand crowds. I hate waiting in lines. Hate that I have to eat something BEFORE I’m going to go eat something (because I cannot wait an HOUR for food — or just a table, mind you — on an empty stomach).

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