Enough of the lachrymose thoughts. We took advantage of our work-filled week to do a few last favorite dining excursions, and it's time to share. One often hears the "if it was your last meal, what would you want?" question. I have my answers.
1--Dinner with a fellow blogger, and new friend, Courtney. She made the greatest tarte tatin, and I was a happy woman.
2--Dinner at Avec. I love this place--not for the service, which occasionally forgets about you (although was great this time), nor for the slightly uncomfortable backless chairs. It's all about the food here. And the fact that I am convinced Paul Kahan is one of the best chefs* in Chicago helps.
We started with chorizo stuffed dates wrapped in bacon and served in a piquillo pepper sauce. This is a box-out dish. Translation, you take your first bite and the elbows go up while you guard the rest.
This was followed up by the not-so-yummy-sounding but amazingly good cod brandade (think cod, butter, oil, garlic and potato whipped together, and you kind of have a picture of this dish, however that picture is so inaccurate you have to stop reading NOW and hop on a plane and go try some because the sensation of warm brandade on good bread is fantastically pleasing), and the english pea crostini. I think the camera liked the crostini so much it ate the picture. Or the picture taker (who could that be?) was so distracted she forgot to take. Pictures, that is.
We finished up with the warm spinach salad (Avec makes the perfect bean--a little crunchy a little tender and all flavor) and wood-fired pizza with gorgonzola, smoked grapes, tarragon, pistachios and saba. I'm a fan. My own home-made pizza crust crawled into a corner in shame when this showed up:
So that's dinner. Dessert comes later, tomorrow perhaps?
* This observation is based on working an event for Share our Strength that included a large number of Chicago's finest (although no Trotter). Kahan showed up early with his sous chefs, worked the entire event, and even helped clean up. Yes, this chef has kept his heart in the kitchen. Plus I can afford his food. Once in a while. :)
10 comments:
Moving is hard to do..but is an adventure...good wishes to you.
We have not been to Avec yet. I love Brandade. Le Sardine had a good one. You guys were great! I know we will meet again.Thanks for a wonderful dinner. We still have Sweden, and NYC to visit some more.
Where are you going? I've not been over for a while and I fear I may have missed something important. Hope it's somewhere lovely.
x x x
mmmm...sounds amazing. Hope your move goes well.
we're moving too! though only to evanston. the city life is something we'll miss but we're still near the food and there's soem great places to eat in evanston...
The food looks fabulous! So sad about last meals though! Just think, you'll have a load of first meals coming up right? I'll always be a fan of your cooking!
Hey Chou,
Sorry I've not visited for a while. I hope "moving" doesn't mean "stop posting"!
I love brandade and head chefs who help with the cleaning-up.
Looking forward to your next post, from your new home.
Hi Christy. So where are you moving too? I wish you lots of luck on the move. I still remember how sad it was for me when we moved from our condo to our home. It's hard leaving a place that you lived in for many years, and created a lot of memories in. I do love our home, but it was sad for me to stand at the door and look inside our condo for the last time, and see how different it looked all empty.
I hate to move..but courtney is amazing!
No worries, I'm really not invisible. Just packing! For all who wonder, it's NYC and a new program at NYU calling my attention away. Oh, and getting that pesky thesis deposited. :)
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