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So I just landed in Chicago – my second flight for the day. I’m tired(up at 4am to catch my first flight since I had to fly to Minneapolis for meetings before traveling here), I’m cold(temps are 25 degrees colder than Dallas) and of course, I’m hungry(nothing new there). I love the concierge at the Renaissance Chicago because he always has great recommendations for me(Thanks Thomas!)
BottleFork:
The menu looked very interesting. And Thomas told me since I was dining alone I could probably sit at the “chef’s seat” at the end of the bar. Then he mentioned a favorite of his – a lobster roll with foie gras and fried oysters. I’m interested and make a reservation through OpenTable. I walk a few blocks to River North(the brisk air is waking me up) and he was right- I am seated at the bar to watch the chefs. There was a lot to choose from so I decide on the lobster roll and the creamed kale(I also had a great server who helped me pick!). And then something strange happened. I didn’t love my lobster roll. Could it be after a 15 hour day my taste buds were giving up? It was almost too rich for me….but I really enjoyed the creamed kale with a sunny side up egg(a much more mild dish). I hope this was a total random event because I really want to come back and try a few more dishes on their menu(and probably the lobster roll again)!
Firecakes Donuts:
I wanted something simple for dessert and wanted to eat it back at the hotel(at this point I am exhausted). I leave BottleFork and around the corner is a little donut shop. I see about 5 people standing in the small entry way and a few leaving. I look in the window and decide I must go inside. I buy three donuts(one for my colleague coming in on a much later flight- nice treat when she checks in!) and two for me to try. I order a sufganiyah(jelly donut) and a honey glazed….may want to save the second one for breakfast but not sure I can wait that long to eat it. I head back to the hotel, check out the view of the river(thank you for the upgrade Renaissance), enjoy my last sweet of the evening and call my husband to say goodnight with a smile on my face.
Piccolo Sogno Due:
Best salad I have eaten all year. And I have eaten at a lot of restaurants, especially in Chicago. I was with a colleague and we started with the butternut squash soup(nice that they split it for us). Then we each had a salad- I ordered the kale salad and it was one of my favorite meals of the year. The roasted squash and the fennel and the dressing- WOW, I could eat this every week! Note to self: try to recreate at home. For entrees, they offer their pasta dishes in half or full size so it was time for me to get my favorite- black spaghetti with tons of shellfish. And it was delicious. I cannot believe I waited this long to come here. I will be back !
Where to next when I return to Chicago?
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I have never been to Minneapolis but was looking forward to visiting somewhere new. I read great reviews about this spot and it seemed to be a “locals” kind of place. My dining companions(aka clients) had been before and said everything on the menu was great. I knew it would be a long day with another flight and city ahead of me so I opted for something filling…the lobster macaroni and cheese. Not the most gourmet I’ve had but a good “comforting” choice and it kept me going till 7pm when I made it to Chicago. Next restaurant please!
Always Travel With Peanut Butter 