I'm a New York City kind of person. I love the controlled chaos, the don't mess with me attitude, and the incredible cultures that reside on every street corner. If you find yourself bored in NYC, you're doing it wrong. My mom and I have been going to the big city every spring for the past 6 years, but just recently, started going to attend the annual James Beard Awards ceremony. For those who don't know, its like The Oscars, but for food. I miss part of finals week every year to go to this event. Probably not the smartest thing, but hey, I like to eat. Naturally, I get overly excited each time the invitation arrives. This year was no different, but there was one thing I was unsure about.
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Chicago? I had never been to Chicago. I love traveling and I love exploring new cities, but I like to have at least a decent idea of what I'm getting myself into. All I knew about this place is that the weather is spastic and the deep dish pizza is the signature meal. I expected a NYC-esque city. What I learned: Chicago is NOT New York City. Chicago is very much its own. The people are welcoming, the city streets are stunning, the weather is still spastic, and the food is great. Here are some of the best places we ate before we attended the awards.
The Boarding House - We went to this restaurant the first night and it set the standard for the trip. This restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It's two floors with the bar downstairs and the restaurant upstairs. The whole place has a bit of an industrial feel to it which I loved! And the food was incredible. They did a very good job of putting a unique twist on classic dishes. For instance, tuna tartar was now salmon tartar. Little changes like that make The Boarding House a restaurant you crave.
Salmon Tartare with cucumber, pickled fresno peppers, fennel pollen, and char roe
Beets and Goat Cheese Salad with pistachios, candied zest, pumpernickel, and basil
Mushroom Risotto
Scallops with kohlrabi, apple, pickled mustard seeds, and guanciale
Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler with vanilla ice cream and a strawberry chip
Nico Osteria - We went to this restaurant for brunch with a group of people who are also affiliated with the James Beard Foundation. Meaning, I wasn't the only one at the table taking pictures of the food. I have found my people! The dishes were beautifully presented and the service was great. I was torn between three different things on the menu and our waiter recommended her favorite, the Ham Chop & Eggs. By far the best ham and eggs I have every had. They are known for their raw bar which does not disappoint, and the drinks and desserts were especially unique. I am curious to know what their dinner menu is like, but I don't know if I could ever pass up their brunch menu. Is it odd to go to the same restaurant twice in one day?
Oysters with celery, champagne vinegar, and osetra caviar supplement
Knpachi with potato, frisee, and smoked banyuls. Bigeye Tuna with fennel, breadcrumbs, and ice wine vinegar. Black Bream with grapes, candied pumpkin seed, and basil. Wild King Salmon with chile, meyer lemon, and black lava salt.
Ham Chop & Eggs with polenta and roasted tomato vinaigrette
Port Wines
Unfortunately I couldn't tell you what any of these desserts were. I was too busy eating them.
Spiaggia - This was by far the fanciest restaurant we went to. The portion sizes were smaller and they recommended that we each get three courses. Deep down, my mom and I knew this would be too much food, but screw it. We came to Chicago to eat. Spiaggia is Italian food with a twist, and frankly I was pleasantly surprised by the menu. When I think Italian I think pastas and pizzas. This was not that, which was refreshing. This restaurant is great for a special occasion, but for more casual dining they also have their Cafe that offers a different menu.
Amuse Bouche
Primavera - spring vegetables, Montasio D.O.P., pumpkin seeds, and black truffle
Salmone - Quillayute River spring salmon, trout roe, green almond, wild mint, and extra virgin oil
Gnocchi - potato, ricotta, black truffle, and Parmigiano Reggiano
Chitarra - rye guitar string spaghetti, Taleggio, ramp, morel, and rosemary
Merluzzo - Pacific black cod, asparagus, guanciale, green strawberry, and black lime
Opah - Pacific opah, speck, eggpalnt, caper leaf, cherry tomato, and sea bean
Gelati E Sorbetti - Salted Carmel, Mango, and Smoked Vanilla Bean-Bourbon
These restaurants were only the appetizers to the main course that is the James Beard Awards and we were ready. They were held at the Lyric Opera House and they couldn't have picked a better venue. The awards themselves were long (they always are) but only because everyone wants to get to the food they smell that is being prepared outside the theatre doors. However, I love the ceremony. Everyone, including the nominees, are so deserving.
Plus, my mom marks down all the winners in the program so we know where to dine in the upcoming year. It was nice to see some familiar names too! The JBFA invites the previous year's winners to come back and provide the dishes for the reception. Both Peche and Commanders Palace (mentioned here) were there and we got to thank the chefs for their fabulous food that we ate last February in New Orleans. Overall it was such a fun night and I can't wait to come back to Chicago for the next couple James Beard Awards!