Friday, July 9, 2010

Chicago Eating Adventures.

Happy Friday everyone! While in Chicago, we ate at several wonderful places that I am excited to share with you. We ate at one place called Graham Elliot that didn't live up to all the hype, but the atmosphere & cocktails were great! And the popcorn they serve before dinner....OUT OF THIS WORLD! We had 4 full baskets! If you've been there and loved it, please let me know. Maybe I just went when the menu was having an "off" night. Little bit of explanation about the trip...Each year, my mom & her two best friends from college take a couple of trips. Several years ago, they started inviting me. I've been to Vegas, NYC, and no Chicago with them...it's a blast traveling with those ladies! Plus I get to spend time with my mom, which is always a fun time since we like to do a lot of the same things. Here's a yummy post to start your weekend off right!


Our first stop once we got to Chicago - Landmark.


This restaurant was my favorite of the whole trip...nice, classy, yet unpretentious.
The food is made with fresh, in-season ingredients, and the chef is creative and inventive!


For appetizer, I got one of the best summer salads I've ever had!
{Red and golden beets, chioggia-frisee salad, balsamic emulsion, walnuts, fingerling chips.}


This isn't the best picture, but it shows how BIG the entree was...
See the pork chop in the backgroud? My mom and I shared this entree.
THAT is how HUGE it was! However, I cannot convey in words
how tasty this meal was! Every element of it came together so well.
You must get this if you go to Landmark!
{Barbeque glazed heirloom pork chop, bacon spaetzle, sweet onion marmalade}

We met and bonded with the chef, so he brought us out some new
sorbet flavors he was about to start serving.
{Fresh raspberry & Pineapple ginger}

After Landmark, we went to have drinks & watch the sun set at The Signature
Room on top of the John Hancock Building. Had to include this pic :)

Champagne & sunsets are  perfect combo.

Beautiful view.

The menus at Graham Elliot were on old record sleeves! So creative and vibey!


The famous truffle oil infused popcorn w/Parmesan cheese, sea salt, and chives!

 
My cocktail was the Eliot Spritzer...loved it!
{Pear essence, orange bitters, something with a long name, and champagne}

We had afternoon tea at The Drake Hotel, such a fun thing to do!

So elegant inside!

Our tower of treats! Sorry the pics are a little blurry..
Don't know what happened!

I chose the Pear Caramel Tea, which was amazing!

Sweets.


We had drinks at on the rooftop of The Wit.
This is a place you must go as well...
Great views, fun crowd, and good cocktails & small plates!


Loved the decor at The Wit. Look at the light fixtures!


View from atop the ferris wheel at Navy Pier.


We also ate at Gino's Pizza, which is the best pizza in Chicago in my opinion! Before seeing "Million Dollar Quartet," we had dinner at a small Italian restaurant called Sapori Trattoria. Loved the intimate atmosphere and fresh pasta! We stayed at the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel, right off Michigan Ave. I absolutely loved stay here! It was so classy and conveniently located. They also had a breakfast menu to-die-for in the restaurant attached! We had huge, fresh yogurt parfaits, whole grain orange granola pancakes, and belgian waffles topped with caramelized bananas! If you're on Michigan Ave. stop by this place for breakfast. You won't be disappointed! What are your fave Chicago places?

12 comments:

  1. I'm glad you had fun in Chicago! I actually love down the street from Landmark, across from Karyn's Cooked. I also love Sapori..it's a delicious hidden gem. Even if you didn't love GE, you're right, the atmosphere is pretty much the best part! Love the popcorn.

    xx,
    http://seejaneworkplaylive.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mmmm ! That all looks so tasty! I'm jealous :D I've never been to Chicago sadly, so I don't have a favorite place
    http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. OMG Lindsay! The food looks incredibly delicious and your photos are GREAT! :) I've never been to Chi town...so wanna go!

    xx
    Jen

    p.s. Check out my first giveaway that I posted last night!

    http://belledecouture.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Everything looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That all sounds/looks soo yummy and amazing! And, those views are incredible!!

    http://jammer10am.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  6. How fun! It looks like you had a blast. I love champagne and sunsets too!

    xo Marcie

    ReplyDelete
  7. I absolutely LOVE Chicago! I'm so jealous of your eating adventures. I've heard that Graham Elliot is amazing but have never actually been there. And Gino's East is DEFINITELY the best Chicago pizza.
    xo Josie
    http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. And...this post made me very hungry.

    I need to work on getting my food to look more appetizing in pictures :)

    -Erica
    Classy and Delicious

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi I just found your blog!! I love it! I live in Chicago and now I want to try all these restaurants! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Food looks good!
    I've never been to Chicago. It's on my list of places to go.

    I used the GC i won from you to get the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.

    http://makeupbykim-porter.com/blog

    ReplyDelete
  11. So fabulous! My mouth is watering. Looks like a great trip!x

    ReplyDelete
  12. The food in Chicago is fantastic, and arguably the best in the country. The chefs really take risks there but manage to keep their food authentic.

    ReplyDelete