Two weeks before Chicago Restaurant Week began, I had the chance to go to Chicago Restaurant Week’s First Bites tasting event at the Great Hall in Union Station.
Restaurant Week this year is taking place at 230+ restaurants in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. The First Bites event gave me the chance to sample more than 50 of the sweet and savory tastings that are being offered RIGHT NOW during the fifth annual Chicago Restaurant Week.
This year the week began on Friday, February 17th and will go through Sunday, February 26th. And just because you haven’t made reservations yet for a new place you want to try, doesn’t mean you’ve lost out. Sure reservations can help, but most restaurants reserve a certain number of tables for walk-ins. Your best bet is to arrive early or much later, or even opt for sitting at a high-top table or the bar. Restaurant Week doesn’t discriminate where you sit! The restaurants will offer three-course prix fixe lunches for $22, and dinners for either $33 or $44, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity, but it may vary by restaurant.
Since now you know you still have time to make Restaurant Week work for you, I must tell you about some of my favorite things I tried while at First Bites this year! Nacional 27 served an ahi tuna and watermelon ceviche that was outstanding. I’ve actually had the chance to try this dish before at CHILL at the Merchandise Mart, and I couldn’t have been more excited it was making another debut at First Bites. The super fresh, soft tuna, and the slightly crunchy and sweet watermelon, was the perfect combination. If I wasn’t so full I would have come back and taken several more spoonfuls.
Being a big seafood fan, I also loved Catch 35’s grilled and chilled shrimp cocktail. It isn't very often you get a piece of perfectly cooked shrimp, so I was quite impressed with Catch 35's offering. It was amazing that even after the shrimp was chilled, it still tasted as if it had come just off a grill, an interesting concept.
Bar Toma, is participating in Restaurant Week for the first time, as they are still new to the Chicago food scene. They didn’t disappoint at First Bites with their offering of hand-rolled and stuffed mozzarella. It was like a mini Caprese salad in my mouth! I highly recommend this restaurant in general, I had the chance to try it a few weeks ago with friends who were in from out of town and it was delicious. The pizzas were fresh and crispy and the small bites and appetizers were full of flavor as well.
And as for a Restaurant Week standby, David Burke’s Primehouse sampled homemade beef jerky with Hamachi which was great. If you've never had homemade beef jerky it's well worth trying, I may have even snagged a piece to bring home in my purse...David Burke’s chef, Rick Gresh is actually one of the most personable chefs I have ever met. He actually remembered me, a blogger, from another event I had attended where he was sampling David Burke’s cuisine. I really look up to Chef Gresh and it felt really great that he actually remembered who I was! As for another Chef who is just as personable and caring about her restaurant and her food, Stephanie Izard of Girl and the Goat, was out there ladling goat chili into patrons cups. I was initially a little apprehensive about trying the goat chili, but I shouldn’t have been as all of Chef Izard’s creations are amazing and the goat chili was no exception.
I could go on and on about the steak tartare at N9ne Steakhouse, or the smoked Alaskan salmon at Public House, but I want YOU to have a chance to try all of the things I’ve been raving about during this week as well. Leave me a comment, what was your favorite thing you’ve had so far during Chicago Restaurant Week?
Filed under: Chicago
