Okay, so for May’s date we went to a restaurant. Again. Right?
Except– this restaurant happened to be Everest, and Everest is considered one of the best restaurants in the world. So we were excited. (We were also excited because it was our fifth wedding anniversary, but come on. Everest.)
Our drive down to the financial district was also pretty special because of the gigantic pink moon that highlighted Lake Shore Drive. Very Nick Drake.
After taking three separate elevators to get to the restaurant (I felt rather important/lost), we arrived at the positively gorgeous establishment. We were seated by like fifteen people and presented with multiple tasting menus and options. Here’s what we ate:
-A trio of preludes which included a foie gras flan-like awesomeness, a silver cup of chilled pea and mint soup (which just tasted green and beyond refreshing), and a spoon of a fluffy bacon-infused happiness. (Super technical, I realize.)
-My first starter was Maine peekytoe crab with a celery root and granny smith apple remoulade. It melted my face with joy.
-Peej’s first dish was crusted Berkshire pork cheeks and poached veal tongue on a beautiful bed of veggie something or other that he promptly devoured. For the record, we didn’t actually converse with each other for the first half of the meal.
-Next up we both chose the roasted Maine lobster in an Alsace Gewurztraminer butter and ginger sauce. We contemplated being grownups and not dipping random things into the leftover butter, but that didn’t last too long.
-My main course was the magret of mulard duck in pine honey. It was one of Everest’s most famous dishes (and the personal favorite of our terrific waiter), and I’m stoked to report that it rocked my world.
-P.J.’s main dish was the loin of venison with a wild huckleberry jus and spiced pear. Our conversation during this course revolved around what we were eating. Baby steps towards romantic, date-like talking?
-We took a “break” between courses to have a gelee of ruby red grapefruit with these incredible grapefruit sugar crystals. Totally prepped me to keep gorging.
-My dessert was the Alsace New Style fromage blanc cheesecake with lemon, kirsch, and honey. It tasted like a slightly savory hug from an angel.
-Peej opted for the Alsace Vacherin and, aside from being a fairy castle concoction which our daughters would steal in a heartbeat, was a divine creation of Tahitian vanilla and strawberry glace, raspberry coulis, and meringue so pretty I wanted to wear it.
-Next, we were presented with celebratory chocolates (filled with espresso cream) because, obviously, we were starving.
– And finally, alongside our cappuccino and jasmine tea, we received a plate of dessert bites juuust in case we weren’t ready to be rolled out to our car. Among my favorites were the lavender macaron and the raspberry jam bit o’ awesomesauce, but P.J. blissed out over the white chocolate and espresso truffle. (Let’s be honest, here. They were all our favorites.)
After nearly closing down the joint, we took the obligatory tourist photo in front of the stellar view of Chicago’s skyline. (I waved to the street- 40 floors below- and then promptly stopped.)
It was an awesome dining experience and a terrific date. Proving that, yet again, great company doesn’t need “conversation” to fill a perfect evening.
Just a world-renowned chef.
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| If we look exhausted, it’s because it’s 11:30pm and we’ve just eaten all the food in Chicago. |
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