Fabulous Fusion at Fat Rice

Created by the Xmarx clan, Fat Rice has gotten rave reviews since it opened in 2012. Spoiler alert: This will be another rave review.

Our mistake was going with a party of three around 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday evening in late winter. Needless to say we ended up waiting more than an hour for a non-bar table. (Fat Rice does not take reservations, nor does it accept parties greater than six.) The benefit of all this waiting was at the end of the evening we got to hang out with Abe, one of the owners, and learn about how he and Adrienne, the other owner, came up with their restaurant concept and menu. They went to Macau and ate themselves silly for four days straight. Sounds like the perfect vacation to me!

While we waited for our table, we indulged at the bar. The drinks were all on the strong-side, but while most had a balance between alcohol and other mixers (ginger, saffron and mint in the GSP, for example), the Traderoute cocktail really knocked me down. I had to cave in and return it to the bartender in favor of something more my speed, like the Salty Hound with vodka, grapefruit and preserved salted plum.

Fat Rice changes its menu often and at the time of this post is now onto a spring-summertime menu, but I am certain that the Arroz Gordo (translated: Fat Rice) is as delicious as it was in winter as it will be in the summer. Think of a big pot of delicious things like chicken sausage, dugenese crabs, saffon-infused rice, peppers, tomotoes, and more! coming together to create a perfect balance of flavors. 

When you go, and you should go soon, be sure to save room for dessert. Whether you order the Pineapple Upside Down Cake or the Winter Fruit in Syrup, it won't disappoint.

GT Fish & Oyster Bar in River North

My foodie friends--and all-around great friends and people!--Andrea and Javier were back in Chicago last week for their next Next dining experience. (They successfully stalked the Next website and got tickets to all four dining experiences, on dates that fit with their schedule. Impressive!)

When A & J come to town, we always try a fun new, hot spot. Last summer it was Aviary. Earlier this spring we stopped by Au Cheval. This time we checked out GT Fish & Oyster in River North. (GT Fish & Oyster, which has been open more than a year now, does not fit the "new" criteria. But given our wait with a reservation on a Monday night, it seems to fit the "hot spot" criteria.)

We bid our time while we waited for our table with cocktails. I started with a Waitlist, Javier had a Manhattan and Z had a Cleanbreak. On a hot summer evening, I really liked the refreshing flavors in the vodka-based Waitlist and the gin-based Cleanbreak.

With four adventurous eaters, we were able to sample most of the small plates on the menu that caught our eyes. We started with a delicious chilled corn soup with crab (a special, not on the regular menu), Foie Gras & Shrimp Terrine and Tuna Poke. The Oyster Shooters also made our list of cold plates, but I wouldn't order them again; the flavors in the shooter didn't come together very well.

Tuna Poke & Chilled Corn Soup

I wasn't disappointed with any of the hot plates we ordered. The Steamed Alaskan Halibut was perfectly cooked and perfectly paired with basil and pea broth, roasted fennel and squid ink couscous. The Shrimp Ravioli melted in my mouth just before another delicious pasta dish, the GT "Mac and Cheese" with lobster and English peas. The Lobster Roll with pickled vegetables and fried onions was a delicious twist on the New England classic.

Shrimp Ravioli

With 30 dishes on the standard menu and plenty of specials, GT Fish & Oyster offers many reasons for a repeat visit. Its affordable prices make sure your wallet doesn't suffer too much. You can make reservations at OpenTable.

Slurp your dinner in River North

Slurping Turtle opened at the perfect time of year in Chicago--late November. What makes Chicagoans want to eat hot, salty noodles more than blistery winds and freezing temperatures? With perfect timing and the reputations of its predecessors Takashi in Bucktown and Noodles by Takashi Yagihashi at Seven on State paving the way, Slurping Turtle has been mobbed since it opened.

I finally had a chance to go on Tuesday night with my friend Tamara. At 7:30 p.m. we were seated right away at a booth. Tamara ordered a sake, while I opted for a glass of Vouvray. The menu offers an impressive selection of items from the bincho grill and sashimi, dumplings and other hot tapas, but Tamara and I went straight to the noodles.

Tamara's Shoyu Ramen was predictably delicious, but I was more impressed with the broth in my Slurping Noodles. My dish contained a healthy dose of cilantro, which I will never protest.

Red Bean Macaroon at Slurping Turtle

We concluded our meal with a couple of macaroons. While Slurping Turtles' macaroons may be inspired by the traditional French cookies, the cookie portion is much heavier and the fillings much more unique. Tamara's was filled with traditional red bean paste, while mine contained a delicious caramel soy concoction. 

Caramel Soy Macaroon

Slurping Turtle does not take reservations, so I recommend going at an off time, like a weeknight or an early lunch or dinner on a weekend. Bear in mind that it closes from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and doesn't open until 5 p.m. on Sundays. 

An American Bistro in Lincoln Park

My dining companions at Gemini Bistro

If you're not looking for it, you'll zoom right past Gemini Bistro on Lincoln Avenue. But if you are looking for the cool flatiron building, you'll appreciate the clean exterior and convenient location in the middle of Lincoln Park. Parking is usually easy on Lincoln Avenue and the restaurant isn't too far from public transit.

The location is great and the building is a unique design, but, really, you should visit Gemini for the food. And drinks. And the homey atmosphere.

Our table wasn't quite ready on a busy Sunday night during restaurant week, so we started at the bar. I had a delicious Chicago Sidecar, while Z had a Lychee Martini, one of his go-to drinks.

We dined with friends Kelley and Peter, also adventurous foodies, so we had the luxury of being able to try many dishes on the menu. My favorite dish of the evening was a special--foie gras atop a toasted ciabata, accompanied by a cherry chutney. We ordered two. It was that good. Z still talks about it and holds it up as the gold standard in foie gras.

Other favorites on the menu included the Creamless Tomato Soup, the Baby Beet Salad and the Truffle Parmesan Fries. I typically love brussels sprots, but I found the sprouts at Gemini to be mushy and flavorless. The Gemini Burger wasn't anything special either.

Gemini Bistro is another Michelin Bib Gourmand winner. You can make a reservation on OpenTable. In the warmer months, request a table outside on the sidewalk cafe.

Awesome Aviary

Mike ordered the classic "In the Rocks"

I thank my super-foodie friends Andrea and Javier for introducing me to Aviary last summer. They don't even live in Chicago and know all of the hippest spots! Aviary is perfect for a special occasion, a birthday or other celebration or just a fun night on the town. What makes Aviary such a great place to take out-of-town guests is the unique presentation and careful detail in each and every drink. It represents some of the most innovative culinary presentation the city has to offer. When Betsy and Mike were in town a few weekends ago and we wanted to grab drinks before dinner, we knew just where to take them.

Betsy's drink

Aviary accepts reservations if you email them in advance. Seating times are 6 p.m., 8 p.m. or 10 p.m. I recommend making a reservation to avoid waiting an hour or more on a typical Friday night. Guests dining at Next, which is adjacent to Aviary, have preference at Aviary.

My drink--"The Ginger". Seems better suited for Mike.

Don't come to Aviary expecting to eat a full meal with your drinks. The menu features delectable bite-sized portions, but you'd have to eat the entire meal at least twice to get a decent meal.

Pina Colada--My favorite drink of the evening

Magnificent Maude's

Tenderloin steak tartare and chicken liver mousse at Maude's

A few weekends ago, we had some celebrating to do. My sister Betsy and her fiance Mike were in town to celebrate their engagement and spend some time in the big city. We took a (calculated) risk and took them to, Maude's Liquor Bar.  

The happy couple at Maude's

A week in advance, the earliest reservation for four on a Friday night was 9:30 p.m. Now I understand why. 

Walking into Maude's, I felt like I had stepped into a quaint roadside bar in Europe. The interior, down to the soap and towels in the restrooms, is tastefully done and appropriately French. Maude's food is refreshingly pure and simple, yet rich and flavorful. We started out with a platter of oysters, carefully comparing East Coast and West Coast. We ended up with a two-two split on the winner. 

Z and me and the oysters

Then came our small plates. The tenderloin steak tartare was one of the best preparations of tartare I've tasted in Chicago. The chicken liver mousse had a lovely flavor, not too pungent and appropriately creamy. I've been on a foie gras kick recently and I found the foie gras pate a bit plain, but that's only in relation to the other fabulous dishes on the menu. I could have skipped the Traditional Cassoulet, too. I felt guilty eating all of that meat without some veggies, so we ordered the Brussels Sprouts. They were good, but the 'sprouts at The Gage still have my heart. Smothered with brie and bacon, they're the best I've found in the city. 

Although Maude's full name is "Maude's Liquor Bar", go to Maude's for the food. The drinks are good, but they pale in comparison to the food.