Oak + Char in Chicago

We had a really great dinner at Oak + Char in Chicago, a modern tapas restaurant. I wish I got a picture of the decor at the restaurant - there were big lamps hanging from the ceiling covered in what looked like bed sheets, and big wooden bar-style tables and chairs. It was definitely unique. My favorite dishes were the MSG Chicken Wings (not normal chicken wings you would think of!) and the pistachio cookies next to the chocolate pot de creme. This was overall one of my favorite meals in Chicago! 

MSG Chicken Wings (Maple, Sherry, Gochujang Chili)

Salt baked beets, stracciatella, kumquats, rye crisps, smoked hazelnuts

Verdant spring salad, green goddess mousse, preserved limequat, quinoa

Beef tartare, uni aioli, smoked pine nuts, pickled mustard seeds, potato chips

Tandoori octopus, 'nduja vinaigrette, rancho gordo beans, sunchoke brandade

Chocolate pot de creme, pistachio amaretti cookies (the cookies were bomb!)

Cider doughnuts, maple foie syrup, chai milk jam

Chicago

On my way back from France, I stopped for a long weekend in one of my favorite American cities, Chicago. I love the food scene in Chicago - good, fresh, innovate food in fun (and not stuffy) restaurants. Most of the places we went to were small plate/tapas style, which was good for sampling the variety of dishes. The places we tried for dinner were Sunda (Japanese/sushi), Oak + Char (full post to come), Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba (traditional Spanish), and GT Fish + Oyster. We also ate at Au Cheval (one of the craziest burgers I've ever had), and Little Goat Diner for brunch. After falling in love with Eataly while I was in NYC last December, I had to squeeze a trip to Eataly Chicago on this trip too and it did not disappoint. Here are some of the highlights as well as some personal pictures!

Stuffed Avocado, Sushi Rolls - Sunda

Loaded Fries - Au Cheval

Burger with a fried egg on hash browns - Au Cheval

The Bean

Cute Banana Cocktail at a tiki bar - Three Dots and a Dash

Lakefront

Seafood Paella at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba

Chocolate Malt Pancakes - Little Goat Diner

Top of the former Sears Tower

Crab Salad - GT Fish & Oyster

Soft Shell Crab - GT Fish & Oyster

Nutella Bar at Eataly Chicago

Croissant with Nutella & Chocolate Pistachio Cake - Eataly

Amen.

Paul Bocuse - Lyon

Paul Bocuse is often regarded as the father of "nouvelle French cuisine". He is famous for using the freshest ingredients in his high quality dishes. He has held three Michelin stars longer than any other chef (50 years!!), and was recently awarded "Chef of the Century". He has created a brand for himself, including universities & culinary institutes in 12 different countries, brasseries, and awards under his name. He has trained many chefs that have then themselves been awarded Michelin stars. His brand is also associated with Les Halles de Lyon, a combination of a food market and a conglomerate of different restaurants. We had the pleasure of visiting Les Halles during our trip to Lyon and I loved it! We hopped between the different restaurants, having oysters in one place, frog legs in another...and their selection of cheeses was beyond incredible. 

We went to Paul Bocuse's main restaurant, L'Auberge du Pont de Collognes. It was an experience like no other. The decor, the portions, the choices (and the prices!) were extravagant. They offered us so much food, I was sad to say I barely sampled the 30+ cheese selection and the 5 trays of desserts that came out since I was so full. Everything was wonderful, none the less. I think our collective favorite dish was the rack of lamb roasted with thyme. It was simple but flavorful. I hope you guys enjoy the pictures (although these photos don't do the cheese or dessert selection justice)!

Entrance to the restaurant

Paul Bocuse Plates

Amuse Bouche

Traditional Lyon Quenelle of pike with crayfish

Duck meat dodine stuffed with foie gras and pistachios

Casserole of lobster a l'Armoricaine (this was amazing!)

Rack of lamb roasted with thyme

Cut rack of lamb (standout dish!)

Red mullet dressed in crusty potato scales

Fillet of Beef Rossini with Perigeux sauce (the sauce was the highlight!)

The extremely extensive cheese selection: 

Earl Grey Chocolate Mousse

Birthday Celebration

Just a few of the myriad of dessert options that we were too full to enjoy

And here are a few snapshots of our stay in Lyon.

Look at the amount of gelato flavors at this gelato store in Vieux Lyon! 

La Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere

View from the Basilique 

Cap Ferret & Oysters

About an hour away from Bordeaux is an area called Lege-Cap Ferret. Cap Ferret is a tiny but popular town to vacation at on the Atlantic Coast. It is also famous for their farmed oysters! We walked along their coast and saw the oyster farms, each with attached little shacks that sell oysters and wine for us to enjoy. We found the most amazing restaurant, called The Bouchon du Ferret and begged them to take us in despite being fully booked. With some convincing, they let us sit at the bar and we enjoyed oysters as fresh as they come and some fresh grilled fish.