Terzo Piano at The Art Institute of Chicago



Another great restaurant I visited with Lynne while staying in Chicago was this gorgeous Terzo Piano. It is located on the 3rd floor of the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. Just walk up the bridge from Millennium Park, you will find one of the beautiful looking restaurants. Terzo Piano is proud to support the local farms and purveyors. They are committed to serving only farm-raised meat and poultry, local and organically grown produce whenever possible. Everything produced in their kitchen is done from scratch. Our lunch was very delicious and beautiful. We both went with Restaurant Week menu, and did enjoy everything.
 

A drink to start the meal 

Chickpea and vegetable soup with tahini, cumin, fried chickpeas, cilantro salad

Crispy perch with red beet puree, marinated beets, frisee, dill vinaigrette

 Chilled shrimp salad with mixed greens, capers, marinated peppers, red onion, lemon

 Hand crafted tagliatelle 'alla Puttanesca' with olive, capers, tomato, goat's milk cheese 

Our meal was eneded with a very lovely banana tiramisu with brown butter gastrique. Happy ending!

Tavernita

Sunday night arrival in Chicago, and late dinner in need, our concierge at the Radisson Blu Aqua recommended this restaurant. "Tavernita, a sexy, spirited, modern restaurant that offers a diverse mix of dishes inspired in Spain and Latin American flavors. Designed to encourage sampling and sharing, the small-plate menu will offer something for every taste." It was a nice surprise to find out it's Chicago Restaurant Week. The decor and the ambiance is very chic. Music was a little loud, but we could still have a conversation and enjoy it.

We went with Restaurant Week Menu, of course. Great options, even for my vegetarian friend. Our meal started with tasting of kegged cocktails, and two starters.

the turista - hornitos tequila blanco, preserved cherries, grapefruit, black pepper syrup, lime, bbq bitter
booty collins - green tea-infused absolut vodka, passion fruit, lemon, cayenne, yohimbe
pork belly bocadillos - apple jam, pickled red onions, brioche
escalivada - eggplant, red peppers, hazelnut romesco, goat cheese

Small Plates
artichoke salad - roasted beets, arugula, valdeon blue cheese, artichoke chips
brussels sprouts - chestnuts, val d'aosta fontina cheese

Our large plate was house-made pappardelle, with mushroom ragout and manchego cheese, it was so good!

Christmas Shopping in Chicago

We stayed at Hyatt Regency Chicago again. Great location - just steps from Michigan Avenue, also has easy access to any transportation to get around Chicago. It's perfect for a shopping trip.

Holiday decoration along the Magnificent Mile

It was a pretty nice day to walk around - cold but not windy or freezing at all :)

We do love Chicago!

The boys' favorite spots - Apple Store and Niketown

Blue Man Group is fantastic! We had a great time.


*******


Hope to see you again soon, Windy City!

Chicago Eat: Quartino

Quartino is an authentic Italian restaurant that offers great pizza, small plates (tapas-Italian style!), and lively wine bar. The place was awesome! I love the unique chairs and tables, the display kitchen, and the fun atmosphere. You would just feel so alive being among the crowd there! Great service and reasonable price. And you gotta love its slogan: "where the water cost more than the wine".. They do have lots of vino options for you, and it is served in a neat style. They make sure you are informed of their unique dining style and the concept of "sharing".

Though the place was quite loud and crowded, I thought it still offered the romantic ambiance in a way, from the candle on the table, the decor, and the dim lighting (which should explain my photography)... Well, I guess in a hip and trendy way.

Bread With olive oil
Wild Arugula Bruschette
Roasted Beets Salad With ricotta salata and walnuts
Parmigiano Reggiano Served with fennel salad, apricot rosemary puree, and grape salad
Assorted Olives
Margherita Pizza Very delicious! The boys really enjoyed it.

Coppa al Banana Carmelized banana, vanilla gelato, biscotti, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and chocolate shavings
Tiramisu My favorite dessert of all

Definitely one of my favorite Chicago eats!

Quartino:
626 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 698-5000

Afternoon Tea at the Palmer House

One of my trips to Chicago not long ago, I had a chance to enjoy a very nice afternoon tea at the beautiful lobby of the Palmer House Hilton. This Chicago's elegant hotel has its fame for the stunning lobby, and its historic nature. My friend, me, and our boys had a lovely 3-day-stay there, we will definitely go back.

The hotel is in a great location, within a walking distance to Grant/Millennium Park, Art Institute of Chicago, Michigan Avenue, and other downtown attractions.

Afternoon Tea at the Palmer House is served 2pm-4pm daily. The reservations are required. Price: $35 per person ($25 for children under 12)

Selection of Tea: English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Darjeeling Champagne, White Tea, Chamomile Blossom, Green Tea, Armenian Mint, Moonlight Jasmine Blossom

Tea Sandwiches:
- Parma Ham, first-press olive oil, calamata tapenade, basil, grana padano, sea salt crystals, focaccia
- Catsmo Smoked Salmon, spring onion, brillat-savirin, toasted brioche
- European Cucumber, watercress, dill, organic yogurt, wholewheat
Selection of Scones: Traditional buttermilk, Cranberry, Orange, Fruit breads
(served with Devonshire cream, lemon curd, strawberry conserve)

Petite Fours

Palmer House Hilton Chicago:
17 East Monroe St
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 917-3404

Chicago Eat: Shor

Considered a true Chicago Grill, Shor is famous for steak and seafood, in an elegant casual ambiance. What a lovely lobby's decor of modern look, that has an earthy feel!

Shor offers a great breakfast buffet, in a contemporary setting. Food was delicious and service was outstanding. I would say the restaurant pretty much fulfills the Hyatt standard.

Breakfast at Shor

Shor Chicago Grill:
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
2233 South Martin L. King Drive
Chicago, IL, 60616
(312) 567 1234

After good breakfast, off we went to the Harry Potter Exhibit, at the Museum of Science and Industry !!

Chicago Eat: Bella Bacino's

This authentic Italian bistro and pizzaria was recommend by a concierge staff at Hyatt Regency Chicago, when we were asking for a good Italian restaurant in a walking distance from the hotel. From the outside, with the tables along the Wacker drive, it looked like a lovely cafe in France or Italy. The weather was very nice, but we wanted to get in the inside ambiance after a long day of walking at the museum.

We love the place! Food was excellent, as was the staff. Their menu offers a variety of Italian dishes in addition to thin and stuffed pizza. The boys enjoyed their thin crust pizza, and I loved my salad. We didn't get any bread, as others mentioned in some of the reviews that I searched later. Not sure if they forgot or it wasn't supposed to come with the meal anymore.

Insalata:
Baciano's House a refreshing combination of baby mixed greens, tomato, and thin veggies in a balsamic vinaigrette
Asparagus & Prosciutto a mix of field greens, red onion, Prosciutto di Parma, topped with sweet Galbani Gorgonzola and dressed with rosemary emulsion
Napoletana Pizza:
Margherita Napoletana fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce, and basil
Salad dressed arugula with caramelized onions, mozzarella, and house-made pesto

Dolci:
Tiramisu home-made in their kitchen and unbelievably light

Bella Bacino's:
75 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 263-4965

Chicago Eat: Big Bowl

I love Chicago, and always enjoy my trips there - to shop and eat fantastic food. It was another perfect weekend for me, L, and the boys to visit Chicago. Beautiful weather, great hotel deal, Harry Potter Exhibit, and Art Festival. Once we settled down at the hotel, awesome Hyatt Regency, we made a short walk to have dinner at the place requested by the boys: Big Bowl. The casual, pan-Asian restaurant holds their head up high to the concept of "Fresh Chinese and Thai".

Cocktails:
Classic Red Sangria
Thai Herb Mojito hendrick's gin, fresh lemon grass, mint, cilantro, with a pinch of thai chile

Appetizers:
Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps an Asian favorite, chicken, bibb lettuce, hoisin sauce
Thai Herb Calamari lightly fried, two fresh lemon dipping sauces, spicy and mild
Sichuan Green Beans wrinkled and sweet, fiery chili sauce
Crab Summer Roll greens, herbs, rice paper, peanut and fresh lemon dipping sauces

Kung Pao Chicken with Noodles: chicken, blackened chilies, roasted peanuts, spinach, with sweet spicy sauce

Thai Hot Pepper Shrimp with Basil and Peanuts: gulf shrimp, fresh chili peppers, chopped peanuts, red onions, hot sauce

Overall, it was another great dining experience. I've been eating at this Big Bowl a few time, and I think the food is pretty delicious, even though it is not quite authentic. Nice atmosphere and friendly service. I would definitely go back anytime.

Big Bowl:
60 East Ohio St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 951-1888

Buca di Beppo

One of the restaurants we visited and had a great time, while we were in Chicago for my son's Spring break trip, was Buca di Beppo. As you have probably heard, their food portions are very generous and served family style. And it's a chain restaurant, as well as pretty touristy. However, I still think the place has a lovely atmosphere and the food are pretty good.

We requested a "kitchen table", yes, a table right in the kitchen. We could see a lots of actions going on there, the chefs and staffs were very friendly that we had their visits through our whole meal.

We odered way too many dishes for four people even though the server had warned us. My favorite was Apple Gorgonzola Salad: tart Granny Smith apples, spiced walnuts, dried cranberries and Gorgonzola cheese were tossed with fresh Romaine lettuce and their Italian vinaigrette. It was very refreshing and tasty!

Definitely, Buca di Beppo is a place for a crowd. Before being seated, you will get a tour of the restaurant - all the rooms and even through the kitchen. The overall decor are very entertaining, especially The Pope Room.

Buca di Beppo:
521 N. Rush St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 396-0001