Tanta

I really hate to keep saying "I found my new favorite restaurant", but I just can't help it sometimes. This is Chicago after all and there are too many good eats to choose from. However, I'd like to say this time, I mean it!

Drum roll...Tanta. Sean and I went to Tanta a few weeks ago for his birthday and all the critical pieces of a great dining experience exist at Tanta-great decor, service, booze and of course the food. Gaston Acurio, Tanta's owner and Peruvian restaurant king (his restaurant in Lima is currently No. 14 on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list), has brought it. I mean brought. It. I've dined at Acurios' La Mar in San Francisco, but Tanta is just so, well, Chicago. Much more casual, with the freshest of ingredients.

I always love learning new things during these experiences too; this time I learned about a new type of Japanese fusion called Nikei, which is Peruvian-Japanese. I mean, what?! Eastern flavors prepared with South American influences. Uniquely perfect. In my mouth. 

See what we ordered below. 

And yeah, I'm definitely going back.

Mural work by a Chicago artist

oh, hello

 

Pisco Sour (Pisco: yellowish-to-amber colored grape brandy produced in winemaking regions of Peru and Chile)

Nikei menu: Pobre (left)-skirt steak, quail egg Criollo (right)-scallops, smoky sesame beef, huacatay cream

Grilled Octopus on top of a delicious whipped peruvian mashed potato dallop

Empanadas

More Nikei

Braised lamp shank, cilantro, aji amarillo, cannelli beans, radish criolla

Noodle Time

I am a BIG soup fan. Surprised? For as much as I love eating big meals with lots of substance, there really is nothing that replaces the comfort of soup and noodles. I feel as though this applies to so many different cultures. You've got ramen, wonton soup, chicken noodle soup, matzah ball soup. See, we're all just the same =) and the list goes on and on. And it's getting cold out so what better time?

Recently I've paid visits to Oiistar, the Bucktown newbie, Cocoro Sushi, the loop spot frequented by Japanese businessmen, Arami, West Town's favorite sushi spot and last, but not least Michelin winner Takashi's Slurping Turtle, which started as a Sunday noodle dinner special at his restaurant Takashi and is now a full blown River North ramen hot spot.

Slurp up!

 

The interior at Oiistar

Katsu bun

The "Oiimen" ramen

The menu at Cocoro

Champon, a Nagasaki-region special seafood noodle

One of my besties from out of town enjoys Arami

XOXO, IN LOVE WITH CHICAGO

RPM

Finally got the chance to stop into RPM for a quick meal with a coworker this past week. It was perfect timing for a reservation as we were able to sneak in a last minute mid-week reservation on Open Table. Instant. Gratification. 

Trying to get a reservation at a decent hour on the weekend? <-----forget it.  

RPM (or Giuliana Rancic of the E! network's restaurant) opened in February of 2012 and since then has racked up rave reviews and as I mentioned, hard to get resos. Part of the 80+ restaurant network of  the Lettuce Entertain You group, RPM supposedly features Giuliana's mama's recipes, but hey they were fresh, delicious and authentic tasting so I have no qualms as to where the recipes came from. If you're looking for a modern, but fancy ambiance, fresh dishes, and good lookin' wait staff, RPM is the spot for you. 

PS. Giuliana is slated to open RPM Steak come October 1st, so more to come from this lady!

Roasted Beets, gorgonzola, pistachio, orange

Wood Oven Cremini Mushroom with Truffle & Fontina Fonduta Pizzette

Ricotta Ravioli with Asparagus, Pistachio & Lemon. Short Rib Parppardelle Bolognese, Pecorino, Rosemary

XOXO, IN LOVE WITH CHICAGO