The Dining Room at the Ritz Carelton Chicago

[Nicko]

Recently had dinner at the Dinning Room at the Ritz Carleton and I have to say that it was one of the best meals I have had!!!

Started off with the beluga caviar with lobster ceviche app that was mind blowing. After moved on to the scallops, and then had the roqufort terrine. Next was the duck liver with medjool date puree and a glass of saturne. For the entre I had slow roasted salmon.

It was a three hour gastronomique tour de force!!!!

I was sad that I didn't have room for the incredible cheese tray.

If you are in Chicago then be sure to check it out.

Nicko:

Sounds great, but also megabucks to me.

[shroomgirl]

Sarah Stegner is the Chef's Collaborative co -chair in Ill. FYI
They just opened a chapter this past year. I know they are working with a few other cooking groups on the CHIC farmer's venue over the winter and may have some connections to the Green Market (Abbie Mandel) Have you guys been to that one yet?
Sorry~to deviate, The Chicago Ritz has a great rep, I've read alot about it the past few years.

[Pete]

shroomgirl, the Green Market and the CHIC thing are one and the same, I believe. They just moved it over to CHIC for the winter.
Nicko, glad you had a great dinner at the Ritz. How about the wines? You never mentioned them? Do you know Steve Lande over there?

[Nicko]

Hey Pete,

My wife had a glass of merlot, and I went with a cake bread cellars chardonnay. We also had an amazing glass of sauterns and I can't remember the year. I did get to meet Steven and he is a great guy, very knowledgable.

[palmier]

DESSERT...I GOTTA KNOW THE DESSERT. En Ming Su is a world class pastry chef. What did you have for dessert?

[David Jones]

Steven is a REALLY great guy, very down to earth for someone with his credentials. Was the service awesome, Nicko?

The Green City Market and the winter pantry are one in the same. The market has been very happening since the collaborative has taken it over. Last month they had a chili cook off. I think Rick Bayless won. I'm kind of biased but Ted Cizma had some awful good jowl bacon chili. The one last Sunday they had Jimmy Bannos down to do a book signing and cooking demo as well as Greg Lutes to do a cooking demo. I'm not sure what all they have planned for next month but I'm sure it will be exciting. The market is the third sunday of the month until May at 316 West Chestnut (corner of Orleans and Chestnut). Then in June it goes back to the weekly market. I was talking to a couple of the chefs on the committee last night and I'm not sure if they have decided on the location for the summer market.

As for dining at the Ritz Carlton, we've been there and had rock hens. They were very simple but amazing! One of the best meals I've ever had. Last night I had chicken gizzard tacos over at Frontera. Anyone that gets a chance has got to try them!

[shroomgirl]

Thanks Farmer Greg!! I'd just got scattered news about the Chic market.
Rick Bayless is coming to St. Louis is am to do a cooking demo at one of our local grocery stores.
chicken gizzard tacos huh

The Chicago Green City Market has been steadily improving. Its getting quite a variety of sustainable and organic products. All kinds of game meats, pork, chicken, beef, flour, breads, vegetables, vinegars, honeys, and cheeses. Our sales were kind of slow for the first two years but its been pretty good lately. I'm very impressed with how the chefs in Chicago support the market now. You are in St. Louis, right? Do you have a good market there?

[shroomgirl]

LOL~ absolutely!!!! Check out www.saucecafe.com under chef's collaborative then click on the eggplant pix.
I formed the Clayton Farmer's Market last year as an educational market...strictly a farmer's market, we have chef's giving tours, cooking demonstrations, go-food booth, omelet stand....farmers talking every week about their growing practices. Start up is May 12 and the season ends Oct. 27
I got to speak to Rick Bayless and he said your market is on 3rd Sunday of the month...I'm planning to check in out in March. Hope to see you there.

[ February 25, 2001: Message edited by: shroomgirl ]

[Nicko]

Hey guys, might want to move the GCM discussion to a new thread. Thanks.

[Nicko]

OOOH, forgot to answer some questions.

Palmier, the desserts we had were excellent. I had the almond dome, and my wife had the sorbets.

As for the service, I was envious of the people who get to eat there on a regular basis. It was outstanding!

[shroomgirl]

I Ate at the Ritz Sunday night,
Sarah asked if there was anything I do not eat...answer was NO so she cooked for me, mystery dinner

I too had the beluga with egg salad and lobster salad with blini
Louis Roederer champagne

shrimp mousseline cake with panko crumb crust and a layered veg terrine
Olivier LeFlaive, St. Avbin, 1st Cru 1996
omg so fine....

Wild mushroom soup...no cream but could have fooled me...butter....truffles on top

Venison Loin wiht sauteed pears, parsnips-truffle puree and portabello mushroom, Port wine sauce
Tinto Pesquera, Risera del Duero 1997
I wouldn't let um take the glass until it was done...oh my!!!

I got 8 different cheeses that and the camembert from cow/sheep milk was WONDERFUL...served with toast, bosc and apple
10yr Tawny Port

Dessert....Lemon ice cream in a timbale shape with a candied kumquate and citrus cardomon soup...a tiny tuille with citrus tones...the Ice was on a white chocolate disc....true finesse. I would not have ordered this off a menu, but it was phenominal.....trully amazing.

The petit fours...about 10 tiny treats...a mango jelly to die for, caramel with deepth, a ganauche that sang...on and on I could not finish them all........
Did not eat until 5 pm today.
What a team they are...you can tell they enjoy where they are and what they do!!!
I have food memories, Bagwell 2424, LeRuths,
Nikolais Roof, Artesia and now the Ritz...trully everything was impecable.

I'm going back to Chicago this weekend for the Fancy food Show and am thinking hard about the Ritz again the foie, cheese, and dessert...gooot city but oh man what a way to goooooooo.

[W.DeBord]

Chicago Green City Market, would anyone please explain more about this? I do pastries out in the burbs of the city so I'm pretty removed. But I have not heard a thing about this before reading this thread.

Could you please give me/or dirrect me to more info.? Thanks!