ELIZABITES

September 30, 2010 · 12:05 am

Quince at Zest

Not only did a recent lunch at Zest in the InterContinental involve a Stedman Graham sighting (he’s got be close to 7-feet, for real), but the very impressive chef’s seasonal tasting menu ($29) highlighting quince. The starter was the prettiest, most delicious and got me excited for my impending trip to Spain (Friday!). The handsome plate had a juicy, salty stack of Serrano ham, a smudge of sweet quince jam, a pungent pile of blue cheese, micro arugula for bite, and balsamic reduction on a delicate cucumber carpaccio. When combined or enjoyed on their own, the deconstructed ingredients were a perfect match. What followed was a tender, crispy duck leg confit with honey-glazed quince and a viennese poppy tart, also phenomenal. The quince tasting menu continues only for a few more days, so stop in before the next seasonal ingredient takes over the plate. Zest, 505 N. Michigan Ave.

Serrano ham, quince jam, blue cheese and micro arugula on cucumber carpaccio

Mini desserts at Shaw’s Crab House

Dessert at lunch can be a tricky ordeal, especially after you fill up on sushi, crab legs, shrimp and soft shell crab sandwiches at Shaw’s Crab House. So I love that the restaurant offers three-bite wee offerings made in-house like raspberry pie, Key lime pie, chocolate layer cake and crème brulée, so you can have your five desserts, and eat them too. Shaw’s Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard, 312.527.2722

Mini Key lime and raspberry pie

On the table: Watershed

Votive. Watershed, 601 N. State (under Pops).

Sea Salt Caramels

The sea salt caramels are put up at the registers of Whole Foods sometimes for a reason, it’s so one point of purchase impulse buy can lead you to a life of constant craving. It’s like a confectionary pusherman. That’s how I feel about the sea salt caramels at Whole Foods. Salt, chocolate, blah, seen it..but chocolate covered salted caramels topped with a sprinkling of thick, crunchy sea salt granules? Just try not to finish the box even when it’s above your desk and you goal is one a day. Yeah, just try.

Sea salt caramels from Whole Foods

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Filed under I like to eats, thick

September 20, 2010 · 12:05 am

Hiramasa crudo at Girl & the Goat

I love the detail of the sign, right down to the font

The bad part about trying to snag a table at Girl & the Goat these days without a res on a Saturday night is that, well, it’s impossible. BUT, with patience and appropriately affixed bar-stool eagle eyes you can, maaaybe, get a seat at the bar. That’s what happened to me my first time at the white-hot restaurant, and with an awesomely attentive bar staff (even when they are slammed!) and full menu, the experience was still amazing. From the housemade breads and butters (uh, coffee butter?) to the braised short ribs with edamame and fudgesicle dessert, everything we tried was truly ridiculous. But…I have to admit that I can’t stop thinking about the hiramasa crudo. A suggestion from our bartender, the combo of juicy crisp pork belly with aji aïoli and hiramasa crudo (yellowtail) lingers in my taste memory and is pretty much the first thing I utter when people ask me what they should order. I love not only the combo of crispy, juicy, warm pork belly, creamy aji aïoli cool crudo too delicious for words, but it’s just different, and new, and a refreshing menu item I haven’t seen or tried elseware. A lot of the dishes at the restaurant display ingredient combination brilliance: Smoked goat, black kale and ricotta on pizza, pig face, a sunny-side egg and cilantro, whipped fat back and bourbon, scallops and marcona almond butter..I could go on.. This restaurant is perpetually packed for a reason, with reservations on Open Table booked through October I hear (really?). So I will just have to keep the memory of the crudo in my mind until my next visit when I fall in love with another dish. Girl & the Goat, 809 W. Randolph, 312.942.6262

Hiramasa crudo

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Filed under great for date, new restaurants

September 16, 2010 · 12:05 am

And..another mystery bar

I do apologize for all of the mystery posts as of late. A busy end of summer of workin’, eatin’ and performing has me posting less than I would like to, but I promise more real posts to come…but for now, take a guess and be the next guest blogger on elizabites!

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Filed under mystery spot

September 9, 2010 · 12:05 am

Oostburg, WI eats

A Labor Day weekend celebration with old friends in Oostburg, WI, offered some good eats, but does it get any more Eastern Wisco than being handed a bag of Gibbsville cheese curds near a blazing beach bonfire? Gibbsville is actually a small, 65-year-old family run company in Sheboygan Falls I kind of want to visit for their string cheese and spreads. They have a relatively “cheesy” recipe for “friendship” on their Web site, but they also have tips for cooking with Wisconsin cheese, and Brett Favre’s Wisconsin Broccoli Cheddar cheese soup, in case you were looking for it.