Food To Dine For

(Location: Chicago)

Location: Chicago

Location: New York

Location: New York

After hopping out of a taxi in the pouring rain on an early Sunday evening, we stepped into one of the most charming little restaurants I have ever seen. As soon as we were inside, we were smitten.

The Little Owl was small, cozy, and nestled in a quiet part of a local neighborhood. With a full seating that topped off at just 28 patrons, it was the perfect size for creating an intimately comfortable atmosphere. The friendly hostess/manager greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel like we were being welcomed into a friend's home. Our server was equally lovely and treated us with great care and excellent service.

Now, on to the food. Everything was delicious. E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g! We especially enjoyed the Soft Shell Crab du Jour. How do I put into words just how good this was? Well, a member of my dining party was actually allergic to seafood and after she took one bite, she threw caution to the wind and ate her entire bowl because it was (lethally) good. She did avoid all the crab parts of the dish, but she still ate ALL of the pasta (that was cooked with the crab) because the flavor was simply incredible - salty, spicy, and a hint of tangy.

The Little Owl is a wonderful place and a perfect little spot for a romantic date night (see the last photo as proof).

P.S. For fans of the TV show "Friends", the building should look familiar. It was the gang's old apartment building.

Location: New York

Due to the understated exterior, we could have easily walked past ABC Kitchen and missed out on this great diamond in the rough. Once we were inside though, we were impressed by the hip cool interior and great tasting food. Dining at this restaurant was like having a meal in a design store. It was modern, chic, and beautifully decorated with salvaged, reclaimed, and recycled building materials. The atmosphere was dim, intimate, yet bubbling with energy. We had a great view no matter where we looked since there were so many cool things to see.

One thing that made this restaurant unique was that ABC Kitchen was actually connected on the inside to their sister restaurant, ABC Cocina. They also had a special entrance to the ABC Carpet & Home store. I know it may sound a bit odd but the flow from one space to another was seamless and worked beautifully together.

We happen to be short on time during this meal so we were not able to try more dishes than we normally would have liked. However, the few dishes that we did get to taste were all very, very good. The ingredients were high-quality, fresh, local, and organic which was evident in everything that we ate. I would love to return again one day and try more dishes on their ever-changing menu.

ABC Kitchen was an absolute delight. If you get a chance to dine here, be sure to take a stroll through the restaurant and then through the design store. The interior layout of this building is simply to cool to miss.

Location: London

Location: London

Mere words are not enough to describe the amazing meal that we experienced at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. I can say without a doubt that all of the adulation that has been given to this place is well deserved.

Let's begin with the décor. The dining room was set with dark wood floors and tables, complemented by cheery yellow walls. There was an entire wall of windows that allowed beautiful natural light to cascade into the room. I was instantly aware that the staff here was professional yet fun, friendly and extremely knowledgeable (which was proven when I quizzed them about the orange). We were seated at a lovely table by a window that was framed with happy daffodils and looked out onto a beautiful day at Hyde Park.

Our servers, Jonathan and Sebastian, were a dynamic duo of absolute perfection. They were both wonderfully attentive throughout our entire meal. Jonathan even surprised us with signed menus and Sebastian reset our silverware from behind our chairs as stealth as a ninja. One second, there would be no fork. The next second, a new fork would materialize out of thin air. These two gentlemen provided us with marvelous service.

Next, the food was very interesting. The menu was designed as a historical tour of dishes from the 14th-19th centuries. The Meat Fruit (c.1500) was a clever little gem disguised as a mandarin orange. I gazed at it for an obscene amount of time because I was so dazzled by the likeness of the texture to that of a real mandarin. After resisting the urge to break down the impressive illusion before me, we finally dove in and enjoyed the delicious meat fruit. In fact, everything that followed was scrumptious and cooked to perfection. The Roast Iberico Pork Chop (c.1820) and Roast Turbot (c.1830) – two dishes that can be accidentally overcooked at many establishments – were spot on here at Dinner. The green beans with shallots was fresh, crunchy and a nice accompaniment for the pork and fish. The potatoes, seemingly disguised as a bowl of plain Jane potatoes, turned out to be this creamy buttery goodness befitting of the gods!

For dessert, the Tipsy Cake was so inexplicably good that it left my dining partner in a dizzy yet delightful daze for about 10 minutes. If desserts could be outlawed, this cake would be illegal in 48 states. Yes, it was that mind altering. Light, fluffy, and sweet with a pop of spit-roasted pineapple on the side. They also served us a tasty and interesting caraway biscuit with a chocolate ganache that was infused with Earl Grey. Earl Grey is actually my favorite tea so my eyes lit up when I tasted the Bergamot. It was awesome.

We paired our desserts with little pots of perfectly brewed tea which was a splendid way to balance the sweetness and complete our amazing meal. For those of you who enjoy a good brandy or whiskey after a meal, they have an impressive bar cart (brought to you tableside) and is sure to please anyone.

As we prepared to leave, the manager came over and invited us on a kitchen tour. The kitchen was enclosed in walls of glass and located near the center of the restaurant. Everything was in remarkable order and utterly spotless. I wondered if they had actually cooked in there. Perhaps, they had another kitchen that was unruly with pots and pans stacked up everywhere and kitchen staff running amuck? Nope. If I had not already seen them earlier, cooking with such ease in that same kitchen with my own eyes, then I would have been more skeptical because this kitchen was immaculate. As we left the kitchen, we saw their famous ice cream trolley that is used to create instant ice cream, served tableside. Unfortunately, it was not available that day so we were not able to try the ice cream during our lunch. I did not fret though since it gave me a good reason to return one day.

Our entire meal at Dinner was flawless and the service was impeccable. This could have been the last meal of our lives and we would have died happy with full tummies and a permanent grin on our faces.

Location: London

Location: London

Kopapa is an all day, bustling café with great food and service. The name is Maori for “a gathering, to be crowded, a building to store food” and this is a fantastic venue to do just that.

Outside, an older couple enjoyed a light dinner on the patio. Inside, a group of girlfriends met for drinks, a couple rendezvoused with one another, and two buddies caught up over coffee. My party was there for drinks, appetizers, dinner, and dessert. It was a great setting for all kinds of gatherings.

Normally, I am not a fan of fusion because it is often executed poorly and causes confusion for my mouth. However, Kopapa mixed traditional ingredients with Mediterranean and Asian accents that delighted my palate in a surprising way. We shared a nice mix of small and big plates. As some of you may know (from the other galleries on this site), I love the small plate concept because it allows you to try a variety of dishes without having to order extra full-sized entrees.

One of the first dishes was the plantain, feta, and sweet potato tortilla with pomegranate yogurt. How in the world did they come up with this union of deliciousness? It was EXTREMELY tasty and I almost wanted a second order. We also tried the rosemary fries which were herb-a-licious! (I have a giant rosemary bush in my backyard. Why have I never thought to put rosemary on my fries? Next time, that rosemary bush is going to get a little chop if I am making fries.)

My favorite dish of the night though was the polenta. Kopapa put an interesting twist on their version by pairing it with chili pickled carrots and bok choy. As I mentioned above, normally if I saw this (con)fusion, I would avoid it. But since I really like polenta, I ordered with an open mind… and it was sooo delicious! We loved the tangy, crunchy polenta so much that we ordered another one as soon as we finished the first one. (I think it may have been fried but it came with a vegetable so that should cancel each other out.)

On a side note, I started learning to make sorbets recently. After I tried the sorbets at Kopapa (Pear & Star Anise and Kiwi & Cardamom) which were so interesting and refreshing, I was inspired to create new and exciting flavors of my own.

Kopapa’s creative menu will definitely challenge a palate that has been conditioned to prefer the “usual” ingredients. But if you go with an open mind and mouth, you just might enjoy it so much that you will say, “Hawini, another order of chili-pickled-carrots-bok-choy polenta, please.”

Location: Los Angeles

Set in an old Jewish neighborhood, Animal has no name on its building and serves many pork dishes.

As the restaurant name may suggest, the dishes at this establishment use different parts of an animal from snout to tail. This is not for the faint of heart so go with an open mind. I assure you that it will be a fun experience, and your palate will be rewarded.

We arrived about 10 minutes before the restaurant opened and waited in front of a big metal security gate in a seemingly shady neighborhood. A few feet away from us were a couple of locals having some hash (not browns or the corned beef kind). But before I started to wonder if we would make it home that night, the metal curtain was raised and the real show began. Since the food was the star of the show, the stage inside was minimally decorated on purpose. The walls were so bare that it almost seemed like the place was incomplete. They want you to focus on the food there.

The menu was wildly creative. The ingredients for some of our dishes were even unrecognizable when it got to our table which made it all the more exciting for my taste buds since I did not know what to expect. Everything was seriously delicious. The soft shell crab with scrambled eggs was very good. The fried cauliflower with tahini and anchovy was tasty, and I don’t even like anchovy. The mini bbq pork belly sandwiches were sweet and oozing with slaw. The fried beef tendon chips looked like a science experiment but I liked it. The ribs were tangy, tender, and to dine for. I wish I could have tried everything on the menu.

For chocolate and bacon lovers, the bacon chocolate bar had a sweet and light smoky flavor. It was paired with a unique salt and pepper ice cream which was delightfully delicious. (Do not attempt to sprinkle salt and pepper on your ice cream at home, it will not be the same.) The last thing we tried was the blueberry crumble with bay leaf ice cream which was cool, fruity, and refreshing. I loved it.

The chefs at Animal have a talent for making you like things that you didn't think you would like or even wanted to try. These guys are adventurous risk takers with their inventive menu and location. Judging from the packed venue and happy customers, it appears to be paying off. Yes, the location may seem a little suspect initially, but the food is absolutely worth the visit even if you have to dine with a little bit of fear (which can be a healthy thing). Once you step foot inside their little eatery, your doubts will quickly fade away and you will be herded in like happy little animals to graze on their amazing food.

Animal is cutting-edge and a destination for true foodies.

(Location: Chicago)

Having afternoon tea at The Lobby located inside The Peninsula Chicago is by far the BEST tea time I have ever experienced. The mini savory treats and tiny sweet pastries were not only incredibly beautiful but delicious too. The service was nothing short of impeccable.

During our tea time, beautiful natural light flowed into the room through the 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows. We enjoyed delectable tea while live musicians played sweet music in the background. My dining companions commented on how "civilized" they all felt. As for me, I became completely at peace and one with the heavenly desserts laid before me.

It was the perfect culinary treat between spending the morning at the awesome Field Museum and right before an evening boat tour. (You didn't think all I did was eat and not see any sights, did you?)

The tea menu at The Lobby changes frequently. I can't wait to go back and taste what they come up with next.

Location: Chicago

We were lucky to score a reservation with only one week's notice because this place was jam-packed even for 8 p.m. on a Thursday night. I'm talking totally full at the bar and in the entire restaurant with a line out the door for those with no reservations.

First, let me admit that I initially did not want to eat any of the onion brioche that my group ordered because I wanted to save room for the main dishes. However, the brioche was light, flaky, and full of buttery goodness. It was worth the extra space that I had to give up in my stomach for it.

The veggies that we ordered were out of this world GOOD. A member of my dining party said, "If vegetables tasted this good all the time, I could eat this every day." She said it with such an intense manic look in her eyes that it scared me a little. This is a group that would not choose veggies over meat to save their lives, but we all LOVED the veggies at this place. It was a huge compliment and testament to Chef Stephanie's creative genius.

Each ingredient within a dish had such a distinct taste and yet all the flavors worked together in perfect harmony. The flavor profile was bold and complex like wine. If wine tasted like these veggies, I would drink wine every day. (Note: I am not a wine drinker.)

The green beans in particular punched me in the mouth with ridiculous flavors and textures. I was dizzy with delight. Also, the ham frites with smoked tomato aioli and cheddar beer sauce was divine. How could such simple-looking fries have so much incredible flavor? It's because these people know exactly what they are doing.

Everything we devoured was amazing. We ate every last drop of food, we left nothing behind. When the waiter tried to take the empty plate of frites away, a member of my dining party clung onto the bowl and tried to finish off the last bits of invisible crumbs.

The Girl and the Goat serves "small plates" which means that you order 2-3 different dishes per person and everyone can share. This way, you can experience lots of different flavors without having to overeat (unless you want to). My palate left totally satisfied and my stomach was happy without feeling stuffed.

When we left shortly after 10 p.m., there were still people waiting for a table. This place is THAT good.

Location: Las Vegas

é is a magical place. Nothing else really needs to be said so I could stop right here. But for those of you who need a little more detail, read on.

We arrived at é through their exterior restaurant, Jaleo, since é was actually a restaurant within a restaurant. All dinner guests were asked to wait together in the bar so that we could enter the secret room at the same time. Once we were seated, we were greeted with life-size replicas of Chef Andrés's hand which held our first course - a red raspberry-flavored "flower". We took the red pill and down the rabbit hole we went.

Throughout the evening, each course was prepared by talented chefs who plated everything in front of us with precision and care. Liquid nitrogen was used to make all sorts of fun things like a smokey cocktail and tasty foams. Tweezers were used to decorate dishes with super teeny-tiny flowers. These chefs concocted amazing dishes like mad scientists and wielded instruments like skilled surgeons.

Every course was creative, totally unique, and bursting with gusto. The chickpea "bubbles" popped quickly, leaving a delicious flavor behind. The citrus-flavored Fizzy Paper sizzled and melted in my mouth with a delightful snap. The 25 Second Bizcocho was supremely delicious. For some courses, we were instructed to consume them immediately (for fear that they may disintegrate or vanish into thin air). I was advised to photograph at lightning speed which made things even more exciting.

The last thing that we were served was their signature drink - the José Andrés's gin and tonic. It tasted delightful and the giant ice ball was intriguing. (It was actually so adorable that I started making my own ice balls at home.)

After 23 mini courses, our palates were completely satisfied. We left Wonderland and got back to reality (okay, who am I kidding, we were still in Vegas). This was an amazing evening and easily one of the best dining experiences of my life.