Hey there Fiends. Park Grill's Burger Fest 2010 week is upon us (and nearly half-way finished), so make sure you get over there immediately for lunch or dinner and check out one of the eight choices executive chef Bernie Laskowski has whipped up for the occasion.
All burgers come with tasty hand-cut fries or chips and offer a suggested beverage pairing of either wine or beer. There is also a turkey and salmon burger option available, if one is so inclined.
The Fiend highly recommends the "28 MPH Burger," which features a hefty 10oz. Black Angus patty, a layer of pulled BBQ pork, Ancho cured bacon (very flavorful and unique), a crisp egg and grain mustard on a pretzel roll. A further review of the burger and pictures will come shortly, however check out the Park Grill Web site for more information.
Happy Fiending.
Park Grill and The Plaza at Park Grill
11 N. Michigan Ave. (Between Monroe & Randolph Streets)
312.521.7275
www.parkgrillchicago.com
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Sable Kitchen & Bar
In the eyes of some, including myself at times, hotel restaurants have had a culinary stigma of sorts; that the food will be uniformly bland and militant, but this time with your favorite celebrity chef’s name flashed alongside the marquee, a move synonymous with overpriced “gourmet” offerings.
However, I must admit I’ve witnessed a resuscitation on this front with more and more trendy hotels breaking away from the stodgy mold by offering an atypical or adventurous culinary fare – even if that 20 foot sign does feature the grinning mug of a Food Network star.
Enter: Sable, a perfect example of this revival, minus the Hollywood flare. Located adjacent to the lobby of the new Palomar hotel on Illinois and State in Chicago, Sable is exactly what other hotel restaurants should strive to be – a comfy, yet sharp atmosphere that offers a traditional, but sophisticated cuisine…and all at a great price point.
Before I get down to burger business, I have to call out a few other dishes I had the privilege to taste, all by the hands of executive chef Heather Terhune.
Somewhat in the same family of the burger brethren, and still one of my all-time favorite proteins, the bison short rib sliders were out of this world. Slow cooked to perfection, the root beer glaze added a complex and familiar flavor to the small bites.
The second and third dishes were small, but mighty hors d’oeuvres: bacon wrapped dates with ewe’s blue cheese and the unbelievable La Quercia ham and Swiss poppers. The latter, if you close your eyes, will vicariously whisk you away to the cobblestone side streets of old Madrid – a great twist on the classic croqueta.
On to the real deal though – the nucleus of the table – the Farm House Steak Burger was truly a magnificent plate. Perfectly seasoned and cooked rare as ordered, the meat was soft and velvety, yet you could taste a hint of a higher quality cut, which I suspected to be the trim or pieces of other beef beyond ground chuck or round, perhaps sirloin or brisket.
The hand packed patty was served on a pretzel bun (bonus points, ALWAYS) and had a good assortment of caramelized onions to enhance the flavor profile. A generous slice of white Wisconsin cheddar was also added to push the burger over the edge, and I would be remiss to mention the seasoned cup o’ fries that accompanied the meal.
All in all, Sable offered one of the more enjoyable burgers the Fiend has tasted in awhile. Even if you’re not a Fiend of the patty, I trust you will find plenty of other quality delights to keep your attention fixated throughout the night.
Sable Kitchen & Bar
505 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60654
312.755.9704
www.sablechicago.com
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