Chicago food

Per tradition, I always meal plan a week before I go home. Potbelly, Phoenix dim sum, and Portillos are regular pit stops, but I also like to try at least one new place on my list.

This trip was highlighted by a visit to Avec in the West Loop. Since Avec doesn’t take reservations, it was probably better that we had planned a late dinner after a day of being touristy. We arrived at about 10, had a glass of wine on their outside patio and were seated within 20— even though it was clearly packed. With a bar on the left and communal table seating on the right, we lucked out and were seated at the chef’s counter at the bar, where we could watch all sorts of deliciousness happening.

Unfortunately, I don’t have documentation of all our amazing food, but here was our menu for two (the description should be enough to make your stomach growl):

House Marinated Olives
Chorizo-stuffed Medjool dates with smoked bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce
Farro salad with roasted peppers, rutabaga, crowder peas, fried egg and salsa verde vinaigrette
Wood-oven braised pork shoulder with garlic sausage, summer squash, tagliati pasta and basil pistou

The staff was attentive and the food was paced just right— which I always think is hard when plates are meant to be shared. Nothing was too rushed and the portions were just right for two people. The braised pork did take 45 minutes, but before we could even ask if they had forgotten our last course it was ready and served.

I was even surprised that Depeche Mode playing in the background seemed to complement the meal perfectly! Now I can finally cross Avec off my list and hope it will become one of my regular stops on my trips home from now on.