ALINEA

by Wen Chicago Michelin Star

Alinea

1723 N Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 867-0110
www.alinearestaurant.com
American

17 Course Tasting Menu

The presentation was absolutely ridiculous fun. My favorite part was for the grand finale, the chefs made an artful spread upon our table. Chef Grant Achatz decorated the table with swirls of stout, marigold petals, and squares of lingonberry and orange-butternut squash sauces. This meal certainly live up to my expectations of a Michelin rated restaurant. I left Alinea feeling very happy and satisfied. I will always remember this experience.

Butternut

muscovado, finger lime, West Indies

Sea Urchin

white chocolate, sudachi, wasabi

King Crab

mignonette

Razor Clam

shiso, soy, daikon

Otoro

thai banana, sea salt, kaffir lime

Corn

huitlacoche, sour cherry, silk

Brook Trout

sage, bourbon, nasturtium

Hot Potato

cold potato, black truffle, butter

Matsutake

pork, huckleberry, pine

Black Truffle

explosion, romaine, parmesan

Chicken & 60 Garnishes

including gingerbread, tomato caviar, huckleberries, fig, fennel gelée, blueberries, slivered almond, peanut, cilanto, saffron, carrot, etc.

Brie

lingonberry, shallot, oak leaves

Ginger

five other flavors

Carrot

coconut, white sesame, caramelized honey

Ballon

helium, green apple

Dark Chocolate

chestnut, rye, birch syrup

AVIARY

by Wen Chicago

Aviary

955 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 226-0868
www.theaviary.com
Lounges

10 Course Kitchen Table Menu

We went all in for the Aviary’s 10 course cocktail tasting at the Kitchen Table right after our dinner at the Next. Flames, trinkets, and stuffs I’ve never seen in the cocktail crafting process definitely make it worth the experience. Every drink is a wild twist on something familiar. Each is imaginative, interactive, and ultimately tasty.

Blackberry

sparkling, rose, star anise

bowl of chips

Plum and Ginger

plum: cognac, honey, black pepper tincture

ginger: shiso, peychaud’s, vodka

corn

Tonkotsu Ramen

pork belly, soft-boiled quail egg, daikon, nori, green onion

Bitter

smoking barrel, amari, tequila, cognac

We saw chef Achatz and he also came by and say hello!

whitefish

Foie Gras Terrine

foie gras and black truffles

Rob Roy

lavender air, pedro ximenez 1985, scotch

potato

Chai

elderflower, saffron, tequila, bourbon

foie

Watermelon

galangal, peychaud’s gin

passion fruit

Horchata

cinnamon, rum, tequila

lollipops

Hot Chocolate

malt, banana, bourbon

Root Beer

sassafras caramel, angostura, fernet, rum

Kitchen Table Menu

NEXT: KAISEKI

by Wen Chicago

953 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 226-0858
www.nextrestaurant.com

12 Course Kaiseki Menu

The Autumn colors smells and flavors were delightfully presented in elegant Japanese serving dishes. Every morsel is to be savored. The Ayu course was so delicious that you felt like you were in Japan. This meal was an experience I’ll remember for a long time.

Corn Husk

corn husk soup

Chestnut, Apple, White Miso, Hay Aroma

chestnut tofu, white miso, apple

Japanese Maple Forest

sweet shrimp

yuzu with corn pudding & salmon roe

dried fish roe

daikon wrapped in smoked duck bacon

Sashimi, Shiso, Tamari

Abalone, Cucumber, Red Sea Grapes

Anago, Maple Dashi, Shimeji Mushroom

Matsutake Chawanmushi, Pine

Ayu, Wasabi Leaf, Cured Yolk

The fish Ayu (sweetfish) came from Kyoto and the skeleton & head was fried to crispy crunchy perfection.

Chrysanthemum, Eggplant, Shiso Leaf

Soup, Rice, Pickles

First Snowfall

persimmon, yuba (tofu skin), maple leaf

Warabi Mochi, Toasted Soy

mochi and green tea

Kaiseki Menu

LA FOLIE

by Wen San Francisco Bay Area

La Folie

2316 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 776-5577
www.lafolie.com
French

CHEF’S FIVE COURSE MENU

We ordered the 5 course piggy menu and were STUFFED. You don’t want to ruin your expensive meal by overeating! Presentation is beautiful. The dessert course was probably the least outstanding.

Bread

french baguette

Amuse Bouche

egg yolk with leek cream soup

Osetra Caviar

Brentwood Farms Sweet Corn Soup

lobster, truffle, crispy sweetbreads

Seared Day Boat Scallop & Crispy Sweetbreads

on nantais carrot puree, truffle vinaigrette

Quail and Squab

stuffed with mushrooms, wrapped in crispy potato strings, truffled jus

Seasonal Sorbets

mixed berries sorbet and yuzu granite, passion fruit sorbet cannoli

Petit Fours

chocolate plantain, canele de bourdeaux, madeleines with brandied cherries, apricot pate de fruit

Brenda’s French Soul Food

by Wen San Francisco Bay Area

Brenda’s French Soul Food

652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 345-8100
frenchsoulfood.com
Cajun

Sunday Brunch

A taste of Lousiana! We were excited to try it out based on the reviews and always seeing the line formed outside, which is usually a good sign. They have good beignets, big and fluffy. The cheddar grits was a bit too cheesy and heavy for me. Overall atmosphere is very open and bright. Portions are really big so make sure to share!

Beignet Flight

plain, chocolate, granny smith apple, crayfish

Granny Smith Apple

sweetened with cinnamon honey butter

Crayfish

spiced with cayenne, scallions & cheddar

Chocolate

molten Ghirardelli chocolate

Eggs Benedict

two poached eggs on cream biscuits with creole hollandaise and grits

Shrimp & Grits

sauteed shrimp, cheddar grits, spicy tomato-bacon gravy

Paris

by Wen France

Things to Do & See

1. EIFFEL TOWER | 2003

2. MUSEE DU LOUVRE | 2003

3. NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL | 2003

4. BASILICA DU SACRE-COEUR DE MONTMARTRE | 2003

5. SAINTE CHAPELLE | 2003

6. VERSAILLES PALACE | 2003

7. CENTRE POMPIDOU | 2003

8. PONT ALEXANDRE III | 2003

6. LUXEMBOURG GARDENS | 2003

9. GALERIES LAFAYETTE | 2003

10. PRINTEMPS | 2003

11. PALAIS GARNIER | 2003

11. PALAIS GARNIER | 2012

12. ARC DE TRIOMPHE | 2012

13. RIVER SEINE | 2012

Pierre Hermé| 2012

Lunch at Le Procope | 2012

Lunch at L’entracte Opera | 2012

Dinner at Zoe’s | 2003

Dinner at Zoe’s | 2012

Ronchamp

by Wen France

Things to Do & See

CHAPELLE NOTRE DAME DU HAUT

This chapel is designed by Le Corbusier and completed in 1954. It must have been the most amazing modern building in those days. This place has a calm and timeless atmosphere. Not crowded, allow time to thoroughly explore it.

Photos cannot supply the perspective that actually being there in person presents. See the dim and how’s the light shining through the different sized, colored, and shaped windows.

Dinner at Au Bureau

Belfort

by Wen France

Things to Do & See

BELFORT CITADEL & THE LION OF BELFORT

The citadel is very large, though much of it has been destroyed during the war. The huge lion was created to mark the city’s brave fight during the German siege under the French-Prussian war.

From the platform there is a brilliant view over the city and the landscape. Worth the walk to the very top to see the perspective of the town.

Mulhouse

by Wen France

Things to Do & See

1. CITE DE L’AUTOMOBILE

We spent several hours at this museum. The car collection is huge and really impressive. The exhibition focus on European cars, especially Bugatti and a host of early French manufacturers. A superb history of the car, well presented from the very earliest days to latest technology.

2. MULHOUSE OLD TOWN

Mulhouse was nearly totally destroyed during War World II so therefore it has been rebuilt. We stopped by the old town after visited the automobile museum. There happened to be a summer concert and it was a lot of fun. Great to have a beer and watch the world go by!

The pink city hall and the cathedral are the main attractions at the main square.

Colmar

by Wen France

Things to Do & See

1. LITTLE VENICE

The river flowing through gives it a very slight resemblance to Venice. We enjoyed our day trip to Colmar, especially the 30 minutes boat ride on the canal. The first part of the trip takes you out of little Venice and upstream for a little way. The water is so clear, you can see fish inside!

2. OLD TOWN

Colmar is one of several beautiful old Alsace towns. An interesting combination of German and French influences. Wonderful cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, canals and the flower-decked bridges. We took the little train for a mini tour of Colmar.

3. MERCHE COUVERT

I always like strolling around local food markets to see what local products are being sold. Here you find the local cheeses, wines and sausages. Nice place to grab a snack and look around.

4. EGLISE ST-MARTIN

Lovely cathedral in the heart of old Colmar. A wonderful place to sit for a while and take in the beautiful architecture and windows.

Lunch at Cave Wolfberger

Kaysersberg

by Wen France

Things to Do & See

It’s wonderful to spend a few hours or an entire day in this quaint medieval Alsacian villages. In the late afternoon we pulled into Kayserberg. Fantastic place to wander around and soak up the atmosphere.

1. VILLAGE DE KAYSERSBERG

Emperor Constantin fountain

2. Eglise de l’Invention de la Sainte-Croix

Historical little church in the middle of the old Kaysersberg. Inside you can see a combinations of Romanesque and Gothic, the atmosphere was very calm.

Dinner at Inca

My trip to Strasbourg, Alsace

by Wen France

Things to Do & See in Strasbourg

Strasbourg is known for many things. First of all, Strasbourg is the chief city of the historic wine-growing region Alsace. Located close to the border with Germany and Switzerland, Alsatian culture is a unique mix of French and German influences. Furthermore, the first Christmas Market was held in 1570, making Strasbourg Christmas Market one of the world’s oldest Christmas markets. Finally, it is the seat of a number of European institutions and bodies including the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights.

1. LA PETITE FRANCE

“La Petite France” is a historic quarter in the center of Strasbourg. It’s a well maintained area with lots of little lane ways and timber clad houses. We spent the whole afternoon walking around Strasbourg, mostly in this area. You really need to walk around to really enjoy. It was nice to just stroll casually and admire all the beautiful buildings. Great atmosphere and vibe to the place.

Lunch at La Corde à Linge
We stopped here on a hot day for lunch and were all pleased with our meals. Very busy restaurant in a fantastic location by the river.

We felt like we deserved ice cream after lunch 🙂

2. CATHEDRALE NOTRE DAME DE STRASBOURG

Construction started in 1176 and completed in 1275. The pink stone and single spire make this cathedral unique. The Cathedral has wonderful stained glass windows dating back hundreds of years, a beautiful interior in perfect Gothic style with a historical astronomical clock.

Climbed 332 steps to the top of the bell tower.
If your legs are up to it, climb to the top (and back down) of the cathedral tower for a spectacular view of the city. There is no elevator, so be sure you’re up for it before you start. Also depending on your timing, you may get to hear the bells chiming the hour.