There were no crimes against fish at Mexique. The trout was perhaps the best dish at the table. We recently ate out with Emily Szopa of the Chicago Dining Examiner to try the French-influenced Mexican cuisine at Mexique. We enjoyed excellent service, wonderful appetizers, outstanding entrees, and desserts to die for. The only question I had at the end of the evening was why there wasn't a line to get into the place. Tune in for the details. (13.3 M) 00:00 - 00:54 Playing influences 00:55 - 02:46 Atmosphere & service 02:47 - 05:33 Appetizers? Order all of them? Next time, definitely! 05:34 - 09:25 Cleaning our plates 09:26 - 12:05 Dessert? Order all of them? Yes, thank you. 12:06 - 13:15 Very varied wine 13:16 - 14:28 Wrap-up & sign-off Chef/Owner Carlos Gaytan serves up an amazing menu. Mexique 1529 W Chicago Ave Chicago, IL 60642 Get directions Bridget's Ratings Tammy's Ratings Food Quality 5 5 Value 5 5 Service 5 5 Ambiance 4 4 Overall 9 9 Average price per person: $65 Related Chicago Bites Posts: Frontera Grill Green Zebra Mixteco Grill Online buzz about Mexique: LTH Forum TimeOut Chicago

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The baby squid and pasta combined to make a divine dish. We had the opportunity to see Chef Jose Garces at Gourmet Chicago last week. We were so delighted by his cooking demonstration that we decided to drop by his restaurant for a sample of what he cooked up. The octopus was mighty tasty, but how did the other dishes stack up? (12.8 M) 00:00 - 02:18 Dying to try the octopus 02:19 - 04:04 Other appetizers 04:05 - 05:03 Best mojitos evaaaaah 05:04 - 06:15 Getting to dinner and cheese 06:16 - 08:24 Baby squid and other horizontal delights 08:25 - 09:50 Dessert 09:51 - 12:00 The insides 12:01 - 13:56 Wrap-up and sign-off Two preparations of baby octopus, one by Chef Jose Garces and the other by his restaurant on the right. Mercat a la planxa 638 Michagan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605 Get directions Bridget's Ratings Tammy's Ratings Food Quality 4 4 Value 4 3 Service 3 3 Ambiance 4 3 Overall 8 7 Average price per person: $70 Related Chicago Bites Posts: Bull-eh-dia's Tapas Bar Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! De Cero Online buzz about Mercat a la planxa: Refined Palate Sky full of Bacon The Stew Check out our Mercat a la planxa photos on Flickr. Chef Jose Garces preparing octopus at Chicago Gourmet

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A celebration of food and wine? Or a celebration of WINE and food? Bridget and I spent the weekend covering Chicago Gourmet on behalf of MenuPages. The event was a whirlwind tour that gave us access to chefs, food and wine from Chicago and beyond. But was Chicago Gourmet worth it? And what should happen to make this a true showcase for Chicago cuisine? We have some thoughts on the experience and what needs to improve. (16.9 M) 00:00 - 01:45 Intro 01:46 - 03:52 Opening night 03:53 - 05:40 Chicago Gourmet vs. the Taste of Chicago 05:41 - 07:33 Cooking demonstrations 07:34 - 09:05 East meets West 09:06 - 11:02 Seminars 11:03 - 12:43 Fangirl meets Gale Gand, price of access 12:44 - 14:40 Delivery on the goods, culinary students 14:41 - 15:54 Managing expectations, suggestions 15:55 - 17:31 International focus vs. local cheerleading 17:32 - 18:25 Wrap-up and sign-off Dunkin' Donuts, one of the sponsors, served coffee drinks at the event. Were they gourmet? Uh, no. Chicago Gourmet Millennium Park Chicago, IL Bridget's Rating: 5 Tammy's Rating: 5 Price per person: $150/day; $400/weekend Our online coverage of Chicago Gourmet for MenuPages: A Taste Of The Kickoff Searching for Food at Chicago Gourmet How To Scare An Octopus At Chicago Gourmet Tips From "Tasting the Masters' Way" Taste of Sonoma County The Secret is in the Sauce: A Chat with Chef Jackie Shen Chefs at Play Check out our Chicago Gourmet photos on Flickr. The fun of the event was meeting local food celebrities like Gale Gand.

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The goat cheese enchiladas were tasty and light. We recently spent a rainy afternoon at Jack Rabbit, formerly Brioso, located in Lincoln Square. The margaritas and bread pudding dessert chased the gloom away, but how did the rest of the meal go? Listen in to find out. For those expecting our review of MK in place of our review of Graham Elliot, what can we say? We appear to be doomed, DOOMED, to not get that show out. We're wrestling with our technical demons and hope to stuff them back into the cupboard soon. Send whatever karma you feel appropriate. (10.3 M) 00:00 - 01:32 Fresh vs. pre-made 01:33 - 03:43 Nothing out of the ballpark. Go Tigers! 03:44 - 06:00 Past menu, present menu 06:01 - 07:41 Dangers of bonding 07:42 - 09:03 Tasty but disgusting 09:04 - 09:56 Atmosphere 09:57 - 11:11 Wrap-up and sign-off The Mexican bread pudding was yummier than it looked. Jack Rabbit 4603 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60625 Get directions Bridget's Ratings Tammy's Ratings Food Quality 3 3 Value 3 3 Service 4 3 Ambiance 3 3 Overall 5 5 Average price per person: $45 Related Chicago Bites Posts: La Fonda Mixteco Grill Taqueria La Oaxaquena Online buzz about Jack Rabbit: Check Please Timeout Chicago WBBM Check out our Jack Rabbit photos on Flickr.

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The chorizo-stuffed madjool dates are a house specialty and were a hit at our table. We recently met up with Scot and Ben from Dinner Voyeur at Avec to sample the Mediterranean inspired cuisine and share our love of food. The communal tables encourage you to chat with neighboring diners, and as a result, the narrow restaurant is loud and jam-packed. They don't take reservations at Avec, so plan to join the masses early if you want a seat at the table. Listen in to find out if the food was as good as the company. (13.0 M) 00:00 - 03:05 Expect the unexpected -- Thoughts on no reservations and dining space 03:06 - 04:26 How the menu works 04:27 - 09:50 The small plates, the wine, the beer, and eating things that are white 09:51 - 10:33 Fish, fish cheeks, etc. 10:34 - 12:03 The sweet stuff 12:04 - 14:12 Wrap-up and sign-off The baccala is pickled and tasty, a refreshing addition to the table. Avec 615 W Randolph Chicago, IL Get directions Bridget's Ratings Tammy's Ratings Food Quality 4 4 Value 4 4 Service 5 4 Ambiance 3 3 Overall 8 8 Average price per person: $55 Related Chicago Bites Post: Tizi Melloul Online buzz about Avec: Citysearch My Social Standards TripAdvisor Check out our Avec photos on Flickr.

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The tavern potato chips are drizzled with truffle oil, splashed with balsamic vinegar, loaded with evil, and oh so good. We recently met up with the Local Tourist to try West Town Tavern. It's known as a cozy spot to linger over a good meal, but did everyone walk away feeling satisfied? Listen to the podcast and find out! (8.8 M) 00:00 - 01:08 A cozy spot with a meaty menu 01:09 - 02:45 Appetizers and actors 02:34 - 06:17 Surf and turf 06:18 - 08:08 Not raving about dessert 08:09 - 09:35 Ratings and sign-off West Town Tavern specializes in meat dishes like this pork tenderloin. West Town Tavern 1329 West Chicago Chicago, IL Get directions Bridget's Ratings Tammy's Ratings Food Quality 4 2 Value 4 3 Service 2 2 Ambiance 5 5 Overall 8 5 Average price per person: $45 Related Chicago Bites Posts: Park Grill Tallulah Terragusto Online buzz about West Town Tavern: 2 things @ once Chicagoist You want fries with that? Check out our West Town Tavern photos on Flickr.

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The house salad with ginger dressing was a table favorite. Ai Japanese Restaurant and Lounge has something for everyone with a variety of sushi and cooked dishes on its menu. Diners also have an all-you-can eat option that?s extremely reasonable. But does the Maki measure up? Listen in and find out what got our chopsticks clicking! (14.3 M) 00:00 - 01:42 All-you-can-eat quality and rules 01:43 - 04:52 Accessibility, hours and ambiance 04:53 - 05:52 Plate management and service 05:53 - 12:45 Bring on the food 12:46 - 13:53 Room for dessert 13:54 - 15:30 Ratings and sign-off The tropical mango Maki is topped with a grape jelly-like sauce. Ai Japanese Restaurant and Lounge 358 W Ontario Chicago, IL Get directions Bridget's Ratings Tammy's Ratings Food Quality 3 3 Value 4 5 Service 2 2 Ambiance 3 4 Overall 5 7 Average price per person: $50 Related Chicago Bites Posts: Mizu Yakitori & Sushi Lounge Republic Pan-Asian Restaurant & Lounge Online buzz about Ai Japanese Restaurant and Lounge: Google Metromix Yelp Check out our Ai Japanese Restaurant and Lounge photos on Flickr.

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Starting the evening off right at Schwa with this amuse bouche. I'm a lucky girl. Not only did I get to go Schwa, but the reservations came through on the day of my birthday! I would like to thank Bridget, Pattie, Yukako & Serendia for getting me into one of the best restaurants in Chicago. Listen to the podcast to get a complete account of our evening with Michael Carlson & crew. (16.5 M) 00:00 - 02:45 Spending time with Michael Carlson 02:46 - 04:58 Tiny little space, big intentions & BYOB 04:49 - 16:06 One amazing dish after another, much gushing. 16:07 - 17:56 Final thoughts, ratings and sign-off I licked this plate clean and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Schwa Restaurant 1466 Ashland Chicago, IL Get directions Bridget's Ratings Tammy's Ratings Food Quality 5 5 Value 5 5 Service 5 5 Ambiance 5 5 Overall 10 10 Average price per person: $55 Related Chicago Bites Posts: Alinea Arun's Moto Online buzz about Schwa Restaurant: Gridskipper Metromix Skillet Doux Check out our Schwa Restaurant photos on Flickr.

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