“Chicago is my kind of town…”—Frank Sinatra
Chicago is where Cecile and I met in the early 70s while I was going to Podiatric Medical School.
It is always a pleasure to come back to visit the old haunts and her family.
Cecile, her sister Sherry and I took an Uber to Etta’s restaurant in the Bucktown area of Chicago and met up with Sherry’s daughter Emily, son, Jacob and his wife Amy. It was teeming with activity. There's a full sleek bar, pizza oven and spacious dining room on the main floor and a covered bar seating and outdoor space on the second floor. We sat facing the open kitchen and pizza oven on the first floor that was working overtime trying to keep up with the orders.
Etta is the sister restaurant of Maple and Ash, the company our nephew Jacob recently hooked up with to become their Director of Operations. It is always helpful and a special treat to have a family member like Jacob who is so close to the restaurant scene to help ensure an unforgettable dining experience.
We decided the best strategy was to order family style giving us the opportunity to sample as many dishes as possible. We began with cocktails and wine and a Fire-Baked foccacia with a rich ricotta cheese spread enhanced with honey and truffle, Ricotta Pillows which tasted like gnocchi (potato dumpling); Heart-roasted beets, feta cheese, blood orange, arugula, Pepitas, and candied walnuts; Wood-fired thin crusted pizza with green asparagus, lemon, black pepper and, Pecorino; Cavatelli pasta Bolognese (meat sauce) with Parmesan; Hearth glazed lamb with pickled turnips, mustard greens and yogurt; Wood-fired chicken with lemon, garlic, thyme, potato puree and Fire-roasted, de-boned, whole Branzino white fish with capers, parsley and lemon with a crispy skin cooked to perfection.
We shared three desserts: Aya’s chocolate Sabayon tart with vanilla bean ice cream; apple Galette with almond Frangipane, and honey cardamon ice cream and, cinnamon Tres Leches with cinnamon and Krispies.
Because of Jacob's connection to Maple and Ash and his recent birthday celebration the other evening, several of our dishes were comped by the staff and a candle was lit.
And, last but not least, check out the photo I took of Jacob with his head turned toward the ceiling, mouth open as the waiter poured wine in it. It looks like some sort of fraternity hazing or religious ritual. A couple of us gave it a try and it was good.
