Birthday Dinner for a special friend

EL Restaurant, Chicago, IL
Tasted Sunday, August 21, 2011 by jlgnml with 628 views

Introduction

This was for Beth's birthday and her husband Mon organized for 10 of us to join him at EL restaruant. Chef Phillip Foss is in charge of this unique dinning experience. The restaurant has 1 table and essentially the evening is to yourself and your guests. Opportunity to walk around and if lucky enough to assist the chef in the delivery of some of the courses, so this was very interactive. BYOB for the evening as they do not have a license and this place is tucked away on the west side of the city.

Flight 1 (1 Note)

I have included the food as ordered and whether or not the food matched for all of the courses, didn't seem to matter.

Shrenke Caviar-beet/white chocolate/chive

Flight 2 (1 Note)

Cucumber-several ways/apricot/chili

Flight 3 (1 Note)

Mirai Corn-avocado/mango/heart of palm

Trama Negra-eggplant/zucchini/piperade

  • 1999 Peter Michael Chardonnay Mon Plaisir

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    From magnum - Magnificent! Golden clarity. Full of vanilla, peaches and citrus. With the ink squid capellinit the fruit exploded lemon and almost cotton candy. Phennomenal length.

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Flight 4 (1 Note)

Spanner Crab-squid ink cappelini/tomatoe's/poppy seed

Lobster-meyer lemon/misol/parsley root

  • 1964 Monimpex Tokaji Aszú Essencia

    Hungary, Tokaji

    Very fun wine. Brown color with much sediment. Great balance of tropical fruit and sherry like quality with raisins and tar. Had notes of spearmint. What a treat and a delight to drink and could drink on a regular basis.

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Flight 5 (1 Note)

Consomme-cantaloupe/whipped ham

Agnolotti-chicken/carrot/brioche

  • 1998 Domaine Henri Rebourseau Mazy-Chambertin

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Perfect color with just a hint of brick at the edge. Classic nose of Violets and Asian spice. Medium red fruit goes on and on. Second bottle opened without decanting and initally was very fruit forward. Began very new world, but quickly evolved in the glass to be almost identical to the decanted bottle.

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Flight 6 (1 Note)

Black Truffle-risotto/brown butter

Foie Gras-plums/chard/balsamic

  • 1986 Château Latour Grand Vin

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Infantocide! Big and brooding red loaded with copious tannins. Dark fruit black cherry, raspberry and blackberry. Great wine to drink now but will be better in another 10-15 years. Lots of legs to this wine.

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Flight 7 (1 Note)

Ribeye-potato/mushroom/bearnaise

Manchego-fig jam/candy cap mushrooms/chard

  • 1955 Château Cos d'Estournel

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Estèphe

    Medium color, good clarity. Nose of cedar and cigar box. Soft tannins with nice balance of medium red fruit. Excellent length.

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Flight 8 (1 Note)

Cherries-forbidden ros/cream/aromas

Peach-pistachio/lemon/blueberries

Closing

Thank you Mon and Beth for sharing a birthday celebration on a glorious Sunday evening. Can't wait to try his food again.

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