Monday, September 22, 2008

custom house




custom house was our first meal in chicago. we were originally planning to go to alinea or tru but custom house looked a bit more relaxed, more affordable -and right down the street from our hotel. turned out to be the best meal of the trip.

the menu is mostly meat; braised meats, housemade bacon, pork belly and steak, a-la-carte style almost like a steakhouse but with much more eclectic food and a focus on local farm produce.

started with a heirloom tomato-mozzarella salad with watermelon "variations" - diced, pickled rind, and granita - fantastic. sweetbreads and bacon with white polenta - delicious.

then bone-in shortrib, bacon wrapped rabbit loin, and a side of cauliflower with fromage blanc that was delicious, and made me wish we ordered more sides (everything from sheeps milk potato gratin to swiss chard gnocchi).

dessert was awesome - sorry no pictures, i was drunk and/or batteries ran out - plum linzertorte with brown sugar ice cream and a "smores parfait" with black lava salt and toasted marshmallow that was incredible. i've had a lot of forgettable desserts lately that seemed like an afterthought, custom house's pastry chef is on her game, I would go back just for that.

custom house
500 S. dearborn
chicago

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