fantastic: Food

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

EWP Gift Guide 2011: A CSA Subscription

There is nothing better for you (and the environment) than eating seasonal, local, and organic foods. Why not encourage a little farm to table living in a loved one's life with a CSA subscription? No one's going to say no to free groceries! Google your giftee's area to find CSAs near them.

Green Grocer Chicago CSA, Starting at $289 for 17 weeks

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Chicago Spotlight/EWP Review: Perennial Virant

I've decided to add a new feature to this here blog - little reviews and posts about local Chicago places. I've been doing it here and there, but now it'll be more official and part of the "Chicago Spotlight" series. It might be a local boutique or local eatery, but they'll get a spotlight shined upon them and get reviewed on the following EWP scale:
0 stars = Crocs
1 star = Payless
2 stars= Nine West
3 stars= Stuart Weitzman
4 stars= Christian Louboutin

As you can guess, everyone should be shooting for the coveted Louboutin rating :)

Today I'm reviewing a new restaurant. Yes, I normally talk fashion, but what's the fun in dressing up if you have nowhere to go?

A week ago I had the supreme pleasure of dining at Perennial Virant. [Isn't it cute?!]

My friend Foodiebia was visiting from California and I knew she would totally love the local, fresh menu as much as I would.

Perennial Virant is located across from Lincoln Park and the Green City Market. As a lover of farmer's markets and specifically the Green City Market, it was wonderful to see the produce from the market make its way across the street to the Perennial Virant menu. The menu changes daily, based on what is fresh and available. I LOVE this for several reasons: 1) I get bored with menus that don't change, 2) what could be better than tasting things at their very freshest instead of off-season and trucked in from places far away?, 3) I like being encouraged to show up to a restaurant repeatedly because they have new things for me each time.

The decor was fresh and streamlined. Simple, a little earthy, some tables to be shared with other groups, but not too close to them that you're weirded out that you're sitting with other people. We actually got a shared table and the only time I noticed that I was sharing was when I would peek over to see what they were eating.

The feel is casual and friendly. There were kids in attendance, the waiters all wore plaid (but in a cute hipster way, not a lumberjack way). The only complaint of mine was a person who was a little too friendly - the overenthusiastic water refill guy. He was just a little too much for me, interjecting jokes into our conversations. He was cute, but I wasn't in the mood for a full on press joking flirtation. But better an overly present water guy than one you can't ever find as you sit there parched. So if my only complaint is an overly friendly water guy, then this place is great.

And now let's get to the food. Perennial features small plates to share, so of course we ordered a million things. And every single thing was divine. Even the cheese plate, and I'm not a cheese person at all. But the cheese plate had these delicious Spanish almonds that had Foodiebia, Mr. EWP, and myself all swooning. And I don't even like almonds! We had short ribs, corn cakes, green beans, heirloom tomatoes with baked ricotta. All super delicious. But there were two standouts from the meal: 1) The beef loin. That was an incredible piece of meat. Mr. EWP is a meat guy, he's picky about his beef and he was drooling all over the table and basically fainted from the awesomeness of the beef. 2) The wings. Yes, a fancy restaurant that serves wings. Can you say EWP heaven? I'm a wing nut. I don't know why but I super super love chicken wings. But you can't really get them anywhere but a sports bar, but enter Perennial Virant and the most delicious barbecue wings of all time. They had been drenched in liquid smoke which really upped the flavor factor. I was literally licking my fingers and may or may not have considered ordering another round.

And lastly I have to show y'all the patio. Because it is adorable. If it hadn't been 95 degrees that day, I would've totally been sitting outside. I'll be there again soon I'm sure, I love me some outdoor dining. I'm seriously already thinking about when I can go back.

I give Perennial Virant an amazing Louboutin rating! (aka 4/4).