Restaurant Review: Happy Mother’s Day, Chicago!
This upcoming Sunday, May 12, is Mother’s Day. As a mom to one, I’m always interested in how things started. According to Brittanica.com, Mother’s Day began with Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, whose mother had organized women’s groups to promote friendship and health, originated Mother’s Day. On May 12, 1907, she held a memorial service at her late mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia. Within five years virtually every state was observing the day, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday.
Why we eat together on Mother’s Day
While Chef Smith’s words are meant for all family meals, I find them especially appropriate now. “Getting back to the table allows us to love and nurture each other and renew connections to our families—however they may be configured—in this diverse and ever-changing society. Such connections are crucial in a fast-paced world where we feel more disconnected every day. One of the best ways we know how to restore that daily balance is to sit down at our table.”
Chef Art Smith
Family Gathering
At Chef Art Smith’s Reunion on Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Avenue, you can give Mom the ultimate in Southern home cooking with Chef Smith’s $45 per person, three-course Mother’s Day Menu. Starting with a welcoming Mimosa, followed by a first course of deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, or avocado toast, entrée choices include Chef’s shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles or salmon benedict. Finish the meal with Mother’s Day beignets prepared tableside! Reservations are still available as of Tuesday morning at Open Table, click here.
A Tipsy, Turvy Tea?
At River North’s Gwen Hotel, 521 North Rush Street, your fun- loving Mom and Grandma may enjoy Tipsy Tea! Complete with a live DJ and even livelier libations, each month features a different theme. In May, it’s the musical Mamma Mia! Imbibe in libations such as the ‘Honey, Honey’-metaxa ouzo, lemonade, honey, and spearmint tea, or the ‘Mamma Mia’, a blend of corazón blanco tequila, fos mastiha, grenadine, lime, and pomegranate dream tea. Starting at $70 per person and featuring a rotating selection of tea towers and bottomless boozy (and spirit-free) tea selections, a Gwen Tipsy Tea includes a Tea Tower comprised of a variety of sweet and savory treats built for the number of guests, such as baklava, amygdalota, almond meringue cookie, Greek yogurt honey panna cotta, blueberry cinnamon gelée, mini Galaktoboureko tart, sour cream cupcakes, Spanakopita Dolmades, Greek Chicken Skewer, and Pita Crisps with feta, olive, and tomato. For reservations, click here.
Back to Nature
In Andersonville,m.henry, 5707 N. Clark Street, has been named as one of the best brunches in Chicago by critics other than Dean’s Team Chicago, and we have no argument! m. henry (yes, it’s lowercase) offers globally inspired, new american style cooking. Specializing in natural and seasonal ingredients, using locally produced and organic products whenever possible, try such specialties as Rustic Peasant Quiche, a savory quiche filled with asparagus, sautéed leeks, shallots, applewood bacon, and gruyere and lorraine swiss cheeses, served with a fresh field greens salad. Lemon-Raspberry Brioche French Toast, which is three slices of brioche french toast, layered w/homemade lemon curd and raspberry coulis. For something completely different (at least for me) try a Dandelion, Shallot, and Leek Omelette, a fluffy omelet sautéed with dandelion greens, caramelized shallots & leeks, and fontinella cheese, served with house potatoes or a mixed greens salad. Most seats are filled on a first come, first served basis. For parties of 10 or more, click here.
Stand back, Buenos Aires!
At Lincoln Square’s Artango Bar & Steakhouse, 4767 N. Lincoln Avenue, their Mather’s Day three-course meal includes appetizers, main course, and dessert for $75 (note that beverage, tax, and gratuity are not included). Start with Chef’s choice Empanadas, followed by Ceviche Nikkei, which is tuna, leche de tigre, avocado, and huacatay sauce, followed by Ensalda De Remolacha, which has arugula, watercress, beets, goat cheese mousse, and hazelnuts, in a fig vinaigrette, Focaccia Pizza has rosemary potato and crispy jamon serrano. A choice of entrées include Pollo La Parrilla- is infused with fine herbs, and served with seasonal vegetable casserole. Faroe Island Salmon is served with a prawn, mashed potato, asparagus, and lobster sauce.Finish your celebration with a gooey, rich Chocolate Cake with ice cream, or Flan, the luscious, Argentine-style custard. For reservations, click here.
Happy Mother’s Day to all who care for others!
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
