May. 17th, 2014 11:31 pm
Another day of sloth and excess
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muckefuckApart from making oatmeal, reading a few pages in Steppenwolf, and feeding the cat, I accomplished nothing today of any value. What I did do was enjoy myself. Shortly before noon, I went to Sauce and Bread Kitchen near Clark and Devon and had a smoked salmon tartine with horseradish cream and pickled fennel. The Old Man and I bought a loaf of bread, a couple cookies, and came back home for a nap. Then I killed some time until Turtle and Turtlewife came by to pick us up for an early dinner on West Randolph.
The place they had chosen was Maude's Liquor Bar, a cozy bistrot that lives up to its pretensions. They insisted on ordering the cassoulet, which was good. But we also ordered the braised lentils, and they were amazing. So amazing![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
monshu plans to roast a whole chicken just to see if he can replicate them. The rest of the meal--terrine, asparagus, salmon tartare--fully lived up to expectations.
But as it's a liquor bar, the focus must be on the cocktails? At one point I looked up from the table and realised the drinkers were packed three deep around the bar. I thought they were waiting for tables, but I saw there was no rush to clear and realised most were just there to drink. Three bartenders were working nonstop to cater to them.
And us: The GWO started with an Aviation, moved on to a pinot noir, and finished with a Nonino. I began with a St Germain Fizz (vodka, aperol, and St Germain, served tall), has pastis with dinner, and couldn't resist finishing off with a Sazerac. I don't know if it's the best I've ever had--though it was definitely a contender for the title--but it was undoubtedly the smoothest. Watching it made was a pleasure unto itself.
I also had a sip of Turtle's Corpse Reviver with smoked mezcal and found it...smoky. Afterwards there was a general interest in ice cream, so I suggested Paciugo in Lincoln Square (though the name escaped me) and had the joy of escorting Turtle & wife there on their first visit. I had the panna cotta gelato and the lemon fig custard.
It was their 22nd anniversary, and we finally got a more-or-less complete story of their first date. Their dinner that night was Subway sandwiches, which they occasionally order again for nostalgia. (monshu and my's first date involved a visit to a Michigan Avenue café whose name neither of us can remember any more.)
The place they had chosen was Maude's Liquor Bar, a cozy bistrot that lives up to its pretensions. They insisted on ordering the cassoulet, which was good. But we also ordered the braised lentils, and they were amazing. So amazing
monshu plans to roast a whole chicken just to see if he can replicate them. The rest of the meal--terrine, asparagus, salmon tartare--fully lived up to expectations.But as it's a liquor bar, the focus must be on the cocktails? At one point I looked up from the table and realised the drinkers were packed three deep around the bar. I thought they were waiting for tables, but I saw there was no rush to clear and realised most were just there to drink. Three bartenders were working nonstop to cater to them.
And us: The GWO started with an Aviation, moved on to a pinot noir, and finished with a Nonino. I began with a St Germain Fizz (vodka, aperol, and St Germain, served tall), has pastis with dinner, and couldn't resist finishing off with a Sazerac. I don't know if it's the best I've ever had--though it was definitely a contender for the title--but it was undoubtedly the smoothest. Watching it made was a pleasure unto itself.
I also had a sip of Turtle's Corpse Reviver with smoked mezcal and found it...smoky. Afterwards there was a general interest in ice cream, so I suggested Paciugo in Lincoln Square (though the name escaped me) and had the joy of escorting Turtle & wife there on their first visit. I had the panna cotta gelato and the lemon fig custard.
It was their 22nd anniversary, and we finally got a more-or-less complete story of their first date. Their dinner that night was Subway sandwiches, which they occasionally order again for nostalgia. (
monshu and my's first date involved a visit to a Michigan Avenue café whose name neither of us can remember any more.)