Work brought me to snowy Chicago last week and with the trip came a fabulous dinner at a new restaurant in the “up-and-coming” Pilsen neighborhood. Nightwood features a daily-changing menu of seasonal food from nearby farms so I was excited to see what the Midwest had to offer in the middle of winter. Turns out, some delicious things!
Apparently the neighborhood has a semi-grungy connotation associated with it, but I found this to be an exception to the rule if that truly is the case. The décor featured an open kitchen set in a cozy, rustic, loft-like space (strange description I know, pictures give the ambiance better justice), the menu is handwritten and features dishes based on what has arrived fresh from the market, and their wine list is extensive but not over-the-top or intimidating.
And the food was divine. I came with a large group so I got to sample a lot of what the menu had to offer. I started with a spinach salad (GreenLeaf Farms) with yellowfoot mushrooms, fresh mozzarella and pumpkin seeds. And for the table we ordered some delicious hearth-baked spinach ricotta with grilled tomato bread and olive oil and a side of Genesis Growers beets with creme fraiche and dill. For an entrée, I got the split-roasted half chicken from Slagel Farms (which I swear was brined with bacon) atop cornbread, dates, pecans, and arugula. And we ordered every dessert on the menu – including a ricotta and candied kumquat tart, citrus-infused sorbets and warm cookies. (The dessert, while good, was the “meh” part of the evening. Good but not mind blowing).
If you are looking for a restaurant that might not have the longstanding reputation of some other Chicago hot spots but that features local food in a fun environment (and where you can easily score a reservation), check out Nightwood. Here is their write-up in Gourmet and Chicago Tribune if you need more convincing!
And thanks to some Chicago friends, I also discovered a few other locally-sourced food stops that are worth checking out:
- For a more casual eating environment, head to Bucktown’s The Bristol. This cozy, rustic spot serves up inventive cocktails with the freshest ingredients available, a chalk-written list on the wall highlighting the farms they get their ingredients from for their locally-sourced menu, and downright delicious food.
- Chicago’s Downtown Food Stand carries everything from dairy, preserves, baked goods, yummy snacks and more. Plus, they feature lunchtime programs on Wednesdays and Fridays and feature cooking demonstrations of easy-to-make recipes using what is newest and freshest that day, or tastings of specialties from local food artisans.
- Chicago French Market in the Ogilvie Transportation Center is the city’s first and only year-round, indoor marketplace featuring an array of goods from local artisans and purveyors.
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