The following night after eating at Alinea, my boyfriend showed Marian and me the Chef’s Table, Season 2, Episode 1, featuring Chef Grant Achatz, owner of Alinea, owner of The Aviary, owner of the new restaurant Next. We were obsessed with this chef. He is so good. How ironic that he lost his sense of taste at one point from tongue cancer. How ironic to overcome it and become even a greater chef than he already was. How unbelievable for him to be so creative enough to play with all senses, play with aromas, creating surprises. We were obsessed. Next was completely booked during the rest of our Chicago trip. But we were able to make reservations for 5 for The Aviary, a bar that is also created by Chef Grand Achatz and the bar that is also right next to Next.
Here is the entrance to The Aviary. It is a pair of double doors, being guarded by the host with an iPad, checking reservations. It seems so discreet, so secretive, and so exclusive.
But once you walk in, you enter a different world of classiness.
You know what I love about this menu? Look to the left. Those birds.. The farther the birds, the boozier the drink is.. What an interesting way to rank the drinks!
Here is a little introductory shooter taster for everyone around the table. It was sorbet-like. It was refreshing, sweet, cold.
They sell wine bottles by the half size.
My boyfriend’s drink and Marian’s drink. A decanter to the right that is brewing the drink like it is tea. An experimental glass being brewed to the left like it’s coffee.
Look at that smokiness coming out!!! I forgot what he was doing to make the drink. We left it smoking for a while.
20,000 blueberries under the tea. Cinnamon, clementine, thyme, apple brandy. It came with a small glass. Each glass you pour out tastes different because of the brewing time. Just like tea!! Each glass you pour out gets sweeter and sweeter. The flavors also change.
Loaded to the Gunwalls. Mace, pineapple, hazelnut, batavia arrack. This tasted so sweet and strong and refreshing. I ended up liking his drink more than my drink!
But my drink was fireeeeee.
Cereal Killer. Aviary select maker’s mark, cassis, malt, plastic bag. I got it because it said plastic bag. I was instantly intrigued by the plastic bag. You smell the aromas of cereal before you drink the drink that tastes like cereal. It was a drink for the nose and the mouth.
In the Rocks. Benedictine, angostura, apple brandy. This drink was fun to play with. The trick is to lift up the spring and try to apply enough force to crack the ice ball, which contains your drink inside. Once cracked, your drink flows out. The rest of the ice ball is your ice! Your drink on the rocks.
Black Truffle Explosion. Parmesan, romaine, black truffle. Featured on the Chef’s Table, we had to try it. We knew it was at the Aviary. Let’s come here primarily for the dumpling? $15 per dumpling. It was the most delightful, soft, creamy explosion. Meant to eat in one bite.
There is no bottom to this plate because it literally is meant to eat in one bite. By having no bottom, it deters anyone from trying to eat this in more than one bite.
Okinawa Brown Sugar Ice Cream. Matcha, white chocolate, puffed rice. Wow this ice cream was so good!! The matcha cakes are very dense and light at the same time. The puffed rice was crunchy and fun to eat. The white chocolate reminded me of condensed milk in texture and sweetness.
Ice Cream Sandwich. Funfetti cookie, cream cheese “frosting” ice cream. This reminds me of Momofuku’s cereal and milk ice cream. It was so good. It was so tough and sturdy. It was fun to eat! A childhood favorite.
Happy birthday cone for happy birthday boy!
I want to eat at Next next.. I want to “Grant” hop my way to all of his creations!
