chicago part 4: dinner at Salpicón!

I never finish what I start, including here on my blog, so I'm just gonna finish this one little thing, the Chicago travelog—even though it's now almost two weeks ago and I've been to Detroit & back in between!

So here are some pix of our incredible dinner at Salpicón in Chicago. It was one of the best I've ever eaten. And I been around the block a couple times, as you know.

First, appetizers...I think we took pix of all the appetizers, but Shamus's is the only one that actually looks appetizing in the photo. So, pictured at left you see ostiones con chipotle - which according to the website is "fresh Blue Point oysters topped with spinach and Chihuahua cheese; sauced with a chipotle cream and baked."

These were possibly the best oysters I ever tasted. Like Oysters Rockefeller but better—the cheese didn't overwhelm the luscious oyster flavor.

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Next, "platos fuertes" (I hadn't heard this term before but I like it... strong dishes!) Clockwise from upper left, again, menu descriptions from the website:

Mixiote de Borrego* - marinated lamb shank in a classic Oaxacan red mole; served with frijoles charros [ = pinto beans, bacon and rajas - a side dish - not in picture]

Pato en Salsa de Frambueza* - Grimaud Farms Muscovy duck breast grilled rare and duck leg confit served in a chipotle-raspberry sauce with butternut squash purée, diced chayote, beets and spicy walnuts

Pescado al Carbón - Fresh fillet of seasonal fish [tilapia], charcoal-grilled and served with salsa fresca (fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro and serrano chiles); white rice [in a little pyramid!]

Chiles Doña Queta - two chiles - one poblano chile stuffed with huitlacoche (earthy corn mushrooms), fresh corn and zucchini, served in a roasted poblano cream sauce; and one ancho chile filled with potatoes, Chihuahua and cotija cheese with a sweet-spiced roasted tomato sauce [huitlacoche = an odd-looking fungus that grows on corn—sounds strange, tastes divine].

*these two were specials

I had the duck. I was ecstatic.

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Finally, the desserts.

Or, Finally! The desserts!

I couldn't find descriptions on the website, so I'll just improvise.

On the left: pineapple three ways (cake, ice cream, and cookie); berry cobbler with some kind of ice cream; and fruit crepe with goat milk caramel sauce.

On the right: you can see two desserts whose luscious centers required a "before and after" photo set. There's a chocolate thingy (I think there was espresso involved somehow as well) and a tres leches cake with some kind of scrumptious sauce. (Aren't the website descriptions better? Sorry)

The more astute and mathematically inclined among you will have noticed that there are five desserts. We told the server that the fifth one was "for Elijah."

Sometime during the dessert course I actually entered Nirvana. Seriously.

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Chicago postscript: !

While Shamus & I were at the concert, Loopy & Ang went shopping. This is the kind of thing that makes for a perfect trip—everybody gets to do what they want and nobody ends up feeling like they missed out or got dragged along.

On top of that, I scored bigtime because lovely Loopy got me all my favorite things—and then some! Apparently, now has a counter in, um, Marshall Fields is it? Anyway, here is my LOOT:

In the center is the Fairy Jasmine fairy, and left to right around her, Youkihi (already used that one! yummy!!), Blue Skies & Fluffy White Clouds, Butterball, Avobath, Waving Not Drowning, and Sex Bomb.

Get yer own stuff here!