New American fine dining site launched
For some time now I have wanted to start a website
that celebrates American fine dining in all its fullness: American cuisine made from American products served
in dining rooms with a distinctly American atmosphere.
|
I
stepped out of the cab, in Downtown Chicago, but felt as though I’d traveled
to France. An outstretched hand and the words, “Bon soir madame,” guided me
up brownstone stairs, with the fragrance of les plats Français hovering over
the threshold. I immediately succumbed to a magnetic gastronomic sojourn at
Les Nomades.
Mary
Beth Liccioni, current owner of the 29-year-old Chicago restaurant,
personally greeted us at the door. A tour of her restaurant revealed a mild
obsession with ornate vases supersaturated with stems of red roses. The
restaurant showcases two dining levels, the ground floor possessing more of
a saloon environment and the top floor emitting intricate décor, intimacy
and romance.
The
experience began with a glass of the restaurant’s featured champagne. I took
advantage of the extra time to survey the epic “award-winning” wine list,
which prior personal research indicated my favorite wine, Pauillac Château
Grand-Puy-Ducasse 2003, was waiting for me. The decisions for the remainder
of my night at the restaurant were not so easy.