Chicago Bites Dining Podcast

We joined 15 others for a media dinner.

Tammy and I joined a group of roughly 15 bloggers and foodies last week for an eight-course media dinner at Devon.

We’ve frequented the restaurant since our initial review (even though I was horrified to discover we mispronounced its name on our show. It's said “Devin” like the name, not “Devon” like the street). The fish is consistently good, the biscuits are so tasty that I sometimes wonder if they're laced with some kind of addictive substance, and the carrot cake is awesome.

That's why we were thrilled to be invited back in a "professional" capacity to have the chef's picks paraded before us. It's fun to get the chance to try more of the menu and to meet new people.

It's also good to take a second look at the places we've reviewed. It can be difficult to get an accurate feel for a restaurant in one sitting. And the more we eat out, the more discerning our palates become. Restaurants that got high praise from us when we started Chicago Bites two years ago, for example, might be subject to more tempered reviews now. We still enjoy old favorites, but these days we both have more specific preferences. So in addition to venturing out in new directions, we've also been revisiting the places we've reviewed -- within the limits of our time and budget -- to see whose still got game.

Devon's still got it!

Review our Flickr set for a course-by-course rundown of our latest visit, and here are some tantalizing tidbits that I took away from the evening:

• Seafood is Devon's thing. Skip the meat. My meat was overcooked, and there are much better places for steak in the city.
• The wine list is good and the pairings we had with our food were excellent. Ask your waiter for recommendations. They've never steered me wrong.
• I was gratified that most of what the chef selected for this tasting I'd selected from the menu myself on previous visits by asking for the specialty of the house.
• Devon is a chain restaurant, which is unfortunate. Still, the seafood is fresh and the dishes are solid. Want to test the chef's creativity? Order off menu.
• The dining space at Devon is spacious and pleasant. We dined in the tasting room, which is a great place for private parties of 15 to 20. I've also sat in one of the semi-private alcoves that the restaurant offers groups. These areas are very comfortable and lend themselves to leisurely meals and conversation.
• There is too much going on with the tuna tartar starter. Best to stick with the simpler dishes.
• Skip the chocolate lava cake. It sounds good but nothing trumps the carrot cake!

The bruschetta was piled high... just the way it should be.

Il Mulino is swanky. Located in the historical Biggs mansion on Dearborn Street, it appears to offer diners an escape from the every day. But does the food live up to the vibe? Listen in and find out.

(12.0 M)

00:00 - 01:16 Touring the mansion inside and out
01:17 - 02:03 Wine by-the-glass worth the wait
02:04 - 03:10 Antipasto gets us started off right
03:11 - 04:10 Starters and escargot surprises
04:11 - 07:30 Main dishes--half orders of pasta and spicy clams
07:31 - 08:49 Dessert sampler and gelato
08:50 - 10:36 Chef chat
10:37 - 11:58 Ratings and sign-off

The veggie pasta was also a table favorite.

Il Mulino
1150 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 440-8888
Get directions

Average price per person: $65

Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Adesso
Mario's Gold Coast
Osteria Via Stato
Prosecco

Online buzz about Il Mulino:
Centerstage
Gracenotes NYC
The Reader
Yelp

Check out our Il Mulino photos on Flickr.

Making a grab for the wonderful cookies at Blue Sky.

We joined the Chicago Dining Out Meet-up for a light, summer dinner at Blue Sky Bakery & Cafe. They don't normally do dinner, so this was a chance to try the baked goods as well as offerings they picked up from the local farmer's market. It was a warm evening and the cafe was hot. Despite that, they made a good show of light salads, artisanal cheeses, and delicious cookies.

Normally, Blue Sky provides a rotating selection of freshly baked pastries, salads and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. Their granola looks tasty too -- it's on my list the next time I go by. Blue Sky is more than food, however. They also provide job training and opportunities for disadvantaged kids in the Chicago area. Youth work the counter, bake, cook, and come away with a job history and references.

If you're in the neighborhood, drop by for a cup of coffee, granola, or one of their fabulous scones. It's a great deal for you and for the people learning the business.

Cheddar and jalepeno scone available at Blue Sky.

Blue Sky Bakery and Cafe
4749 N. Albany Ave.
Chicago, IL

See more photos from Blue Sky Bakery & Cafe here.

The rabbit gnocchi was a favorite at our table.

We ducked into A Mano one evening for a quick meal, and walked away with a new source for premium gelato. We'll definitely be back for dessert, but what about the rest of the meal? Listen in to hear what we thought.

(12.0 M)

00:00 - 00:52 More than a bar...
00:53 - 03:30 Appetizers, deals
03:31 - 05:00 Waitress issues
05:01 - 06:53 Rabbit
06:54 - 08:10 Tuna
08:11 - 09:54 Bliss of Gelato
09:55 - 11:49 Atmosphere
11:50 - 13:05 Ratings and sign-off

The customizable salad trio was a bargain at $15.

A Mano
335 N Dearborn St
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 629-3500
Get directions

Average price per person: $40

Related Chicago Bites Posts:
Osteria Via Stato
Prosecco
Terragusto

Online buzz about A Mano:
Chicagoist
Conscious Choice
Serious Eats
You Tube

Check out our A Mano photos on Flickr.

Freshly diced mangos and blueberries are the highlight.

The words "yogurt couture" were enough to get us out the door to try the latest hot summer offering, Berry Chill. The line was out the door on a Sunday afternoon and we had high hopes of finding a new way to beat the summer heat.

Toppings are the best part of the visit but the choices can be overwhelming.

When you walk in the door, your eyes are hit with menu boards in constant motion. It was good to spy toppings from local favorite Sarah's Pastries inserted among a scrolling host of cereal brands, sprinkles, cookies and fruits. However, what the boards didn't tell you is what might pair well with each of their yogurt flavors. The kids might like gross-out combos, but I want flavors that compliment. Fortunately, the guy who took our order was able to help out.

Pistachio should stand alone but needed an assist of chocolate toffee.

I ended up with my favorite flavor, pistachio, topped with chocolate pistachio toffee from Sarah's Pastries. When I took my first bite, I expected a lovely nutty coolness. Instead, I got a sharp, tangy taste that was almost but not quite completely unlike pistachio. Ugh. Fail. Bridget had the same experience with her mango/peach yogurt. Nasty. Fortunately, the toppings helped both of us get through the experience.

Berry Chill encourages recycling of their heavy green plastic containers and color-changing spoons. I appreciate that, but it's not enough to save the planet -- you have to make something worth eating, first.

A small, flavor-of-the-month yogurt with toppings will set you back about $5.50. Save your money and go buy a pack of Flav-or-ice if you want to stay cool this summer. It'll last you longer and taste a hell of a lot better.

Berry Chill
635 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Get Directions