Chicago Tulum.info Fiesta Dos!

[TheWindyCity]

(I'll start a post here, and everyone can add their report and pics to this thread)

Saturday, September 6th, some Tulum.info forum members met for drinks and dinner at Rick Bayless' Frontera Grill (http://www.tulum.info/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rickbayless.co m%2Frestaurants%2Fgrill.html), in Chicago.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000052.jpg

It was a beautiful night in Chicago for a party! Minniemex and her husband (Kayt and Fred) took an eight hour train ride from Minnesota just to join us! Also present were Lynnette (Lynn and Bob), PhyllisB, (Phyllis, minus Kevin, who was preparing for the big move to Kayt-country), and TheWindyCity (Steve and Alice).

After we all arrived and took our table, and ordered a round of drinks.
From left to right: Lynnette, Bob, Phyllis, Fred, Kayt, Steve and Alice:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000060.jpg


Our favorite is the Topolo Margarita, made with tequila, Gran Torres, and house limeade. Very smooth! Actually, dangerously smooth!

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000054.jpg

The walls are decorated with fine Mexican artwork:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000056.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000074.jpg

After we had been enjoying drinks and conversation for a while, we saw Rick Bayless making rounds through the restaurant. Alice asked his assistant if he could make a stop at our table, which he obliged. Lynnette and Alice explained a little about our group, and I think he was impressed to learn that Kayt and Fred came all the way from Minnesota to be there this evening:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000064.jpg

Well, that was an honor to finally meet "the man"! But it's was time to eat! As an appetizer, Alice and I ordered the Enchiladas de Pescado: homemade tortillas rolled around poached Alaskan black cod, potatoes, grilled onions and epazote. Tomato-habanero sauce, smoked homemade queso fresco, shoestring jicama-cucumber salad:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000058.jpg

We had another round of Topolo Margs, prepared tableside by Edgar:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000061.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000062.jpg

For our entrees, Alice ordered the Pato en Mole de Xico: wood-grilled, red chile-rubbed Gunthorp duck breast with Xico's famous fruity dark chile mole. Black beans and fresh fig salsa.

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000069.jpg

Alice was in mole heaven once again! Reminded me of our trip to the markets of Tulum, at Pool, and the San Franciso, bringing back four different moles. And still, none matched the unique taste of this style mole at Frontera Grill! Lynnette really liked it as well. I sampled the mole, and wished I had a side of it to add to the tacos I was assembling from my steak. It was really smooth, more fruity and less peppery.

I ( as well as Bob and Fred!) ordered the Carne Asada “Brava”: serrano-marinated grass fed rib steak (from Bill Kurtis' Tall Grass) with salsa de molcajete (hand-crushed roasted tomatoes, serranos and garlic), spicy seared chiles toreados and sweet corn tamales (topped with homemade sour cream and fresh cheese:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000068.jpg

The steak was cooked as ordered, and was really flavorful! The waiter said this was the spiciest dish on the menu, and it was indeed! The tamale was not filled, but was a sweetened masa, topped with a crema (sweet crema, not really sour.)

During our dinner, there was suddenly a lot of comotion and cheering near an exit up front. It was Barack Obama exiting after his dinner! Our waiter said he is a regular there. I caught a glimpse of him as he turned back around to wave, and saw his limo Escalade take him away quickly. Sorry, no pics...he was too quick!

For dessert, we ordered a chocolate, crumb-crusted cake, served warm, with raspberries and mint icecream:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000075.jpg

It was so good! The mint flavor was very mild and added the right compliment to the dish. Also, I had a cup of my favorite coffee, after seeing Rick prepare and explain it on the beach in the Yucatan, as the subject of one of his shows, the Cafe de Olla. It is coffee, simmmered with orange rind, piloncillo (a type of Mexican solidified dark cane sugar), canela stick (cinnamon):

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/P1000072.jpg

Well, it certainly was a great night, seeing Phyllis, Lynnette, Bob, Kayt, Fred, Bayless and Barack! We had a great night of conversation , great food, and drink. When shall we meet again?

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x216/TheWindyCity/ChicagoFoodPics/6b6a633f.jpg

[Gale in KY]

OMG..I surely missed out didn't I? What amazing food and photos..my mouth is watering..That dessert picture is killing me.

I am really glad you guys got to meet "the man" he is kind of a hero amongst those of us who love the food of the Yucatan, no?

Looks like a great time with wonderful amigos! Raising my glass of wine to you all from here in KY!

[beachreader]

When shall we meet again? How about this coming weekend in Minneapolis? OK, not "weekend", but Monday night the what, 15th?

Wish you guys could bring Bayless along. Did you tell him who you were, and how much you love Tulum and all that? Did you get a nice conversation out of him, or was he just posing and greeting b/c Barack Obama was in the house?

[TheWindyCity]

Gale:
We missed meeting up with you, too bad things got busy for you. It was great to meet him, especially after catching his series from the Yucatan.

Beachreader:
We did have a brief conversation, and Lynnette and Alice and I had talked to him about why we were there, and told him about Minniemex's journey down. He has an assistant follow him and take care of things like the photos, ect.

[minniemex]

We had a really great time!! I didn't get home until 11pm last night, so will try and upload my pictures tonight so I can add to Windy's report!! It was a really wonderful trip!!

[Tranquilo Tomas]

Hombre, did we miss out! The food photos made me want to book a flight to Chicago! Looks like it was a fabulous evening. Very cool that you got to meet Rick. Of course, you and Alice look great. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us jealous food and Tulum fans.

[TheWindyCity]

MinnieMex:
It was great to finally meet you and Fred. We enjoyed your company and had a nice evening. We hope you two had a nice time touring the city. Please write about that as well!

Tom:
Too bad you could not join us...if you and Susan ever visit Chicago, we'll have to hit the town!

[letele]

I'm sad I missed out! Rick Bayless AND Barack Obama (not to mention the great food and excellent company!) :( :( :( :(

Guess I'll just have to plan my next trip to Chicago around the next fiesta!

[PhyllisB]

Hey, great report Windy! As usual! I had a great time saying goodbye to Chicago with all of you. I had a bite of Fred's steak and decided I was very glad I hadn't ordered it! Very tender but pretty spicy for someone like me who doesn't like hot stuff very much. My enchiladas w/ mole were yummy (I think someone else has an enchilada pic). And OMG it's Barack Obama!!!! Man that was cool. I wish he had stayed longer! I could have asked him for that cabinet post! ;)

Next up: Minneapolis on Monday!

[beachreader]

I'm so jealous of you guys seeing Barack Obama in such a low-key atmosphere. Wish he'd come by and said hello to you all! I might have to start stalking that man a little bit, see if I can get an "accidental" meeting! :cool:

[susan]

Hey maybe we can get Al Franken to show up on Monday! Maybe he'll be out courting the Latino vote. But how cool- usually you only get to see someone like B.O.on tv or in a large crowd not the up close and personal.

[beachreader]

Yes, Al Franken would be cool too! Is he spending much time in town these days, or is the race pretty much over already?

[susan]

The race is very close- he is spending most if not all of his time in Minnesota.

Be glad your trip was timed to miss the RNC.

[beachreader]

Be glad your trip was timed to miss the RNC.


I timed that very carefully. :)