CheekyChicago

Alright. Let’s all be shamelessly proud of ourselves for a second. Let’s pop open a bottle of expensive champagne and make a toast to the fact that we are Chicagoans. We’ve got that amazing beach, Millenium Park, Oprah, the Cubbies, down-to-earth neighbors, Lincoln Park, and mooooost of all: the best restaurants in the world. Sushi, hot dogs, Cuban, Mexican, fusion, raw, fondue or French- you name it, Chicago’s got it and we do it the best. But I’m not going to sugarcoat it: one restaurant really tops the Windy City cake.

The pinnacle of a Chicago foodie’s travels through the culinary streets of our Midwest home is without question: NoMI. I’m not going to sugarcoat this either: if you want to actually dine at NoMI—save your pennies. It’s truly fine dining in the utmost sense of the word, but (I cheeky swear), it’s worth every copper coin you’ll have to throw down.

Located in the tres posh Park Hyatt Hotel, the view alone is worth the jaunt (with floor-to-ceiling bay windows over-looking Michigan Avenue, the historic Water Tower and Lake Michigan). The ambience will transport you. The service will make you feel like royalty. The wine list will make your head whirl (in a good way). And that bread basket with eight different variations of sea salts to pair with your butter will make you giddy. But it’s the food that leaves the biggest impression, as it should, since the kitchen is being led by Executive Chef Christophe David and Executive Pastry Chef Frederic Moreau –two of the nation’s most notable chefs.

No NoMI experience is complete without sushi. The quality of the sushi here is truly unparalleled, so before you balk at the $23-for-a-roll price tag, remember that. The rest of the upscale menu is French-inspired, but is straightforward enough in selection and presentation, which makes the rather fancy NoMI accessible for everyone.

The Seared Scallop appetizer, topped with Manchego sable crumble, bell pepper and sauce baisique is absolutely beautiful, perfectly cooked and sparkling with complex textures and colors. I happen to be dining with my pseudo-vegetarian friend, who chose the Local Farm Vegetable en Papillote, with Israeli couscous and a basil pesto that was poured tableside. It’s safe to say that the veggie route is just as delicious as the carnivorous one.

Roasted of Rack of Lamb

But I still must recommend the infamous Roasted Rack of Lamb; with braised neck terrine, gordal olives, eggplant marmalade and natural jus. (Enough said, really.) However, NoMI truly shines in its pastry department. The Le Namalaka a la Fraise was a dense cake, made with white chocolate cream, strawberry yuzu and topped with strawberry sorbet and balsamic. The ingredients together were utterly unique and almost abstract in presentation, yet created a symphony of sugar on the palette. And every Cheeky chick needs a little (or rather– a lot) of chocolate in her life and the Chocolate Indulgence—with raspberry cocoa nib sorbet, chocolate mousse and raspberry ginger jam—didn’t disappoint.

So let’s continue to gloat Chicago. Cheeky approves a little self-applause sometimes…especially when you share the same city as a crown jewel: (as we like to call it) YesMI.