Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/109585
TASTE the a-list CELEBRITY BLOGGER IRENE MICHAELS SHARES HER FAVORITE SEE-AND-BE-SEEN DINING DESTINATIONS. BY J.P. ANDERSON I t���s no surprise that Chicago is one of the nation���s hottest playgrounds for gourmands: The dining scene brims with Top Chef stars and James Beard award winners, and sees buzzing new restaurants opening every week. Keeping up with this everchanging foodie landscape can be challenge, but it���s second nature to woman-about-town Irene Michaels, the ���I��� of celebrity news and culture blog ionthescene.com. When she���s not hobnobbing with stars like Ben Affleck or Bradley Cooper, you���ll find this Streeterville resident and 25-year veteran of the entertainment industry painting the town red at one of these, her favorite Chicago see-and-be-seen restaurants. Short rib stroganoff at Bavette���s Bar & Boeuf. Meatballs from RPM Italian. Del Frisco���s steak and lobster. The Local Chicago David Flom and Matthew Moore have seen big success with Chicago Cut Steakhouse; now they���ve gone comfort food with new Gold Coast spot The Local Chicago. Says Michaels, ���This place is really unique���the atmosphere is warm, and the people and staff were all incredibly accommodating.��� The casual atmosphere makes for a great alternative in the neighborhood, according to Michaels. ���You can dress up, you can dress down���and the fact that it���s adjacent to [the Hilton Suites Chicago] lends itself to a varied crowd, especially with the fun menu.��� Michaels��� favorite dishes? ���Tuna tartare [#1 Tuna poke] was a great starter, served with a complement of avocado���. I love dessert, and my favorite was the apple brown betty. It���s served warm and was just chock-full of crispy toasted brioche bread crumbs and served with French vanilla ice cream��� and who doesn���t love ice cream?��� 198 E. Delaware Pl., 312-280-8887; thelocalchicago.com Bavette���s Bar & Boeuf ���Bavette���s is new and has a very sexy atmosphere; there���s a big buzz in town about it. The bone marrow and garlic shrimp are two of my favorites���both are to die for���and they also have more than 20 wines by the glass.��� 218 W. Kinzie St., 312-624-8154; bavetteschicago.com 80 Del Frisco���s Double Eagle Steak House ���When a new steakhouse opens Chicago, you always hear the comment, ���Another one?��� But this place proves that there���s room enough for one more. The crowd is really high energy, and there are several bars on different floors where you can people-watch. It���s a steakhouse, but I actually love the vegetables, especially the Brussels sprouts.��� 58 E. Oak St., 312-888-2499; delfriscos.com Fred���s at Barney���s ���Friends will meet up here for a drink just to see what everyone is wearing or what bags from Oak Street they���re carrying. I love their hot drinks: They take real chocolate, melt it, and make it into a hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps with tons of whipped cream. The fireplace is always on, so it���s always cozy.��� 15 E. Oak St., 312-596-1111; barneys.com Gibson���s Bar & Steakhouse ���Gibson���s is the standard. Celebrities, locals, out of towners���you just can���t come to Chicago without going there. I love the fried chicken; it has a very delicate taste, really crispy but light.��� 1028 N. Rush St., 312-266-8999; gibsonssteakhouse.com Pump Room ���The Public hotel is such a cool place. There���s an outstanding Sunday brunch that has an elegant feeling, and people want to dress up to go there. The eggs Benedict is fantastic.��� 1301 N. State Parkway, 312-229-6740; pumproom.com RL ���When you go there you know you���re going to be Irene Michaels dressed up and you���re going to be with the in crowd. I���m really fond of the signature whitefish���always delicious.��� 115 E. Chicago Ave., 312-475-1100; rlrestaurant.com RPM Italian ���RPM is exciting and has a beautiful crowd; the food is innovative, and you know you���ll see some sharp people. They have the best meatballs���perfectly sized, and just a tinge on the spicy side.��� 52 W. Illinois St., 312-222-1888; rpmitalian.com MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM 074-080_MA_Flavor_FlavorOfTheMonthV2_Spring13.indd 80 2/11/13 6:05 PM