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/692589
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EROC NATION PHOTOGRAPHY (HUDDLESTON); COURTESY OF LONDONHOUSE CHICAGO (RENDERINGS) OOH AND AAH OVER THE VIEWS ALL YOU WANT—THE REAL STAR OF THE SHOW AT SIZZLING NEW HOTEL SPOT LH IS CHEF RILEY HUDDLESTON. BY J.P. ANDERSON Many a skyscraping restaurant has skated by on its views alone, but you can that bet LH won't be among them—not with Riley Huddleston at the helm. The 31-year-old accomplished chef and expert mixologist has done time at Gramercy Tavern and The Aviary, and he's the mastermind behind both food and beverage at the much- anticipated new LondonHouse Chicago spot. "We're mixing the drinks while we're cooking in the kitchen," explains the multitalented Oregon native (who's also the founder of acclaimed fries-and-burger concept Boise Fry Company) of his technique of mingling the two crafts. "We're literally facing each other on the line and I'm tasting food, and [then I can] walk over and taste a drink. So you have the smells and aromas and flavors, and you have ingredients that might normally not be available behind the bar. We're bridging that gap." Among the inventive American offerings, Huddleston expects summer hits to include grilled lamb belly ("super- fresh, very bright flavors") and Nduja cheese bread ("amazing"), plus libations like the LH Libre with house-made cola and a take on the Moscow mule using four kinds of flavored ice. As for Huddleston, he's reveling in LH's opening buzz— but aiming for something far more substantial. "I want it to become that place that's going to be here 40 years from now. That's what we're striving for." 85 E. Wacker Dr., 312-357-1200; london housechicago.com . ABOVE: Renderings of the multilevel LH restaurant and bar. INSET: Riley Huddleston isn't just the executive chef and beverage director for Londonhouse Chicago; he's also the founder of award-winning West Coast concept Boise Fry Company. THE RILEY FACTOR 60 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM SCENE BUZZ