By Jerry Nunn
Summertime is the time to eat out in Chicago. Our recent Windy City Times reader survey says that in the last 30 days, 63% went out to restaurants 10 or more times. There are at least 5,700 restaurants in the Chicago area, and the list is growing all the time.
When I am off work I, like many other people, just want to cut loose and let someone wait on me.
I went to check out Caliterra restaurant, located on the second floor of the Wyndham Hotel at 633 North Saint Clair Street. Chef Rick Gresh prepared a tasting for me and it was amazing. The style is modern Italian inspired cuisine. My server, Tom, was attentive, knowledgeable and experienced. Everything I wanted after a hard day’s work.
Now let’s talk food. The ginger caramelized scallops were heavenly. For a main course I tried the smoked beef tenderloin. This was recommended medium rare and was tender and juicy. I finished with the chocolate mousse bomb, which you have to see for the presentation alone. Caliterra was a little tricky to find, but well worth it.
Afterwards I continued on to check out the Taste of Chicago. With missing Donna Summer (I heard she was fabulous), it was all down hill from there. The crowds were hot and bothered. All manners were out the window. After being pushed around and not seeing Morris Day, I decided to head back to the ‘hood.
I finished the night by dropping into Kit Kat lounge, meeting some people with margaritas on the patio, and returning home to air conditioning!