Resident Foodies say: We had a good time at the Turtle Club on Vanderbilt Beach in Naples, Florida. The dish above is the the famous Coconut Fried Shrimp from the the Turtle Club. Plump shrimp encrusted in sweet coconut breading and golden fried. Served with crispy fries, cole slaw & twin sauces of traditional cocktail & our tangy citrus rémoulade for dipping. Oh, and the beach ain’t bad, either.
Resident Foodies say: Every so often we encounter a dish that is so other worldly, that it leaves an indelible taste in our mouths that will last our lifetime. The Baked Alaska dessert at Bistronomic in Chicago is one such dish. Made with vanilla bean ice cream, caramelized almonds, topped with a delightful coating of toasted meringue, perfectly cooked, the Baked Alaska is so goo-ily delicious it is almost obscene. The dessert is served in a generous portion that can easily be shared by several people–or, if one desires, be devoured by oneself. It’s one of the best desserts we’ve had in a long while.
Bone marrow toast with red onion jam at Gilt Bar
Resident Foodies say: Any dish served with a femur bone, including marrow inside, deserves to be seen and eaten. We partook of this unusual dish at Gilt Bar in Chicago, a warm, rustic restaurant near Merchandise Mart.
Bone marrow is all the rage in the restaurant world in Chicago. The dish at Gilt Bar is roasted bone marrow with red onion jam & coarse salt. The femur bones are served right on the plate–a la Fred Flintsone–with the bone marrow still inside. The texture of the bone marrow resembles butter, melted cheese–or something else really gooey. The marrow didn’t have as much taste itself, but the salt added is noticeable. Add the red onion jam and cilantro on top of the toast, and you get a very distinctive combination of savory and sweet.
Some of you may be wondering if bone marrow is bad for you. We were. Surprisingly, some evidence suggests that it’s good for you–high in monounsaturated fat (the good kind that can help reduce LDL cholesterol) and protein, though also high in calories.
Levitating Biosphere with Truffles by Ben Roche. from I am the walrus on Vimeo.
Resident Foodies say: Wow, this dessert, called “Levitating biosphere with truffles,” is a pretty amazing creation by Ben Roche of Moto restaurant in Chicago.