DinnerWithBill.com

Found myself returning to my roots with a visit to northeastern Illinois, namely, Zion, Lake Bluff and Lake Forest, the city where I was born and raised. I spent two nights at the Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest. The inn has The Deer Path Inn has quite a history, which you can read more about at www.dpihotel.com. The original Deer Path Inn was built in the 1860s, and the current inn was completed in 1929.

Stepping into the inn is like stepping back in time. The service is efficient, genuine and real and you instantly feel welcome. My room was beautiful and overlooked the courtyard below. The comforters were light as a feather but sooooo warm. It was sensational.

Dinner at the inn … If I had a dollar for every time I sat in this room with friends, I would be rich. It’s a super intimate, clubby room. The dining room, with its linen, heavy silverware and crystal, transports you back in time. The porch addition, where I sat, looks out on the courtyard lit with soft lighting. Sooooo beautiful.

I had Lake Superior White Fish with Roasted Garlic Beurre Blanc—seared and without a doubt the absolute best I have ever had.

The next day I went to southern Wisconsin, The Kettle Moraine Forest, to see the colors. But alas, it was cold, windy, and spritzing rain, so I came back to the inn. That night, I went to Lake Bluff to a restaurant called Inovasi. I could not have made a better choice.

I had the Jackson Pollock’s walleye pike … Now if you remember Jackson Pollock, he was the one who used splashes of color to create his paintings. This dish is presented on a white board with splashes of yellow, green, red and brown sauces across the board with the walleye atop the faro verde. When it’s presented, it comes as a shock and immediately you smile and laugh. WHAT FUN!!!! You’re then told this is the only time you can play with your food, taking as much of the sauces as you want with each bite. The phenomenal food along with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc made for an unforgettable evening.

The next day I had the buffet at the inn. The croissants were the flakiest I have ever tasted, the cinnamon rolls were rich with real cinnamon, the coffee was freshly brewed and served from heavy silver carafes. I couldn’t have scripted a better ending to our trip.

Back down the Tri State Toll road with no problems. Stopped for lunch in Marshall, Michigan at Wynn Schuler’s, in the bar. The food was good as expected, had a great corned beef Ruben, then off for home. Made the whole return trip in six hours, including lunch and a traffic backup on M-23 due to the Michigan football game letting out. In all, a very enjoyable drive.

Just got back from dinner at Tavern on 13, which in most instances is a good experience. I decided to get a bite at the restaurant, not far from my house, after dropping Sheila off at the airport. It was one of those days when I didn’t feel like cooking and had a coupon for Tavern on 13, so I headed over to Southfield Rd. and Thirteen Mile. I’m usually a fan of Matt Prentice’s restaurants but I was a little disappointed not to find any items on the menu for under $16. A little unsettling in this economy. I settled on the 1-lb. serving of short ribs along with a Cesar salad. Normally, I love short ribs; but what I got this time was a short rib in a tomato-like sauce, accompanied by broccoli instead of the usual root vegetables. When I inquired, “How can you have short ribs without root vegetables?” I was told that the root vegetables were replaced by the vegetable of the day. I understand the pressure restaurants are under, but short ribs without root vegetables? Unacceptable, Matt!

Every year, I go to New York City to see my daughter Lisa who lives there. She is a freelance film editor who has worked on projects for the History Channel, ESPN and a number of other corporations. This year, I decided to stay a week to take in the museums and restaurants. We stayed at the Belvedere on 48th between 7th and 8th. It’s the greatest hotel in the city, beautiful yet reasonably priced.

The restaurants in New York will blow your mind. One day around six o’clock, we were walking back to the hotel when I spotted a small Italian restaurant at 50th with floor-to-ceiling windows open to the street. I thought this would be neat and I wasn’t disappointed. The food was great, the presentation outstanding. My Spaghetti Sicilian was sooooooooo good! Best of all the meal, complete with Sauvignon Blanc, was under $30!

My visit wouldn’t have been complete without visiting Union Square Café on 21 East 16th, rated the number one restaurant in New York City according to Zagat, Michelin and others. Let me say, it lives up to its reputation. The salmon and the chef’s pasta creation were to die for. The ambiance, presentation and outstanding food will draw me back. Afterward, I strolled a block down to Union Square and found a farmer’s market right there in the heart of the city (could this be Detroit?). I took the subway back to 50th street, just three blocks from my hotel.

One evening after the theater, I enjoyed dessert at a great German restaurant just two doors from our hotel. Great theater followed by a drink and an awesome crème broulee … Can life be any better?

Speaking of the theatre, I took in two sensational plays—God of Carnage, which won the Tony for Best Drama, and Billie Elliott. My daughter got me front row seats for Billie Elliott and I felt like I was part of the action. At the end of the play, Billie Elliot jumps off the stage, not two feet from me, and gives his closing line! Followed up with wine and dessert.

It’s Fall and a great time to be back home in Michigan. One of my favorite restaurants closer to home is Shiraz. Shiraz is one of a number of Matt Prentice restaurants that have surfaced over the years. This time, Matt has it right—superb service, elegant presentation and portions that are not overwhelming, but more than enough for both the sight and the palette. Another big plus for me is that you can order half a glass of wine. Thank God for small favors! My short ribs were sensational. A little pricey but all in all a great place to soothe the soul.

Spent a couple of days with friends in Newaygo, Michigan … Pontoon boating on the lake, great conversation, calm and relaxing… For dinner, we had roasted corn on the cob, king crab legs and salad, taking in the spectacular view from the deck overlooking the lake.
Good food, great conversation, a glass of cold Sauvignon Blanc and the setting sun.—all your cares are forgotten when you’re with genuine friends.

Off to a wedding in Boulder, Colorado and had a sensational time. The wedding was on top of a mountain in the Red Rocks amphitheater,  built with natural stones. Wow, what a view! As I was waiting for the wedding to start I heard a “Whoooh” sound which turned out to be a large white glider that was catching the thermals near the edge of the mountain. The plane lifted up and he was gone. This happened several times. With no other sound, it gave you a tingling feeling in the pit of your stomach. I’ll always remember that.

The reception that followed was held in a restaurant partially down the same mountain—The Flagstaff House.. To say the place was a knockout would be an understatement! I dined perched on the side of the mountain looking out at the valley below, with the sun setting. What a sight! Ten waiters came out, one behind each chair. On command, the waiters placed plates down in front of the guests. The food was superb and the presentation—which a lot of restaurants lack—was outstanding! Making a plate of food look appealing is half the battle. Anyway, I drank, danced and had a great time. If you are ever in Boulder, dining at The Flagstaff House is an experience you don’t want to miss.

After Boulder, went up to Rocky Mountain Park, stopping along the way at Gold Hill, an old gold mining town. We were amazed to find that, even with only about 100 people living there, Gold Hill had its own natural foods store! I dined in a restaurant at the entrance to the park, at a table on a bridge overlooking a clear-as-glass stream. The sautéed rainbow trout caught fresh that day and paired with the local beer was delicious!