on my right and left wing

The Purple Pig
500 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611,
Phone: (312) 464-1744
Chefs/Partners; Scott Harris, Tony Mantuano & Jimmy Bannos Sr.
Charcuterie & Mediterranean
$$-$$$

Now we are back in Chicago – I’m jumping back and forward here, but I have to do as it feels right for me to write about.

If you want to watch the videos - turn off the media player - in the end of post. 

Forget the food, service and the ambiance  - lets talk about about my company for the evening first of all. Where sitting at a community table in the middle of the restaurant and when I got my seat – this group of 4 was all ready at the table.And suddenly did I have very nice people on both my right and left wing  - officers in “Air Force Thunderbirds”, America’s Ambassadors in Blue – #2 the left wing, Ryan and #3 the right wing Caroline – the second young female I’m not 100% sure  about, can’t for my life recall her name – but I think it’s Kristin (looking at her photo) that are handling marketing, recruiting and publicity programs. Then Jason, he is responsible for 90 personnel and the maintenance of 11 Block 52 F-16 aircraft. A very distinguish group consisting of 1 captain and 3 majors. All 4 belong to the 12 Top Guns. I have a certain connection to the air force, but I will come to that in another post, this is not the time or the place for it.

What evening we had together … not a dull moment and time just flew away – Caroline that was my right wing – gave me their card as we said goodbye outside the restaurant … but I have misplaced it – so the other evening I decided to go online and look for them and I did find them. I found Caroline first, because I thought that can’t be that many female pilots. Especailly not that who holds the title “right wing”.

They told me that they go away a couple of times a year as the same group without their partners and families to enjoy and relax for 2-4 nights and it was their first visit to Chicago as civilian. Caroline told me that she had been in Iraq twice. Such nice and lovely young people in their mid 3o’s. I’m  so impressed by their attitude to life and to each other. I’m very proud over have met them and had the opportunity to spend 4 hours in their company.

4 fantastic representatives for America’s Finest – thanks guys for a great evening.

 If I had traveled in company with somebody I would never met those fantastic young people, because I was alone they started to talk to me .. and mostly because I didn’t get any service – the waitress thought I belonged to their group and didn’t give me an eye even. It was all very quickly sorted when we figured that out together.

So how was the “The Purple Pig”???? Only a 5 min walk from my hotel cross the Du Sable Bridge and a block at down the Michigan Ave – it was packed, loud and vibrant. Hadn’t booked table, just turned up and if I hadn’t been alone I probably would had to wait. There was people waiting outside on the patio and they had been waiting for quite a while. First I was offered a community table on the patio, but the seat that was free – I wasn’t able to get into, too narrow and I would had got panic sitting there. So I asked for another seat and I got one straight away inside. Very nice hostess… they were two. It was so busy.

Of course with our waitress, Jill, being  so busy and her thinking I belonged to the “air force”  party it took quite a while before we got her attention and she was very apologetic over the whole thing and my order was placed quickly.

For starter I had “Olive Oil-Poached Tuna with Greek Lima Beans” – and that absolutely delicious, I wanted to lick the plate afterwards. The tuna just melted on the tongue.

Main course I went for “Berkshire Pork Chop, Fava Bean – Greek Yogurt Salata & Horta” – the”Lamb Loin & Greek Quinoa Salad with Grape Leaf Vinaigrette” was very tempting, but I love pork chops and Even if I had pork chops at “The Publican” – I went for it and I don’t regret my choice and one of my wings had ordered it too.With my main I ordered a big glass of Spanish Rioja, “Bodegas Ramirez de la Piscina Reserva” and I wrote down the name of the wine, because it was so good and I also ordered a second glass. It was like velvet. I will try to find over here at home.

Of course I had a finale touch too and I went for “Bread Pudding with Marsala & Citrus” – I do a fantastic bread pudding myself and it famous with “3000 calories” per portion (s0me guests claimed it was better than sex) so I wanted to try theirs. It was very good, smooth and rich. Just as a dessert of that kind should be and I had my cappuccino to go with it.

The Purple Pig has this sharing dishes concept, but also a with small dishes like tapas, but still not the same plus something they call “smears” that was very popular. They had a big selection of international cheeses. A very impressive menu. Their “Roasted Bone Marrow with Herbs” must be one of their most popular dishes, nearly every table had it.
This fantastic evening came to a total of $81.40 plus tip and I paid without a blink. One thing is for sure if I ever go back to Chicago again – this will be my frist stop. Great – GREAT place. It’s also voted as one 1 of the 10 top new restaurants in US 2010 by “Bon Appétit Magazine”.

Jason, asked me if I couldn’t go and say hello to an old friend of his that works at “Hard Rock Cafe” in Gothenburg – and I totally forgotten about it and I was so close the first evening when meeting up with my friend at her salon. Feel really sick over myself now, how could I forget??? A promise is a promise, so I wrote Jason’s friend a letter today and promise that next time I’m up I will look him up in person.

“The power of an air force is terrific
when there is nothing to oppose it.”
Winston Churchill

Photos provided by and thanks to;
nellis.af.mil/thepurplepig.facebook/thepruplepigchicago.com/timoutchicago.com/
blog.travelpod.com/chicagoreader.com/chicagobites.com