Dining Luxuriously in Chicago

There’s just something about the holiday hoopla that makes people want to spoil themselves a little bit and live luxuriously. The fact that white truffles are in season surely helps. Amidst the shopping and the parties, December is prime time for pampering, be it via freshly shaved white truffles, caviar, or foie gras. Here are some spots for eating lavishly in Chicago this month.

White Truffles

Eataly is only a couple weeks old, but they’re wasting no time getting into the holiday spirit with Truffle Day. It’s basically the aromatic, extremely opulent version of Black Friday, with white truffles instead of looters. It’s a big deal, because the Italian juggernaut is offering white truffles at cost to all online customers on December 18 and to all Chicago shoppers on December 19. Considering these things are more precious than Frodo’s ring, you might want to take advantage, as there is no better way to add pomp and circumstance to a holiday meal. In case your idea of white truffle perfection is a little richer, then there’s a white truffle doughnut at Do-Rite Donuts that has your name all over it, emblazoned in white truffle oil, flecked with fresh white truffle shavings, chocolate, and sea salt.

Caviar

Caviar has always been one of the most preeminent of upscale ingredients, but it’s especially alluring when it’s served over oysters, making for an aphrodisiac one-two punch. Brindille has a way with nautical luxury, combining Ossetra caviar with oyster cream, soft scrambled eggs, crème fraîche, and creamed leeks. At Tru, caviar is such an important crux of the operation that it gets its own section on the menu. The meticulous restaurant offers a sea of caviar options, from Kaluga and Keta salmon roe to Russian Royal Imperial Ossetra.

Foie Gras

The unlikeliest foie gras interpretation in Chicago takes the shape of one of the humblest, most nostalgic snack foods. Inspired by a Snickers bar, The Aviary compliments its hifalutin cocktails with a foie gras candy bar made with peanuts and nougat, giving convenience store snacks an elegant makeover. Another nifty way to give low-brow treats an upscale riff is with the foie gras pop tarts at 2Sparrows. Here, everyone’s favorite boxed breakfast pastry goes gourmet in between two sheets of flaky, buttery pastry, filled with foie gras and cherries.

Eataly
43 E. Ohio Street, Chicago
(312) 521-8700
Website

Do-Rite Donuts
50 W. Randolph Street, Chicago
(312) 488-2483
Website

Brindille
534 N. Clark Street, Chicago
(312) 595-1616
Website

Tru
676 N. St. Clair Street, Chicago
(312) 202-0001
Website

The Aviary
955 W. Fulton Market, Chicago
(312) 226-0868
Website

2Sparrows
553 W. Diversey Parkway, Chicago
(773) 234-2320
Website