This Week’s Episode: Wood, Kai Zan, Tio Luis Tacos

Hello!

My guests this week were such a lively bunch. This show was incredibly fun to shoot! As one can imagine, a restaurant named Wood in the heart of Boystown gave way to many a joke throughout the afternoon. Heck, even they have fun with the name with their cheekily-named brunch: Morning Wood Brunch. Although we had quite a few giggles during the taping, the food at Wood (which was recently added to Michelin’s Bib Gourmand list) is nothing to joke about. Executive chef (and Alinea alum) Ashlee Aubin’s seasonal dishes were raved about by all three of my guests. Food aside, the interior is beautiful…warm and inviting. The wood-rich design is actually from where the name is derived – a nod to owner Franco Gianni’s father’s career in the wood-working industry. The interior designer for Wood, Karen Herold, also designed the new Check, Please! set. Karen is the go-to designer for restaurateurs, and her resume includes heavy hitters like Balena, Embeya (both of which are nominated for 2014 Jean Banchet award for Best Restaurant Design), and Girl & the Goat. I always think of the new Check, Please set as a white-washed version of Girl & the Goat – I love the new set – what do you think?

Since we are talking design, twin brothers Melvin and Carlo Vizconde the owners/chefs of Kai Zan (often referred to as the “sushi twins”) can do way more than whip up a crowd-pleasing omakase. They designed and built their restaurant themselves. Chatting with the twins, it was immediately evident how much thought went into the feel of the space. The restaurant is a small footprint, yet they took special efforts to make everything seem more spacious. The hallway to the bathroom slightly narrows at the end to give the impression it is longer than it is, high ceilings bring volume to the space, and private dining areas with doors that slide open between them allow for various seating arrangements. Thoughtful and creative, hear what our guests have to say about Kai Zan tonight.

I’m incredibly close to my family, so it is always a pleasure to hear about those who have built businesses together – and Tio Luis Tacos is a quintessential family restaurant. Luis started the restaurant, his lovely wife helps him with the cooking, the two sons are being groomed to take over, and their daughter works as a hostess. Based on his family recipes and those he brought back from Mexico, Luis works to bring home-style Mexican food to his diners. One guest wished there were margaritas to accompany his fare, but ultimately the cozy atmosphere won him over. But our recommender, who grew up on authentic Mexican food says this is the real deal.

Tune in tonight to learn about Wood, Kai Zan, and Tio Luis Tacos. I’ll see you then!

Cheers,
Catherine    

Catherine De Orio is the host of Check, Please! Follow her on Twitter @CatCalls and Instagram @catdeorio.