A chef’s tasting menu

Saturday night was our 28th anniversary and we celebrated where we’ve been blessed to celebrate several times before…at Chef Amaury’s Epicurean Affair in, of all places, Aurora, Illinois. Cher Amaury uses lots of local (if possible), sustainable food from places whose names often appear on his menu. He has a small, select a la carte menu, but most people go for the five course tasting menu. This menu is based on whatever’s good, whatever’s in season. And while the food is always delicious and beautifully presented, we believe that where Chef really shines is in his sauces. Of course, the reasonably-priced wine list and an extensive, eclectic beer list doesn’t hurt either! .

Whatever your culinary reason for eating at 33 West, you’ll not be disappointed. So take a few minutes to enjoy a trip to Chef Amaury’s and a stellar, calorie-free (for you), meal with us as we reprise our anniversary dinner.  Of course, even the best food in the world isn’t as excellent as being married to my best friend for 28 years.  But it makes our celebratory time together all the more delicious!

First course…

“Parmigianno Reggiano” ice cream
“Panda Grove” grape and cherry tomatoes and greens, “La Quercia” prosciutto

Second course…

Roast butternut squash soup
Applewood bacon, basil oil

Don’t forget the bread!!!

Third course…

Sea bass
Smoked pistachio tuile, carrot ginger purée, basil oil, vegetables
(You can’t believe how delicious that smoked pistachio crisp was!)

Fourth course…

Prime New York strip
Red wine reduction, puréed chèvre truffle potatoes, green beans

Fifth course…

Dessert
We had four choices. I chose vegan “cheesecake” with fresh berries and spiced nuts. This was a raw dessert that Chef came up with for his recent vegan dinner and was such a big hit that it went on the menu.

Bill had molten chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream.

To go with this, we had a lovely bottle of red wine from Gigondas, a region and town in France that we’ve visited.