I expected cocktails and was surprised to find that Avec is a wine bar. So I left my wine selections to my server who seemed incredibly knowledgeable.
Avec claims to offer small plates meant for sharing without being tapas. Since it was just me, it seemed hard to share.
I started off with the whipped brandade with garlic bread and chives. When it arrived, I was shocked at the size. That board is about eight inches across meaning that bowl of brandade is enormous.
The brandade itself was as expected: salty, fishy, creamy. And so rich. I only ate some of the garlic bread, but it was super butter-saturated, and I tend to not really like to have bread when I don't need to so I ate much of it alone.
But I was unable to finish it. Ultimately, two ladies who sat down next to me asked if I was going to finish it and I offered it to them. They gave me some of their dessert: milk chocolate chocolate crisps, which I brought to the office and shared with the team.
For my main, the squid ink pasta alla chitarra with corn, fresh cayenne pepper, mint, breadcrumbs, and rock shrimp. It reminded me very much of the similar dish that Drew Belline makes at 246. It must be a classic. And don't tell Drew, but I liked this one better. The spaghetti had more... presence. The spice was a lighter touch that I liked and the rock shrimp were were compact and more ... shrimpy. I was unable to finish this dish after my massive brandade experience, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Before I left, I asked if they thought I would be able to get a seat at the bar at Blackbird, just a bit down the street. Both restaurants are part of the same group that owns The Publican and The Violet Hour. The server told me that it looked pretty open and the bar manager was serving, so it was sure to be good.
With that in my head, I headed over. The bar was completely empty so I took a seat on the very end, the closest to the serving area. I like watching the action.
The bar manager was super nice. As I ordered an On the Boulevard (four roses, aperol, creme de casis, lemon), I talked with her about bourbon and manhattans. It turns out they are her favorite also.
The On the Boulevard was good. She mentioned it was a variant on the Boulevardier, but more food friendly.
From there, I asked her to make me her favorite manhattan. It came with Four Roses, single barrel, and was quite tasty.
As we talked about bourbons, I talked about the 18-year Elijah Craig Old Fashioned that they make for me at Double Zero. Among the other alcohols that Blackbird boasts, they have the 15- and 20-year Pappy Van Winkles along with an Old Rip Van Winkle and the 20-year Elijah Craig. She asked if I had ever had it, and I said I hadn't, so she gave me a taste.
I held onto it until the end and then sipped it as a dessert.
Overall, I had a good time in Chicago. Lots of good alcohol.
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