Awesome Food: Aria

I haven't done one of these "Awesome Food" posts in awhile, so I thought it appropriate to bring back this feature in the New Year, starting with our weekend dining experience at Aria in the Fairmont Millennium Park. It was, in a word, uh-MAZ-ing! The food was inspired and innovative – "new world Asian" – and drawing culinary influences primarily from Thailand, Korea, Japan, and China. 

On the menu were the most intriguing combinations like pork belly + kimchi broth + poached quail egg; Michigan venison loin + fennel puree + roasted red beet syrup; sea scallops + curried cauliflower + cauliflower falafel mache + carrot-foie gras puree. And for dessert, an incredible "Farmers' Market" of goat cheesecake, acorn squash, and beet sorbet for me, and a warm chocolate souffle with bacon ice cream for The Fella. So. freaking. creative. Everything boasted the most delightful, subtle layers of flavors and textures. It was five-star food at its finest. Besides the server who forgot our side of stir-fried asparagus with lemongrass and chili, the dining experience was pleasant and in an exotic setting of red and orange linens. 

{ pork belly + kimchi + poached quail egg }

{ cilantro-cured salmon carpaccio with smoked salmon roe,
cucumber tzaziki, asian pear, and scallion pancakes }

{ Michigan venison loin + fennel puree + roasted red beet syrup + blueberries }

{ "Farmers' Market" of goat cheesecake, acorn squash, and beet sorbet }

Most people spend New Year's Day at home recovering from a hangover and eating greasy Chinese takeout. Not us, we go for fine dining – it's how we roll :o)