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But it was not just the quality of food that impressed Luke - he was stunned by the standard of service in Chicago across the range from top restaurants to humble bars.
"The service was brilliant over there," says Luke.
"The product knowledge from the guy in the bar to the guy in the best restaurant was second to none."
Staff were able to explain each dish that came as part of a 26-course tasting menu at Alinea - a restaurant ranked among the best 50 in the world, for instance.
It comes, he is sure, from the culture in Chicago, where people eat out frequently and are knowledgeable about food.
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