The Three Day Tour

This is purely hypothetical, an exercise I hope you will find interesting and enjoyable.

A couple is coming to the greater Chicago area for three days. They want to experience the area by eating it. They intend to sleep but otherwise have no other particular plans. Eating is Job One. They want to have dining experiences that are memorable and exceptional, and they are open to just about anything. How would you plan their days?

You are not restricted to any particular number of meals but should make some allowance for how much a person can realistically eat in a day. (I know, that can be a thread in its own right.) Don’t concern yourself with driving times or any other travel details, nor with budget. You should, however, consider how your dining suggestions relate to each other to form a harmonious whole.

I'll jump in with the easiest and most obvious contribution. Since this is all hypothetical, we get to assume that one of the three days is a Sunday and that the weather will be at least halfway cooperative. That given, of course Sunday has to start at The Maxwell Street Market

Now everyone else can fill in the harder stuff.

I think at least one morning should include breakfast at NoMi. The combination of high quality food, great service, and an incredible view is a great way to start a day.

Day 1
Intelligentsia
Morning Meal: Fox & Obel for Bread, Cheese and Cured meats
Lunch: TAC
Late afternoon Snack: Oysters @ Shaw’s
Dinner: Fabulous Noodle
Cocktails: Matchbox
Late Night Snack: El Barzon - Carne en su jugo/Italian Beef Chickie’s (Soup and Sandwich)

Day 2
Intelligentsia
Morning Meal: Tank - Pho and Bahn Mi (Soup and Sandwich)
Lunch: Lobby hard for invitation for BBQ @ G Wiv’s House
Dinner: Blackbird
Cocktails: Green Mill
Late Night Snack: Tacos del Pacifico
Day 3
Intelligentsia
Breakfast: Maxwell St Market
Lunch: Lao Sze Chuan
Afternoon Snack: Cubano from La Unica
Dinner: Matsumoto for Sashimi & Sushi
Cocktails: Matchbox
Late Night Snack: SanSooGabSan for YukGaeJang

Since Trix and I seem to spend a lot of time together, I have to say that many of her choices would obviously be repeated here. However, I think this isn’t too shabby an itinerary either.


Day 1
Intelligentsia coffee (always!)
Morning Meal: Fox & Obel café
Lunch: La Quebrada
Dinner: Kiki’s Bistro
Cocktails: Peninsula Hotel Bar


Day 2
Intelligentsia coffee
Morning Meal: Ceres Café (corned beef hash)
Lunch: Phoenix (Chinatown)
Dinner: Heat
Cocktails: Skylark
Late Night Snack: Johnnie’s (Elmwood Park)

Day 3
Intelligentsia coffee
Breakfast: Ritz-Carlton breakfast
Lunch: Pico Rico
Dinner: Spoon Thai
Cocktails: Matchbox
Late Night Snack: The Works (Morton Grove) for gyros