Last week was my birthday.  I made reservations three months ago for a table of 10 at my favorite Chicago restaurant…Girl and the Goat.  Not a newbie to the place, I knew what to expect, but I absolutely loved sharing the meal with some of my favorite people in the world.  It was so much fun.  We sat Chef side, I got photos with her (crush) and she signed my menu.  Highlights of the meal for me were, as usual, the vegetables.  I can’t believe how she can make such mouth bursting flavors.  I also loved the meats, but I would go back for the veggies.  Oh, and the chocolate cake with pate (don’t knock it till you try it) was incredible.

My favorites:

•  sauteed green beans (fish sauce vinaigrette . cashews)
•   pan fried shishito peppers (parmesan . sesame . miso)
•   roasted cauliflower (pickled peppers . pine nuts . mint)

We also had:

• kohlrabi salad . (fennel . evalon . toasted almonds . blueberries . ginger dressing)
• roasted beets (green beans . white anchovy . avocado creme fraiche . bread crumb)
• wood grilled broccoli (rogue smokey bleu . spiced crispies)
• diver scallops (braised duck . marcona almond butter . green papaya . green almond nuoc cham
• Wood Fired Walter’s Chicken (yuzu harissa, fried pickles, brussel slaw, grilled naan)
• Crisp Braised Pork Shank (butternut-shiitake kimchee, buttermilk dressing)