Chicago, you lucky bastard you.

Sep 10, 2014
3 min read

I mean just look at this creation, this is so much more than just a burger. I don't even like calling it a burger because it almost has derogatory connotations to it. A meat miracle such as this, is an event. This is something that you and your little tastebuds will want to crawl back to time and time again. To all of you lucky bastards that live in Chicago, do you know how good you have it?

You can find this protein spectacular at Au Cheval A place that bills itself as a high end diner. The only problem I could find with this place is that is no where near my NYC neighborhood.

I am lucky enough to fly all over this great country of ours in search delicious and unique desserts and on these journies, I am always on the look out for where my next savory feeding will be. When I was recently in Chicago, a little investigating (a text to my all-food-knowing exec producer) had me go directly to Au Cheval. Once seated, I asked my waiter "what is this place known for?" He and the couple sitting next to me at the bar, in unison, all chimed in "The burger" Well alrighty then, I'll have the burger. The super kind waiter explained to me that you have the option to add an egg and bacon on said burger. I, of course, went for it. I am no whimp. Diet coke and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc for the non-whimp please!

The single burger comes with 2 beef patties, cuz thats just how they do it here, and slices of cheddar cheese that are melted on to sheer perfection that look as if the cheese was painted on. No forms of ruffage anywhere near this meat miracle, oh no, that would just be a crime. The folks over at Au Cheval have crafted a burger that truly exists in texture heaven. You will find onions and pickles which give it just the right crunch and flavor and this creamy goodness that they call mornay sauce. Don't ask questions, just bow down and recognize! The fried egg and thick cut peppered bacon could be somewhat intimidating, but they have managed to cook eveything to chewing perfection, no awkward bites with part of the burger hanging out of your mouth as if it was trying to be saved, oh no, nothing like that is going here.

The perfect toasted bun to hold all this meat goodness comes from a place called Z Baking. The fine folks over at Au Cheval have created a burger that is so damn good, it makes anyone eating it look dead sexy. True story.

Because I am no whimp, I also ordered the tater tots that come along with a garlic aoili for dipping, cuz they should come with something to dip them into, I mean really. This is why it is good to be alive, food like this makes life awesome.

Now how does a girl end a meal of this magnitude and perfection? By ordering the most perfect napoleon.

See my friend just there in the back ground? Diet coke is my friend, it even says so on the can.

Napoleons are a perfect example of how to take something pretty damn basic and take it to awe inspiring levels, or insult the hell out of it by over doing it. I'll let you guess how they do Napoleons at Au Cheval. They are phucking perfect. (I am well aware that my cursing often offend some of you, but see how I switched up the spelling there? It's like it never even happened, no one got hurt and my point was well made)

They make the Napoleons to order, this way, there is no time for the pastry cream to sit around and turn those beautiful layers of puff pastry into a sad soggy mess.

The pastry cream is perfectly rich and luscious without over doing it and the puff pastry is baked to a crunchy delight that is oh so easy to drag your fork through and get every layer of this sweet dessert perfection set before you.

I loved every moment I had at Au Cheval and can't find enough good things in the english dictionary to express how much I love this place. See my super cute waiter? The entire staff there is so super friendly and at the ready to help you navigate your way through their amazing menu. Even the fellow customers at Au Cheval were crazy friendly, the sweet couple that I was seated next too insisted I try a portion of their honey fried chicken because they saw I didn't order it and it's a must have. And it is most certainly, a must have.

Chicago, you are one great city and full of lucky bastards.