Artist Liz Flores and two dishes inspired by her paintings.
Haz clic aquí para leer esto en español
Esmé, the MICHELIN-starred restaurant in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood from husband-wife team Chef Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo, recently launched a 15-course seasonal tasting menu inspired by acclaimed local Latinx painter Liz Flores, Esmé’s latest artist in residence. Each tasting experience inspired by a rotating featured artist whose works are displayed throughout the restaurant.
The current menu features dishes with bold Latin flavors, eye-catching colors, and dramatic presentations created by Chef Tomaska and Chef de Cuisine Gustavo Mejia, who were inspired by Flore’s artwork, which celebrates the female form and female empowerment and pulls from her experience of growing up in an all-female home.
Highlights of the menu, which plays off the theme of feeling rooted, include:
*Puzzle, an Otoro tart with fermented plum puree, shiso leaf, kinome leaf, and hearts of palm, topped with mini truffles expertly cut into the shape of puzzle pieces, drawing inspiration from Flores’ piece, Piezas Perdidas
*Clay, with the highlight being partridge that is carved tableside, and then plated alongside Cuban sausage, fried plantain puree, pearl onions, baby white carrots, and topped with sweet plantain jus
*En Papillote, with prawns, chorizo, and beef tongue, dressed with a roasted and pickled red pepper escabeche, Hoja santa oil, and topped with fried shrimp legs, which is inspired by Flores’ Mano a Mano, a colorful abstract painting of female figures holding a bag of plantains.
*Pave, which returns to the theme of rootedness with a candied root vegetable pave accompanied by popcorn custard, grill sauce, truffles, and candied pecans.
The menu will be available until March 2nd, 2025.
Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to el Restaurante's digital publications for free by clicking here.