EL Ideas

EL Ideas is a Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago that offers a unique dining experience. The menu changes seasonally, but you can always expect creative and innovative dishes that push the boundaries of American cuisine.

The restaurant is located in the Douglass Park neighborhood of Chicago. The dining room is small and intimate, with only about 20 seats. This creates a warm and inviting atmosphere where you can feel like you're part of the culinary experience.

But the real star of the show is the food. The chefs at EL Ideas are constantly experimenting with new flavors and techniques, and the result is a dining experience that is truly unforgettable.

The service at EL Ideas is top-notch, and their maitre d'/somm, Bill,  is always happy to help you choose the perfect wine or beer to pair with your meal. Here are some tips for what you should bring on your next special outing to EL Ideas. 

EL Ideas is a progressive, tasting menu that goes from lighter to heavier fare (think seafood to poultry to red meat to dessert). As such, you will ELevate your experience by bringing something that pairs well with each of those. If you are going with a group of four or more, you can bring three or four bottles. However, if you are dining as a couple, I recommend bringing 375 ml bottles in order to pace yourself through the evening. 

Wine

You can't go wrong with Champagne to start. Otherwise, I like to grab a Burgundian style Chardonnay or Rhone white blend for the first courses. Moving forward, you want one or two red wines. None of the food is excessively heavy, so avoid wines that are overly tannic. I like to go Pinot Noir or a lighter style Syrah. If you decide to choose a Cabernet, pick a younger one that is more fruit forward and ready to drink.  For dessert, you can circle back to your champagne, or bring a nice sweet dessert wine. I prefer the lower alcohol dessert white wines such as Sauternes, Tokaji Aszu, and Trockenbeerenauselese Riesling. 

Beer

A beer progression from your favorite craft brewery may just be perfect for your dinner. Similar to the wine progression, you want to go lighter to heavier. For the lighter courses, I am bringing a Gose, Saison, or other Pale Ale. As the dinner progresses, reach for your Amber Ales and even IPAs. Finish the evening with a Stout or Aged Barleywine. 

Spirits

While I wouldn't recommend sipping spirits the entire meal, I think there is a strong case to be made for having one to cap off your experience. Bring a nice bottled in bond Bourbon with a 7 to 12 year age statement or a Sherry Cask Finished Whisky that isn't overly peated. Make sure to bring enough to share with the staff!

Here are some additional details about EL Ideas:

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