I would go to Chicago at least a couple times a year for business, and of course my Bride would accompany me, on our dime.  I was never on a fancy business account, which is fine, less expenses to have to verify.  Every evening after I would get through working the trade shows it was off for dinner and a chance to wander down Rush Street which is a great street for drinks and fun.

One night we were going to have dinner at Biggs which is a mansion that had been converted into a steakhouse.  It was a beautiful building, very impressive in that old robber baron look of its era.  I knew that we were going to have a great time, because as we came up to the awning covered entrance that went down the steps right to the street they had Francis Albert Sinatra wailing away one of his classic tunes while we were still outside.

We went in, and marveled at the quality of the interior of this once, a stately home.  It was very inviting, even with the crowd of people that were trying to get a table that did not have a reservation.  I could never understand how anyone can not have the foresight to make a reservation for dinner, especially in a major metropolitan area where people are always out and about.  We went in, and were promptly taken to our assigned table, and I passed a few people that I knew from the trade show as well, so I knew the reputation of the restaurant was known.

Well in a Chicago steakhouse one has a steak.  We both enjoyed filet mignon, preceded by a jumbo shrimp (I still love the irony) cocktail and the mandatory salads that would feed a family of six. We finished off our dinner with a warm chocolate cake.  I just enjoy the times when we are out and slightly indulgent.   We also tried an Australian wine from the Penfolds Winery.  It was a Shiraz Cabernet blend from the Koonunga Hill district in Southeastern Australia.  At that point in time I had not tried many Shiraz wines and I thought that the blending of the two varietals sounded interesting.  We enjoyed the wine immensely and as I read the label, it said that it was made to be drunk young or moderate cellaring, and as I recall it did not have a heavy tannin flavor.

As we were walking back to our hotel, I saw an establishment, which I had not noticed in other trips, perhaps because we were using a cab in inclement weather.  It tied in very well with the music we were listening to a Biggs, this was a bistro called Jilly’s.  Now if you are into Mr. Sinatra like I am, you know of his good friend Jilly, who is even mentioned in asides in some songs.  We had to go in and listen to some great songs and enjoyed a couple of after dinner drinks and then finally finished our walk back to the hotel.