Happy Birthday, Alinea

By Erin in Food on Apr 25, 2006 7:37PM

Oh how our babies grow up so fast! Why, it seems like only yesterday that we were all waiting with heaving bosoms and baited breath for Grant Achatz to open the doors of his long-awaited restaurant and now? Awwww. Alinea turns a year old next month.

Amid a year of national hype and hoopla about the Lincoln Park culinary treat, Alinea managed to deliver the goods in spite of it all.Chicagoist has made no secret of its love for Alinea. But also it's one of the 10 most expensive restaurants in the country so it's not like we've been able to sample the many amazing things that have come from Achatz's kitchen since we were last there in June. If Chicagoist wins the lottery or discovers a rich relative willing to send us bags and bags of money, we'd become the sort of regulars here that would put Norm to shame, just so we'd never miss a menu change.

Until then, we might be in luck. According to our friends at YoChicago, Alinea is cooking up a "Best Of" tasting menu, featuring some of the most popular items to have graced its menu during the course of this year. Look for the infamous PB&J, Sponge Cake and Hearts of Palm to make an appearance, but probably not Chicagoist to eat any of it: unless we can find ourselves a sugar daddy looking to woo us and foot the bill, we'll be at home. The tasting menu checks in for a cool $175 per person.

For those of you who have dined at Alinea - what should make it to the Best Of menu? What were your favorites?