Dining Lists

More often than not my conversations with family, friends, acquaintances, and complete strangers revolve around the subject of food.  And more often than not, the conversation leads to people asking me what my favorite Chicago restaurant is.  I’m not complaining – I love talking about food.  But that question is, with all due respect, not a very good one.

So when asked, I put on my “consulting hat” – a hat I’ve learned to wear through years of being in the field, and answer as a true consultant would  –  “It depends.”  “It depends” is my answer because, well, it truly does depend.  Are we talking about my favorite place to dine on a warm summer night or my favorite place to get a cozy booth in cooler months?  An extravagant night out or a neighborhood gem?  An impressive date night or a brunch with girlfriends?  Eclectic food, or traditional Italian?  You get the point.  There is no way I could ever possibly choose just one restaurant as my favorite. 

That is like asking a fashion guru what her favorite accessory is, or a sports fanatic who their favorite player is.  It just doesn’t work that way.

That’s where lists come into play – dining lists.  Think about it – the Michelin stars, the James Beard awards, the Top Ten Rooftop Bars - each is a list that helps you take the vast world of food and compartmentalize it a bit in a way that’s helpful and comprehendible.  They’re fun to peruse, pin, and tweet.  And dining lists in particular are also exceptionally fun to check off.  

And there’s perhaps no greater excitement than to dine at a restaurant and realize that it definitely makes one of your own lists.  It means the place is on the top of their game, they’re unique, a cut above, and worthy of your backing.  So when people ask what your favorite Chicago restaurant is, you have a response.  You can start with “It depends” and go from there.

~

Coming next week…  a restaurant review that makes one of my “lists" (like perhaps this one for 2012.) Subscribe to Friday emails to catch it.