Chicago｜Utterly Defenseless Against These Plump

When Joe Flamm returns to Chicago’s dining scene with Il Carciofo, the air in West Loop practically smells of Parmigiano-Reggiano 😏 Fifteenth season Top Chef champion, former executive chef of Spiaggia (four-year Michelin star holder), owner of Rosy Mary — a résumé so impressive you can’t help but trust his skills 💯 🐚 Capesante Crudo 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Thinly sliced scallop, almost translucent, glistening like pearls under chili oil. Topped with vibrant scallions — first you taste the oil’s richness, then lime acidity cuts through the scallop’s sweetness. Fragrant, not too spicy. 🐑 Abbacchio alla Scottadito 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The meat closest to the bone is always the most flavorful! 🥰 Well-marbled lamb chops grilled hot and fast — the fat renders into luscious juiciness sealed in by caramelization. Slightly sweet, deeply savory, rich but not greasy. 🍝 PASTA TIME 💛 Carbonara 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Heavy, sauce-coated rigatoni — Parmesan and egg yolk meld into a silky blanket, with smoky pancetta adding texture. Each bite releases a triple burst of salty, creamy, and smoky notes. Carbs + fat = forever winning combo! 😍😍😍 💚 Gnocchetti 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Visually stunning as soon as it arrived — green asparagus and potato gnocchi arranged like jade scattered over snow. The gnocchi are fluffy, dissolving softly on the tongue, contrasting with crisp asparagus. Lightly dusted with Pecorino — savory enough to lift the asparagus’s freshness. Rich yet bright! 🌿 🧡 Ravioli Triangoli The pasta was too thick and chewy; rabbit filling was loose and grainy, like over-thawed chicken breast — not great 😔 The sauce was nice though, and we ate all the carrots on the side. 🍖 Vitello Saltimbocca Veal slices rolled with ham — meat was dry and overly salty, even dunking in sauce couldn’t save it. 🥦 Romanesco Colorful roasted cauliflower, soft and well-seasoned — a pleasant side. 🍨 Zabaione 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Mascarpone and Marsala wine whipped into a cloud-like foam, lighter than air. Rich eggy-creamy flavor, layered with fresh berries that cut through the richness. The wine aroma lingers beautifully in the aftertaste. So. Good. 🤤💖💖💖 #ChicagoEats #IlCarciofo #WestLoop #ItalianFood #JoeFlamm #TopChef #PastaLove #FineDining