Chicago Michelin ⭐ Nordic-Style Restaurant Elske

Second time visiting this Michelin-starred spot in Chicago. While many sites label it as New American, the restaurant describes itself on Instagram as having a Nordic touch. 🍵 Amuse-bouche: Lightly smoked fruit & vegetable tea — bittersweet, reminiscent of unsweetened banlangen (isatis root) herbal drink. Also, lamb tartare & chicken meatballs — classic starters. 🐟 Second course: Tuna with tomato — both sliced thinly. Tuna looked like otoro or chutoro. Simple seasoning to highlight the ingredients. 🍳 First hot course: Halibut with green apple sauce — fish seared golden and crispy outside, firm inside. 🥧 Mid-course snack: Savory wild leek & buckwheat duck liver tart. Leek powdered over foie gras like matcha, buckwheat base underneath. Rich, earthy liver flavor. 🥩 Main course (the star!): Beef sausage + sirloin steak with pickled sweet cabbage and a sauce like satay + honey. Beef paired wonderfully with the sweet-tangy elements, though the cabbage alone felt a bit heavy. 🍮 First dessert: Mint-fennel jelly shaped into little black cubes — looked like volcanic pumice ice stones. 🍨 Second dessert: Coffee semifreddo with caramel crumbs — denser and less icy than ice cream. 🎂 Birthday treat: A small complimentary cake. 💰 Full tasting menu: $125 (before tax & tip) — a moderate price for U.S. gastronomic dining. They also offer à la carte dishes (~$30 each). Servers suggest 2–3 dishes per person — à la carte could be better value for groups. #ChicagoEats #Elske #MichelinStar #NordicFlair #TastingMenu #FineDining #BirthdayDinner