Dining fine

Have I mentioned that my main squeeze is turning 40 this year? Yes, in just a little over a week, Jason will begin a new decade of life. So we're kind of making a big deal about it. Next week we'll celebrate with friends at the Bird's Nest, our favorite dive bar and scene of many, very fun nights in our early dating days. The week after that, we'll head to Zion National Park and Las Vegas for 4 days of much-needed alone time. But the first thing on the list was a super-extravagant 10-course tasting meal at Next -- my birthday gift to Jas.

A little bit about Next:

• It's the brainchild of one of Chicago's most famous chefs, Grant Achatz, who is best known for his innovative food at Alinea and also for beating tongue cancer
• They change the menu every 3 or 4 months. Every menu has a theme and very distinct point of view
• Instead of making a reservation and paying your bill at the end, you buy tickets in advance that include tax and tip. It's expensive, but also kind of nice that by the time you go, you've already paid for everything

So what did we think? This menu was based on the Chicago Steakhouses of the 50s and 60s and it felt both vintage and modern, totally rich and decadent. For me, the standouts were the frog's leg salad and the ribeye. There was really only one thing I didn't like -- a baked Alaska dessert that for some reason isn't shown on the menu. But that didn't even matter. There was so much to love and we were so spoiled by the good vibes and seemingly effortless service, we left feeling very full and happy. If only we would have remembered to bring home our leftovers!!

Here's a pic of the menu:

It was, if you can't tell, a ridiculous amount of food