First Grill-Out, Continued: Dessert at Hot Chocolate

Sorry, the quality of these photos is not up to par. The lighting was quite low at the restaurant. As soon as I get a chance, I will tweak things in Photoshop and hopefully you'll be able to see the dishes!

After eating such a great steak, we both agreed that such a fine meal was almost too good to not be followed by dessert. It was early enough that we decided to go out to one of Chicago's hottest dessert restaurants, Hot Chocolate.

We started off our dining experience with some wine and a cheese plate. Specifically, I had the Artizuri Garnacha (another Spanish red!), and the wife had Fritz's Riesling, a semi-dry Austrian riesling. Both paired well with the cheese plate, which had Manchego Grand Reserve, Dunbarton Bleu, and Grand Cru Gruyere, along with some candied nuts, plain crostini, shortbread cookies, and a baby green salad.

After our cheese course (because, after all, we were making this the continuation of our dinner!), we ordered our desserts. I had the Poppycock dessert, which is quite possibly the most delectable thing I have ever tasted. It is a pecan pie square with caramel corn ice cream on one side, and the other side is a piece of shortbread with caramel corn ice cream, topped with a drizzle of honey, tangerine, and vanilla bean cream. Oh, and there is some poppycock (think Cracker Jacks, but better) on top of both sides that just completes the dish. It was unbelievable.

The wife had a creme brulee that was nearly perfect: creamy, sweet, caramelized, and had a hint of citrus to it. I much preferred my dish, but hers could not be ignored either.