I attended grad school downtown at Northwestern, and our program’s offices were in the same building as Tru, which is usually referred to as the “Corner Bakery building” since the overpriced samich shop is on the other end of the building from Tru. I walked by Tru many a day, wondering what types of people got to eat there, and how many other things were sacrificed by dining there. I mean, did they starve the rest of the week? Month? Since I recently started working in the same building, I am again walking by the place every day and longingly gazing in from the street. But now, now it’s different since I wasn’t quite as obsessed with food then as I am now. I mean, who had time anyway, between going to class and bars?!

So yes, like those short kids with the glasses and acne in grade school, I found myself on the outside looking in for many a day. [And not just in terms of Tru - I remember hiding my glasses in the lunchroom and buying every over-the-counter pimple cream I could get my little hands on.] Things changed a little on Monday: I got a last minute invite to dine at Tru – gratis! Hot dizzy damn! Boy I love this blog. Have I said that before? I do. I really really do.

You see, I partnered with FoodBuzz (or, as I like to call it, Facebook for Foodies) a few months ago to get more blog traffic/followers and in return, their ad sponsors get to advertise on my site (see top right). In their partnering with Visa Signature, they were able to host a few ‘Community Tables’ with area bloggers across the country, and since Chicago is an awesome city, they came here for one of them. I didn’t win the first raffle for a seat at Tru, but I got an email last-minute that there was an opening. And really, between a culinary school lecture and dinner at one of Chicago’s top restaurants, in no time I’d picked my chin up from the floor in my office, typed “YES!” ninja-fast, and pounced on the send button like a cat on a bug. Done and done. The rest of the story, I’ll leave for you in the pictures.

Caution: Foodie I am, but professional (or even semi-professional) photographer I am not. Having met lots of other bloggers Monday with their sporty Canons & Nikons, I’ve realized just how badly I need to purchase a fancy new camera. Also, I will refrain from using phrases like “tickle my palate” and basically anything using the word palate. Hate that word. Is that weird?

Following canapés of scallop & lemon wonton, mini-beef wellington, and
cauliflower sphere, my bouche was amused with ‘cured salmon in cucumber gelee’

1: peeky toe crab: prosciutto, pequillo, cantaloupe cava consommé

2: frog leg: roasted garlic, carrot, watercress (p.s. – you can’t see it here, but
when the watercress neige was poured into the bowl, the little roasted garlic
pieces looked like frog eyes poking out – think that was planned? hmmm…)

3: olive oil-poached scottish salmon: granny smith
apple, coconut, thai long peppercorn. All of above paired
with alma de blanco godello monterrei

4: braised beef short ribs: unagi, scallion pistou, miso emulsion
(psst: this was my fave. Who knew eel was so yum in something non-sushi!).
Paired with Niepoort Twisted Douro ’06

5: seedling farms plum: sarsaparilla cream,
milk chocolate, ginger-lime meringue

Aaaaaaaaaand the kitchen tour. Damn I’m a lucky girl.

Did I mention I love this blogging thing? I hope you enjoy reading it just as much

For other (lengthier & more eloquent) descriptions and (prettier) pictures of Tru, check out the sites of the other Chicagoland blogger attendees who beat me to the punch, er, post:

Val @ Marathon Val, Jennifer @ eating bender, Joelen @ What’s Cookin’ Chicago, Mara @ What’s for Dinner?, Terrie @ feasting…on gluten-free pixels, Jada @ Better with Butter, Jared & Alice @ eat-a-duck-i-must, Lindsey @ Lindsey’s Kitchen, Kristin @ Gourmet with Me

Am I missing anyone? If you’ve posted and I missed you, lemme know and I’ll add your blog nod too!

Are you a Chicago food blogger? Check out the newly created meetup group, Chicago Gastro Bloggers. I’m definitely gonna hit up some of those events, but not the first one since I’ll be on vacay! woot!

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