The Butterfly Social Club in Chicago is steeped in a Gaudi-like organic quality, which begins before one walks through the door and doesn’t disappoint when making ones way to the eco-friendly menu. Even the bar, from which a dizzying array of alcohol, tonics, and organic juices flow in abundance is shaped like the wing of a butterfly.
Now, the Butterfly Social Club isn’t technically an eatery, but it has some of the most nutritious drinks that would turn the checks of even the most staunch health-conscious restaurant red. And, if I were on a liquid diet, I would look no further; even the ice cubes are made from spring water or organic coconut water.
Drinks contain real fruits such a Goji Berries (extremely good-for-you berries from the Orient that contain the highest level of naturally-occurring antioxidants of any food known), roots such as Maca (the Incan superfood) and the increasingly-popular kava kava root. And the kava root is what caught my interest more than anything else that the Butterfly Social Club had to offer.
Keeping with the theme, the kava is from Kona Kava Farm, an organically-certified farm in Hawaii. This drink has been consumed by Polynesians for thousands of years, and is not only consumed for its purported health benefits, but often as a substitute for alcohol! (It’s also referred to as the “anti-shyness herb because it helps lower social barriers.)
And don’t get me wrong though; what the Butterfly Social Club does best are drinks teeming with alcohol. Besides choices like “Peach on the Beach” (organic peaches floating in organic peach, pineapple, and orange juices, and spiked with Goji berry infused Vodka), there is also an ample selection of all-organic wines as well.
Yes, you may leave the Butterfly Social Club hungry, but it won’t be after putting something good for you into your belly. The visit alone to this hobbit hole seeping out of the urban landscape may help soothe the soul simply by admiring the hand-sculpted walls and trees that double as seating nooks. And, when DJs aren’t spinning uplifting, positive beats pumped out of speakers built into recycled wood, you can hear the soothing sound of running water from a fountain in the front window.
Ambience: 5 stars
Outdoor Seating: No
Open Late: Until 2:00 AM
Price: $$ - $$$$
Quality: 5 stars
Vibe: Casual & Whimsical
I have spent many years on this wondrous trocial paradise known as Cozumel, and of all the places I’ve frequented over the years, one restaurant stands out from all others. I don’t say this lightly either; there are a surprisingly large number of quality eateries on this cozy little island, but Lalo and his “Le Chef” scores top marks for food, ambience, and personality.
Besides the adorable “bistro” flair this eatery exudes; Lalo takes immense pride in his creations, and he won’t hesitate to sacrifice a fuller menu in order to follow his belief that anything he offers must be fresh. Whether it’s vegetables, selections from under the sea, or any other carnivorous selections, Le Chef will not offer anything that has been frozen. If it wasn’t caught by a local fisherman, Le Chef removes it from the menu.
An ever-changing culinary experience is one of the rewards of this style of menu-making. I’ve eaten at Le Chef 5 times in a single week, and each day the anticipation of what may have been caught earlier that day is enticement enough to join Le Chef for a meal. Even when the same item appears on the menu, Lalo won’t hesitate to add something different or extra to the dish to turn your taste buds on in a different way than the night before.
The Skinny:
Ambience: 5 stars
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Open Late: Until 11:00 PM
Price: $ - $$$
Quality: 5 stars
Vibe: Casual
I am one of the skinniest people I know, but food for me can sometimes be an experience that’s much like what I imagine touching the hand of the Divine might be (really). I love to travel and one of the greatest joys of traveling is the rare event of finding the perfect blend of ambiance and authentic food and/or drink that are only good for my body, but an experience for my taste buds as wel. I’ve spent 12 long years in Chicago (so far) but still manage to find awesome “off the beaten path” spots that surprise me, so those are included in generous portion here as well.
I was a vegetarian for 20 years, so my reviews will are from the perspective of a staunch vegetarian , but since I typically eat with someone who says; “If it moves, I’ll eat it”, restaurants that are capable of pleasing both a vegetarian AND the carnovore are the bulk of what is included here. My prerequisites for any reviewed restaurant are simply this:
1. Food/drink that are good for my body
2. Ambience, ambience, ambience
3. Food/drink that make my taste buds come alive
Since the night is one of my favorites times to eat, Late Night Eating is an essential category as well. No matter where I’ve been in the world, this is one of the most difficult things to find, so it seemed useful to include here.
As surely as breathing and death are to being human, we all need to eat. I’m always soaking in as much of this life and world as possible, and consciousnly eating for me, is one of the most pure ways of connecting with ourselves and all that makes us uniquely human. Just like hearing music for the first time that moved me in a way words could never explain; food can do the same. But, I am extremely particular, and need to be widly impressed since I am seeking rapture and not just another eating experience.
Agree, disagree, leave suggestions, but most of all; never forget that taste is one of the five ways we interface with the world around us, so make the most of it! With any eatery review quickly scan the “The Skinny” section to get a simple check of all the critical elements such as Ambience, Outdoor Seating, Open Late, Price, Quality, and Vibe. Enjoy.
