A Springtime Dinner with Lottie + Doof + Floriole

As my time in Chicago winds to a close, I am all the more grateful for all the wonderful meals and experiences I've had here. Last night is a perfect example. I attended an incredible, spring-themed dinner hosted by Lottie + Doof and Floriole. The food was delicious, and I finally got to meet Tim, of Lottie + Doof, who I plan on coercing into being my lifelong friend.

Molly, my beautiful date for the evening (and Tim in the background!).

 Me, Tim, and Molly. I cannot stress how much fun it was to finally meet someone whose blog I have been reading *forever*! Tim, you are even better in real life.

A beer cocktail made with a rhubarb basil syrup by Jo Snow. Molly graciously agreed to drink mine, but they made me a lovely mixture of the simple syrup and seltzer which was pretty darn yummy. 

Snacks! Olives (of my favorite variety: large, green, and buttery), thyme-y popcorn, and fried onion-y peanuts.

Lemon ricotta ravioli with spicy asparagus. Ladies and gentlemen, we need to start applying pressure on Tim to share this recipe...PRONTO. The asparagus was crunchy and dressed in the most lovely, spicy, tangy sauce. All of this was, of course, perfectly complemented by the soft, creamy ricotta filling of the ravioli.

Sorrel soup with a poached egg and chive flowers. I had no idea what to expect, as I've never had anything made with sorrel before, but it was quite delicious. The soup was slightly bitter (I like that sort of thing, especially when greens are concerned) and also quite creamy and smooth in texture. The poached egg added a nice contrast in flavor, especially when the yolk spilled into the soup--ah, delicious!

Cheesecake with roasted strawberries and rhubarb hibiscus sorbet with graham crumble. This whole thing was delicious! The strawberries were soft and the flavor was intensified by the roasting––overall making them a great partner to the creamy, tangy cheesecake. But the star of this show was definitely the rhubarb hibiscus sorbet. It was super flavorful and a nice ice cold counterpart to the cheesecake.

All in all, it was a fabulous dinner. If you happen to be in Chicago next time Tim and Floriole partner up, I suggest you check it out. Your happily full tummy will thank you.