If you need to refuel halfway through a Michigan Avenue shopping spree, check out The Purple Pig, which is conveniently located at about the halfway point on the Mag Mile. Unlike some of the chains and tourist traps on the strip, The Purple Pig offers an impressive wine list and food made from high-quality ingredients.
In the few years since it opened, The Purple Pig has already racked up some high honors. Bon Appétit magazine named it one of "The 10 Best New Restaurants in America" in 2010. Also that year, it was given a Michelin "Bib Gourmand" award, which designates restaurants that serve good food at particularly good values. The Purple Pig's impressive resume is not a huge surprise, considering the Chicago heavyweights in the kitchen: Scott Harris of Mia Francesca, Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia, and Jimmy Bannos and Jimmy Bannos, Jr., of Heaven on Seven.
Word has most certainly gotten out about the small Michigan Avenue restaurant. The place was packed on the night I visited, with locals and tourists sharing coveted spots at communal tables and huddling around the large L-shaped bar. I found the pace a bit frenetic, and getting a drink at the bar required a little effort and patience. Some people will enjoy the excitement and buzz, but I wouldn't recommend The Purple Pig for a quiet or intimate dinner. It's better for happy hour with a group or as an upscale pit stop while shopping.
That said, the wine list is superb. I'd challenge wine drinkers to find any varietal or winemaking region missing from this hefty list. My favorite wine of the night was the Domaine Vacheron Sancerre from France's Loire Valley. It's a substantial white with high citrus notes and a smoky finish that pairs well with a variety of food. That's a good quality in a bottle of wine at a place like The Purple Pig, where you'll be sampling a number of different small plates.
The Mediterranean-influenced small plates are shareable and wine-friendly, making this a fun place to sample a bunch of items with a group. As The Purple Pig's tagline ("cheese, swine & wine") promises, you'll find a nice selection of cheeses and cured meats that you can cobble together to make a lovely plate. Having never met a cheese I didn't like, I particularly enjoyed the Quadrell-Taleggio and the Caprino Tartufo, a soft white cheese with a pungent truffle flavor.
Not content with an entire cheese plate, I also ordered the Burrata Pugliese from the antipasti section of the menu. I've typically had burrata with a simple drizzle of olive oil or a bit of pesto and tomatoes. This inventive preparation called on tangy fennel frond pesto and sweet honey and bee pollen to bring out the flavors of the soft Italian cheese. It was certainly unique and I'm glad I tried it, but I still prefer burrata with just some boring old olive oil and classic pesto. I also tried the charred cauliflower, which is covered in breadcrumbs and baked golden brown in a little crock. Cornichons give the mild cauliflower a little extra zing.
I really enjoyed the asparagus and arugula salad. Treviso (an Italian red lettuce) and hazelnuts give the salad a nutty heartiness and the simple olive oil dressing doesn't interfere. There's an entire section of fried items, which gets my stamp of approval. One of the more interesting offerings was the fried deviled egg. The egg is split in half for deviling and then put back together to be fried. The tasty egg, with rich savory filling and a crisp fried "shell," is served over a light mixture of arugula and capers. Another tasty treat from the fried section is the eggplant Parmesan balls. Tender slices of cooked eggplant and melted Parmesan are rolled into a ball and fried into crispy goodness.
While nothing at The Purple Pig necessarily knocked my socks off, there wasn't a single bite I didn't enjoy. Everything was flavorful, prepared well and presented nicely. And, there were many enticing dishes I hope to sample on my next visit. All in all, I had a lovely evening sipping wine and nibbling on creative small plates. Next time I'm hungry on the Mag Mile, The Purple Pig will be at the top of my list of places to stop for a bite or unwind with a post-shopping cocktail.
The Purple Pig is located at 500 N. Michigan Ave.; call 312-464-1744 or visit www.thepurplepigchicago.com .
Do you need some more Sugar & Spice in your life? Follow me on Twitter: @SugarAndSpiceMS—for inside scoop and commentary on Chicago's dining scene.
