Silk Road Flavors Are Explored In This New Chicago Restaurant
The renowned trade route will be the source of flavors for Bambola.
The new Chicago restaurant Bambola, which opens September 13, will transport you to the Silk Road, which stretches from Italy all the way to Xi'an, China.
Alisha Elenz and Marcos Campos spearhead Bambola's menu, which is influenced by Turkish, Persian, and Indian cuisine, though flavors come from all over the world: Italy, China, Malaysia, Thailand, and Greece. The turmeric-glazed carrots may be served with smoked eggplant labneh, crispy garbanzos, and za'atar. You may also order midye dolma, stuffed with smoked mussels and topped with cilantro and pine nuts.
The Lao Mok Pa is a red snapper wrapped in banana leaf with pickled mung beans and served with allium Hua Juan pancakes as a main dish. In addition, a 40-ounce dry-aged tomahawk steak is served along with black garlic, green beans and house XO sauce. The executive pastry chef Shannah Primiano has prepared a dessert menu based on sweetmeats, or confectionery bites found along trade routes, to complement your meal. As an homage to the Silk Road, fruits, nuts, teas, and grains are prominently displayed.
Whether it's a cocktail or a glass of wine, Bambola has the same touchstones found in its food. A nod to local beverages found along the Silk Road, the Sumac cocktail and the non-alcoholic Rose cocktail combine ancient flavors. In the same vein, Michelin Sommelier of the Year Colin Hofer has compiled a wine list that includes bottles from countries like Lebanon, Georgia, Croatia, and Slovenia.
In addition to its food and drinks evoking the spirit of a very cross-cultural restaurant, Bagbola's décor definitely contributes to achieving that goal as well. In addition to textiles and chandeliers sourced from Italy, the design team sourced antiques from China, Thailand, Pakistan, and India, among other places. These pieces are of museum-quality and date back to the 18th or 19th centuries.
Typically, you won't find such a creative food and drink spread when you go to a museum. Dinner and drinks are available at Bambola Tuesday through Sunday, and brunch will be available soon.
