Oceanique Restaurant in Evanston, Illinois (505 Main Street, Evanston, IL; 847-864-3435) will be participating in the 2013 Julia Child Bash sponsored by Chicago Originals ( www.chicagooriginals.com), from August 15-31, celebrating the 101th birthday of the famed French cookbook author and television icon. During this celebration, Oceanique is honoring the memory of Julia Child with their Wild Maine Lobster entrée (with tropea onion, basil potatoes, and yuzu-saffron), priced at $24.
“Julia Child was very fond of lobsters,” says Chef Mark Grosz. “On her TV show, The French Chef , she described them as ‘unique and beautiful, with a marvelous taste and really just like nothing else.’ She also said that lobster was a ‘special gastronomic experience.’ We consider Julia to be marvelous and like no one else, a person who made French gastronomy a special experience for millions of Americans. That’s why lobster is the cornerstone of our Julia Child 101th birthday celebration. We call our lobster entrée, simply, ‘Wild Maine Lobster.’ The dish includes tropea onion, basil potatoes and yuzu-saffron, and is priced at $24. We think Julia would have been very pleased with our lobster rendition.”
With roots in classic French culinary technique, Oceanique has evolved into a Contemporary Global restaurant. “It’s an evolution of which we believe Julia, as a food adventurer, would have heartily approved,” said Grosz. “We continue to use the freshest, locally available ingredients, clearly in the French tradition, and we use classic French techniques to bring out the wonderful flavor of the ingredients. What has changed at Oceanique, over the years, is our introduction of lighter ingredients into the menu and our greater use of fresh herbs, both of which reflect today’s contemporary preferences. We’ve also been inspired by our global culinary travels and so you’ll find ingredients from around the world.”
The highly acclaimed Oceanique has been voted the best seafood restaurant in the Chicago area by the Zagat Guide since 1993 and has earned the prestigious “Best Of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator every year since 1994. Wine Spectator has declared Oceanique as having one of the top 750 wine lists in the world.
Oceanique recently celebrated its 25th anniversary by undergoing a complete re-design. The new, contemporary look is light, airy and comfortable, with new lighting that brings out the beauty of Chef Grosz’s superb cuisine. Oceanique’s ambiance remains relaxed and hospitable, making it the perfect setting for food and wine lovers. Additional changes include a new bar and lounge menu featuring shareable small plates.
Oceanique, located at 505 Main Street in Evanston, Illinois, serves dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday and from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays. For more information or to make reservations, please contact Oceanique at 847-864-3435 or visit the website at www.oceanique.com.