Uncommon Ground, Chicago

Saturday April 28

Peggy and John had found an amazing event for Saturday evening: the Classical Revolution conference, a classical music jam session to be held at the Uncommon Ground restaurant in northern Chicago.

We had a wonderful intro of swingy music by Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin; the cello stylings of Ian Maksin; and Joseph Kluesener (I think) playing John Steinmetz's Etude No. 5 for bassoon, "Streets of Laredo."

The restaurant was as interesting as the music.  Uncommon Ground is a "green" restaurant, with much of its produce coming from its own roof garden (with solar panels). 

There was some confusion at first, when they seated us in the non-music room, but eventually we got to the back room with the stage setup, and were served by the quick and quirky Katherine. 

Wines were nothing to write home about (as they wouldn't be if you demand biodynamic), but we did fine with a 2007 Barra Chardonnay from Mendocino.

We got a couple of salads for the table: a Klug farms shaved asparagus salad, with radishes, fiddlehead ferns, sherry vinaigrette, a poached organic egg, and bagna cauda dressing; and an "uncommon" chopped salad: romaine, chunks of chicken, cherrywood-smoked bacon, Black River gorgonzola, cucumbers, avocado, and scallions with a smoked tomato ranch dressing.

For mains, we had sweet pea "caramelli," i.e. little transparent ravioli of sweet peas, roof-garden mint, pea tendrils, garlic broth, herbed Neufchatel cheese, and browned garlic chips; and grilled Rushing Waters trout with sweet potato hash, house bacon, brown butter vinaigrette, and chioggia cucumber relish. 

We stayed late enjoying the music and the vibe, and had a wonderful time.  Classical Revolution is a great movement, and we hope to go to the sessions of the Cincinnati chapter at the Northside Tavern.  As for Uncommon Ground, they're a bit disorganized and scatty, but for such gatherings, it's a very natural place to go.