Silver Spoon [Wish I brought my camera]

LTH,

A BBQ friend was in town tonight, Candy Weaver of BBQr's Delight, staying at, of course, the hotel above the Weber Grill. Not much Thai or Japanese where she lives, which she loves, so Ellen, myself and Peter D met her at Silver Spoon for dinner.

Silver Spoon was smoking tonight, really dead-on. We started out with one of the 'standard' Silver Spoon Thai/Japanese fusion dishes, shrimp tempura maki with green curry, which, along with many other Silver Seafood dishes, has been discussed at length <Here>. Up next was shrimp/octopus/crab held together with cream cheese and given a light tempura treatment. Yes, I know, cream cheese, tempura, doesn't sound appealing to me either, but darn if it didn't taste pretty good.

Next up was a terrific version of Silver Spoons Moo Ping maki, this time with the addition of crab (not krab) in the maki and the perfect accent of papaya salad. We interspersed the fusion dishes with excellent chive dumplings, and an order of Thai Fried Chicken.

The most amazing dish of the evening, not to say everything wasn't very good, was a, and here is where I really wish I had my camera, yellowtail maki with slightly charred, razor thin chicken breast slices topped with thin/tart peanut sauce and fresh ginger. The plate was accented with perfectly decorated carrots, blueberries and razor thin charred chicken in a fan shape. The maki roll pieces were topped with perfectly fresh blueberries. Procedure to eat is maki, dredge in sauce, making sure to get a little ginger without loosing the blueberry. Sound confusing flavor wise? Well, I have to tell you it was right up there with the mozzarella balloon filled with heirloom tomato/basil foam at Trio, foie gras and sauterne at Gary Danko and crisp rice noodles at 'Little' Three Happiness.

We then moved into a few Silver Spoon/Spoon Thai standards, Laap, Boat Noodle, Beef Nam Tok, Squid Salad, which had the most perfect scoring/knife work, sticky rice, all perfectly done. We finished with pineapple sorbet in a pineapple shell, which is made for them, not the standard Bindi.

This was a really terrific meal, the new sushi chef, Baz, is talented and a very nice fellow, service was great, Chai was there, friendly and interactive as always.

I realize that it is sometimes difficult to get fusion dishes at Silver Spoon for the casual walk-in customer. I call ahead and speak to Chai or Vanna, if they are not at Silver Spoon I call Spoon Thai, tell them number of people, time and that I would like a few Thai/Japanese fusion dishes. Also, if they have a new combination/dish they would like to try out on me that would be wonderful.

One small point, by calling ahead and asking Silver Spoon to make specific dishes and/or try new versions you are absolutely obligated to show up. You are also obligated to grin and bear it if, in the unlikely event, you do not like one of the fusion dishes.

Enjoy,
Gary

Silver Spoon
710 N Rush Street
Chicago, IL
312-944-7100
11am to 10pm
7 Days a Week
No longer BYOB

Spoon Thai
4608 N Western
Chicago, IL 60625
773-769-1173
BYOB

Don't fret the lack of photos. I am more than happy to conjure up your menu in my mind's eye and it looks great! I'm a frequent lunch customer there, ordering from the menu on both the Thai and sushi sides. My question is, do you think Chai and Vanna would entertain the G Wiv Double Secret Silver Spoon Fusion Menu at lunch? Unless I'm stuck late at the office, I tend not to linger in the area, so lunch may prove a better option for me. I can assemble a larger group (perhaps with the assistance of some similarly officed LTH NoMis), should they prefer a party minimum.

I have also had the pleasure of chatting with Baz, a very nice guy indeed, and who seems very interested in developing a clientele. Some of the more ambitious sushi chefs understand that their more loyal customers will follow them wherever they go. That loyalty has become a rather expensive propositon while following the Chan clan to their current home at Kaze in Roscoe Village. I'd love a more convenient and slightly less spendy option.

Thanks for keeping this intriguing option at the front of my mind.

CoolerbytheLake wrote:My question is, do you think Chai and Vanna would entertain the G Wiv Double Secret Silver Spoon Fusion Menu at lunch?

Yes, absolutely.

Silver Spoon's fusion menu is not secret, they intended, right from the start, to offer Thai/Japanese fusion but, for whatever reason, do not seem comfortable, for the most part, generally offering the Thai/Japanese items.

I really have no idea why this is, and I have asked, possibly they (Chai/Vanna) had a few bad experiences with Silver Spoon customers rejecting dishes which reinforced previous negative experience serving Thai/Thai at Spoon Thai.

Having followed your posts over the past years, both on c-h and LTH, I'd venture you won't have the slightest difficulty arranging a fusion luncheon at Silver Spoon. Simply discuss in advance with Chai a few dishes you are interested in, ask if there are new dishes he wishes to try out, I highly recommend the yellowtail/blueberry/thin sliced charred chicken maki.

If, for whatever reason, you feel that I could be of the slightest assistance with your lunch at Silver Spoon please do not hesitate to PM.

This thread has a few suggestions for Thai/Japanese at Silver Spoon.

Enjoy,
Gary