So I'm getting ready to move and I've packed all of my kitchen doo dads and hoo has so I can't cook. And I've been really busy (for what appears to be the last 6 weeks or so) so I have neglected the culinary documentation that I promised to supply with this blog. I have cooked some delicious things in the last 6 weeks or so: roasted seasonal veggies, potato and leek soup (twice), stuffed fall squash, garden veggie spaghetti sauce, and even a pumpkin pie. But alas, I did not photograph, take notes, or remember to type it up here.

So instead I bring you a short and sweet restaurant review.

Treat (1616 N Kedzie Ave)

Treat hasn't been around long, and apparently is owned by the same people who started my absolute favorite restaurant in the world, Lula Cafe. It is BYOB (which I always find refreshing, as the restaurant can spend more money and energy creating a wonderful food menu rather than sub-par wine and beer list) and the prices are very reasonable. It is one of the only (if not THE only) hip foodie restaurants in Humboldt Park, and a little hard to get to (which started to get to us at 9:00 at night when we couldn't get a cab back home.)

However, it was well worth the trip and the 20 minutes trying to find a cab after we were finished. The decor is simple and casual, which made us very comfortable, and it wasn't crowded at all on a Friday night. We started with the fennel gratin, which was smooth and creamy, perfectly cooked and delicious. I'm not normally a big fan of fennel, but I will order it again at Treat. It was a perfect size portion for two, and we practically licked the dish clean it was so incredible.

We then shared the roast duck (not on the menu, it was one of the specials) which was both a treat (hehe) and a disappointment. The flavors were divine, light and savory, smooth and satisfying, but the duck was unfortunately overcooked. It was tough and hard to cut with the butterknives we were given. We ended up leaving some of the duck but we ate all of the rice and delicious broth it was served on.

For dessert we shared the creme brulee, infused with passion fruit, and I almost fell off my chair it was so good. I was amazed by the tartness of the fruit achieved within the creamy smooth custard, and the size and shape (a low oval dish rather than a deep small round dish I've been served at some restaurants) produced the perfect amount of crunchy sweet caramelized sugar to delicious milky passion fruit custard. Creme brulee is one of my all time favorite foods, so I always order it if it is on the menu, and I was incredibly happy that I did it at Treat. In fact, I've been thinking about it ever since....

We left satisfied and full, forgiving the overcooking of the foul in exchange for the delicious flavors and the perfect gratin and brulee we had the treat (hehe) of tasting. I will definitely go back, but maybe try one of the sandwiches or salads, and find a different mode of transportation next time.