Chef Michael Lachowicz unveils new George Trois, Aboyer

In April, chef Michael Lachowicz took to Fb to announce a “seismic change” at equally of his acclaimed restaurants in suburban Winnetka, Aboyer and George Trois.

“A catapult-like thrust forward is expected,” he wrote, with a “complete disregard for tire firms, aristocratic, N.Y. culinary royalty or ratings of any variety apart from the entire joy and fulfillment of every single and each individual a single of my treasured friends.”

Now we can ultimately see what Lachowicz experienced in head. Both of his restaurants, which are positioned in the identical creating, have been gutted, totally redesigned and refreshed with new menus. Even the facade of the constructing, which was black, has been painted ivory.

In his 17 several years in the suburban space, Lachowicz charmed numerous diners with his just take on French cuisine, with George Trois getting the initially suburban restaurant to get Restaurant of the 12 months in the 2019 Jean Banchet Awards, which celebrate Chicago’s eating scene.

Lachowicz realized he experienced to change throughout the pandemic, and that started off with the menu. “I went away from what ever I believed was progressive and modern-day,” he mentioned. “I slash away the dread of stressing no matter if my cooking would be acknowledged by youthful people today.”

As an alternative, he desired to refocus on the kind of French cuisine that produced him drop in adore with currently being a chef, which he uncovered even though working with world-renowned cooks this kind of as Paul Bocuse and Jean Banchet. “It’s like ‘Rocky III’ wherever he’s coaching at the gym,” he reported. “I feel content to be cooking again.”

When he brought in designer Leah Oros to enable him do the job on the unique spaces, she quickly observed a disconnect between the new menu and the environment, Lachowicz mentioned. “She told me, ‘Why really do not we make the area match the food items?’ ”

For Aboyer, this signifies the modern, streamlined experience of the space is absent. With new menu products these types of as escargot Bourguignon en croute — snails wrapped in puff pastry bathing in a parsley-butter sauce — and a house-smoked salmon board with chive omelet, the place looks a great deal nearer to a classic French brasserie.

“It’s a total 180,” Lachowicz mentioned. “I realized it experienced to be spectacular. It was a huge threat.” The after-bare wood tables are now covered in linen and butcher paper, although a new 8-seat bar attributes typical brass accents. There is also a new 44-seat patio modeled on a French garden, with a coated and heated pergola.

You are going to also recognize new photographs from Thomas Gavin, which were being all recently shot in excess of a 6-day interval in Paris and the Palace of Versailles.

For George Trois, the cozy 16-seat area functions new lighting, a redesigned hearth, oak Versailles panel flooring and plusher decorations, together with velvet chairs, satin-band napkins and heaps of white linen.

Lachowicz admits he had a significant id disaster about George Trois when it initially opened. “I assumed I had to compete with all these tasting menu dining places in Chicago,” he stated. “That was absolutely incorrect for me. The menu has morphed into anything a lot more authentic and reliable and fearless. Extra Michael Lachowicz.”

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Just one new dish he’s specially very pleased of, named foie gras & foie gras, capabilities a seared medallion of foie gras set more than foie gras-stuffed potato gnocchi. Also appear out for a saddle of rabbit with morel souffle and sauce moutarde. “I’m cooking the food items I definitely really like,” he reported. “You’ll feel each and every little bit of that enthusiasm.”

Improve is, of study course, almost nothing new for Lachowicz. After opening Cafe Michael in 2005, he resolved to remodel the personal dining place in 2015 into the tasting-menu strategy, George Trois. 4 a long time later on, he closed Restaurant Michael, break up the house in two, and launched Aboyer and Silencieux. The latter restaurant closed during the pandemic, leaving Aboyer and George Trois. “I like change,” he said. “It keeps factors clean and everybody engaged.”

Though the pandemic was tough, he feels lucky that he was ready to maintain most of his staff. “I’ve been equipped to retain my core staff, most of whom have been with me for a lengthy time,” Lachowicz reported. “There’s not a superior staff that I’ve ever labored with than the a single in this article.”

Equally dining establishments have been in a gentle opening method, but are prepared to officially reopen. Lachowicz is psyched to see how folks react when they see the new space and meals. “The entire notion, gutting anything and setting up fresh, is that I preferred to return the pleasure to my dining places,” he explained. “Dining must be a joyous activity. We will be delighted to see you, and you will ideally be happy to see us.”

Aboyer and George Trois are both at 64 Eco-friendly Bay Street, Winnetka 847-441-3100 georgetroisgroup.com.

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