ITT Give me recommendations for Chicago and Indy

[kwilkinson]

Looking for restaurants to stage at, not restaurants to eat at. I'll be staying in Indy but would not mind going up to Chicago for a special stage, as I have some friends who would let me stay.

Obvious choice is Alinea, but at this point I think it might be kind of late to get a stage there, since I'll be in the Midwest from March 2 til the 10th.

Thanks.

 

[Piobaire]

Rick Bayless?

Isn't he in Chicago?

 

[kwilkinson]

Yeah, he is. His restaurants are great. And while I respect the **** out of the guy who is a culinary genius, I have very little to no interest whatsoever in learning Mexican food.

Then again I guess I'm not staging for a job, I don't think. So I could always use the knowledge.

 

[ragdoll]

How about Recess? That's the new restaurant by Greg Hardesty, former proprietor of Elements in Indy.

 

[Manton]

Trotter. Duh.

 

[DNW]

What do you mean by "stage"? Is this where you show them what mad skillz you've gotz?

 

[ChicagoRon]

Sent you PM via Fbook

 

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by DNW

What do you mean by "stage"? Is this where you show them what mad skillz you've gotz?

You go and work for free to show off your mad skillz.

 

[ChicagoRon]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

You go and work for free to show off your mad skillz.
Thanks for the French to English translation

 

[RJman]

Tru?

 

[kaxixi]

Originally Posted by Manton

Trotter. Duh.
+1. Also, Naha or Custom House? Edit: Also, Blackbird (or Avec), and Moto. Especially Moto. Second Edit: Spring for seafood.

 

[ChicagoRon]

Originally Posted by kaxixi

+1. Also, Naha or Custom House?
Any of the Shaun Mclain restaurants would be good. I'd think Green Zebra would be a great experience.

 

[JayJay]

Oakley's in Indy.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Piobaire

You go and work for free to show off your mad skillz.

True, when you're staging for a job. For me, it's just about gaining knowledge and making contacts.

Thanks for the recs guys.
Trotter's is out. Matt Merges (main employment guy) already told me that two weeks is too quick to schedule a stage. I am assuming the same goes for Alinea, but will try w/ them.
Green Zebra is a good choice too, one of the better meals of my life.
I'm pretty sure Schwa doesn't take stages, or I'd be all up in that ****.
I think I'll try for Naha, Tru, and Blackbird in CHI, and Recess and Oakley's in Indy.
Thanks! Keep em coming too.

 

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

True, when you're staging for a job. For me, it's just about gaining knowledge and making contacts.

Is the staging also an attempt to return to the Midwest?