Featured Cocktail of the Week: Kitsune’s Shiso Leaf
This week’s featured cocktail of the week comes from Kitsune Restaurant and Pub in the North Center neighborhood.
There’s nothing worse than going to a restaurant, enjoying the food, but then having the experience watered down by subpar drinks. It’s the reason why restaurant owners hire beverage directors to ensure quality cocktails.
At Kitsune, there is no drop off from the excellent food to their top shelf drinks.
The drink menu overall is refreshingly simple. Four craft cocktails are kept on the menu at all times, which also includes red wine, white wine, and sparkling wine options. A bottled beer list is also available that hosts craft beers and Japanese beers. The most interesting part of the drink menu is the impressive amount of Japanese whiskeys and sakes that are available for patrons to enjoy.
Kitsune is a Japanese inspired restaurant, with the drink menu following suit. This week’s cocktail of the week, the Shiso Leaf, is no different.
Named after a plant belonging to the mint family, the Shiso Leaf is subtle and smooth. Sporting a cloudy pink hue and poured over ice, it is as fresh as it is exotic. A lemon swatch garnishes the drink.
Made up of shōchū, lemon, cherry, and shiso bitters: the cocktail is well balanced and lends itself slightly to the sweeter side.
The shōchū acts as the secret ingredient of the drink, mostly due to the fact that many people haven’t tasted the spirit before. It is a Japanese distilled beverage that typically has less alcohol by volume content than whiskey or vodka, but more than wine or sake. It is a spirit that carries a slightly earthy or nutty flavor, which compliments the sweetness of the other components of the Shiso Leaf. (Pro tip: the shōchū is surprisingly smooth when taken as a shot).
The shiso bitters also help in this regard. Bringing a taste of herbaceousness to the cocktail, it helps to offset the sweetness from the lemon and cherry. With the help of the shiso bitters and shōchū, the cherry and lemon are allowed to shine through, giving the Shiso Leaf a deceptively delicious non-boozy taste, perfect for sipping and for pairing with Chef Regan’s exquisite cuisine.
Kitsune opened its doors in January 2017, easily one of the most hyped openings in Chicago for this year. Michelin star chef owner, Iliana Regan, has embraced the expectations and has been pushing out aesthetically beautiful and delectable dishes. Some may even say they have exceeded expectations with the quality and originality of their cuisine.
The concept of the food is described as Japanese influenced Midwestern cuisine. It’s an intriguing model and something that has allowed Chef Regan and her staff to play with different flavor profiles and combinations.
The interior of Kitsune is simple and modern, taking the “less-is-more” approach often found in Japanese culture. Japanese art, much akin to anime, adorns the walls scarcely. Soft acoustic music plays, just audible enough to hear, encouraging conversation within tables. The kitchen is located within the dining area. Patrons to smell are able to witness Chef Iliana and her staff curate their meals as if they were assisting.
In the end, you’ll come to Kitsune for Chef Illiana’s food, but you’ll stay for the cocktails!
KITSUNE HOURS
TUESDAY — THURSDAY DINNER 5–10PM
FRIDAY & SATURDAY DINNER 5–11PM
SUNDAY DINNER 5PM-9PM
SATURDAY LUNCH 11AM-2PM
SUNDAY BRUNCH (KAISEKI $40/PERSON PLUS TAX AND GRATUITY) 11AM-2PM
