Aug 11, 2007 8:07 am US/Central
Chef Creates Seasonal Delights At North Pond
2610 N. Cannon Dr.
(773) 477-5845
by Vince Gerasole
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A refreshing summer salad is the creation of a chef who took an unexpected route to the kitchen and eventually earned national acclaim.
In this edition of Table for 2, CBS 2's Vince Gerasole shares a table with Bruce Sherman at North Pond.
The warm arts and crafts dining space at North Pond, overlooking tranquil waters in the green space of Lincoln Park and the city's distant skyline, just might be the area's most romantic restaurant.
In warmer months, North Pond's 9-foot glass doors swing open, letting the outside in to surround its seasonal menu.
"It's a reflection of what time of year it is, what's in season, what's available at market," Sherman said.
In August, Sherman makes sure that includes tomatoes. In fact, he combines up to six types of heirloom tomatoes of various shapes, sizes and colors in a refreshing summer salad.
North Pond's oven-roasted tomato parmesan vinaigrette is eventually drizzled over the plate that's accented with a marinated bread salad, grilled sweet onions, shallots and almonds. It's the creation of a Chicagoan who traveled an unlikely route to the kitchen.
"I never expected I could earn a respectable living using my hands and cooking cool stuff," Sherman said.
Named one of the best new chefs of 2003 by food and wine magazine, and nominated for a James Beard award, Sherman's Ivy League education also included studies at the London School of Economics. There, exposed to the many flavors of European cuisine, Sherman decided to pursue a career in the culinary arts.
Extended travels in India and culinary studies in Paris helped form his style.
Sherman grows fresh herbs in a peaceful garden beside North Pond, a quiet respite from the demands of the kitchen.
Those are demands a younger generation determined to be the next celebrity chef aren't always prepared for.
"It's really, really hard, and in order to get to a level where you are a chef at a restaurant, and it takes years and years of physical and financial suffering," Sherman said.
But with his seasonal cuisine at North Pond, Sherman can enjoy the fruits f his labor
North Pond is open for dinner from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and also offers a Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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