Maple and Ash, aged 10 years
A quirk in the schedule led to the team’s rookie taking the mound for a milestone night in the club’s history. Faced with the task of choosing the anniversary restaurant for 10 years of steak-fueled camaraderie, and with his normal social out-pitch (Joe’s) unavailable due to overuse, he reached back and just threw straight gas. And Maple and Ash hit the mit.
This venue has fast ascended to my number one restaurant in the city. The pre-dinner bar delivers, the staff is on their game, and the center two-story dining room is top class. I thought it a worthy place to gather. Highlights of the early innings included Roddy’s appearance at the anniversary dinner (the finest of plays). It was followed by the commemoration of the arrival of Brad’s third child, and the carrying on of his family name, with a souvenir menu emblazoned with “Congratuf*ckinglations!”.
We started out with a round of appetizers: dry-aged prime meatballs, tenderloin tartare, hamachi crudo, and a lovely escargot. The wine arrived promptly and reasonably priced, and we pushed happily on into the mains.
While carried away in conversation I reflexively ordered the bone-in filet, and enjoyed a fine product and presentation. This is my fourth visit to the establishment and unfortunately the dinners have been well-fueled enough that I have been unable to hold to any methodology in evaluating the steak because I can never remember what I’ve previously ordered. This was not the finest steak that I have enjoyed here, but it was well above satisfactory.
I don’t recall dessert being involved, and I left the party before after-dinner drinks in an attempt to conserve energy for a resignation from my job the next morning (successful and amicable). Though some stalwart Steak Night participants were certainly missed on this anniversary, I think it will be remembered as a good one.
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8 Responses to “Maple and Ash, aged 10 years”
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Love the baseball write up and loved the choice for a 10 year celebration. Who would have thought 10 years ago we would end up here. It is a beautiful thing. Acknowledging the enormity of the situation, our very own Roddy Richards made a fly in just for this dinner. Profound!!!
After putting the kids to bed, I arrived a bit late to find our fine group jammed together at a small table. While quarters were tight, it made for a more intimate and fun filled affair. Sadly, Rick Ray was down sick and Mr. Crenshaw was OOO and Don was, well, Don. Still those in attendance grabbed the evening with rigor. Celebrating 10 years in concert with the birth of Brad’s son, my new job and Scott’s tournament win made for a jovial atmosphere.
Great food at every point in the evening. I found the NY Strip to be delicious and the creamed spinach and mushrooms to be incredible. No dessert, which was a miss and the cost of the meal was inflated due to some costly drinks being carried over from the bar, but all in all it, it was a tremendous evening, with tremendous company to acknowledge a 10 years of a wonderful tradition. Well done Mason and well done team! Here is to the next 10.
10 years of meat gluttony; amazing. Before I even get to my review, a tip of the cap to Roddy is in order for making the trip and providing a great surprise. Roddy continues to hope against hope his dedication to this tradition will be noticed by Don Cole. Alas, as we should expect, Don remains oblivious. Other attendance commentary includes a missing John Crenshaw, who, was in Atlantic City giving a talk to his peers on how to appropriately manage the Collins file while driving a golf ball. After a successful lecture, Cizzle won 8K rolling dice – followed by promptly losing 8k rolling dice.
Rick Ray also had a medium –rare steak night miss. TDI was sick. However, not one to run afoul of rules, he got his cancellation in just under the wire. I was a bit pissed about that because seeing Rick Ray do a disgusting shot would have been fodder for ages to come.
I like Maple and Ash, great choice for the decade mark. The group settled for a few drinks in the bar area which is stupendous. I later learned my Oban, which was carried over from the bar to the tab, rang in at a Chicago (and possibly world) record setting $33. Are you fucking kidding me? That is insane.
Tiny table was not great. However, wanting to be closer to these boys for a special night made it about manageable. Appreciate the group welcoming Luke with open arms and a hardy congratufuckinglations!
Apps were solid. Meatballs were great as was the tar tar. I split the rib-eye with Martin and it was cooked well and satisfactory, however I am not a huge fan of the roasted garlic on top of the steak. I could do without it.
A few of us grabbed a quick night cap – nothing crazy, but nice way to end the evening. Been to Maple and Ash 3x now and the bar and décor continue to rank a high 10….the steak for me comes in at a 7.5-8. But after the $33 Oban, not sure it becomes a regular spot.
Needless to say, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to join such a momentous occasion. Happy to see the tradition continue, however, and glad to see it remains in such capable, and respectful hands.
Cheers from Tanzania, gentlemen!
Chris
Well done to Mason for booking one of the hotter bar restaurant scenes in Chicago as we awaited for what promised to be quite the celebratory evening for the 10 year anniversary! With a surprise guest in Roddy, the night was off to a good start as one of our founding fathers and return from the wild yonder to celebrate this joyous event.
With big things expected, including my payout for winning, yet again, the NCAA basketball march madness contest, anticipations were high as we all arrived at our table in the happening dining room on the second floor. Sadly for me the enthusiasm was soon to fade as issues on the homefront and a pending departure for spring break, overrode my well laid plans with the fellas.
What I did have was a great Ribeye and some good apps and what I could have remembered to be the best sides of the year for Steak Night. Sorry to have missed the rest of the night but duty called and there was no substitute.
May should bring a nice rebound!!
In town for a night on the way to Utah, pre-dinner drinks with ze german, mr markets and gimms. No one has yet mentioned Alissa, purveyor of exceptional sideboob for those early enough to enjoy drinks at M&A before dinner. Between Tavern and M&A, Chicago is a beautiful place.
Starters and sides flowed easily with a few hearty reds, and the bone in filet was as good as any I’ve had in Chicago. Congratulations to Mr. Ray, 3rd time’s a charm! – and to others for their impending career moves.
Miss the banter and the tradition, always a pleasure, gents!
Great anticipation for the decade of gluttony outing, Maple and Ash a fitting call for the night. A tip of the cap is putting it lightly for the jet setting ways of Roddy showing up on the anniversary. We had a pre drink – drink at Tavern that was served up by about 10 pounds of collagen all injected in the right places. Scooter and Gimms came strolling in just as the first round was delivered, they have always had perfect timing. From Tavern we made our way across the street to the bar at M&A. The couch area opened up just as we arrived which provided a comfortable place to spend an hour admiring the best side boob I can recall. Scooter missed this spectacle because he was too busy introducing himself to a couple of dudes at the bar, his loss. I believe I was well into my third bourbon of the night when Roddy and I embarked upon a lengthy political discussion, fortunately no one flipped a table or threw a punch.
We have not been seated in the two story center atrium of M&A previously. While the table was a bit cramped, it was perfectly suited to our needs. The crudo was absolutely outstanding, one of the better things I have had. The meatballs never disappoint. Crenshaw ate all the escargot before it reached me so I will have to take his word on that one. I decided to go with the dry aged bone in strip. An unusual pick for me given my proclivity to avoid an aging. I should have gone with my gut, this was not the best steak I have had. Slightly over cooked and completely lacking all salt. I was disappointed, but the sides made up for it. I do agree with the group that M&A delivers an overall exceptional experience – make sure you order the side boob. Congratufuckinlations to Gimms on the addition of a baby boy and to the entire group for having lived through 10 years of gluttony and in my opinion never looking better.
The steak night fare has been thoroughly critiqued to this point, but I would comment on the following:
Roddy, the real hero of steak night, was an unexpected treat to have on the 10 year anniversary. Can’t give him enough thank yous for all he has done to enhance the rich tradition of steaks & cigars.
The bar scene at Maple & Ash is always a winner. It’s a good environment and a good scene. I appreciated that those before me had already secured what is probably the best table in the establishment for the pre-dinner drinks.
The apps as mentioned were spectacular, the escargot was oddly good, and I’m generally not an escargot fan. Mason did a great job of picking the wine as well.
The only relatively small criticisms I would have are:
1. My steak was fine, not thrilling. I had the bone-in strip and it didn’t have great flavor of a strip. And this is personal preference, not enough salt on there.
2. The service was a little slow on the uptake initially. What was confusing was that the guy who brought us to our table, the maître d’, was also oddly our waiter. We didn’t realize this because he was wearing a suit so we didn’t flag him down ever either.
3. The place is just to crammed in there. They had us around a small table and there were tables on top of us. It also doesn’t help that the colorless walls in there are painted a gulag gray, much like the walls of Soviet prisons.
I like Maple & Ash a lot. But when I think of trendy newer steak places in Chicago, it’s just a cut below Prime & Provisions and Mastro’s in my book, despite a superior bar scene.
Lots going on – 10 years!
Rick was AWOL – we’re not sure if he was really sick or just sick of the fact that someone other than Rick won a sports pick competition in the group. He’s won so many times am starting to wonder whether his lucky fedora is from the future.
Dinner was solid – highlight was the special visit from Roddy by way of Denver. Denver? Who knew?
Steaks are too big – I need to split them. Not embarrassed to say – I can’t handle my red meat as well as I used to.
Lots of life changes going on through the group – good to know after 10 years the group is as strong as ever. Looking forward to the next 10 years.
Has anyone seen Don? I’m thinking of taking out an ad on the back of milk carton.