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Rick Bayless is chef of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo in Chicago, creator of Frontera gourmet foods, cookbook author and host of Mexico - One Plate at a Time.


From the Kitchen of Chef Rick Bayless

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Frontera Grill Lunch

May 9 - June 5, 2012

GUACAMOLES, SALADS, SOUP

  • Frontera Guacamole: Cilantro, lime, green chile, tomato. Just-made tortilla chips.   $9.50
  • Frontera Grill – GUACAMOLES, SALADS, SOUP
    Bacon & Garlic Chive Guacamole
    Gunthorp bacon, wood-grilled Bayless Garden garlic chives, serrano chile. Tortilla chips.
    Bacon & Garlic Chive Guacamole: Gunthorp bacon, wood-grilled Bayless Garden garlic chives, serrano chile. Tortilla chips.   $9.50
  • Just-made Tortilla Chips & Two Salsas: Three-chile (cascabel, morita, guajillo) & tomatillo with serrano & cilantro.   $3.00
  • Shooting Star Little Gem Lettuce Salad: Pumpkinseed-lime dressing, quick-pickled tomatillos, grilled knob onions   $8.00
  • Spring Salad: Frisee, City Farm mache, honey Manila mango, red onion chipotle-honey-lime dressing. Bacon crunch.   $8.75
  • Topolobampo Tortilla Soup: Dark broth flavored with pasilla, with grilled chicken, avocado, hand-made Jack cheese, thick cream & crisp tortilla strips.   $9.00

CEVICHE & RAW BAR: Oysters, Ceviches & Seafood Cocktails

  • Oysters: Shucked to order. Tomatillo-habanero "minoneta," smoky chipotle-garlic salsa & fresh-cut limes.   1/2 dozen: 15 / doz: 30
  • Oyster & Ceviche Platter: One dozen oysters & their accompaniments, Frontera Ceviche & Tropical Tuna Cocktail.   44 / Half-size: 23.50
  • Frontera Ceviche: Hawaiian albacore, lime, tomatoes, olives, cilantro & green chile on tostaditas.   $14.00
  • Tropical Tuna Cocktail: Sashimi-grade Hawaiian bigeye tuna, tomatillo guacamole, honey Manila mango salsa.   $14.50
  • Yucatecan Ceviche: Steamed Mexican blue shrimp & calamari, lime, orange, habanero, avocado, jicama, cucumber & cilantro. Crispy tortilla chips.   $13.50

STREET FOOD: Soft Tacos, Crispy Tacos, Enchiladas, Street Snacks

  • Frontera Grill – STREET FOOD: Soft Tacos, Crispy Tacos, Enchiladas, Street Snacks
    Lamb Shoulder in Black Mole
    Grill-seared lamb shoulder braised in black mole, Nichols Farm potatoes, grilled calabacitas, anejo cheese.
    Lamb Shoulder in Black Mole: Grill-seared lamb shoulder braised in black mole, Nichols Farm potatoes, grilled calabacitas, anejo cheese.   $10.00
  • Frontera Grill – STREET FOOD: Soft Tacos, Crispy Tacos, Enchiladas, Street Snacks
    Chicken in Wild Ramp Crema
    Wood-grilled Gunthorp chicken breast, local asparagus, roasted fingerling potatoes, wild ramp crema. Crispy epazote.
    Chicken in Wild Ramp Crema: Wood-grilled Gunthorp chicken breast, local asparagus, roasted fingerling potatoes, wild ramp crema. Crispy epazote.   $10.00
  • Classic Queso Fundido: Samuel's artisanal Jack cheese, garlicky roasted peppers, homemade chorizo.   $8.00
  • Frontera Grill – STREET FOOD: Soft Tacos, Crispy Tacos, Enchiladas, Street Snacks
    Duck Carnitas Queso Fundido
    Otter Creek organic cheddar, duck leg carnitas, grilled knob onions, pickled jalapenos & vegetables.
    Duck Carnitas Queso Fundido: Otter Creek organic cheddar, duck leg carnitas, grilled knob onions, pickled jalapenos & vegetables.   $9.50
  • Frontera Grill – STREET FOOD: Soft Tacos, Crispy Tacos, Enchiladas, Street Snacks
    Pork Flautas
    Crispy, crunchy taquitos of slow-cooked pork carnitas, (pickled white onions, moritas). Roasty guajillo salsa, homemade crema, peashoots, anejo cheese.
    Pork Flautas: Crispy, crunchy taquitos of slow-cooked pork carnitas, (pickled white onions, moritas). Roasty guajillo salsa, homemade crema, peashoots, anejo cheese.   $8.50
  • Smoked Chicken Taquitos : Roasted tomatillo salsa, homemade crema, anejo cheese, guacamole.   $8.00
  • Mole Poblano Enchiladas: Gunthorp free-range chicken, grill-roasted red onions.   $11.50
  • Frontera Grill – STREET FOOD: Soft Tacos, Crispy Tacos, Enchiladas, Street Snacks
    Beef Barbacoa Enchiladas
    Slow-cooked Creekstone beef (grilled onions, moritas, avocado leaf), red chile guajillo sauce, Samuel's artisan Jack. Frisee-watercress.
    Beef Barbacoa Enchiladas: Slow-cooked Creekstone beef (grilled onions, moritas, avocado leaf), red chile guajillo sauce, Samuel's artisan Jack. Frisee-watercress.   $12.50
  • Fresh Corn Tamales: Banana leaf-steamed sweet corn tamales, homemade crema & fresh cheese, poblano chile.   $7.50
  • Frontera Grill – STREET FOOD: Soft Tacos, Crispy Tacos, Enchiladas, Street Snacks
    Chicken Tamal
    Banana leaf-steamed tamal of corn masa filled with Gunthorp chicken, caramelized onions, & hoja santa. Pueblan green pipian, toasted pepitas, frisee-cilantro salad.
    Chicken Tamal: Banana leaf-steamed tamal of corn masa filled with Gunthorp chicken, caramelized onions, & hoja santa. Pueblan green pipian, toasted pepitas, frisee-cilantro salad.   $8.50
  • Frontera Grill – STREET FOOD: Soft Tacos, Crispy Tacos, Enchiladas, Street Snacks
    Enchiladas Potosinas
    Chile-spiked corn-masa turnovers with spicy homemade fresh cheese. Pepita-avocado mash, Tamazula hot sauce, crema drizzle, arugula salad.
    Enchiladas Potosinas: Chile-spiked corn-masa turnovers with spicy homemade fresh cheese. Pepita-avocado mash, Tamazula hot sauce, crema drizzle, arugula salad.   $8.00
  • Frontera Grill – STREET FOOD: Soft Tacos, Crispy Tacos, Enchiladas, Street Snacks
    Molotes
    Corn-masa "torpedos" filled with grilled woodland mushrooms, homemade ricotta, roasted poblano chiles & epazote. Spicy avocado-tomatillo salsa, Nick's watercress, anejo cheese.
    Molotes: Corn-masa "torpedos" filled with grilled woodland mushrooms, homemade ricotta, roasted poblano chiles & epazote. Spicy avocado-tomatillo salsa, Nick's watercress, anejo cheese.   $8.00
  • Mexico City-Style Quesadillas: Corn masa turnovers stuffed with Samuel's handcrafted Jack cheese & epazote. Guacamole.   $8.00
  • Sopes Rancheros: Crispy corn masa boats filled with savory shredded beef, roasted tomato, avocado, homemade fresh cheese.   $8.00

QUESADILLAS, TOSTADA

  • Northern-Style Quesadillas: Flour tortillas folded over Wisconsin Jack cheese & one of the following fillings. Black beans & young greens.
    *Duck carnitas with grilled red onion
    *Charcoaled chicken with guacamole
    *Tender Mushrooms (Mexican woodland type) with roasted poblano peppers
    *Grilled shrimp with smoky, spicy chipotle peppers   $14.00
  • Classic Tostadas: Crisp tortillas topped with black beans, sour cream, avocado, tomato & fresh cheese; Little Gem lettuce salad.   $11.00 With chicken $15.00

VEGETABLES (AND A LITTLE MEAT)

  • Jicama Street Snack: Jicama, cucumber, pineapple, fresh lime, crushed guajillo chile.   $7.00
  • Smoky-Creamy-Spicy Mushrooms: Brown beech, hedgehog, oyster, shiitake & black trumpet mushrooms, white sweet potato, Oaxacan pasilla crema, epazote.   $8.50
  • Frontera Grill – VEGETABLES (AND A LITTLE MEAT)
    Spicy-Smoky Green Beans
    Seared serrano chiles "toreados," Kaskaskia cheese.
    Spicy-Smoky Green Beans: Seared serrano chiles "toreados," Kaskaskia cheese.   $7.00
  • Grilled Asparagus: Poblano rajas, Samuel's Jack cheese.   $7.00
  • Grilled Knob Onions: Lime, coarse salt.   $2.00
  • Homemade Pickled Jalapenos: Carrots, cauliflower.   $3.00
  • Herb Green Rice: Black lentils, grilled knob onions, sweet plantains, crispy epazote.   $5.50
  • Classic White Rice: Black beans, grilled pineapple, spicy morita chiles, grilled knob onions.   $5.50
  • "Venomous" Pintos: Chorizo, ham hocks, bacon, fresh cheese.   $7.00
  • Traditional Black Beans: Epazote, manteca, sweet plantains, queso fresco.   $5.50
  • Modern Black Beans: Baja olive oil, roasted garlic, crispy onions, queso anejo, cilantro.   $5.50
  • Rustic Potato-Kohlrabi Mash: Guero chiles, roasted garlic, Kaskaskia cheese.   $5.50
  • Fried Sweet Plantains: Homemade sour cream, fresh cheese.   $5.00

TRIOS

  • Old School Frontera Trio: Two pieces each: smoked chicken taquitos (sour cream, guacamole), Mexico City-style corn masa quesadillas (artisan cheese, epazote), ceviche fronterizo tostadas.   $18.00
  • Street Food Trio: Two pieces each: potosinas (fresh cheese, avocado, crema, Tamazula), pork flautas (guajillo salsa, peashoots), sopes (shredded beef, roasted tomato, green chile).   $19.00
  • Frontera Grill – TRIOS
    Mole Trio
    Mole poblano enchiladas (2), lamb in black mole, roasted vegetables in green mole de flores (poblanos, squash blossoms, pepitas).
    Mole Trio: Mole poblano enchiladas (2), lamb in black mole, roasted vegetables in green mole de flores (poblanos, squash blossoms, pepitas).   $21.00
  • Ceviche Trio: Frontera Ceviche (albacore, tomato, olive), Yucatecan Ceviche (shrimp, squid, orange, cucumber), Tropical Tuna Cocktail (big eye, avoado-tomatillo, mango salsa).   $18.50
  • Big Wood-grilled Tacos al Carbon Trio: Grassfed skirt steak (roasted garlic, spices), Gunthorp chicken (tangy, garlicky), pork (pastor marinade, pineapple), roasted poblano rajas, guacamole, grilled knob onions & guero chile.   $34.00

MOLES, PIPIANES & RED CHILE BRAISES

  • Frontera Grill – MOLES, PIPIANES & RED CHILE BRAISES
    Pork in Mole Coloradito
    Adobo-marinated Gunthorp pork loin, Oaxacan mole coloradito (ancho, sesame, spices, chocolate), Mexican chocolate-sesame tamal, grilled green beans, red chile chicharron.
    Pork in Mole Coloradito: Adobo-marinated Gunthorp pork loin, Oaxacan mole coloradito (ancho, sesame, spices, chocolate), Mexican chocolate-sesame tamal, grilled green beans, red chile chicharron.   $18.50
  • Frontera Grill – MOLES, PIPIANES & RED CHILE BRAISES
    Chicken in Mole de Flores
    Gunthorp chicken breast (garlic-green chile marinade), green mole of poblanos, pumpkinseeds, squash blossoms, chayote & cream. Herb-infused green corn torta, spicy greens.
    Chicken in Mole de Flores: Gunthorp chicken breast (garlic-green chile marinade), green mole of poblanos, pumpkinseeds, squash blossoms, chayote & cream. Herb-infused green corn torta, spicy greens.   $18.50
  • Frontera Grill – MOLES, PIPIANES & RED CHILE BRAISES
    Duck with Pasilla-Huitlacoche Sauce
    Red chile-rubbed Gunthorp duck breast, pasilla-huitlacoche sauce (garlic, dark beer). Field corn torta, sweet corn esquites, anejo cheese, shoots salad.
    Duck with Pasilla-Huitlacoche Sauce: Red chile-rubbed Gunthorp duck breast, pasilla-huitlacoche sauce (garlic, dark beer). Field corn torta, sweet corn esquites, anejo cheese, shoots salad.   $20.50

LIVE FIRE ENTREES

  • Tacos al Carbon: Wood-grilled meat, poultry, fish or mushrooms, roasted poblano rajas, guacamole, two salsas.   $16.50
  • Oaxacan-Style Carne Asada: Red chile-marinated Creekstone Natural Black Angus rib steak. Black beans, sweet plantains with homemade crema, guacamole.   $29.50
  • Frontera Grill – LIVE FIRE ENTREES
    Bass in Molcajete Salsa
    Garlicky, grilled Blue Heron striped bass in warm hand-crushed tomato salsa. Herby green rice, Klug Farm grilled asparagus.
    Bass in Molcajete Salsa: Garlicky, grilled Blue Heron striped bass in warm hand-crushed tomato salsa. Herby green rice, Klug Farm grilled asparagus.   $18.50
  • FISH of the Day: Market Price  
  • Frontera Grill – LIVE FIRE ENTREES
    Shrimp in Spring Green Cream
    Garlicky shrimp in velvety sauce of green chiles, asparagus & cilantro. Classic white rice, roasted poblano rajas, shoots salad.
    Shrimp in Spring Green Cream: Garlicky shrimp in velvety sauce of green chiles, asparagus & cilantro. Classic white rice, roasted poblano rajas, shoots salad.   $18.50

DAILY SPECIALS

  • Tuesday/Pork Milanesa: Crunchy-coated Gunthorp pork loin with roasted tomato sauce. Black beans, pickled red onions.   $16.00
  • Wednesday/Tamales: Chef's choice   $14.50
  • Thursday/Ribeye Skewers: Creekstone naturally raised ribeye, shiitakes, chayote & zucchini. Guajillo chile sauce with roasted tomato, black beans.   $19.00
  • Friday/Lamb Mixiote: Crawford Farm lamb shoulder slow-roasted in parchment packages (mixiotes), ancho-pasilla sauce, giant butterbeans, chayote & epazote. Frisee-watercress salad.   $18.00

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