Dining Tidbits

For June 2008: Perennial, Simplegourmet, L.20, Topaz

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MINI REVIEW
Topaz
"It's going to be a lot of my cooking, which is something you probably know about," says chef Giuseppe Scurato. Yes, we do. Scurato masterminded a contemporary American menu at Boka when it opened in 2003, and the place was an instant hit. Now he's back—at Topaz, an unlikely gem buried in a Burr Ridge shopping center. There, Scurato effortlessly laces his modern American menu with French, Italian, and Spanish touches: He bathes frog legs in gribiche sauce, sets a flawless poached egg next to balsamic-drizzled asparagus, and pairs chorizo with perfectly seared scallops. And don't get us started on his classic American strawberry shortcake. Yeah, we know his cooking. Just forgot how good it was. 780 Village Center Driveway, Burr Ridge; 630-654-1616. –Penny Pollack

Photography: Kendall Karmanian