ENO at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park Now Featuring Winter 'Silk Road' Series of Fondues

The chic wine lounge ENO, located at Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, 200 N. Columbus Drive, will feature a winter "Silk Road" series of spiced fondues made in-house daily with a different infused spice each month. Inspired by one of the world's oldest and most historically important trade routes, the "Silk Road" series takes guests on a journey to explore the delicate flavors of spices that are to be savored and appreciated for their influence on food and history. The wine room on the lobby level of the hotel is the perfect setting to enjoy a glass of wine and sweet or savory fondue after a day of shopping or sightseeing on Michigan Avenue.

The series kicks off in November with cinnamon. Executive Pastry Chef Erin Patsiopoulos will create a chocolate fondue infused with cinnamon served with red hot marshmallows, pumpkin madeleines, apple pie shortbread, candied cinnamon nut clusters, fresh strawberries, pretzel rods, brownie bites, rice krispie treats, and bananas. Sommelier Daniel Freedman has expertly paired the fondue with the Vinedo de los Vientes 'Alcyone' and Late Harvest Tannat, Atalantida, Uruguay wine. Each fondue and wine pairing starts at $19 per person.

ENO will explore the rich and zesty spice, ginger, in December with ginger-infused chocolate fondue. Accompanying the fondue will be gingerbread men, ginger citrus pound cake, ginger chocolate biscotti, fresh strawberries, pretzel rods, brownie bites, rice krispie treats, and bananas. The suggested wine pairing is Alexandra, Palo Cortado Sherry NV.

Starting in January 2014, ENO will celebrate cardamom with cardamom-infused chocolate fondue. The fondue will be accompanied by coconut cardamom macaroons, cardamom palmiers, and lavender cardamom marshmallows. The month of February will explore the pepper and chili spices with a spicy chocolate fondue, paired with Salt and Pepper shortbread, curry peanut butter cookies, and chili poached mango. In March, ENO will combine saffron with chocolate fondue and feature almond saffron tea cakes, saffron marshmallows and fig saffron shortbread as accompaniments.

Situated in the center of the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park's contemporary lobby, ENO is a trendy space devoted to savoring three of the world's most delightful indulgences: wine, cheese and chocolate. The elegant, slightly recessed space is designed to look like a traditional wine cellar, with soft, intimate lighting, rustic tones of burnt sienna and eggplant, and dramatic, and 10-foot tall temperature-controlled oak cabinets that both showcase and store the wines at optimal temperatures. ENO's global wine list touts 300 to 500 different bottles, with 60 wines available by the glass and 20 available by flight. Each of the flights contain tastings that can focus on anything-from three Pinot Noirs from the same valley to three Chardonnays from the same year. ENO's chocolate menu spotlights a selection of handmade truffles and bars from local chocolatiers, served in pieces or by flight. The lounge's menu also highlights cheeses from small producers around the world, including a number of Midwest-sourced varieties.

ENO is open Sunday through Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. For more information on ENO, call 312-946-7000 or visit www.enowinerooms.com.

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