Uncommon Ground cares about the earth and you! We use seasonal, locally produced, family farmed & organic products. Enjoy. summer cocktails uncommon bloody mary spicy market vegetable house-infused organic rain vodka, homemade spicy bloody blend, fresh black pepper rim, fresh market vegetable skewer ‘rescue me’ grilled pineapple greyhound for every ‘rescue me’ you order, uncommon ground will make a donation to P.A.W.S.—Chicago…have a drink save a pup! grilled pineapple house-infused organic rain vodka, fresh grapefruit & pineapple juices, sweet citrus & sea salt rim bacon bloody mary homemade hickory-smoked bacon cordial, homemade spicy bloody blend, smoked bacon salt rim candied hibiscus royale candied hibiscus flower, raspberry nectar & sparkling wine grace street sweet tea homemade black lime cordial, homemade lemon myrtle syrup, homemade blackberry-sage iced sweet tea, fresh citrus wedge lemon-ginger candied ginger house-infused organic rain vodka, homemade limoncello & a candied ginger skewer country peach manhattan country peach house-infused bourbon, homemade sweet vermouth, homemade country peach & tarragon syrup, homemade honeysuckle & dandelion bitters, served up with a candied peach skewer devil mayfair homemade lemongrass-gin cordial, fresh cucumber & lime muddle, homemade lemon myrtle syrup, cucumber wheel witching hour homemade violet cordial, lillet blanc, sparkling wine purple berry caiparinha bacardi rum, homemade acai berry, blueberry & pomegranate syrup, fresh citrus muddle, citrus wedge the green fairie = northshore absinthe (locally made) served methode traditionnel homemade red pomegranate sangria tree-tini for every tree-tini you order, ‘live it green’ will plant a tree! who knew a cocktail could help save the earth? triple-berry house-infused organic rain vodka, homemade triple-berry & agave nectar syrup, sparkling moscato float, fallen leaf garnish summer watermelon & fresh basil mojito summer watermelon house-infused rum, fresh watermelon muddle, homemade watermelon syrup, balsamic & black pepper rim margarita fresón three citrus house-infused tequila, fresh squeezed citrus, homemade strawberry & agave syrup, sweet citrus & sea salt rim bluegrass julep homemade basil-bourbon cordial, fresh lime & mint muddle, homemade mint syrup, a ginger ale float, fresh mint sprig summer lemonade sunset homemade black lime cordial, homemade lemon myrtle syrup, homemade lemonade & pomegranate juice, served tall on the rocks with a fresh citrus wedge craft beer butte creek organic pilsner, california karmeliet tripel belgian ale, belgium goose island ‘summertime’ ale, chicago bells ‘kalamazoo’ royal amber ale, michigan unibroue apple ephemere, quebec two brothers french country ale, illinois three floyds ‘alpha king’ india pale ale, indiana left hand milk stout, colorado samuel smith’s organic lager, england duvel golden ale, belgium brasserie dupont ‘foret’ organic saison, belgium dogfishhead ‘aprihops’ apricot ipa, delaware lakefront organic extra special bitter, milwaukee north coast ‘brother thelonius’ dubbel, california founder’s ‘devil dancer’ triple ipa, michigan brasserie lebbe white ale (750ml), france grapes 2007 Delta Vineyards Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand Pinot Noir, that moody grape best known in Burgundy, has long been the true wine aficionado’s best friend and worst enemy. A great one will take you to a heavenly place with intrigue and nuance while a bad one can be disappointing. This I believe is a ‘Best Friend’ Pinot Noir. This version from Pinot Noir hot-spot New Zealand is bright and elegant with notes of mulberry, ripe plum and white pepper. 2005 Finca Omblancas ‘Denuno’ Petite Verdot // Monastrell, Jumilla, Spain Wine aficionado’s the world over are calling Jumilla that little rural town in Southern Spain, the next Rioja….so here’s your chance to taste the next big thing while it’s still affordable. Finca Omblancas is perched 1800 feet in the Jumilla hillsides where the winemaker, originally from Bordeaux, makes gorgeous wines unlike any the world over. This example is a blend of Petite Verdot (the forgotten grape of Bordeaux), Syrah and Monastrell (also known as Mouvedre) — the Petite Verdot adding notes of freshly cut violets, raspberry, crème brulée and goji berry, while the Syrah and Monastrell add contrasting profiles of game, chocolate and saddle leather. Together, the dichotomy of flavors and aromas makes this one of the most complex and satisfying reds we’ve had in a very, very long time. 2005 Ca La’ Bionda Corvina, Valpolicella, Italy Think about it…a perfect spring night in Verona…the roman streets bustling by, the fresh market vegetable stands around you are closing for the evening, the faint shine of the stars above, a beautiful man or woman sitting across from you, and a lovely little bottle of Valpolicella bursting with fresh raspberry, almond and white raisin. Well, at least we can supply the wine. Heck, the stars are possible…but that beautiful person sitting across from you…let’s just say you’re on your own… 2006 Protos Tempranillo, Ribero Del Duero, Spain Bodega Protos is not only one of the first wineries of the Ribero Del Duero region in Northern Spain, but they are also one of the most highly regarded in terms of their sustainable farming. In a region known for their Tempranillo, Protos is one of the originators, nestled beneath a large and ancient Spanish castle in a community that dates back to prehistoric cultures. To take a drink of one of their elegant reds is to take a step back in time. This example is layered and elegant, with flavors of late picked plum, black lime, and fresh roasted coffee. 2006 Massaya Cinsault // Cabernet Sauvignon, Bekka Valley, Lebanon I’m certain when one thinks of classic old world wine, the first thought isn’t Lebanon, but the wine making tradition dates back 5000 years with the Phoenicians, the ancient dwellers of Lebanon, who were tending vineyards and making wine there. In short, this is our uncommon example of where wine began. This Cinsault, one of the primary grapes used in Chateauneuf du Pape, is velvety and rich with notes of lavender, muddled strawberry, all spice and clove. 2006 Domaine du Pegau ‘Plume Bleue’ Syrah // Grenache, Languedoc, France Jean Genet, the French author, occasional criminal, and all around self-styled renegade was famous for saying that ‘Freedom is the right to choose the habit that binds you”. Well if Jean Genet was right, it wouldn’t be a stretch to think that this little Vin De Pay D’ Oc (Country Wine from the South of France) would be one of those binding habits. This is a classic, bordering on addictive, little bistro styled Syrah bursting with white pepper, kirsch, and chamomile notes, not to mention a Van Gogh paintings worth of Provencal character. 2005 Owen Roe ‘Murphy’s Law’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington State “Anything that can go wrong will”. Well nothing has gone wrong with winemaker David O’Reily’s latest sustainably grown production. Washington State, over the last half decade, has truly excelled in its viniculture, and has a serious chance to make us all forget about California. Owen Roe is one of those cult wineries leading the charge. The “Murphy’s Law” Cabernet Sauvignon is O’Reily’s introduction to the region with flavors of candied blueberry & chocolate cake, yet still manages to maintain layers of fresh forest floor and muddled mint. 2006 Vina Robles Petite Sirah / Touriga Nacional, Paso Robles, California Huh? First you have Petite Sirah, that quintessentially American-made buxom red, then you toss in some Touriga Nacional, a grape famous in Portugal for it’s use in making port and hearty unfortified wines, and then Tannat famous in Southwestern France and oddly enough, Uruguay. Shake it all up and what you’re left with is a wine-geeks dream. So much is going on here that it’s difficult to believe how incredibly balanced and structured this wine really is. The Petite Sirah delivers juicy ripe blueberry notes all the while the nobility of the Touriga Nacional and Tannat give it a backbone of cedar and tobacco. All in all this wine reminds me of taking two dates to a party; it’s busy, it’s a lot to focus on, but all in all it’s something you’re going to be telling you’re friends about later. 2005 Ben Marco Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina Truly a family project here; the husband and wife team of Susana Balboa and Pedro Marchevsky are producing a wine named after Pedro’s father who taught him how to plant, tend, and care for the vineyard. Malbec, the grape used in the French appellation of Cahors and sometimes blended in Bordeaux, has found a new home in Argentina; think of it as a Syrah meets your grandmother’s 2006 Kracher Pinot Gris, Burgenland, Austria Okay, take who just may be the best winemaker in the world, give him perfect terroir and a penchant for Pinot Gris (you may also know this as Pinot Grigio) and what you’ll have is…well… exactly this. This is “the master’s” (what they called him in Austria) entry level Pinot Gris, organically grown with notes of freshly cut wild flowers and pear with clean, electric Austrian minerality. 2008 Esporão ‘Alandra’ Touriga Nacional Rosé, Alentejo, Portugal Okay, tuck that pinky in, this is not your grandmother’s blush; this is real Rosé, the way it was meant to be. Made with the noble grape of Portugal that’s commonly used in Port Wines, we have a Rosé with structure and bright notes of raspberry and fresh strawberry. Few things scream outside patio in the summer more than a brisk Rosé, so why not drink one with some style. 2007 Elizabeth Rose Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, California This 100% organic and 100% beautiful Sauvignon Blanc from California cult winery ‘Elizabeth Rose’ truly represents Northwestern style: relaxed, sunny, and just enough of a flirt to keep you coming back for more. This offering exhibits beautiful tropical aromas with gooseberry, guava and kiwi fruit. Try it; you’re going to love it! 2007 Ponte de Lima ‘Adamado’ Alvarinho, Vinho Verde, Portugal Think about it…a warm summer night, you can here the crickets chirping in the distance, there seem to be almost too many stars, the melodic creek of a porch swing, you’re holding hands with someone you’re not sure you should….got the image in your mind? Okay, well during all of that, you’d want to be drinking this! This is a sexy little Vinho Verde with lychee and lime-aid characteristics and just enough effervescence to keep you sipping beneath the stars. 2005 Susana Balboa ‘Crios’ Torrontes, Cafayate, Argentina Remember that really attractive person in High School that was so attractive that everyone just assumed they already had a date to the prom only to show up at the big dance all alone? No? Well me neither, but that story is the way my Father convinced me to ask my date out, who incidentally, not only said yes, but was also pretty frisky. Well, keep that story in mind before ordering anything else, because this wine too is strikingly beautiful, and a bit frisky. Susana Balboa (a folk hero in her native Argentina) has created a truly gorgeous Torrontes that is riddled with all the bright electricity of a rainstorm and all the depth and raw sexuality of a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel. In short, I love this wine and you will too. 2006 Wieneger Gruner Veltliner, Vienna, Austria Gruner Veltliner, the true noble white grape of Austria, has long been a chef’s best friend with its stunning ability to adapt to virtually every regional cuisine, no matter how eclectic. In other words, it’s a perfect wine for us here at Uncommon Ground! This example is truly beautiful with a floral aroma of white flowers that segues into mouth-filling flavors of limestone, white pepper and pear. 2007 Charles Smith ‘Kung Fu Girl’ Riesling, Columbia Valley, Washington State Okay pretend Merle Haggard, Janis Joplin, Joey Ramone and Mama Cass are all out for a night on the town … this is kinda’ like that. The winemaker here, Charles Smith is not only a Rock-and Roll aficionado, but later became one of the true great winemakers working in the U.S. Sure he’s a bit eccentric, he might show up at the party with his wild hair standing up like a half-mad clown screaming something about the state of today’s Rock and Roll, but in turn, he’ll be carrying with him one of the more polished and sophisticated new world Rieslings you’ll find. This version is beautiful with notes of lime-aid, Granny Smith apple, and candied peach. n/v Sokol-Blosser ‘Evolution’, Willamette Valley, Oregon Oregon humbly accepts its quiet fame with earthy gracefulness. The people who work the land are friendly and approachable, the climate, similar to France's Burgundy--attracted many starry-eyed, wine-loving hippies in the 1960s and '70s, when Oregon's wine scene began to sprout. People like Susan Sokol lead the charge by creating an organic and sustainable farm “scene” that is unprecedented the world over. So in homage to Susan Sokol, a favorite here at Uncommon, we’ve added a wine that is truly as Uncommon as we are. A non-vintage blend of 9 different varietals as varied as Chardonnay, Riesling, Muller Thurgau, and Sylvaner, this is truly a beautiful wine that is quite simply, deliciously uncommon. 2005 Domaine Perraud Chardonnay, Burgundy, France Little else can be said about white Burgundy. For those of you that have had it know the truly mind-bending experience that it can be in terms of Chardonnay. For those of you that haven’t, now’s your chance. Order this right now and don’t think twice. This is exactly what Chardonnay should taste like. dinner small plates artisanal sausage sampler wild boar bratwurst, cognac pheasant sausage, house pickled vegetables, market potato salad, whole grain mustard mediterranean trio uncommon hummus, roast eggplant salad, mint tzatziki, citrus marinated olives, herbed pita duck confit quesadilla caramelized onions, chihuahua cheese & orange avocado salsa house cured wild alaskan salmon crispy potato, dill crème fraiche & capers korean chili-spiced fried calamari sesame seeds & fresh mixed greens prince edward island mussels red curry coconut broth, tomato concasse & tumeric powder baked artichoke, goat cheese, pesto dip extra virgin olive oil, crostini sweet potato fries goat cheese fondue in the bowl soup of the day vegetarian chili cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions greens sunshine salad organic greens, seasonal farmer’s market vegetables, avocado, sunflower seeds & sprouts, apple cider vinaigrette, seeded flatbread crisp uncommon chopped salad romaine, roast gunthorp farm chicken, bacon, black river gorgonzola, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, scallions & smoked tomato ranch chipotle marinated wild shrimp salad jicama, black beans, cucumbers, corn, cilantro-lime vinaigrette vegetarian soba noodle salad cucumbers, carrots, scallions, bean sprouts, red peppers, spicy miso vinaigrette, orange-soy reduction organic mixed green salad dijon vinaigrette between bread helen’s grilled chicken sandwich grilled gunthorp farm chicken breast, swiss emmenthal, avocado, red onion, tomato, sprouts & honey-mustard on grilled hearth bread the millman burger half pound angus beef, nueske peppercorn bacon, boursin cheese & piquillo peppers black angus half pound burger cheese, bacon, grilled onions or mushrooms veggie burger served on whole wheat bun cheese, bacon, grilled onions or mushrooms dinner large plates crispy naturally raised chicken breast smoked chicken leg roast potatoes, fresh market vegetables, tarragon-mustard chicken jus grilled buffalo skirt steak spicy house-blend espresso & cocoa nib rub, onion marmalade, yukon gold pommes frites, fresh market veggies pistachio crusted tilapia asparagus & israeli couscous, blistered tomatoes, orange reduction duo of duck duck confit, seared duck breast, black river gorgonzola ‘crunchy’ potatoes, farmer’s market onion & port wine duck jus gunthorp farm pork t-bone herb polenta spaetzle, cherry relish, grilled asparagus bacon wrapped midwestern meatloaf yukon gold mashed potatoes, demi-glace, caramelized onions, sautéed spinach pastas and pizzas spicy florida pink shrimp creole pasta mussels, andouille sausage, white wine, spicy tomato broth farfalle with sorrel & marcona almond pesto asparagus, tomato, parmigiano-reggiano, crispy leeks & lemon zest prairie pure macaroni & cheese prairie pure butterkase, aged white cheddar, gruyere, tart apple slaw smoked chicken pizza red onion jam, mozzarella, scallions pesto, 3 cheese, tomato pizza smoked mozzarella, black river gorgonzola & goat cheese Brunch uncommon huevos black bean corn cake, eggs over easy, ancho-chili sauce, chihuahua cheese montana omelet bacon, potato, scallions, cheddar cheese, sour cream green city market scramble asparagus, spring onions, sorrel, asiago cheese house made chorizo chilaquiles scrambled eggs, jalapenos, crispy corn tortillas, chihuahua cheese, salsa verde, sour cream uncommon breakfast melt eggs over easy, nueske black peppercorn bacon, cheddar-ale cheese, organic spinach, onion black bread house cured wild alaskan salmon platter watercress cream cheese, red onions, cucumbers, capers, tomatoes, choice of bagel gunthorp farm chicken breakfast burrito scrambled eggs, mixed peppers, chihuahua cheese, cumin crème, spinach tortilla, smoked chili sauce 2 eggs any style add cheddar, swiss, bleu or goat cheese organic five grain blueberry pancakes french toast duo cinnamon raisin & multi-grain bread, fresh seasonal fruit organic buttermilk pancakes summer granola, organic yogurt & fresh fruit rolled oats, local honey, cinnamon, apricot, currants & almonds steel cut irish oatmeal & bananas bowl of fresh seasonal fruit with organic yogurt |