Wine and dine vegan-style @ the Wynn

On the menu tonight: grilled royal trumpet mushrooms with creamy polenta and shallot balsamic sauce. If you're drooling, slow right on down. You've gotta save room for the banana crepes with coconut ice cream and avocado mousse. It's a vegan fest at the Wynn.

The ultra sleek resort on the Strip announced today an all-new vegan culinary program that's spicing up several of the on-site restaurants. The exclusive dishes incorporate tofu and quinoa into flavorful preparations, exotic grains and vegetables for a boost of fiber, and coconut milk and veggie purees to up the creaminess in sauces and risottos.

What entrees are most enticing? Try some of these next time you're ready to roll the dice:

Alex: Fava bean puree with sauteed hon shimeji mushrooms, snap pea salad and aged balsamic vinegar
The Country Club: Watermelon gazpacho with avocado, jicama, tomato, cucumber, cilantro and yucca crisp
Wing Lei: Crispy tofu with sugar pea, water chestnut, carrot and bean sprout
Sinatra: Blueberry cobbler with toasted almond ice cream

And check out the Tofu Carpaccio, above. Delish.

Chicago's Hotel Felix Scores Silver LEED

Muted tones and clean, brisk lines make up the interior of Chicago's Hotel Felix. In the lobby, a slender rectangle is cut from the wall, stacked with fire wood, and sandwiched between a long, low fireplace and lounge area. The atmosphere is city chic, but sustainable too.

Recently awarded LEED Silver certification, Felix plays host to an impressive lineup of green features given its Midwest locale and posh presence. Included in the eco-minded development of the hotel are recycled content guest room carpeting, bamboo and cork floors, low volatile organic compound paints and wall coverings, and FSC-certified mill work.

Earth-friendly processes also stake claim at the 225-room historic property, which originally served as an apartment building in 1926. On the rooftop, wind turbines twirl their wide arms, showcasing the city's namesake nature and helping to cut the hotel's carbon footprint.

Why Chicago? General Manager George Jordan cites Chicago as one of the nation's leading green cities, boasting rooftop gardens, comprehensive public transit, "urban density and massive lake front and city parks" that appeal to the masses. And while Hotel Felix and its Elate Restaurant surely tops his list of must-sees, he also recommends the 360SEE Art Gallery, Tesla showroom, and city bike share (coming soon) as worthy sites for the environmentally conscious.

Located on the corner of Clark and Huron Street, not far from the bustle of shopper's delight--Magnificent Mile--Felix's rates seem to waver around a starting point of $150 per night.

Here's a question: Where do you sleep when you stay in Chicago? Last weekend, I holed up at the W Lakeshore and wasn't at all impressed with my accommodations (let's just say that the best part was an in-room recycling bin). So please (puh-lease!), do share your suggestions!


In other Chicago news...
Chicago Tops Green Seal Cities
Energy Savings in the Windy City: InterContinental Hotel