For years, my wife Elizabeth and I had been looking for the space to open our own restaurant. I had worked my way up from teenage prep cook to an executive chef at five restaurants in succession, and Elizabeth, a professional actress, had found her way into more than one restaurant and catering side job over the years. (Between the two of us we had worked every position in the business.) With the news that we would be welcoming a son into the world, we said, "It's time." We didn't mean to buy the building and start re-habbing when our son was three days old but that's just how it worked out. We had always loved the Lincoln Square/ North Center 'hood, and when this building became available we jumped feet first.

The dream was simple: A comfortable, elegant space to dine in, a neighborhood destination. The wall sized Chalkboard allows me to be free with the menu, incorporating the influences of the many cuisines I have worked with over the years; classic French, new American, Asian, Creole, and of course the tricks I learned in my grandmother and mother's Italian kitchens. Most importantly, an ever changing menu allows me to maintain our commitment to using locally produced and organic product wherever possible.

The elegant interior design was created by our brother-in-law Angelo Adamo, who incorporated the look of our building's exterior and ideas of Victorian and French tearooms to create our space. He contributed one of his original paintings to the space as well. It keeps company with an original work by our friend, the artist Peter Stephens, and hanging out on the shelves around the space are curiosities and knick-knacks, many of which were spotted by the fine eye of family friend Deborah Lovely, of Lovely Fine Arts, Inc.

Chalkboard is a place to bring your family, friends, a date. Enjoy delicious, simple food, sip a great glass of wine, and be happy. We hope we see you again and again.

Gilbert