Located along Chicago’s North Shore, Froggy’s French Café is a beloved institution and cozy retreat for innovative flavors and intimate gatherings from executive chef, Thierry Lefeuvre.

In the summer of 1980, Froggy’s French Café was founded by Gregg Mason and Thierry Lefeuvre, and has been a neighborhood bistro patronized by a loyal base of clientele ever since. Partnering with new owners Bill and Sheri Cartwright, Lefeuvre has kept Froggy’s hopping for the last 45 years, continuously innovating and redesigning to keep the flavors fresh, and the ambiance inviting and intimate.

We started off the evening with Charles Ellner Champagne Care Balance Brut, and all enjoyed its lively fruit and structure. The red wines were the featured category this Winter evening, with some bold and mature Priorat from Case de la Ermita Jumilla. But the wine of the dinner was 2000 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion, a Pessac Leognan. Wine from 2000 are now in the mid-mature state, and it drinks quite well with a spectacular nose of fine aged Cabernet. This wine is why we all came to Highwood, IL this evening. It made the drive well worthwhile. Also from Burgundy, we all enjoy the Aligote from Sylvain Cathiard which set a unique tone prior to these classic mature red wines. – Gregory Miller