Oatmeal.

The much overlooked blank canvas of a breakfast dish that, when done well, speaks loads to the quality of a breakfast experience.

If anyone knows me well they know that my favorite go-to breakfast is oatmeal.

Because of this, I’ve set out on a mission to extend my oatmeal fantasies beyond my own kitchen into the restaurant scene in Chicago. Throughout the next few months I will chronicle the top oatmeal experiences in the city using the Michelin rubric as a guide.

As a reminder:

Michelin Inspector’s 5 Restaurant Rating Criteria:
1. Quality of products
2. Mastery of flavour and cooking techniques
3. The personality of the chef represented in the dining experience
4. Value for money
5. Consistency between inspectors’ visits

The restaurants that pay the most attention and produce the best version of a seemingly boring, uninteresting dish will be given the utmost honor.

Call me the oatmeal inspector.