Northern Exposure

In the past year, three newcomers have caused a stir on the quiet streets of downtown Lake Bluff. Plan a trip around a visit to Inovasi, and eat your way through the day at Wildflour and Noodle Bar.

Inovasi Chef John des Rosiers (pictured) applies a creative hand to local and seasonal produce at this globally inspired restaurant. Not to be missed are his homemade noodles, which may appear with slow-cooked local chicken and house-made bacon, or organic duck with orange, soy sauce, mint and a scrambled egg from the restaurant's own flock of hens. 28 Center Ave., Lake Bluff; 847-295-1000 or inovasi.us

Noodle Bar Banker Richard Bentsen fell for this restaurant when he visited it in New York's Greenwich Village--so he brought a carbon copy to Lake Bluff. Standouts on the Pan-Asian menu include tender cubes of fried tofu sprinkled with black sesame and peanut, and toasty fried brown rice with Chinese broccoli and Thai basil. Finish with lychee fried ice cream. 20 E. Scranton Ave., Lake Bluff; 847-735-8170 or noodlebarlakebluff.com

Wildflour Bakery & Café Dive into homemade Kit Kat bars--hazelnut, peanut butter and crunchy bits swathed in dark chocolate--and coffee-infused tiramisu cupcakes at this quaint spot from pastry chefs Kristi Loucks and Ann Sorlie-Fisher. On the savory side, there are soups and sandwiches with house-roasted meats and pillowy slices of whole-grain bread, almond croissants or cinnamon rolls (weekends only), inspiring repeat visits. 14 E. Scranton Ave., Lake Bluff; 847-235-2498 or wildflourlakebluff.com