The City Enthusiast

Lucky #13, or 14, maybe 15?

2010-03-31T15:18:00.008-05:00

Last year for our anniversary, C and I went to Napa for a lovely 5-day weekend. Neither of us had been before and being the oenophiles that we are (or think we are) we were so looking forward to it...wanting the romanticized experience of tasting fabulous wines, but with the authenticity of finding new, unknown vintners to bring home with us.

Our first night, we went to the Oxbow Public Market for "locals night" at Hog Island Oyster Company. We were enjoying a dozen oysters, as were many patrons that night, when we noticed our neighbors at the bar received their order with only TEN (gasp) oysters in their dozen. We noticed them counting, whispering, and looking overall perplexed, so we piped in and said "Yes, there are a few missing" and a friendship was born.

Little did we know, but we were sitting next to Tom Bardessano and Kristi Seitz - both winemakers, both unbelievably generous, both wanting to share their wine with us.

After days of double dates and wine tours, tastings and recommendations, we found ourselves quite smitten with the 13 Appellations label (of which Kristi is a partner). My opinion is that it is a true taste of Napa Valley, composed of the 'best of the best' from each sub-appellation in Napa (ex. Rutherford, Yountville, Carneros, Howell Mountain are all sub-appellations). Literally the best juice from each of the best growing regions in Napa? What a fabulous concept! And...a wonderfully complex wine.

We bought several bottles on the spot, followed up by a half case 2 months later. The best part is that the wine continues to impress us, as do the winemakers - since they've begun production there are now 14 appellations, with the addition of Oak Knoll, so we look forward to trying the next bottle of juice (w/ 15?) in the near future!

Puerto Vallarta - March Mexico Trip

2010-03-28T20:01:00.007-05:00

Just returned from a week off in Mexico - was a wonderful, relaxing, sun-filled vacation south of the border. C and I packed up on a cold, snowy Chicago morning and headed to a family vacation in Puerta Vallarta. No one in the family (aside from a college spring break trip for Hil) had visited before - so it was a great place to explore and relax for the 6 of us. We spent the week at the Westin, in the Marina district, and ate our way through the breakfast and lunch menus (go for the Muesli, and the Veggie and Fish sandwiches).

After doing some general restaurant searching, we started with a list...and we ate our way through it and then some. Outlined are the highlights:

Super Green Salad, Salmon Zaradorado, & Dessert Delux @ Cafe Des Artistes

Margaritas, Asparagus salad, Grilled Sea Bass, & Beef Carpaccio @ Trio

Chile-rubbed Sea Bass, Tuna Sashimi, Veggie Symphony, & Pomegranate martinis @ La Palapa

Cuatro salsas, Margaritas, Chipotle-Tequila linguini & to-die-for Chile Relleno's @ Los Xitomates

Fish tacos (grilled and fried), the guacamole, and the authenticity @ Sayulita Fish Taco's

After the week, we still weren't sick of guacamole, tortilla chips, or margaritas...but it was nice to come home to a cheesy, "American" pizza on Saturday night (complete with a cuddly pup). Thanks to my parents for organizing and funding an amazing warm-weather-family-trip. Love you! S&C

Bacon Wrapped Gourmet Club - A night in Spain

2010-03-09T11:54:00.007-06:00

The theme for the first Gourmet club meeting was: Tapas! Everyone whole-heartedly embraced the concept and came prepared with lots of wine, garlic, olive oil, and bread. The conversations were fluid and varied, the kitchen a flurry of pans and pots, the table littered with wine bottles - success!

Definitely a meeting of worthy contenders for best dish - everything from simple roasted peppers with capers, to an onslaught of black bean empanadas and proscuitto wrapped asparagus with oozing goat cheese (I'm craving one of those right now, actually), there was garlic shrimp with a heavenly garlickly oil for dipping, our equally garlicky white bean and garbanzo salad, and delightful bites of bacon-wrapped dates. I personally found the albondigas recipe to be "pork-heavy" and would make several alterations...the saffron sauce came out well, however, and they seemed to be eaten (always a good sign).

We brought a Tempranillo to share, but I'm not sure the structure was up to par with some of the pairings we had - c'est la vie, we drank it anyway!

The next meeting is likely at our house - though we'll post more pics and recipes from Tapas night...thoughts, suggestions, let me know!

What's in a name?

2010-03-03T14:39:00.003-06:00

Help us name our "gourmet club" - here were some options....
Epicure
CGC (Chicago Gourmet Club)
The Urban Gourmet
Mangia Group
Meet and Mangia
Buongustaio (Gourmet in Italian)
Il Buongustaio Urbano
Club Cucina
Vino e Cibo (Wine and Food in Italian)
Le Bon Vivant (Gourmand in French)

We'd like to have SOMETHING to call our gatherings...leave any additional thoughts in the comments!

The Gourmet Club begins...

2010-03-01T16:29:00.005-06:00

Several months ago, on a cold, wintry work day, Erin and I had a lengthy discussion around our desire for a "gourmet club". She has been thinking about this for some time now, found a sounding board (and core member) in me and hence...the club was born.

Here are the details from the original email - this will set the stage for you:
- Meet once a month on a Saturday
- Everyone rotates hosting, and the host picks the theme for the next month (if your place is too small to host, someone else will happily step in while you still are officially the "host")
- We will have a core group of people who are serious about committing to this (criteria = having an interest in food, and genuinely excited to spend time cooking once a month, hosting, etc.) with some wiggle room for guests (i.e., dates, others we extend the invite to on a monthly basis but who may not be up for it EVERY month)

Core Group:
Erin
Sara
Chris
Sarah R.
Bill
Amanda
Tricia
Colleen
Sarah
Orin
Ryan
Mica (and Peter)

So, it's unlikely that all of these people would agree, but say they do... That said, if everyone in agrees, we're at 11. Maybe we just pick an additional person or two. And, as mentioned, we could always invite people on a monthly basis, maybe seeing how the first few months go and what attendance is like.

Possible themes to get excited about:
- Cuisine (Italian, French, etc.)
- Secret ingredient
- On a budget (i.e., less than $10 dishes)
- Cook-off (i.e., chili)
- Inspired by a movie, song or book
- Wine/beer pairings
- Small plates

Oh, the possibilities are endless!

Our first meeting is Friday, March 5 - they're 8, possibly 10 folks attending. Stay tuned for more!

Art Institute - Free Februarys

2010-02-16T21:33:00.005-06:00

I think the title mostly explains this blog post, which is to tell anyone (er, all 9 of you) that doesn't already know about the Art Institute's "Free February" promotion! All month you can simply walk in and stroll the halls filled with such wonders as Untitled and Untitled. I understand that you may not know exactly how to explain your art/work/painting/sculpture, but can't you at least ATTEMPT a name? In contrast, every third painting in Italy is Madonna e bambino.

Irregardless of what you see or how long you go, try to make it to the 3rd floor of the modern wing, it's the European Contemporary rooms that make me happy. Lots of color, bold shapes, random sizes... who can resist a Picasso or a Matisse? Enjoy!

Nella Pizzeria

2010-02-16T10:57:00.001-06:00

Went to check out the new Nella Pizzeria in LP this past Friday - we were looking for a low-key place to grab a bite, have a glass of wine, and not spend $1MM. Nella fit the bill.

A-Shan and I immediately ordered a glass of Sangiovese, a Friday night special, and launched into our weekly de-brief. After our patient waiter returned to take our order (for the 4th time) we selected two salads (arugula for me, mixed green for her) and the Fiorentina pizza (mozzarella, spinach and ricotta). The salads were a great size - fresh, perfectly dressed, plus a wedge of lemon for mine that was an added bonus. I would have loved some fresh cracked pepper, but I didn't ask...

Our pizza was a great size for two ladies sharing - thinking that if C and I went, we'd need to get another one and/or an additional appetizer - and we ate the entire thing. The crust was nice and chewy, the sauce was a perfect ratio with the cheese. I "dressed" mine with crushed red pepper flakes and it was divine...a great Friday night meal with a great friend.

The place really filled up after I got there (about 6:45pm) but there were always seats at the bar. Good energy, good food, reasonable prices and walking distance are a winning recipe for me!

A "non" dish for everyone

2010-02-11T10:02:00.004-06:00

Several years ago, I joined various colleagues in Boston in completing a 14 day cleanse - this was not the "master" cleanse w/ cayenne pepper, maple syrup madness - but one focusing on clean foods. Clean foods are defined as non-wheat, non-meat, non-caffeinated, non-dairy, non-alcoholic, food-from-the-earth type foods. Needless to say, C quit after 4 days and was miserable* when I did it a second time...I liked the overall premise, but it was REALLY hard to stick to when I went to NYC for a friend's birthday, but I digress.

While in Beaver Creek a week ago, I stole the most recent issue of Bon Appetit and perused the magazine this past weekend. It's a slim issue, but packed with great recipes that I truly see us incorporating into our mealtimes. One such recipe was for quinoa risotto with mushrooms - a very cleanse-friendly food, that I highly recommend. Quinoa is great for cleansing AND vegetarians as it is a great source of protein, high in fiber, and is gluten-free and easy to digest.

Since my brother and his girlfriend often make vegetarian meals, I'm posting this especially for them to try - it's hard to pronounce, but once you have quinoa I think you're a convert:
1 cup quinoa (rinsed)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow or white onion
1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
1 8 oz pckg crimini (baby bella) mushrooms, sliced
6 oz of shiitake mushrooms, sliced
3-4 strands of fresh thyme, de-stemmed
1 cup dry white wine (sauvignon blanc/chablis or the like)
Some shredded parmegiano cheese, if preferred

Bring 2 cups of salted water to boil - add the quinoa and cover, simmering over medium-low. Let this cook until there is no water, approx 10-12 minutes.

While quinoa is cooking, heat olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the onion, cook until translucent and soft, approx 5 minutes. Add the garlic, mixing it into the onions, cook for about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and the thyme, mixing everything together. Cook until mushrooms are soft, about 5 minutes. Add the wine; let the wine cook off and stir occasionally until mixture thickens and liquids are reduced (about 3 minutes).

Add the quinoa to the mushroom mixture, stirring to mix thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper and serve! We both put about a tbsp of shredded parm/asiago blend on ours for added saltiness :)

This should make 4 entree servings, or 6 side servings. We served it with a fennel tomato salad and it was a lovely, earthy, vege-friendly meal! Highly recommended.

*not the entire time, but pretty much against all future cleanses

Vineyard to visit, Turnbull

2010-02-04T16:14:00.005-06:00

While in Napa this past fall, C and I spent a lot of time "commuting" and whiling away the hours on the lovely St. Helena highway (Rte 29). We tried to plan around the must-dos and restaurants on our list, therefore creating a circle of wineries and vineyards per diem. What strikes me as funny now is that we passed Turnbull every day - it was far enough south on the east side of the road, has an easily identifiable sign, and is close to the Silverado turn-off. Plus, we visited the neighboring vineyards of Cakebread, Grgich and Rubicon.

The point is - we didn't make any attempt to go there, though we thought about it, and now I'd like to return. Turnbull has a simple menu: Sauv blanc, "old Bull" (meritage), Merlot and Cabernet Sauv. The last of which they also make a Reserve. Recently, at a Wine Spectator award winning restaurant, we sampled our first taste of the Turnbull Cabernet (2005). While this isn't the most-insane-Cab-I've-ever-had sort of wine, it's a solid choice, consistent from bottle to bottle, great with food, and a decent option for those friends in the bunch who 'only drink white wine'. I guess I was happy and wanted to share - especially because @ $40/bottle at retail and under $90 on premise, it's a decent deal (yes, I do think that).

In Chicago, you can find it at Binny's and likely on a few select menus.

Pantry Recipe: Spanish Spaghetti with Olives

2010-01-21T14:58:00.004-06:00

I'm not like the majority of Americans who can easily cook out of their pantries. We don't buy a lot of dry goods, canned goods, or much of anything good that is stored in the pantry (except chocolate, mmm). Cooking magazines and shows always seem to come up with these "quick and easy" recipes using all sorts of things found in the average pantry - I would have to stock up to make such dishes. Hence my surprise, when I had everything on hand for the following recipe...PLUS (big plus) it is pasta, which I like to incorporate into the weekly menu!

Here are the details, adapted slightly from the original here:

Ingredients:
8 oz thin spaghetti
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups chopped onion (I used sweet yellow)
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp crushed saffron threads
1/2 tsp oregano (optional)
1/2 pound lean ground beef (I used sirloin)
1/2 cup sliced green olives (we bought them from a local olive bar, but jarred will do0
1/4 cup dry sherry
1 heaping tbsp capers
1 2/3 cups marinara sauce (we bought the most basic WF brand)
1/4 cup parsley, divided and to taste

Start by putting your water on to boil.

Heat the olive oil in the pan over medium high heat - adding the onions and cooking for about 4 minutes. Add the garlic, cook for 1 minute. Stir in the spices and add the beef to the pan. Brown the beef, approximately 5 minutes, stir to crumble as it browns.

Stir in the marinara sauce, sherry, olives, capers and about 1/2 of the parsley. Let the sauce come to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes. Once your pasta is al dente, strain and add to the sauce mixture. If the pasta is done first, add to the sauce at the very end and let the pasta warm up, approximately 2-3 minutes. Garnish with remaining parsley and a touch of cheese (the cheese adds a nice saltiness).

Technically, this is for 4 servings, however ours was more like 3 1/4. My suggestion would be to serve alongside a salad or another vegetable if you need/want to feed four. Calories are minimal for this dish at 445 per serving (based on 4) so I think - eat up!

Armenian Rice Pilaf - by request

2010-01-14T13:18:00.003-06:00

After last week's Armenian Saturday Night, I have been talking about pilaf a lot and have had requests for the recipe. So, with no further ado, here we have it:

1 cup long grain rice
1/4 cup thin egg noodles (or broken vermicelli)
1 stick unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups chicken broth, spiced with black pepper and garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste

Using a medium size sauce pan, heat the butter over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, put your chicken stock/broth on low to heat.

As the butter foams, add the egg noodles, stirring frequently with a fork as they brown. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the rice until all kernels are covered in butter and the two are well mixed. Rice will look translucent at this point.

Put the saucepan back on the burner on low, add chicken stock/broth and cover. Usually takes a good 25 minutes to absorb all the liquid, but I would check it and turn it down if you see rice after 10 minutes.

When the liquid is absorbed, remove from heat and fluff with a fork - voila, it's Armenian night! If you are looking for garnishes, a parsley/onion combo is my favorite, pine nuts and mint are also traditional garnishes in Armenian cuisine. Buon Appetito!

The Publican - Sunday Dinner

2010-01-14T12:35:00.009-06:00

For C's birthday this year, (a cold, windy Sunday) we ventured to the west and to The Publican. We've been here several times before and frequent the other establishments in this small restaurant group. The three things you need to know about The Publican are: oysters, pork, and beer. If you said "check, check, check" then you are in good shape!

Our menu was a bit different - Sunday's are low-key, 4-course prix fixe menus, with the option to pair complementary beers. We went with the beer pairing and had a really interesting (and quite delicious) menu:

Oyster & Celery Root soup

- with leeks and grilled sourdough

Grilled Sturgeon

- on top of lentils, Brussels sprouts, and yogurt

Braised Oxtails

- with fingerling potatoes and celery salad

Dessert was an Almond Macaroon with lemon(?) filling, a white chocolate ganache flavored with white pepper and rosemary - sounds strange, but was nice and light and complex!

We were less than impressed with the beer pairings, would have preferred to get our own and drink leisurely (plus, no weird "sweet and sour" beer) but it was a good experience and new for us. They did forget the celebratory reason we were there, but that is a recurring issue for us these past few years. Maybe we like birthday's too much...

Holiday breakfast hit, 2009

2009-12-30T16:28:00.006-06:00

Well, the last major holiday of 2009 is upon us - tomorrow, to be exact, or obvious. I'm watching the year end countdown on VH-1 and various people are outlining Britney lyrics as metaphors and such...SO, I'm writing down a recent hit at my family's house this year: Baked Apple French Toast/Bread Pudding. This recipe definitely deserves a 'slash' as it is super dense and moist a la Bread Pudding, but it is light and hits the spot for all French toast lovers...like my mom.

Here's the recipe - subtly revised from Gale Gand's original note here - make ahead for a wonderful New Year's Day brunch:

Baked Cinnamon-Apple French Toast/Bread Pudding
2 tbsp unsalted butter
6 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4" slices (I used Gala, they're my favorite)
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground or fresh grated nutmeg
8 slices Challah bread, toasted
8 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 1/2 cups whole milk
1 tbsp vanilla

Heat the butter in a medium sized skillet over medium heat until it foams; add the apples and cook until tender, about 12 minutes. Off the heat, stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg.

While the apples are cooking, slice 1 inch pieces of Challah bread and toast in the toaster or oven (350' for 6-8 minutes, turning once). Arrange bread overlapping in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch buttered baking dish.

Beat eggs in a separate bowl, gradually whisk in sugar, milk and vanilla. Pour over toasted bread, covering all pieces. Add the apples to the top; cover and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, heat oven to 350'; bake uncovered until custard is set (might be slightly jiggly, but the custard is mostly firm). It will puff up and brown slightly. We baked ours for 55 minutes (50-60) and then let it sit for 10 minutes - if you can stand it. Serve with maple syrup and/or powdered sugar if you like!

Enjoy - Happy New Year!

Fall, foliage, and 'leaf peeping'

2009-11-11T17:04:00.004-06:00

Moving to Chicago last year meant experiencing all of the seasons from a fresh perspective. I had a new winter, new spring, new summer and a new fall. Despite the comparisons to other places I've lived (which I often do), I was actually quite pleased with the overall aesthetic of the "Chicago Fall".

Lately, it has been quite lovely - please don't misunderstand me, October weather was awful - with gorgeous, vibrant color. The trees are all on their own schedules, with some just starting to lose their leaves and turn deep scarlet and blazing orange. It's like a palette of adjectives.

I took this picture in our proverbial "front yard" this weekend - it's funny to me because all of the neighboring sister trees seem to have lost their leaves. But this, this gal is holding strong!

Final note - it seems that way out here in the mid-west, the term "leaf peeping" is not standard autumnal verbiage. I mentioned going leaf peeping in MA and NH and was met with blank looks and then smirks at my choice of words. Honestly, there are LEAF PEEPERS in the northeast, leaf peeping packages in VT, signs directing peepers to certain areas, I think you can even buy a map of optimal leaf peeping sites...too funny. I know it's a real phrase, I guess that is all that matters, right?

Fashion flix, take one

2009-11-09T15:11:00.003-06:00

So, given my love of dresses and addiction to Netflix (it's just so EASY), a friend of mine alerted me to this new site, courtesy of the NYT.

I am not one of those people that has 15+ weddings each year, nor do I balk at spending (read: investing) in special occasion dresses. HOWEVER, C and my credit card do. Hence, the interest in this site - obviously there are a thousand things that might go awry (wrong size, late delivery, snow storm, etc) but the idea of "renting" a dress for an event for $50 and looking like $1,000,000 is pretty enticing.

Ladies, I hope you succeed. And, invite me.

Banana bread (finally)

2009-10-27T09:17:00.009-05:00

Every time we have a mushy, ripe banana I declare "wait, don't throw it out - I'll make banana bread." I now get knowing glances and raised eyebrows from C since I have yet to make it. It's going on 5 years...This weekend, complete with 3 perfectly mushy, ripe bananas, the bread was finally made. Here's the recipe (modified from the original here)

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

4 very ripe medium bananas, mashed (about 1 1/4 cups)

1/2 cup sour cream

¼ cup chopped walnuts

Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat a 10 inch loaf pan with butter and dust it with flour, tapping out the excess. Whisk together 2 cups flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large bowl to aerate. Set aside.

Combine sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla in a separate bowl and beat on low until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. Add bananas and sour cream and mix until just combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, add dry mixture, and stir until just combined.

Turn batter into the prepared loaf pan, topping with the chopped walnuts along the center of the pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean-ish, the top is golden brown, and the bread is pulling away from the sides of the pan, about 50 minutes to 1 hour (to keep it moist/dense, I would pull it at the 50 minute mark)

Place the pan on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the bread and cool completely on the wire rack before serving. Ecco la colazione!

As you can see, ours is already nearly gone... This is super easy, a definite add to the list and delicious with all sorts of modifications - like chocolate chips, hazelnut spread or toasted pecans. Make it very fall with some cranberries and a cup of cider...I'm going to have my breakfast piece now, thank you very much!

Tuna Tuna Salmon = Love Love Lust

2009-10-19T16:24:00.005-05:00

Went to Japonais this weekend because it's good, I love it, and our friends Mica and Peter hadn't been there in forever. Who are we to say no to raw fish? We started the night in the subterranean lounge and it was packed...like people have been hibernating and were just LET LOOSE on the city's best indoor bars. Yes, it was that packed. We were relegated to the corner of the corner near the service station (the bartender actually came all the way out and around the bar to return our tab because people were 3 deep at the bar - crazy).

After a glass of my favorite sauv blanc we were seated upstairs in a comfy banquette. Immediately we ordered the Rock and the Kani Nigiri - surf and turf, if you will. I elected myself Chief of the Rock and made everyone seared, salty slices of beef. We ordered a variety of warm dishes to appease Peter, but ultimately the main event was the (two orders of) Tuna Tuna Salmon. Honestly, it's so good - it's like my personal brand of fish candy. Here's the equation, if you're not familiar:

Sushi rice+salmon tartar+avocado+perfectly sliced tuna+wasabi tobiko sauce = deliciousness!

I am mildly obsessed and have been reminded of said obsession - now have to plan my next meal of wine and Tuna Tuna Salmon, any takers?

the girl & the fig

2009-10-07T16:39:00.006-05:00

As far as challenging meals go, we've had our fair share: bad servers, messy menus, incorrect orders, allergies (eggplant is my "allergy"), strange table placement, aggressive food runners, out of stock wine orders, late mise en place. You name it. We can now add "food poisoning" to the list...NOT from The Girl & the Fig, but from the restaurant the evening before. The challenge for us was that we had been so looking forward to this vacation, this specific town, this specific meal, that one of us having food poisoning was quite possibly the worst dining challenge yet.

How can you visit an acclaimed, adorable, farm-to-table restaurant in the midst of your food-and-wine-centric vacation and not order anything? Let me tell you - you eat a lot of bread. Thankfully the bread is lovely.

C is a wonderful companion and dolefully accompanied me in his time of pain - my mother called it heroism - and we called ahead to ask about the daily menu and the more bland possibilities for his recovering stomach (Side note: asking a hostess for bland items at a renowned restaurant is not a call I'd like to make, but I digress). We were seated on their gorgeous, plant and ivy covered patio, between a fire pit and glowing lanterns. Totally cozy, neighborhood vibe, shiny, happy people.

With a French focus on wine (Rhone-alone) and cheese, it was a tough restaurant to have a man down. I ended up ordering the Arugula and Fig salad (how could you not?) followed by the Pan Roasted Black Cod. Both were well-executed, light and summery, incredibly fresh dishes - I truly could eat the black cod time and time again, especially in warm weather, as it was the essence of an Indian Summer: fresh corn, crunchy cabbage, tender fingerlings, made more earthy with black truffle oil and the hearty skin on fillet of the fish. Sigh...so good.

Highly recommend it, whether for lunch or dinner. Try to keep your dinner company healthy, though, the fromage looks divine...

Coopers - town 101

2009-10-05T12:00:00.005-05:00

I'm going to go ahead and NOT mention the fact that I haven't written anything all summer. I figure that it's obvious (hello, sidebar) and after the long, not-so-summer that we've had here in Chicago, I'd like to just move on. Okay?

So, take two: C and I went to Napa and San Francisco last month. We have been trying to get out there for the past few years and finally it worked out. I have a LOT of food and vino stories, but think this one is appropriate for this time of year, namely, harvest time.

Any wine drinker (and most common folk) know that wine is generally aged in barrels. C and I understand the intricacies of the different types of barrels to an extent - we know we like a little oak in our pinot noir, a stainless steel barreled, crisp sauvingnon. What we did not know was manipulating the barrel was a) an uncommon practice or that b) it would have such an amazing output. We learned all about barrels, coopers, the forests of France and more at Del Dotto Vineyard. We elected to kick off our vacation here and splurged on the Cave and Barrel Tasting at their St Helena estate. We ended up with a private tour and a very informative and well-sipped tour guide (I spit/poured more than he did and I was quite tipsy). After an hour of thief poured wine and some of the best cabernets I've ever tasted, we got to this barrel (pic above): 2007 St Helena Block 1, 6 oaks French Selection Cabernet Sauvignon.

Commonly, all oak barrels are either French or domestic (Missouri/Ozarks) and are better known for being "lightly, medium, or heavily" toasted, with each level lending certain characteristics to the wine. Wine makers don't usually disclose the type of oak, though more modern vineyards will let you know since the flavor profiles can so vastly differ. I know this is a lot of info, but bear with me... Del Dotto, not only tells you the type of oak used for aging, they can tell you the forest and the location WITHIN the forest where these trees were pulled from. That was impressive - for instance, "Troncais, center" and you the consumer will know that the center trees are the purest and will affect your wine in a very subtle way. To take it even further, they have petitioned their individual cooper to experiment with alternate woods, grooves in the barrel staves, different forest ranges, etc. All at the price of nearly $2500 each, plus the risk of the wine in that barrel (approximately 30 cases) - all in all, it's an expensive experiment. I applaud their innovation and Mr. Del Dotto's quest to do something different and "mix it up" in Napa and the industry.

The barrel pictured was a patented mix of SIX types of French Oak, one from each of the major harvest areas. The wine was a bold cabernet, medium tannins and very, very smooth finish. Priced @ $125 we could hardly escape with the barrel....although we wanted to try. Sadly, our tour guide wasn't as inebriated as we'd hoped.

Highly recommend a visit to the vineyard - it's small, family owned, accommodating and the cave tour is one-of-a-kind.

Toast-y Brunch

2009-05-11T11:48:00.006-05:00

Well, we survived Mother's Day brunch this past Sunday. We wanted to get something to eat and since I'm a "new mom" of a puppy, I got to choose. I picked Toast since we've lived in LP for 8 months and have never been...it's a super popular nabe spot with 1-2 hour waits as the norm. Not happening for a girl like me who needs to eat once she starts thinking about it - especially on Sundays!

C obliged and put our name in an hour before we thought we'd be hungry, which really worked out for us and we were seated on schedule at a cozy banquette table near the kitchen. The menu is awesome, a great selection of super sweet breakfast items, savory sandwiches, eggs and omelets run the gamut from crazy to Denver...the most outlandish, yet ultimately satisfying menu item was the French Toast Orgy. I can't even tell you how strange it sounds on the menu - but it was SO good. It's 3 rectangular pieces of stuffed, soaked French toast (mascarpone and strawberry, for us) topped with vanilla yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit. It's an enormous mess of goodness.

The other item we tried was the Lump Crab Benedict - the eggs were cooked perfectly and the truffle hollandaise was amazing. The crab vs crabCAKE is up for debate, though this is a healthier option, likely. Toast makes great homefries and the potatoes are caramelized and crispy - the onions are hard to resist/share (sorry).

Julies Meinl coffee was a great addition to the meal and helped perk us up after a late Saturday night. Both effective and tasty, I plan on many future Sundays at Toast...as long as C is up to the task of putting our name in early :)

Springtime in Chi-town

2009-05-08T14:51:00.006-05:00

Well, it's spring in Chicago and we've yet to have a week that so truly announces it's arrival as this past week - sun, rain, warmth, brisk breezes. If with the good, comes the bad, then I'd say we had a pretty 50/50 split this week of either. I'm enjoying the flowering trees and the tulips and daffodils I see everywhere - here is a shot of LP near our house with the green grass and the budding trees:

So far, I think springtime in Chicago is a lot like the past 6 in Boston, though we haven't had a late snow (well, March was late for ME). Only 6 more weeks until it's officially summer!

I for one am quite excited for the outdoor Green City Market this weekend. After a false alarm last weekend, we are very ready to peruse the stands once again and scramble home to put it all together in some sort of veggie delight or fruit salad. I love, love, love the options and the freshness of it all. Plus, it's a fun activity with C and the pup! This weekend kicks off their 11th anniversary of bring local produce to the city. How better to celebrate it than with a 'lettuce fest'?

Target Pop-up Store

2009-05-07T15:22:00.004-05:00

Being in the world of retail marketing as well as LOVING to shop, I find these sorts of things super fun!

Target does a lot for me - it was where my friends and I would go in college, nearly every weekend (where else can you get slippers, develop film, buy snacks, find a cute pair of earrings, and bring home some new music?) I love their advertising, I love their alignment with designers to bring chic to cheap, I just enjoy being there and purchasing (good for Target, bad for paycheck). Either way, I had to check out the pop-up store and was not disappointed.

There were racks and racks of clothes, shoes, bags, sunglasses, lip gloss, lotion. Fresh flowers, real lemons, fake cabbages (note: I saw a woman pick two up and compare them - weird), lamps, chairs, pillows - gorgeous pillows- and bedding. Pretty much all that you love at Target, minus the "boring" stuff.

Definitely worth checking out - but be prepared to roam the 3 floors with about 200 other people.

Outstanding in the Field. Out, standing in the field.

2009-04-02T14:08:00.004-05:00

How funny are commas? This is such a different sentence when you add the comma...both are relevant to this particular post! Anyway, Outstanding in the Field is a fabulous organization that my friend Amanda clued me into. It is a group based out of Santa Cruz, CA that focuses on bringing people closer to the origins of the food that they eat. The "local food movement" combined with a unique goal to honor all the local farmers, artisans, and culinary leaders within a community that create, nurture, and prepare the food that we eat.

C and I are going to check out one of the Chicago events in August - I would encourage everyone to sign up. It's a steep price tag, but promises to be a wonderful evening: tour of the farm, unlimited wine, family-style dining on local produce/meats/cheeses, celebrated chefs, and sitting outside in August!

For our meal, Mindy Segal from the restaurant Hot Chocolate will be the executive chef. We'll be visiting the Chicago City Farm - with a great view of the city!

Favorite Things Right Now...

2009-02-24T09:19:00.003-06:00

- Bright swimsuits a la Juicy or JCrew - loving yellow this year!

- Cheap maxi dresses, thanks to Old Navy, American Eagle, and Benetton.

- Punky, tailored separates like these or these or this one.

- Fun, geometric prints...I'm such a sucker for a) loud prints and b) dresses.

- White jeans - which will look infinitely better on me once I'm tan, but still loving them now!

Why is it that simply shopping for spring/summer clothes just makes me HAPPIER?

Oak Tree - 900 Michigan

2009-02-20T15:05:00.007-06:00

Shopping causes hunger and therefore knowing a good place to eat while shopping is key to any Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Personally, I find the options limited on North Michigan Avenue and I'm sure there are some of you who will disagree with me...let me rephrase. I find the options limited when it's freezing cold outside and you want to sit down for lunch and not wait 3 hours (thanks, Cheesecake Factory, but no thanks).

C thought that we should splurge on lunch last weekend since it was Valentine's Day and steered me towards the 6th floor at 900 N Michigan and to Oak Tree. We were hemming and hawing about whether to sit or not to sit and we finally sat in the dining room. The menu is long, lots of sandwiches and salads and brunch items. I finally settled on two salad options and C decided on a sandwich and we would split some fries.

After bringing back our $3.75 iced teas, the waiter answered a few questions for me about the menu - basically confirming that everything I asked him about was not what I thought it was and that I was basically making up my own salad. Great, bring me the Special then, dude. I ended up ordering a side salad with a scoop of tarragon chicken salad with it. C ordered a grilled veggie and goat cheese sandwich, plus a side of fries. At this juncture, the waiter left our table. I want to make this point because he had the opportunity to say something to us and didn't.

When he brought my salad, I was excited, it was delicious and I ate every bite of it. The chicken salad is not loaded with mayo, it's light and herbal and there's lots of chicken. The salad itself it a mix of baby lettuces and crunch romaine, tomatoes, and carrots. I opted for dijon vinaigrette on the side and barely used it with the chicken salad...so good. C's sandwich was huge - thick Texas-style toast with gobs of creamy chevre, thinly sliced veggies and toasted to perfection. Although overwhelmed at first, he was totally into it and polished it off. Also on the plate (and here's the kicker) was a small pile of crispy French fries...what? Where was this comment when we were ordering? Like "do you want an additional side of fries?" Or even "the sandwich comes with fries" because on the menu it doesn't designate that that is the case...either way, it was odd and we sorta just didn't really understand the guy at all ANYWAY, but the whole fry thing was strange.

So, the food was quite decent and the room has recently been redone - it's light and airy and modern in there, but totally comfortable. It seemed like there might've been a lot of Four Seasons guests and locals, but I would definitely go back for a shopping break again. You gotta patronize these places so that hopefully they keep popping up :)

Email for Recommendations - Wicker Park/Bucktown

2009-02-20T14:52:00.003-06:00

So, I guess given my love of restaurants, I am the natural person to ask for advice when trying to select one...I just sometimes am flummoxed by what people are looking for based on their supplied criteria. Case in point, check out this email chain. It's not that weird, but I think some of their requests were contradictory, therefore some of my choices seemed odd. Review:

From: Concerned Diner
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 10:30AM
To: The City Enthusiast
Subject: Wicker Park/Bucktown

So, I have a quick question:
[Needing a] Restaurant recommendation
· Wicker Park/Bucktown
· Neighborhood feel
· Any food type
· Parents are in town
· Price doesn’t matter
· Already mentioned Bristol and Bongo Room

From: The City Enthusiast
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 1:50PM
To: Concerned Diner
Subject: Re: Wicker Park/Bucktown

Hi there, this is my list - I just talked to A-Shan and added Blue Fin from her reco! Who is this for?

- Feast (New American/comfort)
- Francesca's Al Forno (Italian)
- Mirai (sushi)
- Adobo Grill (Mexican)
- Blue Fin (Japanese)
- Hot Chocolate (New American)
- Piece or Crust (pizza)

- The C.E

Readers, I feel like my list is all over the place. I think that saying Mirai is a neighborhood place doesn't explain the essence (or the expense) of Mirai. That Francesca's and Feast are warm and cozy and neighborhood-ish is fine, but is that where you want to go when "parents are in town" or "price doesn't matter"? I'm off my game this afternoon, perhaps. Perhaps the original email was too vague, yet too specific for my brainstorm...we shall see. I now desperately want to know what they choose!

Any other recommendations for this Concerned Diner?

Bristol Fever

2009-02-11T10:17:00.005-06:00

So, The Bristol has floated in and out of my head many times in the sense that it has come up in my life via my friends, my birthday gift, my preferred reading material, eavesdropping and various other ways too numerous to count. The most recent mention was from A-Shan and her failed attempt to go there (which is a rather annoying story and, Mr. The Bristol if you're reading, you should scold your doorman/host).

After a late lunch, late nap, and nice weather, C and I decided to head over there, despite the recent troubles A-Shan had and found ourselves faced with a quoted TWO HOUR wait. This was fine, though in comparison to the wait when I called at 8:30 (20 minutes prior) it was an additional 45 minutes. We were okay to wait, assuming it wouldn't take quite as long as predicted and fancied ourselves upstairs for a drink (or two or three).

Upstairs is like a bar/lounge with seated tables, leather benches, and a high communal table. The menu is written on a neat blackboard wall and the room is dimly lit. It reminds me of going to a friends loft party who doesn't have a lot of furniture, but it still feels comfy and you don't feel crammed in, and can find a place to perch. After chatting up the bartender (do NOT call him anything but) we learned a little bit more about the chef owners and the menu. After securing a few recommendations (and waiting an hour and fifteen minutes) we headed down to our table. We were seated at one of two large communal tables, across from 2 very politically vocal women and their mute friend. The tables are large enough that it isn't awkward, however we were rather mesmerized by the two women directly across from us who were loud and vocal about their political views, the financial situation, and cocktails.

We were now hungry, so we ordered right away, here's our menu:
Monkey Bread (a house specialty)
Heirloom Apple Salad
Braised Goat Ragu over Chitarra pasta
Bristol Cheese Burger with Duck Fat fries

I ordered a pinot noir and C had a tempranillo - both of which were great pairs for the goat and the burger. The monkey bread came first and was fabulous - buttery, soft, easy to pull apart, I absolutely LOVE the dill butter for dipping. I would have dipped my napkin in there to soak the rest up if there was any left...so delicious. Tasted like a buttery dill pickle. Following the bread was the apple salad with fresh fennel, hazelnuts, micro greens, and teeny tiny mushrooms mixed with a creme fraiche dressing. Very refreshing and highly recommended for sharing.

Our next course was the pasta - homemade and cooked perfectly al dente, the chitarra was in a goat ragu, tasted like a mix of lamb and wild boar to me with that game texture...little salty olives added texture and I really enjoyed the contrast. C was not sold on the olives...thought that the green was an odd choice for the subtleties of the dish.

Finally, the burger. The burger was amazing - I am a burger snob, so much so that I rarely order them for fear of disappointment. The bun is brioche with sea salt on top, the burger was well cooked either "pink" or "not pink" (we chose "pink"), the fries are cooked in duck fat and come complete with either house made ketchup or garlic aioli - it's my heaven on that plate. Since we were sharing everything, I had to give Chris 1/2, though I could easily have taken it down myself. Generally, I can't finish a burger but THIS burger I could and would want to. I would like to go back again this weekend to have it. I'm serious.

Overall, I was happy to finally make it there. Happy with our menu choices. Happy that the bill came to $68. Happy that they also serve brunch on Sundays. Overall Bristol=happy.

Mighty Leaf - Chamomile Citrus tea

2009-01-28T13:35:00.008-06:00

Recently we picked up a box of the Mighty Leaf Chamomile Citrus tea from Whole Foods. I have had it several times before, but hadn't noticed it in the supermarkets. It is definitely a premium tea, though after doing the math of what "premium tea" meant, I realized that is simply $0.50 per tea bag - just a fun fact.

I think for any tea lovers out there, it's a fabulous chamomile. The subtle citrus flavor is great, it smells delicious while brewing, and is naturally sweet and doesn't need honey or sugar (in my opinion). The packet is also the nicest one I've seen, it's reminiscent of a sachet packet - smooth, silky, looks hand-sewn, AND biodegradable.

Brew some and test it out.

The Basil Leaf

2009-01-26T10:46:00.004-06:00

Saturday night was f-ing cold, we were sick, and had no food in the house that was appetizing - sounds like a recipe for take-out. BUT, we ended up taking a quick cab up Clark Street to The Basil Leaf Cafe. I had heard it was a cozy neighborhood spot and that's what we needed...

We sat down as soon as we arrived, it was on the early side and ridiculously cold, and had a nice two-top in the center of the room. I mention this because I didn't feel like I was sitting on top of anyone and C and I could talk about all the other diners without hesitation!

After reviewing the novelette which is the menu, we both selected quite basic chicken options...I wanted to confirm something with the waitress so I asked her:
"The Chicken Milano - is that Chicken Milanese?"
"The Chicken Milano? Yes", she said, but with a tone that was NOT convincing.
"Great, so it's a pounded, breaded, crispy chicken breast? Does the artichoke salad come on top and then pasta on the side?"
"No, it's not crispy."
"Oh, so it's not breaded? Sorry, I was hoping it was Chicken Milanese"
"No, no, no, it's breaded, just not crispy. And, the artichokes, tomatoes and mushrooms are in the pasta"
"Ah, ok, so the pasta is mixed with the veggies and the chicken is breaded, not crispy and on the top?"
"No, the chicken is on the side."
"You know what? I'll take the Chicken Piccata. Thanks."

I guess I was confused, but apparently so was she. Regardless, the chicken piccata was tender and salty with lemon, tomatoes, mushrooms (a little unusual) and capers. C had some sort of sausage, chicken, green pepper madness that was enormous (yet, apparently pretty good). They don't make their own pasta, but did an okay job with their execution. We both picked at our meals, taking the majority home for leftovers. I think regardless of your appetite, eating the entire plate would be quite a feat - there must be at least a 1/2 pound of pasta on the plate. Even as I type that, it doesn't seem a big enough number to represent the pile of pasta.

Anyway, we skipped dessert and paid our check - it was an early night due to illness, but we did leave a full dining room. An empty bar, which was confusing to me, because it seemed warm, open and inviting in there...maybe next time we'll try their apps and have drinks at the bar. In short, it was decent and we'd go again, but it was not necessarily interesting. For someone who wants 65 options avec pasta, it's a good choice for you.

Weekend Flix

2009-01-26T10:39:00.003-06:00

So, C and I are under the weather and have been home sleep-watching movies for the past few days (week). Thank god we had the foresight to return our overdue Netflix and we received two fresh films on Thursday afternoon - ripe for the weekend.

Much to his chagrin, I am (sort of) in charge of the queue. In my opinion, I pick movies worth seeing...his version is a little different and generally involves a comment about subtitles. Regardless, I think that at least 50% of my recent choices were good and I am obviously so convinced that I'm writing about it. "Lars and the Real Girl" was the clear winner this weekend - honestly, I had no panging desire to see this film, but thought that it sounded like an interesting concept, so I added it to the queue a while back. It is basically about a guy who thinks a sex-doll is a real person/woman and the life of him, her, and their town as they broach this relationship. I laughed out loud, I teared up, I wanted to see another film by the writers...isn't that a good movie experience? Especially if you don't feel good and have these same emotions.

Anyone else seen it and loved/hated it? The "Shower" was a little less popular in our house...but I digress.

Obama-icon

2009-01-20T15:50:00.002-06:00

Today, the US had a pretty ordinary event (it's happened 44 times) with an extraordinary response from our country, our allies, the world. It's a pretty amazing time in America - what with the nation on a high from the recent election and now the inauguration of our winner...I think people are genuinely proud of our country in a new way. That is not a new statement, I think the sentiment has been said before, though I don't know how else to say it...

Anyway, I thought this was fun and here's a little Obamicon from our family:

Valentine's Day

2009-01-16T11:38:00.002-06:00

As we enter into the madness that is pre-Valentine's Day, just wanted to note the timely opening of Agent Provocateur in the Gold Coast. Being a huge fan of their lingerie, I am hereby dropping hints to all of my readers...women, buy it and wear it for your man. Men, buy it and GIFT it to your woman (notice they are different verbs).

What says "happy love day" better than this? Seriously.

Cold, cold, cold

2009-01-16T11:31:00.002-06:00

So, this is it - winter in Chicago. I was warned, I was told to be prepared, I bought a jacket...but this is ridiculous. Honestly, I saw a woman on the news in an ear wrap, a hat, a hood, AND a face mask and she said she could barely move her lips. THEN STAY INSIDE. That is my ground-breaking advice to everyone in this city right now.

I put on all of my clothes to walk indoors to eat lunch yesterday just in case there was a chance that someone would open a door near me. Seriously. I am not taking any chances of getting that blast of arctic air. Arctic is a good word, as C mentioned to me that it was warmer in Alaska (you know, home state of Palin, Russian neighbor, tundra) than it was in the southern states of the lower 48.

If you can't stay inside, if you really MUST go out, get yourself a damn good hat (or two) and don't leave anything exposed. Not when this is considered "warmer":
Current conditions

Partly Cloudy
-3°

Wind:	SSW 8 mph
Dewpoint:	-13°
Humidity:	62%
Visibility:	10.0 miles
Barometer:	30.80 in

Brown Butter, Pine Nuts, & Spinach Sauce

2009-01-13T18:24:00.005-06:00

Made this Sunday and failed to take a picture (I'm horrible with locating the camera in times of need) BUT, it was absolutely easy and delicious.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup pine nuts
Garlic to taste (I used a heaping tbsp and I like garlic)
1 bunch of spinach, torn

1. Heat a saute pan over medium-high heat
2. Add 2 tbsps butter to the pan, lower heat to medium
3. Brown the butter, stirring frequently, for 1 minute. Toss 1/4 cup pine nuts and brown in the butter.
4. Remove the pan from heat, add 1 tbsp minced garlic. Stir into butter/pine nut mixture. Put the pan back on the burner and continue cooking for 1 minute.
5. Add torn spinach and cooked pasta. When spinach is wilted and sauce is distributed, remove from heat and serve!

This makes enough sauce for a pound of bite-size pasta (anything not twirly). We used fresh gnocchi, but would be delicious with ravioli, penne, or tortellini!

God Bless America @ 401 N Michigan

2009-01-13T17:59:00.006-06:00

In light of the recent historic election, as well as the proximity of the inauguration, I thought I'd share an appropriately named sculpture that appeared in front of C's work a few weeks back. It's called "God Bless America" and is a truly monumental sculpture with people subjects over 25' tall!

It is a recent installation from artist J. Seward Johnson, Jr., who recreates famous works of art (paintings, photos, etc.) as life-sized statues to match the detail of the original work Check out his website for more information. During the fall, we were lucky enough to see "King Lear", though we didn't exactly know he was King Lear for a few weeks (insert sheepish grin here).

An obvious nod to "American Gothic" by artist Grant Wood, this sculpture is a larger-than-life replica of the iconic couple and pitchfork...I don't get the suitcase (which is only barely visible in the photograph here) but the look on the wife's face is the same solemn stare. Eerily close to the original.

Either way, it's very cool to have sculpture installations outside of your office. For that, 1 point for 401 N Michigan.

The Art of Obama

2009-01-06T10:35:00.002-06:00

I read in article in one of the recent "2008 in Review"-type pieces that touched on the topic of all the art that has been inspired by Barack Obama and this long, historic election year specifically in Chicago. I found it really interesting because we totally bought into it all (being big Obama fans as well as loving art) and picked up a few local artists creations (t-shirts, posters, buttons).

Some people may not consider a large button or t-shirt art, but when designed by well-known artists for appreciation, isn't that an art form? Regardless, we bought enough stuff that our kids might think we're a little politically-obsessed (which we were) but they'll know we were passionate, right?

Then read this article today, which is appropriate for this post, but also just a really cool exhibit that I don't think would/did happen with a President-elect like McCain or Bush.

Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies, oh my!

2008-12-20T16:28:00.004-06:00

I recently made these brownies for my colleagues at work - they're courtesy of Cooking Light (which I love)...they were quite delicious and with a slight peppermint flavor. C loves cheesecake brownies (quite possibly the most sinful of brownies) so I'm pleased to find a recipe that is lighter and still as tasty!

Cheesecake batter:
1 (8-ounce) block 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Brownie batter:
4.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1 cup)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
1 large egg
Cooking spray

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare cheesecake batter, place cheese in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add granulated sugar and peppermint extract; beat well. Add 1 egg and 1 egg white; beat well. Add 1 tablespoon flour; beat mixture just until blended.

3. To prepare brownie batter, weigh or lightly spoon 4.5 ounces (about 1 cup) flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine 4.5 ounces flour, cocoa, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, oil, buttermilk, vanilla, 2 egg whites, and 1 egg in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium-high speed until well blended. Add flour mixture to brown sugar mixture; beat at low speed just until blended.

4. Reserve 1/2 cup of brownie batter. Pour remaining batter into a 9-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray. Carefully pour cheesecake batter over top; spread evenly to edges. Dot cheesecake batter with reserved brownie batter. Swirl top two layers of batters together using the tip of a knife. Bake at 350° for 26 minutes or until top is set. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Calories: 213 (32% from fat)

Perennial (favorite)

2008-12-19T14:51:00.007-06:00

Living on the "edge" of Lincoln Park, C and I have a pretty restaurant accessible location. We are not in the midst of the hot spots, per se, but there are decent places in walking distance. Anyway, a new place opened up about the time we moved here in August - Perennial. While we have tried to go only once (it was their brunch opening), we have been wanting to try it for quite some time. What I love is that they are directly across the street from the Green City Market and use a lot of the fresh ingredients from the market in their food.

My company holiday party was there for an afternoon last week. It was primarily passed appetizers, a limited buffet and an UN-limited bar - isn't that a good equation? I am writing this based on my professed love of the passed apps...honestly, they were fabulous. Written from my (somewhat) foggy memory, here's what they served us:
Corn and crab hushpuppies
Semolina gnocchi with butternut squash puree
Potato bites with red pepper coulis
Ahi sushi with a ponzu sauce

My favorites were the hushpuppies (an overlooked southern food) and the gnocchi (nontraditional and delicious). The texture of the potato bites was a little off for me and the sushi was good, with a tad too much sauce. Given that none of these options are on their regular menu, the point might be moot...BUT, my thoughts are this: if their catering for 250 is this good - hand me the dinner menu.

Check it out.

P.S. It is the same restaurant group as BOKA and Landmark...good kin.

In Defense of Food

2008-12-19T14:37:00.003-06:00

A friend of mine lent me a book recently In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto by Michael Pollan. I have been making my way through it and have enjoyed it and the things I'm learning...nothing totally ground breaking, but just reiterations of these tenets: Eat (real) food, not too much, mostly plants.

What I really like is the reference to "real food" or "whole foods" - there are so many manufactured and processed and additive-injected foods these days. While I'm not bashing these foods (hello, cheese and chocolate are processed) but I like that reminding people that an orange can do so much for your health, as can spinach or blueberries, or oatmeal.

Reading Pollan is like a smart-alec former biology professor - his personality shines through and it's refreshing when you are reading more dry content (eg. soil mineral deficiencies or colon cleansing). It's good for foodies, health-conscious folks, and anyone interested in learning more about what they eat.

Read it and eat. Available at Borders!

Sultan's Market Falafel

2008-11-17T10:08:00.004-06:00

For a late (late) Sunday lunch, C and I headed up the street to Sultan's Market - a place that I'd been wanting to try since before we moved in. We're huge falafel fans (and c'mon, I'm Armenian) and love Middle Eastern food - plus it was supposed to be "cheap eats" and who doesn't love that?

We bused ourselves up Clark (it was freezing) and ordered up two falafel pitas with hummus. As we were on the late side (3:30pm) there was a lot of empty space in the hot bins, though the salad bar was fully stocked with cheeses, olives, pickled peppers, and tabbouleh. We skipped that in favor of something warm and crunchy.

The young guy making our pitas was generous with the falafel and hummus and all the extras - we ordered them "medium spicy" and the proportion of everything was great. The falafel was a little dry, to be honest, but the cucumber-yogurt sauce and the hummus helped. I was surprised that the falafel weren't hot - they were warm at best...and I just think that all falafel should be crispy, warm goodness. I am giving them the benefit of the doubt, due to the timing of the lunch (which I keep saying) so we'll see what happens the next time.

Side bar point - what a great website?! For a local chain and quick-service restaurant, I was very impressed.

Also, I would like to point out that, in comparison, I prefer the falafel at Taza (on Franklin, in the loop). I am going to get C over there for his perspective and we'll write something up!

Birthday dinner!

2008-11-13T09:17:00.006-06:00

Well, I hit the big 2-8 last Thursday and was coerced into eating and drinking and merry making because of it. For several days. It was wonderful.

Due to my overwhelming love of Avec, I requested that we go to Blackbird - the upscale sister restaurant to Avec. C obliged and made us 7:30 reservations...I point out the time only because when we walked in, it was quite empty. Usually, at least in my experience in Chicago, 7:30 is THE time to eat. We are generally later diners (8:30/9pm) and I've noticed that this is against the grain in Chicago. Anyway, when we walked in, we were seated at a nice banquette and our server showed up in a suit (Joseph Abboud according to the menu).

After selecting some vino, we settled in with the menu. Blackbird does that thing where they basically list ingredients: salad of endives, crispy potatoes, basil, dijon, pancetta, and poached egg. Personally, I love this, then there are less questions. But, again, I digress.

I ordered the delicious salad above (and pictured below) and Chris ordered the mussel soup.
I would highly recommend both. The salad comes in this crispy potato fortress and is stacked high with endive and mixed baby greens, sliced potatoes and herbs and topped with a perfectly poached egg. Tableside, they puncture the egg, split the fortress of potato and efficiently "toss" the salad. Every bite was amazing - I took a picture because I was so impressed - yes, I was that girl. The soup was poured in the way du jour with the contents served first and the broth poured delicately around. The mussels were plump and plentiful, though knowing C, the real winner was the broth - sweet, creamy, saffron, with a touch of shallots and wine. He mopped up every last bit of it with bread!

For dinner, I opted for a crispy cod fillet over parsnip puree and sauteed apples. It was a light, yet fall focused dish. I cleaned my plate. The fish was cooked perfectly crisp and flaky, and the hint of herbs (chervil and something I can't place!) added a freshness to each bite. C ordered the wagyu beef which was tender (though tiny) and came with a chestnut/onion thing which was unique...C loves potatoes, we should have ordered some on the side, but he enjoyed it.

The only disappointment (to me) was the dessert. I guess I was expected something with a little more depth...it was sort of like we got fried donut holes with chocolate...and ice cream. Here is there description: milk chocolate fritters with apricots, soy and rice milk sorbet.

All in all, the meal was exceptionally good - the service, the wine, the food, the atmosphere. I can see why it has the reputation it does...I know we will continue to enjoy their restaurants! By the way, when we left, the place was packed - jammed to the gills. So, perhaps all the late diners go to Blackbird?

Movember

2008-11-04T14:23:00.005-06:00

So my friend Anna's husband (the honorable Brandon Haley) is helping save men everywhere from Prostate Cancer by participating in Movember.

Check it out - should be an interesting month!

Old Town Brasserie

2008-10-30T09:16:00.003-05:00

In a recent game of restaurant roulette (of sorts), my friend Amanda and I both randomly selected the Old Town Brasserie for a weeknight dinner out. It was a cold, windy Chicago day (read: normal) so the thought of cozy French fare was comforting.

I made reservations easily and beat her to the restaurant. Still freezing from the cold, I went right to the table, anything to get away from the door...The dining room is bright and yellow and inviting. It was smaller than I thought it would be, but a perfect neighborhood size. The tables are set with French country plates and napkins folded like little spa robes (lapels and all).

After perusing the wine list, I had a lapse of judgment and ordered a Spanish Malbec...quite ripe and not at all what I was expecting or wanted. The waiter was quick to notice and replaced my poor choice with a French Cabernet - much better.

Amanda and I were both struggling with the menu - many interesting things and seasonal dishes to choose from, she and I decided to divide and conquer - she ordered the apple and parsnip salad with maple walnuts, I ordered a roasted beets and goat cheese salad (yes, predictable).
Her salad had this wonderful parsnip pancake - moist and dense, like a blini - that was warm and added great texture to the apples, nuts, and red leaf lettuce. The beets on my dish were minimal, but the haricot verts and crisped chevre was delicious.

Next course was difficult...I read that you should always order the "duo" on the menu...I just wasn't in the mood for steak/lamb, so I went with the roasted duck and Amanda chose the duo. I think her dish might have been superior, though for any duck lover out there, the confit was amazing and the duck breast was plentiful and cooked perfectly medium rare. The duo had braised beef and roasted lamb ribs - the lamb was too infused with rosemary for my tastes, but the beef was absolutely perfect - tender, flavorful, perfectly sauced.

We couldn't stop there so we moved onto dessert and had pre-ordered a chocolate souffle with almond ice cream. The souffle was gooey, chocolate goodness. Light and super chocolate-y. The tiny speck of ice cream that we received was unbelievable...like I can't believe that they put this miniature dot of ice cream on a plate...it was two bites (at best) and was melting fast next to the warm-from-the-oven souffle dish. Poor judgment OTB - that's like kitchen 101 stuff, right?

Regardless, we still had a great meal and I would definitely go back again...a few quick things to point out is that this is not a menu of "obligatory French". You will not see Onion Soup or Steak Frites - so don't go expecting that.

Okay, who's been there, any other major standouts?

Shame, shame, shame

2008-09-18T14:56:00.005-05:00

So, the whole point of writing a blog is to have an outlet, a way to share things with the world...we have just completed one of life's great experiences (maybe great is a strong word)...one of life's most painstaking experiences and I have been a horrible blogger. No updates, not log ins, no responses to comments. Terrible.

I should be ashamed of myself. And, I am.

C is one of my only readers, he and my mom, but after convincing a bartender in Boston (Hi Ned) that he should read it, I haven't even posted about my most scrumptious meal at Hungry Mother, nor have I talked about loving Avec and the case of the unordered focaccia, I didn't even post to tell you about the new falafel place that I found near work that offers free samples in line (and it's only $4 for a sandwich). These are all very important food finds and I'm not sharing them...apologies. Sincere apologies.

Starting fresh this weekend, I will post more about the Chicago food scene. I will also write to Megan and let her know that I owe her a HM post - the deviled eggs alone could write themselves a few paragraphs. But, I digress...

Please stay tuned for more - big dining weekend with Cafe Spiaggia and North Pond!

Last meal - Great Bay

2008-08-07T15:10:00.003-05:00

As C and I prepare to move across the country next week, the next few days will be spent having farewell dinners with friends. Here are our stories (and a guest post):

My friend Amy and I have been friends now for about 5 years give or take a month. She and I met in the closet. The coat closet. Good story, huh? Anyway, we both worked in the restaurant industry and our paths crossed at the opening of Great Bay in Kenmore Square. This was when the Hotel Commonwealth was still only 1/2 open and more stores and restaurants were a pipe dream. I mean, they DID start the bus station project then and look how far THAT has come?!?!

All joking aside, it was a new terrain for fine dining - how were we going to get foot traffic that wasn't students? Weren't Red Sox fans? Weren't homeless asking for change for the bus? It wasn't easy and it wasn't totally profitable either, but Amy and I made the most of it and were psyched to find each other - whether in the closet or out - and had lots of fun, foodie moments over the years.

It was only fitting that we head to Great Bay for my sendoff and our "last supper" together. We both love the food from The Island, so we started with some halibut tacos (ceviche style) with roasted corn and radishes - delicious. Then we opted for tuna sashimi topped with marinated Thai chilis and a mango, yuzu sauce. Def could have opted for more acid, less mango, but the tuna was fresh and I love the spicy Thai chilis.

My favorite option that we tried was the tuna "maki" - a creative twist on the regular maki rolls with the tuna wrapping a collection of vegetables, sticky rice, and avocado. The ponzu or soy/yuzu dipping sauces was delicious...I could eat another few of those right now, since I'm thinking of it...Anyway, for a few hot options, we split an order of the shrimp and lobster dumplings - one of which squirted it's little life out on my shoulder. Mmm Eau de Shellfish. They were what we wanted though, warm and crispy.

As our last (and perennial) favorite, we split an order of the famous clam chowder. Little bits of turnip and potato, bacon, clam and topped with chervil. My favorite chowder since it's actually more milky, rather than cream-y and it doesn't feel super heavy. I can't stand chowder that is like pudding...that's not soup, it's dessert. With clams. Gross.

What a great meal with great company - look forward to visiting GB again in our future Boston dining...love it!

Random, but successful shopping

2008-07-31T15:17:00.004-05:00

So, the other day I wandered into Anthropologie post-beach and bikini-clad...I wanted anything but to go to Verizon w/ C and so I found myself strolling the racks at Anthro. I was super excited to find a LOT of stuff that I liked. Don't get me wrong, it's a great store and usually I like their stuff, but this time I really liked their stuff. And, it looked good on me. So, I bought it. It = a swiss dot sleeveless shirt in buttercup yellow - check it out here,

I guess why this is blog-worthy is that Anthropologie generally fits a certain figure, a certain style and certain tastes that don't always mesh with mine. My friend Heather, however, wears a lot of their brands and does it well...it's like almost old-fashioned, but with modern elements and fabrics. I can't figure it out, but I did see this adorable sweater shirtdress thing that I already have planned into my summer-to-fall wardrobe. Seriously, how cute is this? With super dark jeans, black heels and a chunky black bangle? Love it.

Ah, the joys of new discoveries.

Clio - not just for anniversaries

2008-07-30T08:47:00.004-05:00

So after 6 years of living and eating in Boston, I FINALLY made my way to Clio the other night for some snacks and drinks at the bar. Having eaten at Uni once, but being a huge fan of Toro, I know that Ken Oringer would do it right...I just thought it was "too right", like "special occasion with your parents" right. I was pleasantly surprised to have very creative, yet unpretentious food there with high, but appropriate prices given the caliber of food.

We both started with a drink from their drink list - me a shiso mojito, C a saketini of some sort. His was simple and elegant, mine was salad in a glass, but both were tasty. Brian, C's brother works there and he also gave us samples of some of the other creative libations (don't be afraid of the Hanout drink...it's so good) and showed off the restaurants affinity for all things nitrogen. I mean, if you see "LN2" it means that there is some sort of chemical balancing act happening...I felt like I was on Top Chef.

Anyway, back to food. We both went straight for two of our favorite things - soft shell crab and tuna sashimi. The soft-shell crab was tempura fried served with parslane (quite tender) and a magical sauce that I can't for the life of me remember (good mojito) but we couldn't get enough of it! The crab was so meaty and tender and delicious - the best I've had in a long, long time.

The tuna was also amazing - it was topped with these thinly sliced strips of green onions and seaweed, black and white sesame seeds, and a light garlicky, ginger vinaigrette. There was a piece of a "roll" which was thinly sliced wonton wrappers, deep fried and topped with tuna tartar...we fought over who got to finish that (I had the bigger bite).

The last and most simple dish was a tri-stack of Heirloom tomatoes - black and red Brandywine I think - with green goddess dressing and crispy, fried clams...unbelievably delicious and light. Perfect (and surprise) ending - thank you Alec!

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I never went because I thought that Radius and No. 9 Park were more my "level"...what a strange mentality...it's expensive, but no more than any of the other top restaurants in Boston. Plus, it's cozy and intimate - head there in the fall for a night out at the bar and see what I mean!

Finca el Puig

2008-07-24T09:29:00.004-05:00

C and I had a great dinner last night at Dante in Cambridge...the arugula salad was amazing, the maccheroncelli was delicious (and very springy), the steak was prepared well and the fries were crisp. Service was good and accommodating but the best part of the meal was this wine...I LOVED it. I actually told the sommelier that I wanted to marry it - is that weird?

Definitely going to try to purchase this locally (or in Chicago) for my personal stash. Here's the label - enjoy it responsibly.

Dresses As Art

2008-07-21T15:08:00.005-05:00

As I was walking down Michigan Avenue last weekend (you know the one, the Magnificent Mile), these darling dresses started popping up in small gardens on the west side of the street. Apparently they are part of an exhibition from the International Academy of Design and Technology. They dresses are made of rather strange materials (hair, anyone?) but done in such a beautiful way that you can't help but stop and gawk.

Way to go art students - I applaud your originality. Here are a few of my favorites.

Chi-town Dish - Custom House

2008-07-16T15:06:00.005-05:00

So, at long last, we have found an apartment in Chicago...it was sort of quick and sort of painful, the band-aid of my life right now. Luckily, it's over and I was a big girl and now I have a place to call home.

C and I started the weekend on a rainy Thursday, nearly electrocuted and drenched in the South Loop, but we made it to the Custom House. This delightfully un-trendy eatery boasts luxe booths, leather, low lighting and a menu fit for carnivores. C and I were surprised to find several braised dishes and heavy game selections on the menu, this is July, right? There were only 3 seafood dishes...one of which I had and it was delicious. Before we go there though, let's talk about how fabulous and under-rated octopus is as a dish? Octopus for me is like a little taste of heaven, I have not had any I do not like...this meal was no different as we ordered this wonderful octopus caponata with fresh roasted veggies, pine nuts, golden raisins and tasty grilled octopus. This was a great way to start off the meal, very light and delicious and made me want another 4 plates of it.

For my entree, I went w/ the Wisconsin White Perch with a crusty panko topping served with room temperature gnocchi/bacon/shallots. The smokiness of the bacon and the light, white fish were great. I would order the gnocchi as a side again and the fish made me excited to explore the world of lake trout.

C ordered from the braised meat list and went with our perennial favorite: the short rib. These short ribs were like butter-fall-off-the-bone goodness - served with two horseradish cream-filled beignets. Different. I'll leave it at that. To share we ordered the pea, pea pod, bacon, and turnip salad. It's cold, mixed with creme fraiche for a summer barbeque salad type consistency - absolutely delicious. Loved it a lot. Their other sides consisted of whole grains like quinoa and farro, to fun starches like gratin and whipped Yukon gold potatoes. If there was a vegetarian option of sides, I would have definitely gone for that. It was very tough to pick just one.

We skipped dessert, though there were some interested options. I would recommend the Custom House to anyone looking for superior service, great food, and a quiet but beautiful dining room.

Red Sox Nation

2008-07-08T16:23:00.001-05:00

So, I'm off to the Sox game tomorrow...very much looking forward to it, though I won't be able to get my yearly "I LOVE YOU BIG PAPI" in since he is still not playing. Pblt.

My new found love (along w/ half of America) is Dustin Pedroia. Are you serious - how much do you love this kid? A LOT.

Chi-town

2008-07-07T10:52:00.001-05:00

Chicago is Fast Company's City of the Year!

How cool is that? Excited for my trip this weekend...

Newport News

2008-07-06T17:07:00.004-05:00

Spent a few days in Newport this weekend, drove down on July 4th to America's "first resort". While we weren't totally psyched for the forecast (gray, rainy, humid), we wanted to walk around, be by the sea, eat al fresco, and watch a great fireworks show. Check, check, check, and check.

We found a room at the Jailhouse Inn - a perfect location for wandering Thames Street. We started our day out with a lucky find (a parking meter w/ 45 minutes already in it, score) and wandered down to the water. The sun was breaking through the clouds, people were out and holiday happy, we found two seats at the bar and ordered a beer. Ah, summer. 20 minutes later we were slurping chowder (my family's favorite) at the Black Pearl and sunning ourselves, another beer down.

After an envious walk along the harbor, we window shopped our way up and down Thames street, scouting for our next meal. There are quite a few really cute boutiques there - more than I remember. Not just bikini's and sweatshirts anymore. I also found myself nostalgic and remembering all the summer's I've spent in Newport...between trips with my mother and my father's mother, I have really seen and enjoyed it all. Having this be our last summer living w/in driving distance to Newport, it was just sad to think I might not be there again for a while.

Anyway, if you haven't been, I would strongly suggest it. It's not overpriced, it's family and couple friendly, there are great bars with live music and pubs if you want something more low-key - the restaurants are random. My favorites for solid food options and consistency are below:
- The Black Pearl
- 22 Bowen's
- The Red Parrot
- The Brick Alley Pub
- Christie's
- The Chanler at Cliff Walk
I've also heard great things about: Flo's Clamshack, Cafe Zelda, and Castle Hill Inn. A quick plug for the most lovely, efficient Starbucks, too.

Hope you had a lovely 4th of July!

27 Dresses...

2008-07-02T13:34:00.008-05:00

Okay, more like 3, but still. I work for a WOM marketing and media company and I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find my own real world examples of WOM. This just happened to me and so I'm going to share.

I have these really cute silk dresses from Calypso that are the quintessential summer dress. They pack easily (ie wrinkles are truly your friend), are very light-weight, and are silk, so they're dressy OR casual depending upon your shoe. I wore a wrap dress to work about 5 weeks ago and it was commented on quite frequently. One person in particular, who was familiar with the brand, really probed me for information. (What other colors? Which size is right for me? How hard is it to wash?) I love to talk about fashion and I think it's a great brand, so we chatted it up for a while.

Today, I am wearing a different dress from Calypso, identifiable because it's silk and in their Newbury Street display right now. This sparked a conversation with the aforementioned co-worker and she said she liked my other dress so much, that she went and bought it in three colors. She also bought another style and a few other things while shopping.

Now, I didn't make her go to Calypso or convince her that this dress is the BEST DRESS IN THE WORLD, but I shared my opinion, the facts that I was aware of from personal experience, as well as an insider information that empowered her to not only look into the dress further, but to actually purchase (and in multiples).

I think that is 3 points for honest, real-world WOM - influencing purchase decisions of fashionistas everywhere.

Orzo Pasta Salad

2008-06-30T13:41:00.003-05:00

Last night I really wanted a fresh, light pasta salad...though I can't stand the traditional fusilli and Italian dressing version (like you are surprised). A friend of mine reminded me of the fabulous and oft-overlooked orzo pasta and I immediately thought of feta, pine nuts, parsley (oh, my).

I used/made up the following recipe and thought it turned out deliciously...exactly what I wanted it to be...sorry, no pictures, totally forgot.

1 cup Orzo pasta
2/3 cup diced grape tomatoes
1/3 of a red onion (diced)
1 handful of toasted pine nuts
1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/3 cup cubed/crumbled feta cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 lemon (for juice)

Make the orzo according to the package (boil) w/o fat. Drain and rinse with cold water. Toss w/ the olive oil to coat. Add the next 4 ingredients, topping w/ the feta cheese. Optional: add a handful of arugula to your plate and put the pasta salad on top. I did this because I love arugula and it adds that peppery punch to the pasta.

We served this alongside salt and pepper roast chicken and it was a great complement. Also great for lunch today.

Buon appetito!

What's your stance?

2008-06-30T13:34:00.004-05:00

In case you've ever wondered why some shirts make you more Fabio than others...here's an interesting article on men's fashion...C is def a more "risque" button guy - he sports his male-cleavage quite nicely.

Parisian windows...(insert sigh here)

2008-06-25T13:38:00.001-05:00

Shoe boutique sound-off

2008-06-23T13:29:00.005-05:00

I am desperate for some new shoe boutiques...honestly, I am SO tired of local boutiques only carrying the high-end brands that the department stores do...if I wanted that, I would go to Sak's or Neimans (and I do). I expect a lot from boutique owners and here is why:

1. You get to personally select your merchandise. Yes, you are catering to your clients, but you don't need 18 colors of TB Riva's...we can get them elsewhere. What you need to do is find something to set you apart (like mid-priced brands or high-end shoes with distinct flourishes that you can't find anywhere)

2. You can edit other people's collections...again w/ the Riva comment...pick the 5 colors that complement the season. Say, metallics, whites, brights...you can let the black/brown pumps wait in the back for a few more months. Why think you have to put them ALL out? Having an edited selection is tighter and more exclusive...plus you'll sell out of your inventory if you price them right.

We want to shop from you, it's personal, it's fun, it's a neighborhood atmosphere - so let us enjoy the experience, namely by carrying a range of styles, designers, and prices. I'm a person that invests in shoes, but when I want a shoe to walk to work in, I'd rather spend $65 than $265 so keep some shoes in every price range for Pete's sake. Or mine.

Asparagus

2008-06-23T13:25:00.003-05:00

Simple post to proclaim my love of the green stalk-y vegetable. I just love it. The end.

Well, if you want to know how we like it, throw 1 tps olive oil in a pan, saute minced garlic for 2 minutes until brown. Add cleaned, shaved spears (I cut them in half for optimal mixing). Saute for another 5-6 minutes until they get browned (like charred almost) and delicious.

Add salt and lemon to taste.

Las Vegas Trip Report

2008-06-10T08:54:00.004-05:00

So, a few weeks ago (yes, I'm delinquent) I went to Las Vegas with my mother for a little mother/daughter adventure. Here's a quick rundown of where and what we ate, along with recommendations for how to increase your winnings by 189%.

Spago - Caesar's Palace in The Forum Shops (dinner)

This one is a mom favorite, I think because it's in the Forum, she's been there, and it's all food she knows. We started with crispy calamari, with a spicy remoulade sauce for dipping. Quite good and not overly fried. For dinner, I had a seared halibut fillet over jasmine rice and sauteed bok choy. It was topped with fried Thai chilis and those were a little bite of hot, salty goodness.

My mom just wanted a salad, so she ordered the Italian Chopped Salad - think provolone, salami, chicken, veggies - and cleaned her plate. Another noteworthy thing would be the bread basket...though you don't actually get one, they came around quite frequently and offered us grissini sticks and foccacia served with a goat cheese puree.

Strip Burger (lunch)

Newcomer to the Fashion Show mall, Strip Burger is housed on the corner near Cafe Ba Ba Reeba and has an outdoor patio. It was SO hot that we ate inside and froze. Either way, we enjoyed the fries and our food. My mom elected to get another chopped salad (more veggies this time) and I went with the California Chicken sandwich (mmm, pepperjack and avocado) which was delicious. I'm super bummed we didn't get shakes because EVERYONE else did and it made me jealous. But, seriously, those are so filling and I need C to be there to polish it off.

Enoteca San Marco (Dinner) - The Venetian

After a rocky start (late seating, triple sat waiter) we sat down at a great table on the "patio" in St. Mark's Square. We were sorta starved seeing it had been about 7 hours since lunch and we'd had a few drinks...there was a special appetizer salad that sounded amazing (and proved to be quite delicious) with fresh ricotta, fava beans, asparagus and radishes. It was the most fresh, Spring appetizer I could've asked for...especially during the heat wave. We followed this up with a braised pork belly ragu with fresh pasta and herbs. Definitely heavier than the previous dish, but it was so tender and tasty, I didn't care. I kept getting these savory/sweet bites, like there was some sort of brown sugar or carmelization that happened there. Yum.

We also went to perennial favorite Nobu (Hard Rock Hotel) which was amazing as always and we had a flirty waiter who made us tipsy and delighted. After we left, we decided that we should gamble. Roulette - no dice (like, literally and figuratively). Blackjack - lost again (x 2). Then we thought, let's stick to slots. Having never seen a 2 cent slot machine, we threw a $1 in.

ONE HOUR LATER...yup, still at the same machine. It was SO entertaining and we were so proud of our accomplishment (tell me you wouldn't be totally hyped if YOU got a 189% return on investment) that we sat and drank beer and laughed at all the cheap skates around us playing 2 cent slots. It was great - highly recommended.

So, as my mother kept announcing to everyone we talked to...this was our first trip of many :)

Viva Las Vegas.

Not so much...

2008-06-10T08:38:00.003-05:00

I have found all of the world's missing scrunchies - yes, yes I have. They are all in the South End of Boston, being used by all the employees of Lan's Nails (Tremont). I haven't seen a scrunchie in, like, 5 years, let alone EIGHT scrunchies on relatively normal people.

The only person NOT wearing a scrunchie at Lan's Nails was the male cashier...did I miss something? Is it now cool to wear scrunchies? Watching the National Gymnastic trials this weekend, most of those girls wore leotard-matching scrunchies, too, and they're all under 18...shouldn't they be cooler than this?

What gives? Where do you even go GET a scrunchie? Please tell me, because they need to go the way of the Dodo.

More Than Oil Changes at Antique Garage

2008-04-28T14:49:00.004-05:00

On a lovely spring day in New York City's lower SoHo, a threesome headed to lunch. Seeing an open window and an interesting menu, they wandered into this lively, bohemian haunt called the Antique Garage. With mismatched chandeliers dangling from the ceiling, mirrors, and framed old portraits everywhere, they felt like they were in gay Paris!

Lots of water and one bellini later, they sampled some great Middle Eastern treats:
Tzatziki with fresh warmed focaccia
Shepard's salad with crumbled feta
Turkish burger (lamb) with sliced fingerling potato "fries"
Veggie pizzete with roasted vegetables and cheese

Seated upstairs, they were directly over the kitchen and quite steamy (hence the "lots of water") but otherwise enjoyed themselves and felt perfectly sated to head out into the great city that is NY.

The end.

SoWa Open Market

2008-04-28T14:39:00.003-05:00

Was in NYC this weekend and all the sidewalk merchants and vendors made me excited for the SoWa Open Market...even though I'm not a huge buyer of homemade goods, I still like perusing and especially the fresh produce. I still have dreams about these HUGE donut size blueberries. Amazing. Anyway, details below, start saving cash:
SoWa Open Market
5/17-5/18 Opening weekend
10am-4pm, every weekend (except holidays)
540 Harrison Avenue

See you there!

Another great pasta night, that's RIGHT!

2008-04-22T16:13:00.005-05:00

So, armed with my Cooking Light, I was determined to make a delicious, healthy meal for C and I. We both were sorta undecided, having had Mexican and Latin cuisine all weekend, so we opted for this very spring-y, Italian dish and were glad we did...it was delicious:

Ingredients
3/4 pound broccoli rabe or broccolini, cut into 4-inch pieces (about 1 bunch)
8 ounces uncooked farfalle (bow tie pasta)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups thinly sliced leek (about 2 large)
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 pound turkey Italian sausage (we used chicken sausage from Whole Foods - 1 sweet, 2 spicy)
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
1/4 cup (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Steam broccoli rabe/broccolini 3 minutes or until wilted. Remove broccoli rabe, rinse under cold water; drain and reserve 3/4 cup cooking liquid. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and keep to the side (I did this part last so that it was still warm when I added it)

Heat oil in a large (and deep) nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add leek to pan; cook 2 minutes or until wilted, stirring occasionally. Stir in pepper and garlic; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium-high. Remove casings from sausage. Add sausage to pan; saute 4 minutes, stirring to crumble. Add 1/2 cup reserved cooking liquid; cook 5 minutes or until sausage is done. Add remaining 1/4 cup reserved cooking liquid, broccoli rabe, pasta, and rind to pan; toss to combine. Cook 3-5 minutes or until thoroughly heated and mixed. Remove from heat; stir in cheeses and salt.

Makes 8 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups) and is perfect for dinner parties or weekday lunches. The sauce is somehow creamy and light, salty but not overwhelming...the ratio of cheese was perfect. We served ours with a crusty baguette and butter...followed by a Thin Mint.

With the suggested serving size, the dish is only 285 calories and tastes like 500...mmmm.

Corn dog

2008-04-16T09:29:00.003-05:00

So, what do you get when you cross a hot dog with an ear of corn? Yeah, that's right. The food of the frozen gods - I mean, who actually makes these from scratch except that former Top Chef contestant?

I'll tell you where we had the juiciest, crunchiest, most corn-a-licious corn dog - All Star Sandwich bar in Inman Square (Cambridge, to all you Bostonians). I read the menu, skimmed right over the dog and ordered my falafel burger on wheat, all the while C is salivating secretely over this corn dog. He conveniently orders the Beef on Weck, only to add the "...and also the corn dog" to his order. Eyebrows raised, I turn my head in question..."I just really want a bite of that"

"So, you ordered the whole meal?"

"It's a corn dog. When was the last time you had a corn dog?"

"Honestly? Never, I would only eat the corn and give the hotdog to my brother."

"Just wait, I just really want a bite of a corn dog."

So, I waited, and I LOVED IT. Delicious - crispy, and corn-y, and moist, yumminess. Impossible not to like, regardless of your previous experience. I gotta give C some snaps for that order.

Yeah, we are HERE where are YOU?

2008-04-10T08:29:00.005-05:00

So, C and I ventured to Faneuil Hall this past weekend...we were willing the nice weather to come so we could walk around, watch street performers and eat. We only ate do to frigid temps and we were still on the tail end of our cleanse, so we chose Wagamama.

Wagamama is one of my faves - shut up haters - it's a fun concept with healthy food options and I enjoy their noodle dishes. I started going there whenever I traveled to London and the bond was formed. Anyway, so we get there, wait about 5 minutes and are seated.

Then nothing.

Still nothing.

I wave down an unsuspecting dude who isn't in the traditional uniform. Let him know that we've been waiting, haven't ordered drinks, etc. He starts writing on our placemats and I'm telling him water, green tea, #37 & #38. He leaves.

More nothing. The guy that was supposed to be our waiter is dropping checks and filling water, clearing the empty spots next to us...he glances over. I lift my eyebrows like "yeah, we are HERE where are YOU?"

He asks us if we're all set. These are the first words he says to us - isn't that ridiculous? Anyway, ultimately it takes forever for us to get a check, he clears our soup bowls on the table by POURING MY SOUP INTO C'S BOWL and then leaves. I have to wave down some other unsuspecting dude to run our check. I'm ready to tackle the server. Then, C leaves him like 18% and I am baffled. So, I wrote at the top of the check "very poor service". Ugh.

I get it, that's not nice. But it was necessary...if I were paying I am not sure that I would have tipped him at all. The only thing he did for us was take our plates. I would have preferred to slip the other guys a few bucks cash and call it a day. Is that wrong?

My friend Penne is back in town

2008-04-10T08:20:00.004-05:00

Thank the heavens, I am finally allowed to eat pasta again. I thought we'd celebrate with some vodka cream sauce and crispy, parmesan chicken. The recipe for the sauce is below, thanks to Cookinglight.com. C and I threw in some peppers and grated cheeses at the end:

Ingredients
1/2 pound uncooked penne pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup vodka
1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup whipping cream
3 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil

We started the water for the pasta, then dove into the sauce preparations:
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion to pan; sauté 4 minutes or until tender. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add vodka; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 3 minutes or until liquid is reduced by about half. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, broth, and tomatoes; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 8 minutes. Place tomato mixture in a blender or Cuisinart - whatever you've got. Be careful though, it's super hot.
Process until smooth. Return tomato mixture to pan; stir in cream. Cook 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in cooked pasta, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and basil. Serve immediately.

This made us PLENTY of pasta, enough for C to eat dinner the next day. It's supposed to be 4 servings, with each serving being 1 cup. We split a 1/2 lb chicken breast and added some sauteed red and yellow peppers. Delicious. Definitely going to be part of our rotation.

AND, the kicker is that each serving of pasta and sauce is only 350 calories. Woohoo!

P.S. Sorry to my dad for being utterly distracted while chatting with him Tuesday...I was amid the more complex part of the recipe!

Cleansing, Part Due

2008-04-02T09:18:00.003-05:00

Well, as I write this I am sucking down a homemade smoothie, after eating my flaxseed oatmeal and banana and taking the a.m.'s dose of fiber. Mmm, fiber. I have to tell you that my body is responding more to this cleanse than the last one (Sept '06) and I think it's a positive response. So far, I've dropped about 5 pounds - I was not using this as a weight-loss program by any means, but it's nice to get a jumpstart. Not sure about C, but I'll have him check into that.

By far the hardest parts are the weekends...we got through the first one by purchasing a delightful product - gourmet, wholegrain, jalapeno tortilla chips. They're unbelievably good and good FOR YOU. Check 'em out here. Not a minute too soon, either, since C was totally jonesing for some snack food.

To stand a cleanse, you are met with your fair share of temptation...we had it three-fold last Saturday. We went to the Revolution opening game (Go Revs!) and we had to:
A) Tailgate (no beer, no sausages, no steak tips, no chips, no cookies)
B) Keep warm in the 32' Boston wind (no beer)
C) Survive the vendors with all their treats walking up and down the aisle repeatedly (no hotdogs, no popcorn, no cotton candy, no licorice, no hot chocolate, no beer (again))

Chris was a champ and I owe him a big sausage at Fenway in the near future. Also, some beer and a pizza since he missed out on that last night...eeks. Sounds like a lot of catching up to do in the near future.

But hey, we still feel better!

*Interested in our cleanse? This is the product we are using - check it out HERE.

Cleansing, Part 1

2008-03-27T09:13:00.003-05:00

So, C and I are doing a Whole Body Detox Cleanse...this has nothing to do with rehab, it's simply a detoxification of our liver, lymphnodes, and intestines. You have to limit your intake of processed foods, carbs, refined sugars, sodium, and a whole lotta else.

So far, so good - we both are feeling a longing for carbs (crackers, pasta, ANYTHING). It's funny because not only can C not wait for dinner (dinner=brown rice) but he actually thinks that everything smells like bread.

Real conversation:

"Smells funny...like paint or something."

"I don't get that. Smells like bread. I think someone is making bread"

"Honey, that's not bread, that smell is sawdust or something" (noting the dusty footprints)

"Hmmm...all I smell is bread. Everything smells like bread."

Only 10 more days to go.

B&G + me = A+ lunch

2008-03-21T13:16:00.003-05:00

Not that you needed that weird equation, but go with it...It's Restaurant week and honestly, I've only gone out once all week...it's just been another nutty week and [insert adjective here: cold/rainy/windy/busy]. I went with a good friend/colleague to a Friday treat lunch at B&G.

The place was packed, first of all, with patrons all along the open kitchen bar seats and at every table. It was great for us, though, because we were seated right in the thick of it all, in the center of the bar. No later than 2 minutes after presenting us with menus had we decided our order. For me, the lobster bisque followed by the salmon croquettes. M had shrimp bruschetta followed by ocean perch.

The lobster bisque was super rich - cream, sherry, butter and all their friends came to play in that soup. In the center was an unnamed fried mashed potato thing...but my favorite part was the celery leaf garnish. Added such a taste of spring to this soup and cut the richness. M's bruschetta was great - it was white beans, arugula, and two huge shrimp on a crusty baguette.

For the second course, my salmon croquettes came over a pea puree (another sign of spring) and a watercress salad. I think overall the dish was nice, but would have been great with an acid or a sprinkle of salt. M had the pan seared perch over a fennel, radish, olive salad...quite delicious, too.

We both splurged on dessert with a salted caramel gelato and a tuile - luscious. I want it everyday. Overall, the experience was great, I think M ordered better though. Food for thought!

Route 1 Adventures

2008-03-19T13:13:00.003-05:00

C and I have been on Route 1 probably 100 times in the last few years...and always around a meal. We've tried to find edible options that either a) won't bust our waistline or b) don't include pole dancing and cover charge. It is a fast food haven - you've got your McD's, BK's, TB's and all the like. Nothing is generally appetizing for us...until Monday.

We nearly pulled off to go to the left (heading south) to Pizzeria Uno, giving into the pull of the quick service, chain restaurant. BUT, up ahead on the right, an indesript little joint (yes, joint) called Uncle Pete's BBQ glowed at us. We'll take it, and we swerved to the right to exit.

Upon entering, we found the obligatory red check tablecloth, the roll of papertowels on each table alongside a laminated menu showcasing several types of meat. Yum. I struggled with my order, giving into the server's suggestion of babyback ribs. C went for the pulled pork plate. DOUBLE the amount on the sandwich...because they can.

While the salad is to be skipped and the sweet potato roll I don't care for, the ribs were great. They were tender, with good smokey flavor and just the right amount of fat along the edges. I picked on several onion rings as a side, a mountainous order that would serve better as an appetizer, and I did wish I had ordered the baked beans or something to complement the ribs, but otherwise I enjoyed it.

C had the piled high pork with a side of mashed potatoes...the potatoes were definitely overcooked as you could taste the water in the mash. Sorta mealy and wet. The sauce that came with the pork was super sweet (more like an Asian barbeque sauce) but he ended up liking that in the end. I personally would have liked a more vinegar based sauce on the pork, more Carolina than Beijing. Strangely, everyone one except for the owner (Lou?) was of Asian descent - just a random observation after tasting the sauce.

Either way, if you're on Route 1 and hungry, don't be afraid to try Uncle Pete's!

Totally wierd and not related...

2008-03-17T10:42:00.004-05:00

I don't know if I am proud per se, but at least I know I could survive...

Sad day

2008-03-04T09:37:00.002-06:00

well, this has been a tough week for us...C's grandfather passed away in the early hours of March 1. He was surrounded by his family and slipped quietly and peacefully away - just like he wanted to. As he'd been battling lung cancer for the last 9 months, it wasn't completely unexpected, though I think death always has a way of catching you off guard or taking life too soon. When is it ever too late? You never hear anyone say that.

Well, in honor of Grandpop, the family has been eating eggplant parmagian and drinking his homemade wine...just a small gesture that I think is tributary in it's own way. It's something that he would have enjoyed knowing...

Anyway, more to come after we get through these next few days.

Shopping Alibi?

2008-02-27T10:12:00.004-06:00

Hey ladies, check out this hot lil' number happening this week at Alibi at the Liberty Hotel:
What: Boston's hottest collections from Stil, Gretta Luxe, Portabello Road and more at up to 50-70% off retail
When: Tomorrow 11-8pm & Friday 11-4pm

Ooh, la, la shopping and drinks...quoting my auntie "I love drunk purchases"...

To reiterate it is 50-70% off!! check it out.

Raging Bull

2008-02-19T12:35:00.003-06:00

Honestly, I LOVE Toro - I just do. I don't care who owns it, or how hard it is to get a table, or what order my food comes (as long as it comes), I just genuinely enjoy the place.

Recently, we went for a light dinner. We weren't starved, but wanted something good in a cozy place - it's perfect for that. The wait was about 45 minutes, so we grabbed some wine and loitered at the bar. About 20 minutes later, the host asked if we'd like to sit at the communal table. In the middle. Across from each other.

Alright, we were fine with that. Just settled up at the bar and squeezed our way in. Time passes...no server. It's busy, whatev, sip your wine. More time passes...no server. I flag the host and he is apologetic (sorta) and brings a woman over who immediately says "I'm not your server, but I can start on some tapas for you..." Fine, I tell her the order....ask for water...STILL NO SIGN OF OUR SERVER. I'm like "am I crazy for thinking she should come over here?" We start getting tapas, they lose one in the shuffle, have to flag her for more water and wine, I leave her a sh*t tip (15%).

Bottom line - will continue to go for the food. (period)

Any other experiences like that? I feel like I'm not alone...this is Toro Lovers Anonymous.

V-day full of love (and food)

2008-02-19T12:14:00.003-06:00

Ah, Valentines Day...words that come to mind are: red, hearts, romance, chocolate, amateur night. No, not your stripping debut, but your neighbors at the next table! It's like the EXACT people for whom the holiday is precious are those that cram into the deuce next to you purring and clinking glasses.

I'm not into that - nor am I into gifts of red lingerie (in February) or heart shaped boxes of chocolate or single red roses encased in plastic. Snobby? Maybe, but I prefer to have my honey at home and then treat ourselves to a fantastic meal several days post-V-day.

So, this year on 2/16 C and I bundled ourselves up and out to local fave, No. 9 Park. It's always exciting to go there. You pull up (or walk up if it's not f-ing freezing) to this non-descript little door in this quiet area of Boston, basking in the glow of the state house. It's immediatly warm and vibrant inside, lots of ambient noise of drinking and dining and laughter. We soaked up the chatter for a half hour or so as we were early for our reservation and sampled some of their famous cocktails - a pear martini for me (can't resist Belle de Brillet) and a bourbon spritzer type thing for C.

Promptly on time, the hostess seated us at a lovely window table. It is the EXACT table at which I've sat the two other times I've been here - uncanny. Anyway, we perused the menu and made our selections - I've outlined the choices below:

Nantucket Bay Scallops - sweet potato dumplings and melted vidalia onion

Prune stuffed Gnocchi - seared fois gras in a vin santo buerre blanc sauce

Roasted Pouissin (two ways) - confit and sliced over carrot puree with escargot

Sliced Rib-eye with potato galette and Swiss chard

We generally share everything, so we end up with two small courses and an entree. On this particular occasion, the ever-generous Jessica Kinney granted us a lovely amuse bouche and mid-course that were absolutely lovely (tuna tartar and comte risotto).

Check it out for yourself, just don't go on Valentines Day!

They call me Mellow Yellow

2008-02-19T12:05:00.002-06:00

When I was little, yellow was my absolute favorite color. I elected to get an entire bedroom set in yellow when I was 6. Who lets their kid pick out Ethan Allen furniture and then agree to the color? My lovely parents. It was a canopy to boot - tres cool.

Anyway, I have retained that sense of joy when I see yellow popping up on runways and on shelves and people at the mall. It is such a happy color and makes you look tan - what's better than happy and tan?

Anyway, my lust after collection has to be from Ms Tory Burch...I want all of her yellow tops! They actually inspired me to break out this ruffled/layered yellow tank I have and pair it with some wide-leg gray pants. C thinks I'm predictable because I gravitate towards all things yellow these days...last year it was orange.

Another great yellow collection is from JCrew which I have been increasingly impressed with...thier yellow is much more green infused, like a grassy chartreuse-y yellow. Love, love, love the satin, button-up skirt. It will be mine...

My advice: buy up all the yellow you can get.

Top Flavor Pairings of '08

2008-02-19T11:36:00.002-06:00

Not to be so "list-y" but I thought that this was an interesting little tid-bit. Look out for these combo's at a restaurant near you!
1 oregano and heirloom beans
2 vanilla bean and cardamom
3 chili and cocoa
4 coriander and coconut water
5 lemon grass and litchi
6 red curry and masa
7 orange peel and natural wood
8 allspice and exotic meats
9 poppy seed and rose
10 sage and rye whiskey

Source: McCormick via OnlineMediaDaily.com

Personally, I think some of them sound horrible (who eats wood?) but am intrigued... thoughts?

where did I go?

2008-01-28T10:11:00.000-06:00

Just so you all know, I am still alive and have TONS of posts...I just haven't had a second these past few weeks to log in and write them. I owe you the following:
2008 flavor pairings
Sage samples
Maine local fave Rod'n'Reel Cafe
Chicago's award winning NAHA
And many more....

Stay tuned!

-CE

Union Reunion

2008-01-11T13:08:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since we ended up at Union Bar and Grille on Washington Street, so we went last night for C's 28th birthday. We have always liked it there - from the beginning of our relationship (and their opening). On a side note, pretty much every single time I've been there, I've been sick...what gives?

Anyway, we sat down and nearly immediatly had their a-MA-zing cornbread. I would forgo an appetizer because of that corn bread. No, seriously...but I didn't. We decided to share the tuna tartar to start, which they nicely split for us on two petite plates. The tuna was quite different with tastes like smoked salt and a spicy lemon juice. There was minced ginger and garlic and chives, oh my. Topped with (very cute) fingerling potato chips. I honestly was not a huge fan and I absolutely love tuna tartar. Maybe it was the lemon-y ness that threw me off (who has ever heard of spicy lemon?) but it wasn't my favorite.

Our next course arrived before our silverware did (more on that to come) but they were worth the wait. We both enjoyed our entrees - I had the roast lamb and C had the smoked duck breast. There were 4 lamb ribs served with a Jerusalem artichoke and potato gratin, wilted kale, and a mission fig jus. Lovely - I found there was quite a bit extra jus for my taste, though I enjoyed it. C's meal was much different - smoky duck, topped with smoked salt, over an apple chutney and what I've dubbed "spinach and semolina not-so-gnocchi" cakes. He liked it and to me his duck looked perfectly cooked and very nicely presented. The "not-so-gnocchi" cakes were different, albeit misleading, but I'm not sure why they are the way they are...creative differences I guess!

We rounded out the evening with a warm apple crisp with fresh cream and caramel, a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the side. Simple, sweet, good.

Our service was good, mostly. Our food runner cleared all of our app plates and silverware except my knife. Which was used. By me. She also left if in the place of my fork...another odd point. That didn't totally bother me except that she never came back with NEW forks and knives...so, she then held our food for a minute while someone else had to come and mise-en-place us. It was interesting.

Our water was always full, though no one poured our wine for us. Could be "new american" in service, but I like someone to be attentive to an empty glass.

And, an annoying part for me was there was no candle for C. I get it, he's 28, he doesn't necessitate a candle. He's not whining or stomping his feet on the floor, he orders a "big boy meal", but why did the woman offer one on the phone when I made the reservation? I mean, don't giveth if thou will taketh away! Or forget! Just one of those things that annoys me and should be such a simple, nice gesture but is so often overlooked.

I don't want this review to end on a negative note, so I will tell you that I will go back to Union. I might wait until I am not sick though...if that is even possible!

P.G

2007-12-19T11:07:00.000-06:00

I was recently at the boisterious boite The Beehive for a holiday party. While we were there, I ran into Dave Andelman of Phantom Gourmet fame. Yours truly went up to Dave and said the very eloquent statement "I watch you hungover on Sunday mornings!" I'm sure he was pleased to know that his show and his family has made such an entree into our lives.

Sheesh.

But, for all the randomness and restaurant babble that comes with the Phantom Gourmet, it's at least good for making me hungry on Sundays - that's a job done right. Right?

Snow Day(s)

2007-12-17T10:38:00.000-06:00

If, like me and the majority of the Eastern seaboard, you were snowed in this weekend, you likely watched a lot of TV and ate some comfort food. We were affixed to the couch this weekend, literally only moving for satiation (cheeseburgers, chinese delivery, Whole Foods). We went through two-thirds of The Godfather trilogy, so we felt like we'd at least accomplished SOMETHING.

I think that snow makes me want comfort foods and I had a super craving for New England clam chowder...I just am particular about my chowder so I decided to make my own. Something full of veggies, not too creamy, but perfect clam/milkiness. Here is the recipe that I followed, compliments of Cooking Light.

4 (6 1/2-ounce) cans chopped clams, undrained
2 (8-ounce) bottles clam juice
4 bacon slices
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 garlic clove, minced
3 cups cubed red potato
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 parsley sprigs
1 bay leaf
2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup half-and-half

Drain clams through a colander into a bowl, reserving liquid and clams. Combine clam liquid and clam juice.

Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crisp (about 7 minutes). Remove bacon from pan, reserving 2 teaspoons drippings in pan. Crumble bacon; set aside.

Add onion, celery, and garlic to pan; sauté 8 minutes or until tender. Add clam juice mixture, potato, and next 4 ingredients (through bay leaf); bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until potato is tender.

Combine milk and flour, stirring with a whisk until smooth; add to pan. Stir in clams and half-and-half. Cook 5 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Top with bacon crumbles.

We had a side salad of marinated tomatoes and mixed greens and a crusty baguette - delicious. I now feel ready for the next snow day!

Feast of the Seven Fishes

2007-12-11T11:25:00.000-06:00

For a long time now, I've been wanting to attend a celebration of the Italian 'Feast of the Seven Fishes". It is generally a Christmas Eve celebration, and not being Italian, I haven't been fortunate enough to experience this culinary spread. I was doing some recipe searching and found a local place that is having the celebration early and it's a who's who of Boston chefs (Pino, Marco, Dante, etc).

Local South End (and former North End) favorite Sage is hosting the event December 18 @ 6:30pm for $120.00. Sounds like a whale of a time to me.

Check it out.

Pre-party Tasca

2007-12-10T08:20:00.000-06:00

Pre-party eats should have their own category defined as "small plates that will fill you up in case there is NOT food and not too heavy that you'll either fall asleep or have to limit your party grazing" - how hard is that to find?

This weekend, we had a party in Allston - a place I am none to familiar with, so did some research on pre-party dining options in that area. Settled on a little tapas place on Brighton Avenue called Tasca. Easy to walk into at 7:30 (always a plus) and sat down at a crammed little rickety table for four. While our service was far from good, the food was a nice option for our pre-party noshing. The plates are small (I mean, they are tapas) but they are hearty enough that sharing is easy and you don't need to order two of everything in order to get a taste. We ordered these six to share, though I've highlighted our favorites: patatas alioli, Gambas al ajillo, albondigas, caracoles, calamares fritos, empanadillas de queso de cabra.

Even if you love garlic, the gambas al ajilla is the most garlicky garlic dish I think I can remember. Word to the wise - NOT a date item. You'll be holding onto that "no kiss" rule a little while longer, if you do! The albondigas are these special little meatballs in a creamy, green peppercorn sauce topped with fried potato crisps - delicious. I hoped to love the goat cheese empanadas, but they were not crispy, but chewy and tough to cut or bite into. Sad day for the dish, because we all love goat cheese. The peppers they were served with were lovely, crisp and sweet in a perfect (though nontraditional) relish.

Service overall stunk - the food runner was the nicest one, refilling water glasses and bringing us more bread. Where was the server? In the bathroom reapplying her makeup.

Well, you win some and you lose some. I'd probably call this one a tie.

[care to make a case for Tasca? post!]

Welcome!

2007-12-08T10:05:00.000-06:00

Hi there - hope this blog finds you well...we're glad you joined us to see our most loved things, all city related. Favorites (and upcoming posts) include: restaurants, bars & lounges, shopping, cooking, art, architecture, exploring new places, and seeing what the world's cities have to offer.