For a city known for hot dogs, Chicago has certainly been flirting with burgers lately. In the past couple of months Chicago has added two high profile burger joints to the city’s roster of restaurants. Recently Shake Shack has been stealing the spotlight, but Umami Burger (an import from Los Angeles) arrived first. Umami Burger (read more)
cooking
Brussels Sprout, Bacon, Shallot, Goat Cheese Pasta
Ready for a quick and easy pasta recipe with some fun fall flavors? I love creating pasta based on the bits of ingredients I find in my fridge, which is just what inspired this Brussels Sprout, Bacon, Shallot, Goat Cheese Pasta. This can be made in just 25 minutes, making it a great pick for a (read more)
Bacon Mozzarella Benedict
Having houseguests is the perfect reason to cook a fancy breakfast. My sister and her boyfriend recently came to visit and this Bacon Mozzarella Benedict was inspired by my sister’s boyfriend’s love of poached eggs and his obsession with bacon. I added a mozzarella sauce because I am a firm believer that cheese makes everything (read more)
Lemon Sage Chicken
Short on time? This Lemon Sage Chicken recipe is just what you need. There are times when my recipes aren’t exactly planned out, they just come together based on what I find in my fridge. This recipe is a perfect example of that. The chicken was poached in butter, white wine, and lemon, and seasoned (read more)
The Pump Room at the Public Hotel, Chicago
The Pump Room at the Public Hotel is celebrating its 75th anniversary. While some hotel restaurants can be sterile and uninviting, The Pump Room, with its gorgeous globe lighting, is cozy, romantic, and welcoming. Some friends and I were invited to taste throw back 1930s cocktails and the fall menu. We were treated to a (read more)
Kabocha Squash and Ricotta Bruschetta
Remember how I was talking about roasting squash the other day? I went overboard, and now my fridge is filled with squash, which means that I am coming up with fun new ways to eat it. This kabocha squash and ricotta bruschetta is my version of the incredible appetizer served at The Pump Room (read more)
The Ultimate Cheesy Sriracha Nachos
I am not sure why, but I always have lots of cheese, and lots of tortilla chips at home. One lazy Sunday it occurred to me that the best way to utilize these ingredients was to make a giant plate of nachos. We called it dinner. It wasn’t the healthiest dinner, but we loved every (read more)
Ketchipotle Bison Chili
The chilly fall weather, the colorful leaves, and the football on tv inspired me to make chili for the first time this fall. There is something wonderful about the scent of chili simmering on the stove. If you haven’t tried bison yet, you should. It is similar to beef, but it is a leaner meat. (read more)
Tomato Montaditos with Olive Oils from Spain
Tomatoes are absolutely perfect this time of year, and one of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh tomatoes is to make montaditos. A montadito is a typical Spanish snack consisting of small nearly bite-sized pieces of bread with any kind of toppings. The word “montadito” comes from the word “montar” which means “to mount”, (read more)
IPO at the W City Center Chicago
Last week I dined at IPO (short for Initial Public Offering) at the W City Center with 20 of my blogging friends. We were spoiled rotten with mixology demonstrations and a six course dinner. You know you are having a great week when that sums up your Tuesday. We kicked things off with a mixology (read more)