April 2009
1 post
GastroHub | A culinary scrapbook →
The new food blog.
June 2008
4 posts
“Careful, miss. This plate is hot…even hotter than you!”
– Our server at Andalous
Review: Andalous
Last night, two of my best girl friends got a craving for Moroccan and asked me if I wanted to come with. I’ve never had Moroccan (one of the joys of growing up in a small town: very limited “ethnic food” options), so I was game. Ashley had heard good things about Andalous, and it always taunted her when she was riding by on the El (I know, right? That’s how I feel about...
Review: Opera
The boyfriend and I went to Opera this past Tuesday. It’s been a fairly stressful quarter for both of us, and we were eager to have a relaxing, stress-free date night in Chicago instead of frantically trying to grab a nice meal close to home. We narrowed down our options to a few places I had found with OpenTable: Cuatro, Opera, and Le Colonial. I really want to go to the two other places...
Review: Rhapsody
Better late than never, huh?
For spring formal, we went to Rhapsody. Now, I know it’s a little uncouth to write a review based on banquet dining, but bear with me. Rhapsody is attached to the Symphony Center in Chicago, so it’s the perfect place for dinner and a show. I was pleased with the sectioning of the restaurant - there’s a bar and lounge area for more casual dining,...
May 2008
14 posts
exploring Evanston's culinary world
This past Saturday, some friends and I went out for dinner and dessert. We heard there was a new Hawaiian place in town, and I was eager to try it since I’ve never had Hawaiian food. I’ve realized lately that I’m more and more willing to try new and slightly crazy things - the idea of eating things like foie gras and pork belly doesn’t faze me anymore. Hawaiian food, I...
Review: Blu Sushi Lounge
Blu Sushi Lounge replaced a family favorite, Narra, this past fall. I love sushi like no one else, so I was eager to finally get a chance to go with a group of friends. I’m really partial to the warm colors on cream decor theme, but I hate the blue accents. It makes things feel like an upscale Fourth of July barbecue. I do love those light fixtures, though. The restaurant wasn’t...
Review: Jacky's Bistro
I am absolutely in love with Jacky’s Bistro now. The location is close by (less than a ten minute drive), the dress code is casual, and the food is amazing. I was a little turned off by our waitress showing up five minutes after we were seated, but the restaurant was incredibly busy and she was very attentive and friendly thereafter. I loved the simple yellows, browns, and reds of the...
Review: Flatwater
Oh, Flatwater. What a disappointing experience. The restaurant is gorgeous and in a prime spot on the river. You can even get takeout from your boat! I was in love with the mellow, neutral decor inside - at least where we were. The restaurant was a little too dark for my tastes, and it was clear that the bar area was the happening place for young people. The service was less than enjoyable. ...
Review: Union Pizzeria
I’ve been intrigued by Union Pizzeria since I drove by it about a month ago. With huge windows in the front and a vibrant bar area, it was certainly eye-catching. I am sad to say that beyond the bar, the decor isn’t as interesting. The lounge area in the front is great - as my boyfriend’s friends pointed out, it makes you feel like you’re sitting in your living room...
Review: Prairie Grass Cafe
I discovered Prairie Grass Cafe entirely through Tumblr when I saw a picture of one of the dishes. I convinced a couple of my friends to go there with me for lunch last Saturday because I loved the lunch menu so much. Unfortunately, I’m kind of an idiot. Sometimes I forget that people have separate brunch menus that aren’t optional. Where I’m from, most places keep the lunch...
Review: Via Veneto
I found Via Veneto with OpenTable, a cool website where you can make reservations online and get dining points (plus so much more). I had originally planned for a higher-end date night in Chicago, but my boyfriend was concerned with all the work he had to do for classes and asked me to find something a little closer. Thanks to the sweet neighborhood search feature on OpenTable, I was able to...
major blah - so far
Last night’s dinner at Flatwater was not what I was expecting - in a bad way. Full review to come tomorrow night, most likely.
culinary weekend
This week has been insane for work, so I’m behind on posting last weekend’s restaurants. Well, now I have even more reviews! Last night the boyfriend & co convinced me to walk a mile for pizza and meet them at the new Union Pizzeria (funny, because a popular bar for NU students is the Union and I thought they wanted my non-ID bearing self to walk for an hour and meet them there)....
dinner plans
There was a change of plans last night and tonight - thanks to midterms and mid-quarter projects, the boyfriend can’t take so much time for dinner and drive to Le Colonial. I’m kind of disappointed because I really wanted to go, but it’s not a big deal in the long run. We’re going to cute restaurant nearby that we’ve never been to, so we still get the date night experience on a smaller scale. ...
April 2008
26 posts
Zed451 →
New restaurant in Chicago. This steakhouse is definitely on my very long list of places I want to go before I graduate.
Le Colonial →
Where the boyfriend and I are going for dinner tomorrow night.
finally have reservations made
Saturday afternoon: Whatever Mom feels up to getting (with friends) Saturday dinner: Flatwater (with boyfriend) Sunday brunch: Atwood Café Sunday dinner: Jacky’s Bistro That’s a relief. (reblogged from my personal Tumblr)
Review: Hotcakes
Last Saturday, my boyfriend got up the courage to take me to brunch. I should explain: I am hungry all the time. I have a bottomless iron stomach. My boyfriend likes certain meals at certain times. It often causes clashes, especially over the breakfast date. We had seen Hotcakes several months ago in the fall. It looked like a cute café in the Wilmette area. I had passed it up then because I...
Review: Pete Miller's
Pete Miller’s is one of the default places for “nice date in Evanston without much effort.” It’s also one of the default places to bring parents and friends, which is how my first experience at PM occurred. I went with three friends, my future roommate/suitemate (technically suitemate, more likely to serve as roommate), and her parents. The first thing I noticed was how...
Earth-Friendly Specials in Chicago →
Just in time for Earth Day on April 22nd! I want to try that tasting course at Marigold.
Salsa Recipes →
A plethora of variations that will keep me busy all summer. I’m most interested in trying out the Cilantro-Lime Salsa. I love lime flavors in my dishes.
Foodie blogs
I’ve been keeping up with a lot of foodie blogs lately, and I’ve found them quite inspiring. When I was bored last week (and before there was any work to be done for classes), I searched the archives of my favorite sites for recipe ideas. I now have a cornucopia of new things to try out this summer when I’m on my own!
Review: Petterino's
Yesterday I went out to lunch in Chicago, a rarity for me. I haven’t been into Chicago much lately (thanks in part to a busy schedule and the freezing weather), so I was happy to explore a new part of the city and try out a new restaurant. Petterino’s was suggested as our destination, and I eagerly agreed to try it out. My host and I arrived a little early for our reservation, but...
Today's Recipe: Healthier Hot Wings →
Make these yummy wings for March Madness now or the Super Bowl next year!
Review: The Celtic Knot
Many of my friends have enjoyed gathering at the Knot for drinks and good times. It’s a classier place to relax and enjoy the company of friends without feeling overwhelmed by loud music or underwhelmed by dim lighting. My friend had made a reservation for 7:00, and we were pleasantly surprised that the table was still reserved for us when we arrived fifteen minutes late. Although the...
March 2008
2 posts
foodbeam →
More like foodgasm. The pictures are gorgeous and practically porn for foodies. The Vanilla Cheesecake is a definite must-try for me. I’m afraid to delve into the archives for fear of taking over my boyfriend’s kitchen with sugar and pâtissier aspirations.
greetings!
This is a place for me to catalog food inspiration - reviews, news, pics, links, recipes, and whatever else I find. Enjoy and offer opinions!