Noodle Time

I am a BIG soup fan. Surprised? For as much as I love eating big meals with lots of substance, there really is nothing that replaces the comfort of soup and noodles. I feel as though this applies to so many different cultures. You've got ramen, wonton soup, chicken noodle soup, matzah ball soup. See, we're all just the same =) and the list goes on and on. And it's getting cold out so what better time?

Recently I've paid visits to Oiistar, the Bucktown newbie, Cocoro Sushi, the loop spot frequented by Japanese businessmen, Arami, West Town's favorite sushi spot and last, but not least Michelin winner Takashi's Slurping Turtle, which started as a Sunday noodle dinner special at his restaurant Takashi and is now a full blown River North ramen hot spot.

Slurp up!

 

The interior at Oiistar

Katsu bun

The "Oiimen" ramen

The menu at Cocoro

Champon, a Nagasaki-region special seafood noodle

One of my besties from out of town enjoys Arami

XOXO, IN LOVE WITH CHICAGO

West Loop/Town Neighborhood Roundup

A few new casual eateries in the neighborhood have opened up and I'm always happy to hear about the expansion of our neighborhood. And dessert. Always happy with dessert. Cone is an Irish-themed ice-cream shop on Madison & Shaman, a Mexican small plates BYOB, restaurant on Chicago Ave. 

Shaman is owned by Chilam Balam, who actually greeted us as soon as we walked in the door. Cute as a button. I vividly remembered the distinct taste of her tamale at Dose Market a few months ago and was just as satisfied with a full-on meal. She partners with local farmers, which are all listed on their website and the freshness of the food is Ah-Ma-Zing. And BYOB. Don't ever forget BYOB.

As for Cone, a friend and I were just strollin' along Madison and saw that every person walking by us had a cone of some colorful concoction and then we came across Cone. We both ordered a "soft serve",which as you can see from the photo below is nothing like the US version of it. The Cookie Monster ice cream is a blue-hued cookies and cream flavored treat and we brought it home for a little extra lovin'. Lots of flavors and lots of hot days left in summer to enjoy them! 

Chicken Sopes

Pork belly tacos

Mmmm mole

 

XOXO, IN LOVE WITH CHICAGO

Mother's Day

After calling my own lovely mama on Mother's Day, I spent the day with Sean’s mother for some Dose Market and dinner time fun. The Dose market is a year-round food, fashion and tsoktske-filled good time at the River East Art Center, just east of Navy Pier. I went once last year, but this time around the vendors were all new, which made for a completely different experience. And the people are always good looking at these things, so that makes it real easy to enjoy yourself. I preordered our tickets for only $8 a pop and that even came with a free pickle back shot. Well you had your choice of bottled water or whiskey.  So you know.

As for dinner, this was my first time at Green Zebra, James Beard winner Shawn McClain’s vegetarian eatery in West Town. Yeah I said it, vegetarian. The word makes me shutter, but after my first bite I stopped caring that meat wasn’t incorporated in the meal.  Although I did order the Carbonara that came with Shiitake “bacon”.  Satisfied with the substitution. We also ordered an incredibly rich Hen of The Woods Mushroom Pâté with Vidalia onion marmalade, Grilled Werp Farm Baby Lettuce with a ‘perfect’ farm egg, crispy potato tot, Roasted Sweet Potato Crepes with Saigon cinnamon, seared Halloumi, parsley and brown butter and some Foraged Maitake Mushrooms, housemade kimchi .  No rabbit food here!

 XOXO, IN LOVE WITH CHICAGO

Birthday Love/Restaurant Roundup

Last year on my birthday I was working, mid-week, in Cleveland, Ohio. Needless to say any event in Chicago could have passed up last years' celebration-by LEAPS and BOUNDS. My birthday fell on a Friday this year, so I took the opportunity to start the celebrations on Thursday and drag them out throughout the entire weekend. Nobody seemed to mind! Here's a roundup of the events and restaurant goodness. 

Kai Zan Japanese restaurant was where I made my original birthday restaurant, but I ended up changing it to a larger spot as Kai Zan is a pretty intimate setting with only 22 seats in house. I found Kai Zan via one of my daily Tasting Table emails and immediately put it in my "to try" email folder. It's a charming, Japanese tapas, West Town, establishment, run by twin brothers who have been working in the Japanese food industry in the city for over 20 years. I'm always the biggest critic when it comes to Japanese food, but I was pleasantly surprised. We were greeted with a free seared tuna sushi appetizer and continued to order a ton of little plates-seafood salad, miso cauliflower, home made tofu with okra, karaage (fried chicken) and beef skewers. Very reasonably priced, good service by the chefs and best of all-in my neighborhood. 

Seadog Sushi is your typical Americanized sushi restaurant, but hey I'm definitely not above a BYOB, centrally located, reasonably priced restaurant. I spent my actual birthday here with a few bottles of wine deep, and in good company. Couldn't ask for more!

The Bedford is a bar that I've visited before, but a second look always validates whether or not you like a place. The vault concept of the bar is really cool and we enjoyed all the picture opportunities!

Last but not least, Honky Tonk, is a Pilsen BBQ restaurant, and came highly recommended by friends. We had a group of 6 or 7 on a Saturday night and were able to sit down with no reservation and no problems. I like it. And boy did I leave wishing I wore the stretchiest of stretchy pants. Sean and I shared the sample platter and it was the perfect serving to get a little taste of each of the meats they have to offer.

Oh wait! One last event! Sunday funday (excuse the cliche, but what else is it?) was at my girlfriends' pool and a group of my friends surprised me as I walked into the apartment to them singing Happy Birthday-with a tray of delicious Sweet Mandy B cupcakes. A great end to a very long and eventful birthday weekend!