Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Little Goat


Adventures West of the River last Friday for dinner with the girls! 


Merchandise Mart looking stunning all lit up! 


How cute is this little fella named Valentino! We met him on our way to dinner and couldn't get enough of him.


Dinner at Little Goat on a Friday night is spectacular. It was my first time dining there and let's just say I was not let down. The extensive menu has everything your little heart could desire, from breakfast french toast to seafood, ensuring a choice that satisfies almost every palette. 



(loveeee these!!)



The right amount of noise and a mix of community style tables with booths and bar stools creates the atmosphere of a chic foodie diner. Even on a busy Friday night, you can order breakfast all night! I love that they make their own bread, nothing beats freshly baked bread. 


Ordering was a tricky decision, but Sophie went with the Boo Boo Baise: mussles, whitefish, and shrimp over mashed potatoes and bread crumbs with some veggies.


Jaclyn ordered the fish tostadas: crisp whitefish, shallot aioli, chick pea n' onion salad, & harissa vinaigrette  


I decided on the Ruben: smoked corned beef, kimchi, kraut, cheese, and special sauce on pretzel rye. YUM! 


 Kimchi on a Ruben? Why not! So delicious.



On my next visit I'll be ordering a Bull's Eye French Toast (eggs, crispy chicken, sweet onion brioche, and bbq maple syrup) and am dying to try the goat chili cheese fries, tempura mashed potatoes or the huge plate of fried pickles & onion rings... and a mini pie. Oh, and they serve Stumptown coffee! Yet another plus for Little Goat.
xx

Nice Bikeee

Growing up in California, I never really understood the concept of actual seasons and actually anticipating true spring weather after a long, harsh, snowy winter. Especially in Chicago, it felt like the cold temperatures and wind would never go away. So of course the first day the sun decided to come out, everyone was out and about, taking advantage of some warm weather, either riding bikes along the Lakefront Path or relaxing at the beach. Sophie, Jaclyn, and I decided to join in on the fun so we rented bikes and took a long ride toward downtown.





Sophie being a model


Jac & I being odd as usual 



Cotton On dress| Levi's Denim Jacket | Anthropologie bracelet |World Market necklace Converse high top chucks | Rayban Sunnies


after a few quick snaps along the beach, we hopped back on our bikes and continued our journey 




another pit stop in Lincoln Park at the harbor






we ventured back on the path and discovered this gorgeous view 






I love this city!


and her!


and her!




Hope you're enjoying this spectacular weather as much as we did! 

xx

Thursday, April 25, 2013

six snaps


hello spring!  


Chicago architecture continues to fascinate me. Look at that blue sky! Let's hope for some more of those clear days.


Perks of having a best friend/roommate who works at World Market: she comes home with endless goodies. The raspberry Singoalla cookies are heaven!


I celebrated Earth Day by taking a lovely walk along Lake Michigan with Jaclyn and picking up some trash along the path. Let's continue to celebrate the earth everyday, not solely on one single day where we spare the air or consume less. Reducing should be part of our daily efforts.


And of course after I discuss reducing and consuming less, my friend surprised me with coffee & a doughnut. I couldn't say no to her kind gesture, but it got me thinking, where does my trash go when I'm done with it? Is it actually getting recycled or ending up in a landfill? In caring for the environment, is recycling enough?


Upon reflecting on the recent events in Boston, I have been thinking about the amount of terrible things that happen in our world on a daily basis that we sometimes turn a blind eye to. The aim of this photo is not to make a political comment or target a race or ethnicity for the blame of this terror; rather, it is to suggest how in times of tragedy, we come together and recognize that we are all human beings who need one another. Let's not forget about Boston in a few weeks and move on to the next "story", as we have a tendency to do so when tragedy occurs (think of Sandy Hook, Aurora, Hurricane Sandy...or even Hurricane Katrina! There are still people suffering and recovering from these life changing events). 

I normally try to keep these six photos light and aim for them to serve as reminders for the little things in life that we take advantage of, so the heavy content is only temporary. I've just recently been reflecting upon my actions as an individual in my local community, as well as my role as a member of a global community. 

I'd love to hear some feedback on this. 
Enjoy the rest of your week!
xx


Saturday, April 20, 2013

Spring Pasta

Looking for a simple weeknight recipe with some fresh spring veggies? Angel hair (or the pasta of your choice), asparagus, mushrooms, and lemon zest make for a quick & delicious spring dinner. I never thought to add asparagus to a pasta dish, but why not?




The lemon zest gives the angel hair an amazing taste



Yum!

xx

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Tuna, rice, and everything nice

After a delicious dinner at Nori last week, Jaclyn and I were inspired to learn how to make sushi. We share a mutual obsession with sushi, and it's safe to say I could have it at least twice a week. Nori has three restaurants in Chicago and at the one closest to us, a good portion of their menu is half off on Mondays! 




So the girls and I decided to sign up for a cooking class at Now We're Cookin' in Evanston to learn how to make one of our favorite things! The space at Now We're Cookin' is amazing and the fabulous hostesses were an absolute pleasure, as always. We Started with some delicious cups of miso soup. Yum!



Natalie & Sophie


Snacks & prep work


mangoooo!




patting down the rice is key for regular rolls and inside out rolls! (warning: inside out rolls are tricky at first, as are regular rolls, just practice and have fun with it! Make sure to keep a bowl of water near by to dip your fingers in before handling the sticky rice)


tuna, cucumber, avocado, and tons of wasabi


adding sesame seeds


time to roll!





finished product!


Jac & I



messy hands from sticky rice, but proud of our creations!

xx