WHAT: Cafe Sushi
WHERE: Corner of Wells and Schiller, Old Town
WHY: It's a great, authentic sushi restaurant with an extensive menu and a BYOB policy. What could be better?
FAVORITE: For this, I have to include two. Obviously the shrimp tempura maki roll was fantastic, perfectly crisp and a hefty portion with eight pieces rather than the traditional six. But to add something out of the ordinary into the mix, the mushroom maki roll was fantastic, with rice and marinated shitake mushrooms.
TIP: Bring your own booze. Seriously. Everyone in the restaurant had their own bottle of wine and it goes so well with sushi.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Hungry for...
WHAT: Feast
WHERE: Gold Coast location, Rush and Delaware
WHY: When Sara was in town, I wanted a fun, casual place for dinner where we could sit outside and catch up. In comes Feast, a trendy-casual restaurant in the Gold Coast with outdoor seating perfect for people watching. The menu is big enough to please everyone, with our table ordering salads, crab cakes, turkey burgers and pizzas. The prices and budget friendly, especially if you go for the appetizers that are really big enough to be entrees. Their wine list is delicious, too.
FAVORITE: The dip trio appetizer. It comes with three homemade dips: spinach and artichoke, roasted red pepper and walnut and hummus, with fresh-baked pita toasts on the side.
TIP: If you're in a rush but still want a delicious meal, head to their grocer right next door for a great selection of salads, sandwiches and snacks.
WHERE: Gold Coast location, Rush and Delaware
WHY: When Sara was in town, I wanted a fun, casual place for dinner where we could sit outside and catch up. In comes Feast, a trendy-casual restaurant in the Gold Coast with outdoor seating perfect for people watching. The menu is big enough to please everyone, with our table ordering salads, crab cakes, turkey burgers and pizzas. The prices and budget friendly, especially if you go for the appetizers that are really big enough to be entrees. Their wine list is delicious, too.
FAVORITE: The dip trio appetizer. It comes with three homemade dips: spinach and artichoke, roasted red pepper and walnut and hummus, with fresh-baked pita toasts on the side.
TIP: If you're in a rush but still want a delicious meal, head to their grocer right next door for a great selection of salads, sandwiches and snacks.
Oh, to be young.
I'm hungry for my youth.
I'm well aware that I haven't even reached my mid-twenties yet, but I have never felt so young and so old at the same time.
At work, I'm constantly fighting to defend myself because of my age and inexperience, trying to look older and appear more knowledgeable. My coworkers say that they're jealous of my youth, but they're not jealous of my inability to make decisions within the company or create my own hours. Those are luxuries for the 'old', keeping in mind no one I associate with in the office is over the age of 30. Feeling young is ridiculous, and some days, I wish I could fast forward to my middle aged years, the years of being in complete control of everything around me.
But then my friend Sara came to visit. She's one of my best friends and still a senior at the university I attended. After an interview, she stayed at my apartment, beyond excited to escape Champaign and have a night out in Chicago. All she said the entire night was how lucky I was, how amazing it is to be in Chicago, to be a real person, to have graduated. And as I was listening to her, all I was thinking was that I would give anything to have just a few days of no responsibility. Yes, her midterms and job hunt are both challenging, but they're nothing compared to a full-time job and real life. All I could tell her was that she should enjoy her time left in college, and that before she knew it, she would be contemplating doing laundry because $1.50 per washer doesn't factor into her weekly budget.
It's a constant back and forth. I want to be an adult, a "real person", if you will, but I also long to have my easy, care-free college days back. Not forever, just for a little while. I want to fast-forward, but what's the rush? No matter how much I wish I could change, I am where I am, right here, as a young but old twentysomething.
I'm well aware that I haven't even reached my mid-twenties yet, but I have never felt so young and so old at the same time.
At work, I'm constantly fighting to defend myself because of my age and inexperience, trying to look older and appear more knowledgeable. My coworkers say that they're jealous of my youth, but they're not jealous of my inability to make decisions within the company or create my own hours. Those are luxuries for the 'old', keeping in mind no one I associate with in the office is over the age of 30. Feeling young is ridiculous, and some days, I wish I could fast forward to my middle aged years, the years of being in complete control of everything around me.
But then my friend Sara came to visit. She's one of my best friends and still a senior at the university I attended. After an interview, she stayed at my apartment, beyond excited to escape Champaign and have a night out in Chicago. All she said the entire night was how lucky I was, how amazing it is to be in Chicago, to be a real person, to have graduated. And as I was listening to her, all I was thinking was that I would give anything to have just a few days of no responsibility. Yes, her midterms and job hunt are both challenging, but they're nothing compared to a full-time job and real life. All I could tell her was that she should enjoy her time left in college, and that before she knew it, she would be contemplating doing laundry because $1.50 per washer doesn't factor into her weekly budget.
It's a constant back and forth. I want to be an adult, a "real person", if you will, but I also long to have my easy, care-free college days back. Not forever, just for a little while. I want to fast-forward, but what's the rush? No matter how much I wish I could change, I am where I am, right here, as a young but old twentysomething.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Hungry for...
WHAT: Table 52
WHERE: Elm and Dearborn, Gold Coast
WHY: Weeks ago, I saw a profile of this restaurant on the Food Network, naming it the best fried chicken in the country. The chef and owner is Art Smith, Oprah's former personal chef turned celebrity. So, naturally, after I told my dad he insisted that we go immediately, if not sooner. And to make things even more convenient? The restaurant is nicely located just three short blocks from my new apartment downtown. The only thing that made the situation even better... was the unbelievable southern food.
FOOD: Naturally, everyone but my friend, Eve, ordered the fried chicken, and her choice was decided simply because she is a vegetarian. She got the smoked salmon pizza which was also very good. My dad took it upon himself to order some appetizers and sides for the table, so when all was said and done, we had ordered pretty much the entire menu. The shrimp and grits appetizer and the sweet potato side topped my favorites that night.
TIP: The fried chicken is only on the menu on Sundays and Mondays, so if that's why you're going like the rest of the world, make a reservation and make it early. They start serving dinner at 4:45 p.m. those nights, especially to accommodate the mass crowds that always show up.
WHERE: Elm and Dearborn, Gold Coast
WHY: Weeks ago, I saw a profile of this restaurant on the Food Network, naming it the best fried chicken in the country. The chef and owner is Art Smith, Oprah's former personal chef turned celebrity. So, naturally, after I told my dad he insisted that we go immediately, if not sooner. And to make things even more convenient? The restaurant is nicely located just three short blocks from my new apartment downtown. The only thing that made the situation even better... was the unbelievable southern food.
FOOD: Naturally, everyone but my friend, Eve, ordered the fried chicken, and her choice was decided simply because she is a vegetarian. She got the smoked salmon pizza which was also very good. My dad took it upon himself to order some appetizers and sides for the table, so when all was said and done, we had ordered pretty much the entire menu. The shrimp and grits appetizer and the sweet potato side topped my favorites that night.
TIP: The fried chicken is only on the menu on Sundays and Mondays, so if that's why you're going like the rest of the world, make a reservation and make it early. They start serving dinner at 4:45 p.m. those nights, especially to accommodate the mass crowds that always show up.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The long and winding road... to Europe.
I'm hungry for the world.
I was looking through my old abroad photos and suddenly felt an urge. An urge to run to the airport and board any airplane, going anywhere across the Atlantic. I spent four fantastic months in London during my junior year at college, sightseeing there and then traveling to almost a dozen other European cities. But those four months were the shortest of my life, leaving me feeling as though I didn't see nearly enough.
So this is where the urge to travel comes in. Obviously I'm not at the point in my life where I can pick up and leave my job to travel with my non-existent money. But eventually, that's exactly what I want to do. I want to travel everywhere, to as many places as I can. Even the places I have already been to I want to revisit. And as is the theme with anything as exciting as this, I feel like I don't have enough time. I'm 22. Of course I have enough time. But I want to do it now.
My expectations are realistic. I know that there are too many places that I want to see all in one trip, but I can try my best. Below are the places I want to see or revisit next:
Italy, anywhere and everywhere
St. Petersburg, Russia
Athens, Greece
Thailand
Monaco and the South of France
London
Munich
South Africa
I'm well aware that the list is long. But hey, a girl can dream.
I was looking through my old abroad photos and suddenly felt an urge. An urge to run to the airport and board any airplane, going anywhere across the Atlantic. I spent four fantastic months in London during my junior year at college, sightseeing there and then traveling to almost a dozen other European cities. But those four months were the shortest of my life, leaving me feeling as though I didn't see nearly enough.
So this is where the urge to travel comes in. Obviously I'm not at the point in my life where I can pick up and leave my job to travel with my non-existent money. But eventually, that's exactly what I want to do. I want to travel everywhere, to as many places as I can. Even the places I have already been to I want to revisit. And as is the theme with anything as exciting as this, I feel like I don't have enough time. I'm 22. Of course I have enough time. But I want to do it now.
My expectations are realistic. I know that there are too many places that I want to see all in one trip, but I can try my best. Below are the places I want to see or revisit next:
Italy, anywhere and everywhere
St. Petersburg, Russia
Athens, Greece
Thailand
Monaco and the South of France
London
Munich
South Africa
I'm well aware that the list is long. But hey, a girl can dream.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Hungry for...
WHAT: Quartino
WHERE: Corner of State and Ontario
WHY: As one of our first real nights in the city, my friends wanted a fun place to eat that wasn't too expensive with great food and even better wine. I had been here before with my family and knew from experience that the food was delicious and very reasonably priced. The restaurant is always packed, so when we went at 8:30 for our reservation, we weren't surprised to enter a bustling, noisy dining room. The food was excellent, focusing on small, classic Italian dishes that come out as they're ready and are meant for sharing. I got an heirloom tomato salad and poached shrimp, all for just $9. And you get all the delicious, crusty bread you can eat with their imported olive oil for dipping.
FAVORITE: The sangria. We knew we wanted wine, but the fruity drink was hard to resist, especially at just $10 for an entire liter.
MUST: The pizzas. They're all delicious, especially the fresh zucchini pizza.
WHERE: Corner of State and Ontario
WHY: As one of our first real nights in the city, my friends wanted a fun place to eat that wasn't too expensive with great food and even better wine. I had been here before with my family and knew from experience that the food was delicious and very reasonably priced. The restaurant is always packed, so when we went at 8:30 for our reservation, we weren't surprised to enter a bustling, noisy dining room. The food was excellent, focusing on small, classic Italian dishes that come out as they're ready and are meant for sharing. I got an heirloom tomato salad and poached shrimp, all for just $9. And you get all the delicious, crusty bread you can eat with their imported olive oil for dipping.
FAVORITE: The sangria. We knew we wanted wine, but the fruity drink was hard to resist, especially at just $10 for an entire liter.
MUST: The pizzas. They're all delicious, especially the fresh zucchini pizza.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Does Law and Order not count as culture?
I'm hungry for activity.
When you move to a great city like Chicago, in the heart of the bustling, fun-filled mecca that is downtown, you can't help but want to explore anything and everything.
But I work full-time. And it's been raining. And I really like my couch. And Law and Order marathons. So what's a girl to do on a lazy Saturday that shouldn't be so lazy?
To start with, I went to the farmer's market on Division last weekend. In the rain, I might add. The trip was totally worth it, though, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables that can keep an apartment stocked for weeks. I came away with tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers and nectarines, all of which lasted me and my roommate, Eve over a week.
But this farmer's market was a mere two blocks from our apartment. It was a start, right? Sure. But I needed more.
So, last night I took my friend, Sam to the opening night of the Broadway play, Rock of Ages with my two complimentary press tickets, courtesy of Cheeky Chicago. The show was fantastic. Not only did it put me in a great mood for the rest of the night, but the outing reminded me why I wanted to move to the city in the first place. To live, to do exciting activities, to be a part of the active Chicago community.
Final step of the week? Join a gym. Although it may not be cultural, it is a great addition to my mental and physical health. And if nothing else, motivates me to leave my apartment due to the fees taken out of my bank account each month.
So, I've come to the conclusion that I need to take the city one step at a time. Next step: Quartino for dinner tomorrow night.
When you move to a great city like Chicago, in the heart of the bustling, fun-filled mecca that is downtown, you can't help but want to explore anything and everything.
But I work full-time. And it's been raining. And I really like my couch. And Law and Order marathons. So what's a girl to do on a lazy Saturday that shouldn't be so lazy?
To start with, I went to the farmer's market on Division last weekend. In the rain, I might add. The trip was totally worth it, though, with an abundance of fruits and vegetables that can keep an apartment stocked for weeks. I came away with tomatoes, mushrooms, cucumbers and nectarines, all of which lasted me and my roommate, Eve over a week.
But this farmer's market was a mere two blocks from our apartment. It was a start, right? Sure. But I needed more.
So, last night I took my friend, Sam to the opening night of the Broadway play, Rock of Ages with my two complimentary press tickets, courtesy of Cheeky Chicago. The show was fantastic. Not only did it put me in a great mood for the rest of the night, but the outing reminded me why I wanted to move to the city in the first place. To live, to do exciting activities, to be a part of the active Chicago community.
Final step of the week? Join a gym. Although it may not be cultural, it is a great addition to my mental and physical health. And if nothing else, motivates me to leave my apartment due to the fees taken out of my bank account each month.
So, I've come to the conclusion that I need to take the city one step at a time. Next step: Quartino for dinner tomorrow night.
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