Last week’s tasting at Naoki was an all around discovery for me. Not just of a Lincoln Park hidden gem, but also an unveiling of the true genius of Lettuce Entertain You’s long time sushi chef, Naoki Nakashima
Read moreMagiamo!
Even as a food blogger, Italian food for me has always been synonymous with pizza and pasta. Unlike a recent trip to Greece, which changed my perception and understanding of authentic Greek cuisine, I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Italy yet. So when my good friend, Chef and Owner Bruno Abate invited me in to his restaurant Tocco to taste the “real deal” as he put it, I was indeed excited. Tocco is a stylish Italian restaurant nestled in the heart of Wicker Park, with a chic dining room, a lavish lounge and an extensive bar
Read moreLiving Life Like A King!
You know what’s impressive? A place that can keep me indoors on a Saturday night, on a beautiful summer evening. And that place is Kings Bowl in Lincoln Park’s New City. There is absolutely nothing lacking in this 24,000 square foot entertainment complex, featuring 16 ten-pin bowling lanes, a social gaming area, an upscale lounge and a restaurant. The Lincoln Park spot is their eighth venue nationwide. Why am I just discovering this place
Read moreOcean To Table!
Last week, I got to do something very cool. I was invited to a Seafood Themed Community Dinner organized by Paul Sippil. The dinner was a part of the farm-to-table themed club Sippil started last year, in an effort to connect people through responsibly sourced meals
Read moreI'm Turning Japanese....I Really Think So!
My first tasting this month was at a restaurant I’ve heard a lot about and been wanting to visit for a long time. Who wouldn’t be curious about an authentic, latin-inspired, Japanese eatery featuring both tacos and sushi! Along with their PR Manager, I finally ventured to put my curiosity to rest
Read moreFast Food At Home!
As a Professional Organizer by trade, I value any service or product that can maximize time and efficiency. And as a seafood blogger, I prefer if it somehow involves fish
Read moreRoll With It!
This week I attended Arami’s D-I-Y sushi class which they host every month. I got to roll maki alongside Chef De Cuisine Nelson Vinansaca and some other food bloggers, which was a lot of fun. I can’t believe however that as a sushi lover this was my first time at a restaurant that’s been listed as one of the 21 best spots for sushi in America. I was excited to be there nevertheless
Read moreDon't Let This Slider Slide!
Who doesn’t love a family-run eatery featuring authentic food and genuine hospitality?! Izakaya Mita has been on my list for quite some time now and I finally ventured there for a tasting this week
Read moreWhat's All The OctoFuss About?
I finally made it to Sink|Swim, the first restaurant offering by the Scofflaw Group, that celebrated its first birthday earlier this month. Sink | Swim is a seafood driven eatery with a fun nautical décor, headed by Executive Chef Matt Danko, who’s carved out a well thought out menu offering coastal eats, predominantly in a small plates format. The restaurant aims to provide you with a solid, pescetarian dining experience, although there are many items on the menu that are non-seafood related. With that, the restaurant also offers a carefully crafted beverage program comprising of cocktails such as the Santa Cruz Hurricane, which I tried. A delicious blend of Letherbee Gin, Lucky Falernum, Peychaud’s Bitters, passionfruit, lime and East India Sherry. Having just returned from a vacation in Portugal and being on a port wine kick, I was ecstatic to have its close substitute (sherry) included in my drink
Read moreMore Power To The Tower!
I so enjoyed my first visit to the sprawling Tavern on Rush in the Gold Coast last Friday. I was invited in for a seafood tasting and was able to bring a guest, which is always a plus. Most tastings are typically scheduled during the week so this was a welcome change to be able to catch the restaurant in its weekend atmosphere. The restaurant was pulsating with energy when we arrived, and instantly livened our mood
Read morePlenty of Fish In This Seafood Salad!
It has been a fabulous week! My friend Carrie and I got to enjoy a midweek meet up for a lunch tasting at Joe’s Seafood, and we haven’t stopped talking about it since
Read moreFor The Love Of Tapas!
It was a happy Monday indeed as I got to try the new Latinicity’s Pata Negra restaurant at Block 37, located downtown. Latinicity is a full service tapas restaurant and is fairly new to Chicago. Since I had missed out on their grand opening, I was thrilled about visiting and finally trying all their creative, Latin-inspired dishes I had heard about
Read moreWho Needs Meat When You Have Fishcuterie!
Last week I went with a friend to Kinmont for a menu tasting. A restaurant named after a salmon fly-fishing lure named Kinmont Willie, which was used by a group of 19th century environmentalists who partook in ethical fishing practices, Kinmont is one of the most sustainable seafood restaurants we have here in Chicago. Owned and conceptualized by the Element Collective group, the objective was to offer traditional concepts using modern approaches evident in the food I ate there. The décor although plain seems to work with the restaurant’s overall ethos, which is about the basics and not the glitz. Overall the atmosphere is warm and cozy and seemed and I welcomed it after a long week
Read moreAgnolotti, I Owe You!
I finally had the chance to visit Bar Siena this week with a friend, and given how much I love Siena Tavern, I was super excited about my menu tasting at its more extensive and expansive counterpart located in the West Loop. Plus I also trust any venture former Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani is involved with
Read moreThis Jellyfish Doesn't Sting!
I started out my week right with a fantastic tasting at Jellyfish. If you haven’t heard of it, it is an intimate pan-Asian restaurant & lounge located in the Gold Coast neighborhood. I got to bring a friend who is well versed in Japanese food so that was helpful. The owners graciously welcomed us, and from the very beginning the service was impeccable
Read moreGallup To The Scallops!
So excited to report back on my recent visit to White Oak Tavern, a chef-driven eatery located in the heart of Lincoln Park. If you’re looking for comfort foods served up in creative, sustainable ways, then head over to this restaurant. Led by Executive Chef Tom Van Lente (of the Big Star fame) who is back at his culinary genius, which we got to experience first hand at the menu tasting last week
Read moreGnocch Kidding!
What was a pescetarian like me doing at a restaurant named mEAT, you may ask. The answer is, I was relishing all the wonderful seafood they have to offer. You heard right; mEAT is a restaurant that also offers seafood and enough of it to satisfy a pescetarian’s needs
Read moreHoly Red Snapper!
Oyster Bah is the new kid on the block that’s grabbing all the attention lately. And the attention is well deserved! I had a chance to dine there recently, with their PR Manager Susie Riskind to get first-hand, the inside scoop on this awesome new restaurant
Read moreLet's Get Down To The Shrimpy-Gritty!
On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to stop by Frontier for an incredible menu tasting along with a friend. Located on the outskirts of West Town, the restaurant is a true tribute to the west, offering game-focused fare in addition to bar food
Read moreCrab BeneADDICT!
I’m so excited to report back on my most recent tasting at Lakeview’s new brunch hotspot, Mortar & Pestle. Conceptualized by partners & chefs Stephen Ross and Stephen Paul, the idea was to offer a fancy dining experience in a casual atmosphere and at an affordable price. Their most expensive item is $17 dollars! Currently, the restaurant only operates for breakfast and lunch, but is in the process of expanding its hours and also acquiring a liquor license. In the mean time, the food and décor more than make up for it. Beautiful benches, stained glass and a cold industrial vibe to enhance the experience as you eat your breakfast. The level of involvement and attention to detail is apparent in the beautiful tables personally constructed of salvaged wood and glazed by Chef Paul
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