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28 February 2010

Weekend recap: Restaurant Week food awesomeness

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Food

Happy Sunday everyone!

After working last weekend in Houston, my weekend was pretty boring, meaning, this post could be lame.

So to avoid potential lameness, I decided to talk about Chicago Restaurant Week, which ends today. Restaurant Week is one of my favorite things about the city.

For two weeks, select restaurants in Chicago offer prix fixe lunches and dinners at $22 and $32 respectively to get people in their doors. It’s a great way to visit a bunch of restaurants and not break the bank. You can read about last year’s Restaurant Week adventures here.

When Restaurant Week is also announced, productivity goes way down in my office for a few hours. Getting reservations is difficult at certain places and I usually have multiple people call the “must go to” places, trying to see who gets through.

This year, I went to three places: Naha, Piccolo Sogno and Tizi Melloul. And not to tease, but some food porn is below.

Piccolo Sogno – Grade: A

Favorite dish: Wide noodles with spiced wild boar stew

Tasted like pot roast with egg noodes, but a BILLION times better

Naha – Grade: A+

Favorite dishes: Pork Belly and Organic Carnaroli Risotto with Matsutake Mushrooms, Roasted Zucchini, Tender Leaf Spinach, Parmesan Reggiano and Thyme and “Open-Faced” Banana Tartlette, Spiced Rum, Toasted Cashews, Vanilla Chiboust “Custard” and Salted Caramel

There are no words to describe how delicious this was. Absolutely perfect.

I cleaned this plate. And almost licked it too

Tizi Melloul – Grade: B

Favorite dish: Fire-roasted prince edward island mussels, warm harissa butter

(Restaurant had bad lighting which is why this picture sucks)

Never had mussels served like this before. Amazing. I would go back just for that dish

More pictures are available on my Flickr page too.

So there were a lot of good eats and atmosphere this week but I am excited to be back in my own kitchen and cooking for myself.

How was everyone else’s weekend? If you could pick one restaurant to go to for Restaurant Week, where would you go? Or what kind of things do you love to order when you go out?

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14 February 2010

Weekend recap: Happy Valentine’s Day

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Movies, gym, shopping

Happy Sunday and Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Yeah it’s Valentine’s Day.

I should hate it because I’m single, but really, I don’t. I know, I talk a good game about hating Valentine’s Day but really, I don’t loathe it.

What I do hate is the connotation that Valentine’s Day only applies to you if you’re in a relationship. I think it should be more about love overall. Love for friends, family AND significant other. Why can’t it just be like that?

But since relationships are the most important thing on this sweet/depressing day, I decided to take my #1 person in my life out for a day. That’s right, I’m single, so I celebrate my awesomeness independently and treated myself to a day downtown.

Actually, it’s been more of a “treat weekend.”

Friday was striptease at the gym, where I got a reminder I always need to see (along with a few hefty glasses of wine).

Trust me, after two glasses of wine, I am LOVING my body :)

We also got to make up stripper names. Yes, that sticker is on my boob too.

Saturday was haircut, movie and dinner at Noodles & Company (YUM).

Sassy! Seriously, I need to just commit to full bangs at this point.

And for the big day today, I went to yoga, brunch at Eleaven (they had a donut buffet for free!), shopping at Banana, another movie, Berry Chill and then home to close the day with more movies and a group date with Russell Stover and Whitman Sampler. Oh yeahhhh.

So that’s what I did this weekend, relax, go see movies and treat myself whenever I wanted. After a rough few weeks and a busy one coming up, I decided to take it easy and make sure one of the most important people in my life, me, didn’t feel left out on Valentine’s Day.

And I highly recommend everyone else does the same, single or married. Do something fun for yourself and if you have one, your significant other. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, but take that time out to recognize all the people you love in your life and don’t forget about yourself. Ever :)

What about everyone else, did you do anything fun for Valentine’s Day or during this weekend? Do you love or hate this love-infected holiday?

Heart-themed movie review: That’s right, I went and saw Valentine’s Day, original, I know.

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07 February 2010

Weekend recap: Getting crazy with friends

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Fashion, Food

Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone. Right now, I’m not feeling so good…because I went out last night and got a little out of control.

How out of control? Well, I am missing an earring and Cheerios were all over my kitchen floor and counter when I woke up this morning.

But I did come home alone, take my clothes off and remove my contacts and eye makeup. So that’s good.

And I smell like a mixture of sweat, vodka and cranberry juice. Classy.

God I have the worst headache too.

We were out last night to celebrate a friend’s birthday and after some awesome pre-partying (with funfetti cake!) we went to Pete Wentz’s club Angels & Kings.

I was also super nervous about my outfit because I have no ideas what to wear to these places. So I talked to my super trendy friend Lizz and here’s what I came up with:

(Shirt: Banana Republic, Leggings: Hue, Boots: Banana Republic, Sweater: Old Navy, Necklace: Banana Republic)

And there was a lot of dancing, jumping around, drunken tweets and screaming/singing.

It was awesome. I LOVE going out to dance and my striptease moves did not go unused.

I will also be refraining from vodka-based dinners for the near future too.

And before my night out, I had some good eats too back at DMK with some of my Chicago ladies. But instead of the Parmesan truffle fries, I tried the sweet potato ones and they were pretty good. I liked The Counter’s sweet potato fries better but seriously, the Parmesan fries are amazing. I would go back for those ANY DAY.

I’m also addicted to Wii Tennis. Seriously, addicted. I played for an hour Saturday and my arm is KILLING ME. To be this sore from a video game makes me wonder how in shape I actually am!

How was everyone else’s weekend? Did you watch the Super Bowl and the commercials?

Movie Review: TC and I saw Dear John this weekend and my tear ducts barely survived.

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01 February 2010

Chicago: 5 years later

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago

Today is a very special day. Nope, Groundhog’s Day is tomorrow (in case you get confused like me). Today marks five years that I’ve lived in Chicago. It’s my Chicagoversery.

I honestly can’t believe it’s been five years. Outside of Wisconsin, this is the longest I’ve lived in one place. Insane!

I moved to Chicago not long after I turned 25, when I was recently laid off and working at a full time job I hated, desperate for some kind of change. I came down for a three month internship and never left.

The funny thing is, before then, I never wanted to live in Chicago. I wanted to live in New York. But Chicago was close to home and was a distraction while I figured out if my profession was for me or if it was time to decide between law or nursing school.

And it worked out.

I remember riding the bus downtown as a “practice run” so I didn’t get lost and learning (the hard way) why you need a granny grocery shopping cart.

Chicago has had its ups and downs but living here has given me a lot of opportunities and helped me grow into the person I am today. And I still find things in this city every day that I love, from the frozen lake to lights on Michigan Avenue.

I don’t know if I’ll be here in another five years, or even two years. But for now, I’m here and don’t plan to leave.

So thanks Chicago for helping this girl finally grow up and, as always, stay classy :)

Love, Me.

What about you? What is the longest you’ve lived in one place? Or where was your favorite place that you’ve ever lived (long- or short-term?)

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24 January 2010

Weekend recap: Sensible shoes and an elevator note

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Fashion, apartment

Happy Sunday everyone! It was a “balmy” 40 degrees in Chicago this weekend, but before I could enjoy it that much, we’re going back into the 20s this week. Figures.

Anyhow, the weekends are usually pretty productive for me. I dedicate Saturday to running errands that I don’t get to during the week and usually, I get around the city pretty well, but the no car thing can slow me down.

That is until this weekend when I had out-of-town company and access to a car. We were unstoppable in making trips around the city. I even was diligent in logging into Foursquare to track everything. And here’s everywhere we went:

I was super tired at the end of it. And I was reminded that sensible shoes are necessary for this much walking. That’s right, everything from Nordstrom to Nordstrom was all walking. Normally, I will pick my footwear based on the amount of stops and walking I will have to do, but I was a little aspirational this time and wore my flat riding boots. Which are lovely but aren’t really made for this level of activity.

The lessons I learned: invest in Dr. Scholl’s insoles for the boots and/or wear the Uggs. Ouch.

And when I got home, I saw a passive aggressive note in the elevator. Okay maybe it’s not traditional passive aggressive but it definitely got my attention:

And the response says:

“Ellen it’s too bad there are people who steal. That being said, I would not leave my detergent in that room unattended for that reason. I hope you at least learned a lesson.”

I feel bad for Ellen, but sadly, I’ve had it happen to me too and learned my lesson that way.

How was everyone else’s weekend? Was it full of football, Grammy’s or SAG awards?

I have to say, the SAG fashion was much better than the Globes. By like, a lot. Most improved?  Tina Fey and Lea Michele from Glee. LOVED both of those dresses.

I couldn’t even pick a best dressed because I loved so many of the outfits!

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