‘Friends’ Category

19 June 2011

This was one of those weekends

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Chicago, Friends

Happy Sunday everyone!

Yes it was one of those weekends.

One where there is amazing spring weather in the city you love and you celebrate with friends, which can lead to things getting a little rowdy.

Such as, going to a good friend’s party with pink champagne and another friend has the f*cking brilliant idea in Kmart (where you’ve stopped to pick up a hostess gift) to arrive at the party with that champagne in a huge plastic garden swan.

I mean, that is such a genius idea, and here’s how it turned out.

This is the best champagne vessel I’ve ever seen.

It is also one of those weekends where you fall a little victim to strawberry (or raspberry) vodka lemonade (after not learning your lesson with it the year before) and end up petting someone else’s purse, which ends up being photographed.

That friends, is the look of pure joy. To be fair, the large, black Chanel quilted purse is my dream purse so the opportunity to hold it could not be passed up.

I look kind of skinny in that picture too. Not sure how that happened.

Hopefully next year, I’ll also wear a shirt to that party that isn’t see through. Seriously, WTF?

Also, I won’t fall asleep in a cab on the way home. Clearly, I’m batting a thousand in the common sense department right now.

How was your weekend?

05 June 2011

Weekend recap: Glee and Thai cooking

By: Jessica B.

That is quite an interesting combination, but that was my weekend!

Let’s start with Glee. On Friday, TC and I embarked on a magical journey to the suburbs to see Glee in concert again. Last year, we had an awesome time dancing, screaming/singing and going bananas in the crowd. How could we say no to a repeat performance?

This time, Glee was at a bigger stadium in the suburbs, allowing for more screaming pre-teen fans and overzealous moms and less dance room. Not a fan, these hips and arms need to move!

But we made it work, kicking off the night by being the oldest non-parent people at the local Steak n’ Shake (first timer!) where you can get a meal for under $6, wow.

Then it was over to the Arena and to our seats with beers in hands to get our dance on. Best pre-show moment: watching a 10 year old boy lip synch along passionately to “Grenade” by Bruno Mars. A…dorable.

The main show was pretty good, a rotating mix from the New Directions and eventually the Warblers with a good mix of songs from this year and some from season one.

Little number from season one

A little blurry photo of the Warblers. Love.

And TC and I may or may not have starts screaming, jumping up and down while holding hands during Teenage Dream. Seriously, we were 14 years old (just like the people behind us). Fortunately, I could log “dancing” as my cardio for the evening.

After the show, we tried again for autographs and while Chord Overstreet (Sam) denied me an autograph in favor of an elbowing mom ahead of me, TC did get some sweet pictures, see one below.

Taken by TC who made magic with her iPhone

Dear Glee, we’ll see you next summer in concert. Moms, watch out.

Saturday, after some post-Glee-gasm rest, I had a Thai cooking class with the lovely Mananya. And this was serious. We started at the Asian markets in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, collecting ingredients for my dishes and talking through tips on what to look for and what can be substituted.

Then it was home and in to the kitchen with my wok and rice maker. The longest part of the session was just prepping the ingredients, such as water spinach, Thai chilis, garlic and Thai eggplant. Making our three dishes in the wok took less than 30 minutes. Amazing. Also, my grocery bill was only $20 for protein and ingredients and I now have enough food to last the week. More amazing.

Here is a picture of my post-cooking class plate:

Left to right: Pad Boong, Pad Prik with beef and Thai Basil Chicken with jasmine rice.

I learned a lot from the class and had a great time. I cannot wait to try next weekend’s planned dish, chicken curry with rice.

If you’re in Chicago and interested in cooking classes with Mananya, give her a shout on Twitter!

How was your weekend?

30 May 2011

Revamping the Memorial Day plans

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

On Friday, I made a list of things I hoped to do during Memorial Day, because I’m a planner and need some kind of list of what I’d like to do, even if I achieve nothing.

Yeah, it was one of those weekend when the best laid Memorial Day plans went awry, but in a good way!

I got my mani/pedi and saw Something Borrowed (review here!) but that was it from my list. The French Market and architecture boat tour will wait for another day.

But there were two fun things that also unexpectedly happened this weekend that I had to share!

Next!

Chicago is quickly becoming a well-known food town and right now, the hottest ticket here is Next Restaurant, the new brainchild from Grant Achatz. You don’t get reservations, you get tickets and can only get them online. Ticket competition is intense and with it’s current menu, Paris 1906, ending in early July, the demand is more intense.

I’ve been trying in multiple ways to get tickets for more than a month and on Thursday, the stars aligned and I snagged a last-minute ticket for a 10 p.m. reservation that night. I cannot even explain how perfectly everything worked out, it was just clearly, meant to be.

And in a very difficult decision, I did not photograph one piece of my meal. I opted to savor the experience with three good friends and enjoy the amazing food served to us. Yes, I wrestled with whether or not to photograph, but in the end, I was fine with it. I had a wonderful meal with great conversation, lots of laughs and attentive, non-stuffy service.

The entire six-course experience was 100% worth the cost (tickets range from $60-$110) and was the perfect way to kick off the Memorial Day weekend. And when I go back, I would love to steal the place settings because the plates were to die for.

I can’t even list what dish was my favorite (although the duck got very high marks) but it was truly a great experience.

Below is YouTube video that shows some of the dishes we ate. Really, it was so delicious.

PIE!

In prep for a BBQ/housewarming party Saturday, I had an impromptu pie-making class with the lovely Jessi, who not only had a cutting board set up for me when I arrived, but also let me be the “flour girl” when I was observing.

She made the first pie and then let me get my hands dirty and work out the dough for the second pie. It was easy, fun and she was more than patient with me as I rolled it out. And giving a rolling and lattice-cutting job to a perfectionist like me, is the best thing ever. I’m not bragging (or being too modest) but my pie was awesome.

Check it out (mine is in front):

That lattice work is FLAWLESS.

This weekend was another perfect reminder that even when the best laid plans go awry, that’s not a bad thing :) Also, I need to make my own homemade pie, it tastes so good!

How was your weekend?

18 April 2011

Weekend recap: Could Nola be the new Vegas?

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Food, Friends, travel

Okay, New Orleans isn’t exactly like Vegas but after spending four days there, I still FEEL like I came back from Vegas. Goodness, I am TIRED.

I have to give credit to Katelin because she made the connection.

Yes, I got to go back to the lovely New Orleans for a conference late last week and this weekend and it was amazing. New Orleans is quickly becoming one of my favorite places and will always have a special spot in my heart because it was the first solo vacation I took almost a year ago.

It’s funny that I was there almost a year ago and that trip helped me get to where I am now, which is going to Italy this week. Holy cow.

Anyhow, yes, I love New Orleans and its major selling point (separate from Abita and beignets) is that it is warm without being too miserable right now. We’re in the 40s and rainy in Chicago (hate)  but we had amazing weather in New Orleans, 70s and sunny with only one day of humidity. It’s true that weather can really affect your mood because I was happy as a clam there!

And the benefit about going back this time is that I could go back and see specific things I wanted because I already canvased the French Quarter last year. It’s amazing how much you remember when you start walking around.

Plus, there was lots of good food to be had as well, including:

Beignets – I’m not ashamed to say I went to Cafe du Monde EVERY DAY (and twice on Saturday)

Soft shell crab po boy – There are no words

BBQ lobster – yes please

Homemade ham and cheese soft pretzel. I wanted to slather this all over my body

Yes, the food in New Orleans is beyond tasty but it was also great to hang out with bloggy friends too, including Katelin, who I never get to see enough.

Okay so maybe Nola isn’t exactly like Vegas (even though there were some crazy outfits and lack of pants wearing), but between the walking and late nights/early mornings, my body sure feels like it was.

Clearly, I need to visit Nola more often, and stretch before walking all day. But I did get to bust out the flip flops so I’m still happy!

How was your weekend?

Movie Review: Fulfilling my Victorian movie love with Jane Eyre. Take me to the moor.

03 April 2011

Weekend recap: Busting the diet for one night to save my sanity

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Food, Friends

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you had a nice weekend. April is officially here and my month of craziness officially kicks off tomorrow. Eeek!

I have to admit something: Right now, I’m not that much fun to go out to dinner with. Normally I am (I think) but with dieting and food logging, it’s really tough. Watching what you eat sucks, no matter what.

And after feeling/being sick Thursday/Friday, I had dinner plans on Saturday with my good buddy Mega and I was ready to get out and do something fun. And to let myself really have fun, I said f*ck it to the diet for one night.

This was an easy decision because we went to Chicago comfort food restaurant, The Southern, and I refused to skimp on the menu there. I LOVE hearty Southern food.

I totally blew my diet for it, but I had a great time and great food. Look at these photos, it was WORTH IT.

Half-fried chicken soaked in buttermilk – Get in my belly

Mac and cheese with elbow macaroni and smoked Gouda – Stop it

Pork shank with sweet potato puree and collard greens – No sh*t, that pork FELL OFF THE BONE

And of course, I washed that sh*t down with some Southern non-light beer, I even got a flight for my Foursquare check in!

Even though Mega and I split stuff, I wasn’t full yet. Seriously, I don’t know how that’s possible so I Bambi-eyed him in to getting dessert with me at Scooter’s Custard, which is a Chicago hotspot.

As always, my favorite combo of vanilla and crushed M&Ms didn’t disappoint.

Yes, this was the biggest food indulgence I’ve had in the last few months (at one time) and I didn’t feel guilty or mad at myself after. I needed a night off and I got it.

And every single calorie was WORTH IT. SUCK IT DIET (for that night).

Movie review: The Adjustment Bureau w/a hottie named Matt Damon. Yes, he’s married and a dad but he’s on the crush list.