Staying connected to your girlfriends does not only make for a great time, but it makes for a healthy and sane mind. It's so important to nurture your female relationships as those ladies will be there for your through thick and thin, No matter what is going on in my life, I know that my close friends are by my side no matter what. And having a fun GNO on the reg is necessary to let loose and nurture that bond.
Read MoreMediterranean cooking has always been my favorite type of cuisine and there are many types since many diverse countries encircle the Mediterranean Sea. Usually Sicilian and Italian dishes are what I cook at home, but I adore the flavors of Greece, Turkey, Morocco, and the Middle East as well. Wild Garden helps you to make complex and authentic Mediterranean dishes right in your own kitchen and with ease.
Read MoreAs some of you may have seen, 30 days ago I began a challenge. I rarely shy away from a good ole' fashioned "food" challenge; and this one was right up my alley. Me + My Naturals Digest Results asked me to take the #Trust Your Gut Challenge and see, if after 30 days, I would have fewer problems eating foods that have given me issues in the past (apparently 89% of the population has one issue or another with their digestive system). Summer was the PERFECT time for this, as I'm constantly eating crazy foods at parties, food festivals, and on my worldwide travels.
Read MoreFor me, like most people, summer is a time for travel and exploration. It means getting out there and enjoying the beautiful weather and all that life has to offer. This summer was no exception, and fortunately, it's been full of magnificent travel. But all good things must come to an end, so I'm going all out... to get in as much summer travel fun in the remaining several weeks of my favorite season.
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As we know, if an event involves food and music... I'm THERE. Especially if it involves copious amounts of delicious Wholly Guacamole and LIVE music... well... I'm there with bells on. Plus, little else excites me more than being able to judge a live music competition; not only because I love to know the fate of the musicians is in my hands, but also because it feels so great to be a part of something where you can see true talent being rewarded.
Read MoreI love me some Barbecue...and Memphis is world renowned for theirs. It's a time honored tradition and they put a lot of love and pride into this regional cuisine. When I was in Memphis two weeks ago I feasted on some of the best of the best. Check out what I ate and then read below to find out how YOU can get your taste of Memphis THIS WEEK in CHICAGO!!
Read MoreHave I mentioned I love The South? I love everything about it. The people, the food, the music, the family values, the music. Yes, I said music twice. That's because there are two types of music you hear when traversing though the southland. The kind that is readily accessible when you enter any type of live music venue, bar, club, or concert. And the other kind, the kind that is soul changing... the kind that just fills your inner being with the sounds of the history, people, and mood of this deep region. Memphis embodies all of this. The city exudes the best of the best when it comes to everything that makes The South great...especially the music.
Read MoreI've been traveling SO much lately and the whirlwind of cities, airports, hotels, and events has begun to blur together. Yet Los Angeles will always stand out. No matter where I go, when I'm in LA, I pause for a beat, and take a breath. I just adore the West Coast, it makes me happy. The Pacific, the mountains, the weather, the food, the life. It's all my speed (when there's no traffic...wait, that doesn't exist.)
Read MoreSitting on the patio at Tart...the on-site restaurant at Farmer's Daughter
A couple weeks ago, right before my trip to LA, I was perusing my new favorite travel app, Porter & Sail. It's the coolest app I've used in a while and make me feel super VIP...it's your very own insider concierge. First it lets you book a room in some of the coolest hotels in London, LA, New York, Miami, and Singapore. Then, once you're actually a guest, it gives you access to some of the best restaurant reservations and events in town. (They actually helped me get a rezzy at Gjelina... which is usually almost IMPOSSIBLE to get in to.) So. My. Speed. While perusing, I came across this gem of a hotel, The Farmer's Daughter.
Read MoreYou may have read about my culinary travels around California in my last blog. But there was a lot more to our trip than just eating!! (shocking, I know) My amazing friend, Tiffany Louise, and I got to rent a badass Jeep and road trip around one of my favorite states for five whole days. It was a blast.... there's nothing better than two girlfriends singing out loud to the radio while zooming down the highway with the picturesque Sierra Nevadas as your backdrop.
Read MoreLast week I ventured back to one of my favorite of our glorious 50 states, The Golden State of California. This time, however, I hit the road and toured throughout the Central and Northeastern parts of the state. This was no ordinary road trip though, this was a culinary adventure with California Dream Eater and Visit California. I spent 5 days traveling from Sacremento to Lake Tahoe and everywhere in between. Check out some of my favorite Dream Eats I encountered along the way!
Read MoreAhh the challenges of the 21st century. So many conveniences, everything can be delivered right to your door. We literally don't even have to go to the drugstore anymore if we don't want to (and why would we?!). But with all of these modern technological advances comes a problem. Not there are SO many competing companies who are just dying to help you stay glued to your couch.... which do we choose?? Why are our lives so hard?!?!
Read MoreAhhh cooking. Depending on who you are, it can be a blessing or a curse. What if, no matter what your level of culinary expertise, you could enjoy and master cooking from home?! I have the answer, folks. It's Home Chef. I absolutely LOVE to cook. Whether it's for my friends, family, or date night... there's no greater satisfaction that creating a meal that your loved ones will love. Even though my culinary ability is a bit above average, there are still some negatives to cooking at home. The biggest being waste. When I go grocery shopping for the week, my eyes are always bigger than my stomach. I buy SO much, most of it never used, or it goes bad before I have a chance to use it. Then I have to deal with the shame of throwing out hundreds of dollars of perfectly good produce. So sad (tear).
Read MoreWicker Park is home to some of the hottest AND coolest restaurants and bars in the city. I've always loved the gritty, real vibe. Of course it has changed over the years and has become more approachable and less of an "up and coming" neighborhood. New restaurants are popping up all the time, and with the high expectations of the local culinary scene... ya gotta be good.
Full Service Bar!! Woo hoo!
B. Bim Asian Eatery, (1324 N. Milwaukee Ave.) which opened Dec. 5th, is such a cool new addition to the Milwaukee strip. They call themselves a "Korean inspired fast casual restaurant with a dive bar complex". This is so on point. It makes Korean food approachable to people who may not be quite familiar with the cuisine all while staying true to the typical Wicker Park casual watering hole. Chef/Partner EJ Kim (graduate of Le Cordon Bleu and protegè of Rodelio Aglibot) helped create a menu that provides something for everyone: Vegetarians, seafood lovers, carnivores, health nuts, or people who just want to indulge in fine yet quick Asian cuisine. Did I mention they have a full bar (yummy selection of Korean Beers) and play killer tunes (lots of 90's)?!?
Decor=Dopeness
Check out what I ate (yes, I was intensely full after my visit.)
These chicken wings were MASSIVE and coated in a tangy and spicy orange-y honey sriracha sauce. They were undoubtedly some of the best wings I've ever had.
Crispy Mahndoo Beef Dumplings made with tofu, sprouts and garlic. And the B. Bim Salad. The salad was so fresh and crunchy, made with nappa cabbage, carrots, radish, and scallion.
These shrimp lettuce wraps may be my favorite item on the menu. The shrimp was lightly crispy and the kimchi gave it a tangy kick.
Of course the piece de resistance is their Bi Bim Bap Bowls. Traditional accouterment with a fresh fried egg on top. This was the chicken bowl and it was outstanding.
This is the Beef Bi Bim Bap bowl that is actually made with short rib, vs. the traditional ribeye. They marinate the beef for over 24 hours. It was incredibly flavorful and tender.
B. Bim has AMAZING desserts. This was the Goodie Bag. It's a paper bag filled with these delectable tempura fried "doughnuts" filled with walnuts and red bean paste. So unique!
This weekend I got to see the HP Sprout in a totally different way... on the road!! The Sprout 3D Scanner, All-In-One Desktop actually has their own truck that they tour around the country so that tons of people can actually experience it's incredible 3D capabilities. This IS the wave of the future, so it's important that as many people as possible can have the opportunity to get hands on access to this technology.
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