About 5 years ago, my Dad went to the doctor because he wasn't feeling well. He came back diagnosed with nearly every disease you can think of; diabetes, polyps in his stomach, gallbladder infection and pancreatic issues to name a few. It was a scary time for the whole family. The doctors recommended for him to have his gallbladder taken out. After doing some research and talking to some friends, my Dad decided to take matters into his own hands and completely transform his life. Now, my dad ... [ Read More ]
Archives for November 2013
How to Prepare a Spaghetti Squash
Before I started making/eating spaghetti squash, I used to always get nervous at the thought of cooking it. I'm not totally sure why, it was just so foreign to me and something that kind of overwhelmed me. I knew I wanted to try it, but I simply had no idea how to make it and was nervous to ask someone since I cook a lot and I felt stupid asking for help (don't ever feel like this, no question is stupid). Once day a few years back, my friend Cassandra had me over to her Mom's house for ... [ Read More ]
Restaurant Review: Siena Tavern
When heading over to Siena Tavern in Chicago's this past weekend, I thought to myself , "Any restaurant owned by Top Chef alum (and fan favorite), Fabio Viviani is going to be great, right?" Wrong. It's wasn't just great. It was totally and utterly an incredible and unforgettable experience. Let's rewind. Last weekend, my sister was supposed to come to town. Since I knew about it months in advance (and thats how long it can take to get in), I booked a table at Siena Tavern. I'd been dying to ... [ Read More ]
5-5-15 Recipe: Truffle Butter Pasta with Parmesan
Believe it or not, every once in a while, I don't really feel like spending a ton of time cooking. As a result, I've created a bunch of recipes I like to call 5-5-15 recipes. These dishes are what I consider to be 5-star quality made with only 5 ingredients and can be assembled in 15 minutes or less! The first one I'm going to share with you is my amazing truffle butter pasta with parmesan! Whenever I'm having guests over last minute or feel like something delicious, but don't have the ... [ Read More ]
Restaurant Review: Le Colonial
Before I even moved to Chicago, my sister, Melissa, would always talk about this little French/Vietnamese restaurant on N. Rush street called Le Colonial. Since Melissa has very high standards when it comes to food, I knew I had to to check this one out for myself. Honestly, I didn't really understand the concept of a restaurant that fuses two very different styles of cooking together, but I'm always into trying something new. Thank god I did. Le Colonial is a shining star among Chicago's ... [ Read More ]
Chicago’s 2014 Michelin Guide
Every year I wait with bated breath to see who the Michelin Restaurants around the world are going to be. To top it off, after years of living in small towns and cities (minus a short 2-year stint in Boston), I FINALLY live in a city that actually has those kind of restaurants! Well, today is the day that the 2014 list has arrived! This year, 25 amazing Chicago restaurants made the list (including a restaurant from one of my favorite chefs, Graham Elliot) and I couldn't be more excited to try ... [ Read More ]