I can't believe just one month ago, I was lying in my bed and made the decision to launch my blog. For months, I had been working on this concept and the content, but for whatever reason, I was too nervous to open it up to the world. Although I'm glad I waited (you really do have to be totally ready to launch one of these), this past month has been one of the most fulfilling of my entire life. Since I've had to put SO much effort in to my blog, there are a few things in my life that have ... [ Read More ]
My Favorite Cookbook of 2013 (Giveaway Alert)!!!
As most of my readers probably know, I'm not much of a recipe follower. I like to take my inspiration from the ingredients around me and trust my own pallet to make my cooking choices. Despite my independent cooking style, there is one cookbook on the market that I actually love and that is, "The Truly Healthy Family Cookbook", by Tina Ruggiero. This registered dietician knows her stuff when it comes to nutrition and as a bonus, she knows how to make some seriously delicious food. Some of my ... [ Read More ]
Recipe: The EASIEST Homemade Hummus
I've always been a huge fan of hummus (despite my total disdain for actual chickpeas), but up until a few years ago, I never actually knew how to make it. After dating not one but TWO Lebanese guys in my life, I was forced to perfect my recipe. I will warn you, this recipe is SO delicious and so simple, that after making it from scratch, you will have a hard time ever eating store bought again... Recipe: The EASIEST Homemade Hummus This recipe is SO delicious and so simple, that ... [ Read More ]
The Night I Met Graham Elliot
I've been a fan of everything Graham Elliot since I started watching Master Chef back in 2011. For years, I had been dying to try one his restaurants, but I was a student, with little income and never had the chance to make it out to Chicago. When I made the decision to move here, one of the first things on my list was to check out one of his restaurants. Graham has two restaurants in Chicago. He has a two Michelin Starred restaurant on Huron Street (it's actually only 2 blocks from my ... [ Read More ]
Restaurant Review: Piccolo Sogno Due
This weekend, I was lucky enough to have my sister Melissa and my boyfriends cousin, Erica (great name, huh) come visit me! Since I've been blogging about the best food in Chicago for about a month now, I knew the pressure was on to show them a good time and a great meal. After going through my internal rolodex of restaurants, I knew a fool-proof meal would be at one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Piccolo Sogno in Chicago's West Loop. When I went to make a reservation, it was totally ... [ Read More ]
That time I got Fired from Subway Restaurant…
When I was 16, I was told (like most other 16-year olds), that I had to get a summer job. My parents said that the free-ride was over and it was time for me to support my extra spending habits when I wasn't in school. While most kids went out and became a camp counselor or a life guard, I decided I was going to take my summer and work at one of my favorite fast casual restaurants, Subway. At the time, I was VERY proud of this job and took my role as a sandwich artist (I actually put that ... [ Read More ]
Review: Raw Chicago
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 ]
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 ]
