Lunch Date Part II

Saturday morning I continued on the workout train and went to a 9am cardio kickboxing class at the gym. 

We were heading out to Schaumburg afterwards to do some furniture shopping (which was successful, more on that later!) and decided to have lunch at Chowpatti in Arlington Heights. 

Chowpatti is another restaurant I've been wanting to try for ages.  Their cuisine is entirely vegetarian and the menu is huge.  They offer American, Mexican, Middle Eastern and Italian fare along with Indian specialties. 

Both of us decided to go the Indian route, and I asked our server for some gluten-free options.

I had the Sev Usal Ragda.  Ragda is a yellow pea soup that is sweet and savory.  The Sev Usal is topped with Sev which are crispy chickpea noddles (slighlty smaller than Lo Mein noddles), onions cilantro and a sweet date chutney.  The dish was delicious and the chutney gave a lot of sweet that blended beautifully with the spices in the dish and the slight amount of heat.

Jason had the Ragda Samosa, which is identical to mine with a samosa chopped up underneath the peas.  I didn't try it but he loved it.

We split a Masala Papad which is a very, very thin large wafer made with roasted lentils.

In my quest for a more vegetarian and gluten-free diet I have a feeling I am going to explore more Indian cuisine.  I would go back to Chowpatti any day, and only wish it were closer!  If you're in the area you should definitely check it out.

Lunch Date

Due to some scheduling changes at work, Jason and I are often home on Fridays!  I've been enjoying the 4 day work week and this Friday I started off with a great workout in the morning, an hour long step class followed by a 30 minute sculpt, my calves are still burning!

We have been taking advantage of our time off and going out to lunch most Fridays.  The last few weeks we have gone to Bad Dog in Lincoln Square for their $6 All Menu Items Friday Special!  The food is great but definitely bar food. 

This week I figured a burger wasn't really in my new diet plan and spur of the moment decided to go to Semiramis on North Kedzie.  They are written up consistently as having one of the best falafels in Chicago and I have heard nothing but raves but somehow haven't made it there yet.

We were not disappointed!  Lunch started with the complimentary olive and pickled turnip bowl!  It took as awhile to identify the pickled item and we had to ask the waitress.  They pickle the turnips in house with a little bit of beet and they were delicious!  Inspirational fodder for my pickling and canning adventures to come...

We decided to split the vegetarian platter and a chicken schwarma special. 

The vegetarian platter had hummus, baba ghannouj, tabbouleh, falafel and dolmas.  Everything was wonderful.  The dolmas were probably some of the best I have ever had.  I want to like dolmas but am often disappointed.  Not this time.  And the baba ghannouj was amazing.  The eggplant had a smoky component that I really enjoyed.  I like eggplant but still can't seem to manage to get it right when I do anything with it at home.  The closest I've come to successful eggplant was in my quinoa and roasted vegetable salad with pomegranate vinaigrette. 

The chicken schwarma sandwich did not disappoint either.  I didn't realize it was coming as a wrap (I guess I've never really had schwarma before) and couldn't resist the pita so I blew my no-gluten for the day, but it was worth it.  The chicken was shaved nice and thin and the harissa sauce really flavorful. 

The restaurant is BYO and we were the only people in there for lunch which I couldn't believe.  I am looking forward already to returning either with just the two of us or a big group for lunch or dinner!

Christmas Eve Eve

Ever since Jason and I started hosting Christmas Eve dinner, we have set aside Christmas Eve Eve as date night.  It started the first year because we had been doing so much work and planning and cleaning and really needed to get out of the house, take a deep breath and relax with eachother before the onslaught.

The last 3 years we have had our Christmas Eve Eve date night dinner at Think, a BYOB restaurant on the edge between Bucktown and Logan Square.  We've had many dinners there and always a lovely time and have always enjoyed deciding what wine will be the special wine for the year.

Unfortunately, Think closed recently and we were forced to rethink our date location.  We decided to go with Magnolia, a great neighborhood restaurant in Uptown.  The website doesn't do them justice and unfortunately I didn't take any photos.  But the interior is simple and warm, with exposed brick and beamed ceilings and minimimalist photos on the walls. 

As an appetizer we split the mussels which were delicious.  Some of the largest mussels I've had in a long time, served in the proverbial white wine and fennel sauce with a baguette.

For an entree we split the grilled beef tenderloin which was topped with braised short ribs, served over spinach with a couple of ricotta dumplings on the side.  It was fantastic.  The idea of the beef tenderloin short rib combo threw me in theory but worked perfectly in actuality.  The short ribs were used sparingly on top of the tenderloin and added a touch of sweetness and an interesting textural contrast.

To drink we brought the 2002 Concha y Toro Don Melchor that I had given Jason for Christmas about 3 years ago.

A perfect Christmas Eve Eve to get us in the Christmas spirit.

Sushi Birthday!

After meditation, we joined a group of friends for sushi to celebrate my friend Martina's birthday!

We went to the original Hot Woks Cool Sushi

 Jason and I had eaten there just once before and were a little underwhelmed.  However, we had a great dinner last night and were seated in an adorable upstairs area I didn't even know existed!  I had the Spicy Tako (spicy octopus), Jason didn't have sushi and instead went for the garlic chicken. 

I don't know if the food was really any better but the group we were with was super fun.  And, the birthday pickles were a hit!

Amitabul

Last night I had the pleasure of dining with some of my ladies and trying out a new-to-me restaurant.

Amitabul, on the far northwest side was a delight. And a dining experience that I can honestly say is in alignment with my quest for physical and spiritual strength.

"Healing Buddhist Spiritual Vegan Cuisine"

Who could resist? With dish descriptions like "energy pumping" and "heavenly" I felt healthier and happier having just sat down.

We had the veggie dumplings, the famous Cure-All Soup, the Soy Pancakes which were divine and the Wolfman's Dream Treats.

The photographer was in last night as well, and the 4 ladies should be immortalized on the wall of pictures you see upon entering the restaurant. A larger photo of the Dalai Lama stands as proof to His Holiness having dined there as well. That's good enough for me.

I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Who's in?

Treetini - A Socially Conscious Buzz

J and I went to Rustik last night. I love the location, love the interior of the place, but am usually disappointed by my meal. Last night was no exception, I would not recommend the duck tacos.




However, I had a fabulous and socially conscious drink, the Treetini.



The treetini seems to vary, depending on where it is served, but based on VeeV acai spirit. In this case it was served like a mojito with VeeV acai spirit, lemon, soda water and basil. Delicious and refreshing! A definite must for the summer.


However, there is a bigger picture. The Treetini project is sponsored by Live It Green, LLC, an Illinois based company focusing on helping individuals and corporations go green. For every drink you purchase, they plant a tree. I ordered it because I figured it might not be quite as strong as my usual dirty ketel one, and it sounded delicious. I was happy to see (once I read the post script at the bottom of the menu) that I would be making a difference as well.

It is being served in several locations in Chicago, Uncommon Ground, Rustik, Blue Water Grill, Intercontinental Hotel and Bar Louie.

So go have a drink! It's your environmental duty!

Gloria's

Just a little plug here for one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants, Gloria's Cafe.

If you're looking for cheaply priced, hearty and authentic Colombian food, you need to check it out. Being around the corner from us doesn't hurt either!

J and I have been enamoured since we first went. It's BYOB and no-frills. The staff is incredibly friendly and the food is great.

J is a little more adventurous than I am. He's had a few dishes, including, most recently the whole tilapia which is served head and all. Delicious!

I on the other hand, eat the same thing every time, the bandejo paisa "Country Plate". It is giant and delicious. Rice, beans, a piece of steak, a strip of pork belly, an arepa, a fried egg and a slice of avocado. It's like a sampler of all the things I love. It definitely is not a meal for the faint of heart. Nor is it a meal meant to be eaten in one sitting, unless you have a hard day of manual labor ahead of you.

Anthony Bourdain did a great show on the country awhile back. The best part was when he went out for breakfast and was served, surprise, surprise, my "Country Plate". It truly was identical to the one they serve at Gloria's.

So if you're in the neighborhood, give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

Firefly with the Girls

I'm struggling with my weight a little bit. I wonder if there is any correlation between that and the number of restaurants I seem to be frequenting these days!

Girls night this past Saturday. We decided to deviate from our normal haunts and try something brand new. Firefly on halsted

We were 6 tonight. One not available due to a wedding, but celebrating the return of one of our long lost travelers who had been in Europe the last 5 months!

I will admit, I am a bit of a homebody. At one point this summer I declared I was only going to eat and shop and socialize within Logan Square. I don't usually go to Boystown or Lakeview any more simply because these neighborhoods are kind of a pain in the ass to get in and out of.

I'm glad my friends are not so close minded as I am! Dinner was great.

First and foremost, the company could not be beat. Just a fabulous evening in a cozy booth catching up on everyone's lives over a few bottles of wine. Our dinner M.O. (modus operandi) os not to each order a meal, but to order a variety of appetizers, salads and entrees for the table.

I'm writing this about a week after the fact, so I can't remember everything we had, but let me try.

For appetizers we started with:

Scallops

Duck Spring Rolls

Baked Brie

Mac & Cheese

What's not to love? The Mac & Cheese was particularly outstanding. Obviously not your run of the mill Kraft product, penne with a blend of white cheeses. Not too gooey or too much. Although, in all honesty, I challenge you to present me with someone who does not like any form of mac & cheese. Out of the box, or made from scratch it's the best thing out there.

For our second round we ordered the 4 specials they were offering last weekend:

Cabbage Salad

Eggplant slices, shaved very thin, stuffed with a cheese (ricotta?) and a slice of prosciutto

Tuna

Veal Medallions

The tuna was forgettable, but the veal was incredible! Most of us aren't big veal eaters. It was served with a venison sauce that was out of this world.

We started off out evening with a bottle of sparkling wine. Trying not to break the bank, we ordered a bottle of the Chandon. Moderately priced in stores, here, of course it was about $30. We followed that up with 2 bottles of red. The first, a Cote Du Rhone. We expected something bigger and a little spicier, more like a syrah. Interestingly enough, it was a pinot noir. The second I can't recall.

DESSERT: I am not a big dessert person. I crave salty, not sweet. Calamari sounds like a good dessert to me. In the last year or so I have come more to appreciate a bite of chocolate after a meal. That craving seems stronger now that I have quit smoking.

Since we were celebrating, we went for dessert. Two desserts to be exact. One, a chocolate lava cake which is probably pretty much as you would imagine it. Dark, decadent and delicious. I love flourless chocolate cake, I know it is not everybody's thing, but for me, the darker the better.

The start of the night though were the cinnamon beignets. Let's start by saying that they are not traditional beignets. For those of you who have eaten at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans http://www.cafedumonde.com/, please, keep your mind open.

They were fantastic. Tiny little cubes of cinnamon goodness, all stacked up in a cube and topped with a dollop of icecream. I would go back just for the dessert, even if the rest of the meal hadn't been so great!

We finished off the night at Matilda's, an old favorite. I hadn't been to matilda's for years. I have hazy memories of going up and down the steepest staircase in Chicago in order to go to the bathroom. I could never figure out how more people hadn't died in that bar going up and down those stairs. Luckily, I stayed for just one drink and didn't have to even try.

Marche

Ah, this is why I love the city, random fabulous dinners in the middle of the week!

Jason, myself, my sister-in-law and her boyfriend went to Marche last night. http://www.marche-chicago.com/

This was my first time. I have to admit I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it was French but the interior is pretty crazy. Kind of traditional French bistro meets a carnivale with Radiohead playing in the background.

The food was upscale but the vibe was a lot more laid back than I had feared it might be. They have a $28 prie fixe menu on Wednesdays. Any appetzier, entree and dessert off the menu, not a bad deal!

We each had a different first course, escargot in a pernod sauce that were incredible, scallops, a duet of smoked salmons and a beet salad. Eveything was great. For entrees two of us had the filet special (which I'm sure would have cost more than the prie fixe clost alone), one salmon and a beautiful quail dish.

At this point I was stuffed but dessert was included. A banana creme brule, a frozen souffle, a mix of vanilla icecream and strawberry sorbet for J, and I had the flourless chocolate cake.

I love flourless chocolate cake, it seems like one of those things people love or hate. I love how dense and dark it is and was satisfied after 2 big bites. Luckily I had spent some quality time on the elliptical machine and in an Abs class at the gym before dinner.

Our waitress was great. Keeping up with Jason's jokes and funny requests without missing a beat. And of course, great conversation and a lot of laughs.

I had to bring up politics at one point just to check in on everyone. I shouldn't have done it but needed to. Most of you reading this will not be surprised to find out I'm pretty liberal. The thought of the democrats blowing this election was the only low spot to my whole evening!

So, I would highly recommend Marche. And if you're hungry, go on Wednesday for the Prie Fixe menu!