The chef's table at Urban Union
On the table: Urban Union
Filed under great for date, new restaurants, on the table
Mystery salt and pepper shakers
Hint: A different set of shakers grace each table at this famous Chicago restaurant. Guess which one it is for a chance to guest blog.
Santa chefs?
Filed under guest blogger, on the table
On the table: Bistro Campagne
2 wine glasses, 2 water glasses, napkins, 2 knives, 2 forks. Bistro Campagne, 4518 N. Lincoln Avenue.
Filed under great for date, on the table
Guest Blog Post: La Madia
I was SO happy when guest blogger Nicole Nelson (who guessed the Pump Room mystery post correctly) chose La Madia for her post, because I truly love the pizza at this place. She decided to blog it because she doesn’t think the word is out, and I agree. I don’t think the location is ideal, but once you discover the brick-oven fired pizzas, and uh, pizza fondue (what the?), you will be glad you did. Nicole runs the blog Great Dates in the City, a fun little blog full of fashion and food goodies. Her guest post and pics below:
La Madia Za
A Little Slice of Heaven
Tucked in the heart of River North, you will find a little slice of heaven who makes THE best pizza in Chicago. La Madia. This gourmet pizzeria and wine bar are unbeknownst to tourists and surprisingly lots of Windy City locals. Although not your typical stuffed crust, this cozy, trendy spot will have you at hello and their food will have you coming back for more.
It is an absolute sin if you come to La Madia and do not order their pizza fondue. Yes, EVEN if you plan on getting pizza. I have never had anything like it and you won’t either.
Every one of their pizzas is baked in their brick oven and let me tell ya…you can tell a difference! The “Triple Pepperoni with White Truffle Oil” and “Cracked Organic Egg w/ Proscuitto and Black Pepper” are to die for.
Don’t forget to ask about their daily $5 wine specials and my boyfriend loves the beer selection. They even pour your brew in the corresponding beer glass. Love when they do that!
Between the wine bar, lounge, fireplace, and modern décor, La Madia is great for a date, an after work drink, and a lovely dinner out. And just a little trick for you…if you sit at the pizza bar you receive a complimentary glass of Prossecco. Score!
Filed under great for date, guest blogger
Sardine can…we get the check?
I love sardines. Yeah, I said it. I love them fried at restaurants, or in a lemon garlic-lemon fettuccini with breadcrumbs (I have made this and it rocks). But it seems it’s not just canned fish, but fish cans themselves that are making an appearance on restaurant tables with the bill. New white-hot spots from Japanese Yusho in Logan Square to Spanish Tavernita in River North are flaunting the creative bill delivery, and while it may not new, it’s a cool touch.
Yusho
Tavernita
Filed under great for date, new restaurants, on the table
Frozen mojito at The Hotel at South Beach
Under normal January-in-Chicago circumstances, a luscious photo of an ice-cold, frozen mojito from the pool bar atop The Hotel at South Beach in Miami might have made you all long for summer…but the relatively balmy temps right now aren’t making winter as soul-crushingly horrid as it normally is. Don’t get me wrong, my weekend trip to South Beach and Naples was a welcome respite from Chicago’s ice-encrusted sidewalks, salt-coated cars and dreary skies. I didn’t go too crazy, but did have a mind-blowingly good dinner at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink (forgot camera-blaaaggghh!) and a fantastic muddled rhubarb cocktail at The Setai courtyard bar (the most stunning bar I have ever seen). But a definite highlight was the frozen mojito served at the pool bar atop our hotel. At first glance around the pool, I thought (wished) it was a green smoothie, but figured that was much too healthy an option for 3PM on a sun-soaked, 80-degree Friday. I was feeling more frozen margarita, but our server convinced me otherwise. I’m not a huge mojito fan, but the mint didn’t overpower, nor did the alcohol, and it didn’t taste like a sugar bomb…just a refreshing mint-kissed mojito, perfect for an unseasonably warm day in Chicago. The Hotel at South Beach, 801 Collins Ave.
Frozen mojito magic
Filed under boozeworthy, eliz-a-trip
On the table: Yusho
5 cloth napkins, 5 sets chopsticks, 5 rocks, votive. Yusho (review to come) 2853 N. Kedzie
Filed under great for date, new restaurants, on the table
Breakfast sandwich at Floriole
I may have found the perfect egg sandwich. Leave it to Floriole Bakery to slather their killer fresh baked French baguettes with Butterkase (buttery cheese) before adding a generous slab of baked egg, crispy bacon, sweet onions, tomatoes, spinach and Cheddar to make a sandwich that doesn’t even fall apart as you take a bite, and doesn’t take too many bites to finish. 1220 W. Webster Ave.
Floriole breakfast sandwich
Filed under cheap, tasty brunch
ELIZABITES 