The Simple Things

The other day I found myself free to wander the city for a whole day with no real agenda. It was quite lovely, minus the fact that it was chilly and breezy! After wandering around Lincoln Park I ended up at Treasure Island ("America's Most European Supermarket" or at least that's what it wants you to believe). I love the variety of foods available at Treasure Island, but it's not very European. I've been to several grocery stores in Europe and believe me, this store is just too Americanized to claim that title!

Anyhow, while wandering the aisles I found fresh (fresh! It was still warm) baguettes, pâté and a wedge of raclette cheese. I was in heaven! To complete my little French plat I bought a bottle of La Vielle Ferme red wine.




I didn't even wait to tear into the bread!! I started eating it on the bus! I was covered in crumbs (because I am a messy American, how do the French break bread without making a mess?) and felt like I was back in France for one quick moment.

I discovered that I don't really like pâté that much, it's fine, but I prefer fois gras, and that raclette is one of my all time favorite "fromages". I now wish that I hadn't had a headache the day my host mother made the Raclette dish. I would have eaten more and she would have made it more often! Nothing beats a great stinky cheese!

Tapas Las Ramblas

One thing I love about Chicago is that I am consistently finding new places to dine.

Today's discovery: Tapas Las Rambles.



An adorable little tapas restaurant in Andersonville. The decor is warm and colorful and the food is to die for. I don't even know where to start!

First, I love tapas. The opportunity to try several different things makes me happy.

Not a single dish here disappointed me. I only wish they had everything I wanted! I would have loved to try the Catalan avocado dip and the fois gras dish, but both were gone, instead I tried the lamb meat ball, stuffed mushrooms, queso de cabra al horno (goat cheese baked in a basil tomato sauce) a steak with mashed potatoes and red peppers, a chicken, mushroom, sausage dish and (my favorite) scallops seared with a saffron aioli sauce and vanilla oil. To wash it all down I had a ginger/cucumber mojito. It was just all so tasty and tender.

To finish I had the caramelized banana with walnuts and ice cream (and even sampled the flan!).

It was so delicious. I will be visiting again!

Thomas' Bagel Thins

I have always *liked* bagels, but I have never *loved* them until now. I've found Thomas' Bagel Thins. They are the perfect amount of bagel. Normal bagels are too big. I always feel like I've eaten an elephant if I dared to eat a whole one, or even half of a regular sized bagel. They come in three flavors: Plain, Whole Wheat and Everything. I've tried the first two. They are very, very tasty and perfect in the morning with a cup of coffee!!!

La Patisserie P

I have found a bakery, wait, no, it's a patisserie!!!!

La Patisserie P is an adorable French/Asian bakery in the north part of Chicago.

I loved the options.










Croissants, Chocolate filled Croissants, tarts, cupcakes, and more. I loved it. So many options and so yummy! I will have to keep going back until I find everything!

Hon Kee

Have I told you about my friend Sophie?

She's from Cambodia and always has great restaurant suggestions. I LOVE grabbing lunch with her. We always try something new and different. She's the one who encouraged me to try cow stomach.

Today, we went to Hon Kee. Hon Kee is a very, VERY traditional Chinese restaurant. When you walk in you are greeted by ducks hanging in the window. Then, you are greeted by the owners of the restaurant. They smile genuinely and say hello in very broken English. It's quite charming.

The menu is extensive and is far from the typical American Chinese menu. There aren't even egg rolls listed! Instead, half of the menu is in Chinese and you can find tons of options including roasted duck on rice, which I had.

It was very tasty but a little too traditional for me. Meaning, they leave the skin on and give you some of the less choices cuts (according to American taste). It was tasty, but as Sophie pointed out, Asians use all cuts of meat, while here most American expect only the best. It's an interesting cultural difference.

While enjoying my duck I watched one of the owners prepare noodles. It was very fun. She was taking a big bowl of noodles and stretching them out and wrapping them in to little portions. I was fascinated.



I plan on visiting Hon Kee again. I hope next time I can watch them prepare the duck, I think...

Red Mango

Spring is in the air.

I swear all of Chicago was out and about toady.

It is absolutely marvelous!

In celebration of the fantastic weather I treated myself to some frozen yogurt at Red Mango located in Lakeview.

I had the original with chocolate chips with almonds. Yummm! Their frozen yogurt is very tangy, but good! I think I will have to go back and try all their flavors!

Sweet Potato Home Fries

I love sweet potatoes.

Have I told you this already?

Well if not, I do. I am consistently trying to find new ways to cook sweet potatoes.

I found a winner folks.

I was inspired by Paula Deen's Sweet Potato Home Fries Recipe.

Of course, I did modify it, as I do with most recipes, but it is great starting point. You do what you want with it, but I added a dash of salt, pepper, cinnamon, cumin and paprika when the sweet potatoes are in the oil and then when you take them out to drain on paper towel I sprinkled them with a little sugar.

They are just too yummy!