My very first event in the last month of the year was the VIP launch party for Eden, the newest restaurant addition to the West Loop. At this grand opening, guests got the full flavor of the restaurant’s American and Mediterranean themed menu and exquisite bar program
Read moreNovember, It's A Wrap!
At the beginning of November, I went to the newly opened Seafood City for a tasting. Seafood City is a premier Filipino supermarket chain in North America that has now graced our city with its presence. This place is an all-stop shop for seafood lovers; a grocery store and restaurant combined
Read moreOctober, It's A Wrap!
October was a very special month for me, because it marks the anniversary of the launch of my blog, it is my birthday month, and most importantly, it is National Seafood Month
Read moreSeptember, It's A Wrap!
September was so exciting, because it started with a fun trip to Cuba, and I got to explore their very interesting food scene. A detailed blog on that, here
Read moreAugust, It's A Wrap!
August was HOT! Both for the weather and the food scene in Chicago
Read moreJuly, It's A Wrap!
July has been another busy month full of fun foodie events
Read moreSummer Lovin And Eatin!
The summer has started out fun as I’ve had the opportunity to try so many different things and places in the city
Read moreMay, It's A Wrap!
May brought its own set of fun food events. At the start of the month, I was able to partake in a delicious beer and pizza tasting guided by Brewmaster Kevin McMahon at Gino’s Brewing Co. I think you’ll agree that not much can go wrong with the classic beer and pizza combo, although a lot can go right if done well. And I learned that you don’t have to be a beer connoisseur to recognize that. I brought a friend along with me to the tasting and we were seated at a table with several other fun foodies, which added even more flavor to the evening
Read moreApril, It's A Wrap!
April started out fun with the New Gino’s East opening in Pilsen. The restaurant showcased special menu items specifically created in Mexico City as the restaurant at this location strives to combine flavor profiles of Mexican and Italian cultures
Read moreMarch, It's A Wrap!
March was such a fun month for this foodie and it started out with the grand opening for Imperial Lamian, which I got to attend. Located in River North, the restaurant offers modern Chinese cuisine crafted by three renowned Chefs, Chef Lam, Chef Tiong and Chef Hongjun. The décor itself is extravagant and rustic, and immediately reminded me of Indonesia, where I’ve lived many moons ago. Only to find out that the restaurant is a U.S. debut of a Jakarta-based chain, which got me even more excited. We were welcomed with champagne, and the place was humming with energy when I walked in. Food and drinks were flowing, as I got my hands on some namesake Lamian (a specific type of Chinese noodle) after watching a fun demo of its preparation. The Crispy Prawn with wasabi aioli and the Vegetable Spring Rolls were my favorite
Read moreAnother Churascaria in Illinois!
Welcome to Naperville, Fogo De Chao! I was recently invited to an exclusive grand opening dinner at the new location of this wonderful Southern Brazilian Steakhouse. Immediately upon arrival, my guest and I were greeted with their signature Caipirinha, which tasted better than I remembered. This drink was made with top shelf Cachaca (a raw sugarcane spirit), crushed ice, sugar and lime and is known as the Brazilian ‘national cocktail!’ Now I’m rooting for the U.S. to come up with something similar! We could use a fun national cocktail like this, couldn’t we?
Like their fellow restaurants, this location also offers a continuous meat service (which I couldn’t take advantage of given my pescetarian limitations); but guests around me looked fully pleased with the endless array of roasted meat!
Once I saw the extensive salad bar, I wasn’t worried about leaving hungry. In my opinion, the salad bar at Fogo De Chao, is one of the best in the city. It offers every imaginable seasonal vegetable, various soups and their famous Feijoada (a bean stew served with rice and yucca). I also got my hands on some fresh smoked salmon and would’ve been content at this point, however the very gracious staff also brought out their delicious Sea Bass for me. Seafood with a South American spin - this Mango Chilean Sea Bass was the highlight of my night. A mildly crispy yet tender fillet with home made mango relish, topped with a malagueta pepper sauce and served with sautéed asparagus spears on the side. I was one happy camper!
We also had an uninterrupted supply of their yummy Pao De Queijo (baked, mini cheese-flavored rolls) that were light as air, and easy to lose count of. If you love carbs, you’re in trouble with this one!
As usual, I also couldn’t pass up the desserts, not with Tres Leches Cake on the menu! So I ordered one. Out came a perfectly sweet and sufficiently moist piece of cake soaked in three different kinds of milk. The Crème Brulee, which my guest ordered, was also one of the best-glazed custards I’ve had, and worth a mention.
Throughout the night, we also had various staff members stop by our table for feedback and to tell us about their favorites. The restaurant was bustling yet there seemed to be a smooth flow with each table well attended to. My guest and I definitely felt special and cared for. A nicely done event and with a location such as the Freedom Commons, it will have Naperville residents crowding the restaurant in no time!
Lux Bar 10th Anniversary
Lux Bar recently celebrated their ten-year anniversary, and I got to celebrate with them! On the outside, Lux Bar seems like your regular neighborhood bar, but it’s so much more than that! And this event confirmed why they’ve made it a decade, while several others in the Gold Coast haven’t. The restaurant atmosphere is such that you can make it a casual experience or a fancy affair.
Read moreChicago Gourmet 2015
Luke’s Lobster undoubtedly stole the show at Chicago Gourmet this year! The Seafood Pavilion, itself was probably the most popular with the longest lines at the event. When Luke’s Lobster ran out of their lobster rolls, they replaced them with their shrimp rolls; which quickly became the new favorite. I spoke to at least 4 people in line, who were going back just for seconds or thirds. So despite running out of patience, I decided to stick it out and see what the fuss was all about.
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