Florentine

Not sure if anyone has seen the movie Spanglish. It's one of those movies that you either love or you hate. I love it (Doug feels otherwise). The pronunciation of the main characters name in the film, Flor (played by beauty Paz Venga),  is impossible for Tea Leoni to pronounce as the movie opens. Very funny to me at least. I was reminded of that scene when we went to Florentine (at the JW Marriott) last week for a business lunch with one of our clients because the hostess at the restaurant rolled her "r" when she welcomed us (done correctly unlike lovely Leoni).

The JW Marriott is absolutely gorgeous.  I was very impressed. It looked like Titanic when I walked in with white marble floors and long banisters. I'm not a huge fan of Italian food, but this restaurant was pretty basic and offered some simple dishes including goat cheese pizza with leeks and arugula hazelnut salad. It looks like a nice place to head to after work, since there is a nice bar right when you walk in. I don't understand people who can do pasta for lunch, but those that ordered that at our table seemed to enjoy it. Give it a whirl. But let me  warn you that if you venture there during lunch not in business casuals you'll be under dressed (after all, it is financial district during lunch hours!).

Lunch Menu Here

Dinner Menu Here

HAPPY EATING!

Butternut Squash Soup (FAST)

No not "Keep in Touch" like you used to sign in your yearbook, nor "HAGS" (Have a Great Summer). I'm talking about pre-cut and pre-seasoned Butternut Squash Soup Kit from Whole Foods. I found this in the same section of the store in a $5.00 clear container near the pre-sliced fruit (that are typically way overpriced since their price tags reflect their fruit, so other than watermelon, it's pretty much a rip off). Back to the point, head to that section & look for these kits or ask about them. They are awesome and very cost effective because you don't have to snoop around for all those tiny yet expensive ingredients and spices if you don't already have them in the kitchen. I love these and will continue to purchase them. This was the fastest soup I have ever made. I used my hang blender that Molly got me from my engagement party (best gift ever) and I was done with hardly any mess. I love it. Directions below. Pretty self explanatory. Perfect thing to make if in a tight time frame, or especially if you have vegetables already cut up that you'd like to blend together.

Pre-heat oven to 425

Spread out the chunks of squash & a little Olive Oil or Olive Oil Spray

Bake for 25 minutes or until soft 

Place into a bowl, along with 2 1/2 to 3 (depending on the thickness you like) cups of vegetable broth 

Blend for a few minutes, add in a pinch of salt, pinch of sugar (I use the calorie free non-artificial stuff from Whole Foods), and a few more pinches of cinnamon 

REHEAT & ENJOY

So easy!

Trattoria Number 1,234

I swear that there are over 1,000 "Trattoria's" in Chicago. We went to one of them last night with our close friends Christopher and Beth. They are an amazing couple that Doug and I have learned a great deal from (Doug works with Christopher now and has for years at his previous advertising agency). Beth is about to graduate as a doctor shortly, and is one of those people that has more unique and elaborate stories than anyone I know. Despite the fact that I'm not a huge fan of Italian food, when this couple asks you to go to dinner with them, (similar to Doug's "Aunt" Christie) you JUST GO. 

Trattoria No 10 is actually where we ended up on Saturday night. It's in the West Loop and is a restaurant which sits below street level, very old school Italian. Darker inside with mixed tile and floral carpeted floors. To be honest, I enjoyed the wine and the company more than the food...but don't get me wrong, the food wasn't that bad! I just am not a big pasta eater and getting very simply prepared fish at restaurants is only fun when you haven't been at a work trip all week choosing the seafood option at Italian restaurants.

I ordered some mahi with walnuts, butternut squash puree, and also some green beans. Prior to that, in addition to the Cabernet, I also split a prosciutto plate with Doug. Both were just "good" nothing was amongst the most amazing prosciutto or fish I'd ever had, but at least I had dark chocolate in my purse to hold me over before we went to Sepia for after drink drinks and dessert. 

Doug ordered a tomato based pasta dish with muscles, and Beth and Christopher ordered pork ravioli and a risotto dish. Both were good, but actually not what Beth had a craving for (thus our escape to the familiar and wonderful confines of the Sepia bar scene with our charming Aussie vest wearing bartender). 

{@ SEPIA, so therefore, the photo needed to be in Sepia tone, yes?}

I'd just say, that if you are craving Italian, just go to Rose Angelis on Wrightwood. You won't be let down. I included the photo of us when we were out, rather than any of our food. Nor did I want to include what we ordered at Sepia, since it would completely outshine everything we ordered at Trattoria. 

Cheers, 

Mish

Sunda!!

After a tiring week in New York for work, Doug's "aunt" (not real aunt, but he calls her aunt Christie) was in town. I love this woman. She is incredible. Therefore, when she's in town, there is not a question in my mind that I'd choose to participate (or not) at a dinner she organizes when in Chicago. I just go (even if I've been heavily drinking, not sleeping, staying in a hotel for multiple days in a row, and chowing on waist thickening Italian restaurants for the past few days). We went to SUNDA. Once you go Sunda you don't go back. I want to live in this restaurant, purchase all the furniture, and could probably eat everything on the menu for all my snacks and meals for multiple days in a row. This place is a HIT, let me tell you. 

Although hard to find, at its address at 110 W Illinois, it's on the North side of the street if you are walking west from, in my case, the Ivy Room, where Doug and I are most likely planning to hold our rehearsal dinner. There is blue tile outside of the restaurant, which in no way prepares you for the interior which rests ahead. Walk inside the front door, and you're taken to a modern vintage Asian American escape of multi-layered long communal tables, a bar area, and a sushi bar with an elaborately textured straw hanging art collection dripping down the wall. Very cool. 

We ordered a bunch of things (thanks to Katie, my future sister in law's knowledge of the 1/2 price appetizers until 7:00pm with a 4-square deal) from the appetizer menu including a mushroom and green bean saute dish, Oxtail pot stickers, and edamame, followed by multiple sushi rolls, the Ocean Garden Salad, and delicious red wine. 

I'd highly recommend this place. Check out the website and have a visit for yourself! Just be careful of the restrooms in the basement--I'm sure the long stairway gets harder to treck down after a few of the luscious cocktails on the menu! 

WEBSITE 

Cheers, 
Mish 

Valentine's Day at Mrs Dunn's

{Look at this little nugget! So cute!}

{He named all his strawberries "Jerry, Terry, Larry"}

{I continued to crack up}

If anyone knows me in the least, it's apparent that I like chubby babies. Little kids I find adorable, I call nuggets. No I don't want one, but I love fat fingers on little kids. I know it sounds creepy, but just move past that fact for me. I want to share my experience doing community outreach with our partner charter school at work. We fund their first grade class programs, and go and spend time with the cuties each year a few times on specific holidays (this time was Valentine's Day in particular). I had the best time ever. I had a dance party, some stimulating conversation with the cutest little chubby boy in the room, and have been happy about it all week. Some photos of our strawberry making festivities are included.

{Dance party continues}

{Woo! Hoo! Maybe corporate America isn't for me?}

Best of February List

Hello Friends, 

Just some loose ends that I had to point out before I forgot. 

Best Film of the Month: Cedar Rapids 

Ed Helms plays Tim Lippe, a nerdy tidy whitey wearing Insurance Agent, who find that he has no idea what he's in for when he's sent to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to represent his company at an annual convention. What happens at the convention stays at the convention. Dry humor finished off with witty writing and fantastic characters including John C. Reilly {Chicago native!}. A MUST SEE. I'm excited to purchase this. I don't even buy movie's anymore, that's just how good this one is. 

Best Health Product: Thin Thin Dark Chocolate 100 Calorie Bites
If you have had Think Thin, you know how great these protein bars are. Plus, this is a new flavor. I'm personally very excited about their putting this on shelves. Get these at Whole Foods.

Best Make-Up Product: Benefit Erase Paste  

According to Sephora Online, "Benefit Erase Paste is a concentrated, creamy, blendable concealer that instantly brightens and camouflages all-in-one. It has an innovative formula which makes sure signs of stress and fatigue are a thing of the past. These three brightening neutral shades give every gal correction perfection." I learned about this product when getting my make-up done for my engagement party. I thought it would be a fun thing to do. This was the best product I bought last weekend. 
Sephora Website to Purchase  

Best Song to Run To: You! Me! Dancing! {Los Campesinos}
This is the best song ever. You'll recognize it from a Bud Beer commercial. No, I didn't find this song by myself. I found it via Doug, my hub to all good music. I may regret admitting that, but it's true. I like 80's music and don't really know anything past that other than what he recommends. Get on Groove Shark and listen to this immediately. If you aren't in a dance party within 5 minutes, call me and I'll owe you something. Plus, I suck at lyrics to songs. This chorus has like .001 items to remember "YOU! ME! DANCING!" I can do that. 

Enjoy the rest of the month! 

Cheers, 

Mish

Valentines Day My Way

On Valentine's Day, Doug and I ventured to Hot Chocolate for BRUNCH. We have yet to eat brunch there & let me tell you, it was spectacular. For those of you who don't know about our tradition, it involves eating brunch on or the day before Valentine's Day as close to dinner time as possible. "Brinner" (breakfast for dinner) is my favorite, but unless cooked at home, it's pretty hard to pull off at a restaurant because their menu schedule (unless you are choosing to eat at a diner, which we did do one year, and it was actually excellent--who can beat pancakes and milkshakes for 14 dollars total?). I hate Valentine's Day. It's a made up holiday. The only reason I like it, is because of the flowers. Sorry for partying.

I ordered the smoked fish plate (trout and salmon with cucumbers, capers, and tomatoes, and noodle kuggle on the side!), along with a fresh seasonal fruit plate and Grey Goose Bloody Mary. I was thinking off the joke that Steve Martin tells in "My Blue Heaven" (worst movie ever that the Goldstein family LOVES) when he tells a bartender he "wants the drink from the night that Mary was killed, call the Bloody Mary." Doug ordered a potato pancake dish with Pork Belly and sunny side up eggs. 

{I love capers}

Hot Chocolate on Damen was FULL to the brim when we walked in. To our pleasant surprise, we only waiting about 30 minutes (walked up and down Damen store fronts for 20 minutes then came back and I talked about the cute babies in the restaurant...before we knew it, our table was ready). Doug also surprised me with flowers at my desk at work. So sweet that he knows I only like white flowers. Good boy for listening, Doug! Well done.

{Flowers from Doug on my desk at work}

I also appreciate funny cards to also be included in my Valentine's Day celebrations. I don't think the holiday should be made any worse with tacky cards. I got a Happy Valentine's Day Hot Tamale Card created by this quirky fun print shop in town that hand makes their cards, and additionally gives a good deal of money to helping homeless animals in the city of Chicago {awesome}. Plus I love tamales, not to mention that this card shows the "Tamale Man" that makes his way from Chicago bar to bar with a cooler of home made tamales. Best idea ever.

I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day and that it involved minimal amount of red roses & Italian food. That's just way to expected in my opinion! 

By the way, here are some resources: 
La Familia Green Card Collection Website
Hot Chocolate Restaurant Website

xoxo,
Mish