Feast

...as in, the restaurant!  Yes, have a feast at Feast, the classy, nouveau riche restaurant on Damen, just north of Milwaulkee in Chicago's Wicker Park.  It's cute outdoor cafe is perfect for the summers and late spring / early fall weather, and the indoor decor is extremely inviting. 


And the food?  AMAZING!!  It was girls night last weekend, and a few friends and I met up for wine, good friends, and some really great food.  The drink menu is well rounded, from standard good wine to girly ___tinis and mixed fares, and all are average priced for the city.  The food is phenomenal, and we tried lots of things.  We're girls.  We dabble in each others' entrees.  


For starters, we had their guacamole and standard bread rolls (the bread rolls were free and had a delicious red pepper/butter spread with them!)  The guac came with homemade chips and they were, hands down, some of the best tortilla chips I've ever hand.  In the same vein, though, I love fresh, deep fried dough, so this was heaven on a plate.  We were initially a little worried by the size of the guacamole bowl, but the dip was dense and the bowl much deeper than it appeared.  It was plenty of food for a starter for 3 people.


Main courses included a black bean burger and sweet potato fries for one girl and a breaded chicken dish for the other.  Trust me, they don't skimp on the portions.  There were lots of leftovers and loads of sharing.  My dinner was a compilation of a side salad and appetizer.  The apple, pecan, and manchego cheese salad was awesome.  The textures and flavors were light and just fruity/ nutty enough to work together, and it was the perfect lead-in to my main dish:  chorizo stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates.  W-O-W!  


I fell in love with bacon-wrapped dates at a friend's dinner party a few months back.  I'd never had a date, on its own, before, let alone one wrapped in bacon.  Well, because bacon makes everything better and the bacon is countered by the sweetness of the date, it was a combination made in Ratatouille heaven.  Remy would have loved it!  And so did I, so when I saw this restaurant had them AND that they were stuffed, it was a no brainer.  I received four, plump, overstuffed, wonderful dates on the plate and savored every one of them.  They were magnificent, a "must" for all people who also love bacon.  


In short, a great find and wonderful twist on regular gastro fun.  

Book Recognition!

Yay!  Living with B: A College Girl's Struggle with Bulimia and Everyday Life has been recommended on another blog.  Click Here to See It!  It's about midway down on the right hand side!  Thanks so much to my wonderful readers!  May you remember your worth the best of everything!

Your Future Home

Well known to most of us, the world is changing.  Expectations are changing, paradigms are shifting, and reality is throwing many of those "norms" for a loop.  One such "norm" is the standard house.  Maybe you love your house, maybe it's more than you happen to be able to afford anymore, or maybe you're longing to move out of your current home situation into a place of your very own.  Regardless of your standing, there is projected truth to what your future home will look like.  And I'm not talking 2056.  I'm talking as early as 2015.


Yes, that's right.  In a mere three years that lovely place you call home will shift.  Okay, so it's a bit of a lie; your current house is not going anywhere.  However, should you look to new construction, expect to see some varying standards.  Certain things will increase while others slowly vanish.  Who needs a "mud room" anymore?  Let's just make the laundry room bigger!  And living rooms?  Do you really use yours?  (honestly, do you?)  People are looking to "great rooms", where multiple areas are connected to things like the kitchen.  And, ladies, expect more walk in closets (yay!), and the probably still standard 2-car garage.


Overall, however, expect home sizes to be shrinking and to enjoy more things like ceiling fans.  People are starting to look at going green and saving money.  Small houses and less square footage allow for such savings.  Why pay to heat a room you don't use?  And in the same vein, why pay for an obnoxious AC bill when turning on the fans might do just the trick?  See, these things are catching wind in the architecture and real estate worlds.  Those things that are a concern might just be the catalyst for those changes we are so likely to see.


So, I ask, what does your future "dream home" look like?

A Touch of Southern Breakfast

There's nothing quite like brunch out with family.  This morning we made our way to a new venue.  Well, it's only "new" by time slot I guess.  The Southern is one of our favorite places for dinner when we're in the mood for good 'ole Southern cooking.  What we hadn't yet tried was their Sunday brunch menu. 


And we were absolutely missing out on something spectacular.  Open at 11, Sunday brunch is everything you would imagine, and all with a delicious and aromatic Southern twist.  The menu is anything from "normal", at least, "normal" according to midwestern "bacon and eggs" standard.  Oh, they have them, but general, "bacon, eggs, and a side of biscuits" is all a "pick a side" compilation dish.  Most menu options are more intricate, more flavorful, and way more Southern.  One of our party goers had Shrimp and Cheese grits which was superbly yummy and with just a kick of heat and red pepper topping.  My boyfriend had the "messy" breakfast, or french fries, egg, cheese, bacon, and gravy all in one big bowl.  I chose the "all sides" option of scrambled eggs and fruit and the last person in our party also did an "all sides" meal of bacon, eggs, cheese grits and homemade biscuits.  Wow.  


But even more than that, their donuts are incredible, dipped in sugar and surrounded by a coffee glaze dipping sauce.  The banana's foster french toast is humongous and thick, and the bloody mary's put other drinks to shame.  Everything was perfect, and everything screamed "Southern, homecooked goodness."  Now, who's up for next Sunday?

THEE

Tonight's dinner delight?  Asian fare.  We tried this new Asian restaurant behind my boyfriend's place in the city.  It's on North Avenue just a block or so east of Milwaukee in Wicker Park.  Previously a different restaurant, this new restaurant just opened, boasting 15% off.  Discounted food?  DONE!


What a great choice!  I love Asian food because it's healthy, spiced really well, fresh, and has some of my favorite flavors.  I knew, however, that I wanted something a little out of the ordinary.  I usually just go for Tom Yum soup, Thai Basil fried rice, and Pad Thai.  This time, however, I twisted my norms just a little.  I ordered Seaweed Salad (which was, hands down, one of my favorite seaweed salads EVER!!!) and Eel and Shrimp fried rice.  To my pleasure, the fried rice was topped with roe, but the eel was a little "squishier" than I would have liked.  I was hoping it would be crispier, but it was at least still yummy.  


My boyfriend ordered Crab Rangoons and Scallops in fried rice.  YUM!  I hate cream cheese, but I loved the fried dough part of the rangoons, and he said that they were beyond perfection:  hot and steamy on the outside and cold cream cheese on the inside.  The rice dish was great and just spicy enough without being super hot.  Again 100% perfection.


The decor and feel of the place is also wonderful.  It's light and calming, the sage and black decor adds to the experience and it's very spacious inside, from ceiling to floor at least.  I really hope it does well because I would absolutely return.  It's also BYOB so you can bring whatever tickles your fancy, but that also helps keep the cost of the food to a reasonable amount.  I absolutely and completely recommend it.  I'd love to see them stay in business!