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Travel

Travel Post: Pacific Northwest Food and Cocktail Ramblings Part 3, Portland

While Portland has plenty of dive bars located in unassuming street corners, it has quite a thriving international food scene.  Not only do they have amazing vegan and vegetarian food, they have a prominent Indian and Vietnamese food scene.  I also had Swedish food there, which is not really a popular European cuisine in the U.S., so that was refreshing.  Did I fall in love with Portland the way I fell in love with Seattle?  No.  But I am so happy I was able to experience Portland in its sustainable, vegan glory.  

Travel

Travel Blog: Pacific Northwest Food and Cocktail Ramblings Part 2, Seattle

Have you ever been to a vegan prix-fixe dinner?  I hadn’t been or even heard of this amazing concept until I went to Seattle.  Most prix-fixe restaurants in Chicago tend to be pretty meat-centric with a sprinkling of seafood and it’s kind of a pain to switch because you want to get your money’s worth.  But we didn’t have to worry about this in Seattle.  We could eat everything on the prix-fixe menu, as is, and not pay an arm and a leg at $65 per person.  It is definitely a special occasion, but it is much more affordable than other prix-fixe experiences. 

Travel

Travel Blog: Pacific Northwest Food and Cocktail Ramblings Part 1, Seattle

Mountains, evergreen trees, the Pacific Ocean, a haven for vegans – is the Pacific Northwest all its cracked out to be?  Yes, it is, in every possible way.  Is it the most racially diverse and cutting edge place? No.  Is it celebrating sustainability and environmentalism?  Yes…and they have a statue of Lenin.  I didn’t know what to expect from Seattle and had grand expectations for Portland as a fan of Portlandia.  I ended up falling in love with Seattle and as someone who isn’t an “outdoorsy” person, I fell in love with its gorgeous nature. 

New European, Restaurant Reviews

Lula Cafe Review: A Logan Square Favorite and Rightfully So

Lula has been part of the Logan Square community for 17 years prior to the more recent explosion of restaurants, bars, and cafes.  I have had the pleasure of coming here for both brunch and dinner multiple times.  While I am more of a fan of their dinner options, their brunch is also delicious and affordable.  The environment is quaint and cute within a somewhat eclectic and charming space.  Their patio is always packed full of diners on balmy summer nights.  Their service has always been accommodating and the servers are knowledgeable and proud of their food.

Appetizers, Mushrooms, Recipes, Sides

Grilled Mushrooms Recipe

Cooks in 50 Difficulty Easy

Just make sure you have some good balsamic for the marinade and heat it on the grill enough for it to get that charred grilled flavor.  Impress your guests at your next grill out and they won’t remember that you had a vegetarian barbecue!

Fusion, Restaurant Reviews

Mini Mott Review: Simple Menu, Fun Flavors

I’m happy to see a relatively affordable, quick, gourmet option in Logan Square where you can get a veggie burger for $10.  I also appreciate that they are open all day and until 12am on weekends for us night owls!  Take your meat loving and vegetarian friends to Mini Mott and enjoy the relaxed, unpretentious vibes and flavors.

Italian, Restaurant Reviews

Rosie’s Sidekick Review: Classic Italian Subs with Real Vegetarian Options

You might have noticed a small shop that opened up in Logan Square by Mi Tocaya called Rosie’s Sidekick.  What is it all about?  Rosie’s Sidekick is a small, Italian sub shop that opened up a few months ago and aims to offer affordable Italian subs to the Logan Square community.  While Logan Square has a plethora of restaurants, it is definitely in need of more affordable, quicker restaurants so I was happy to see Rosie’s Sidekick open.

Appetizers, Beets, Recipes, Sides

Beet Tartare Crostini Recipe: Perfect for a Moody Dinner Party

Cooks in 1 Hours, 30 Minutes Difficulty Medium

Hosting or going to a dinner party?  Not sure what to make?  Want to bring something different from the usual cheese and crackers?  A beet tartare crostini will not only impress your guests, it will also please your gut.  While beets do take time to prepare, they are absolutely gorgeous and vibrant (oh and healthy) – I wanted to make a unique and fun appetizer for a dinner party I went to so I figured why not make a twist on a traditional beef tartare?  The beet tartare crostini was not only beautiful to the eye but also extremely pleasing for the palate.  

Travel

Travel Blog Post: New Orleans Part 2, A Pescatarian Culinary Journey with Some Dancing

So what can I say, New Orleans is a weird city.  I couldn’t live here, but I could live with the weather and all of its delicious food and cocktails.  I appreciated the more relaxed vibe and how walkable of a city it is.  It is easy to find what you’re looking for in NOLA, whether it’s a higher-end small plates restaurant or a binge when you’re hungover brunch spot.  There are so many bars to choose from and with a selection of bars open till 5am or even 24 hours!  If you’re looking for opulence or a chill night away from the tourists, you will be able to find your spot.  Gritty and decadent, New Orleans is a melting pot of cultures, traditions, and flavors that will keep you coming for more.

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