Can You Tell Me How To Get To ...........

So it happened to me again this week so I felt that I needed to write about it - I get stopped on the street and asked for directions at least once a week. Since my office is right next door to the Sears Tower I can somewhat understand that I get approached for directions often as there's always a number of tourists wandering about on the sidewalk (and walking four wide during prime commuting hours) BUT this also happens to me in other parts of the city and here's the kicker, when I'm on vacation in other countries!
This as lead me to believe that either 1) to the general public I appear like woman in the know, someone who will definitely given them an answer or 2) the most non-threatening person in their line of sight. I prefer to think that it's option 1 because really, I don't want to look that non-threatening to the general public, I don't think that can lead to anything good.
I will confess though that my all-time favorite ask for directions was when I was in the Knightsbridge area of London and was stopped by two Scots who were asking for directions to Harvey Nicols, I was thrilled because they thought I was a Londoner - I didn't stick out as an ugly American! I was doubly excited because I also knew how to give them directions to where they were going, for a split second I contemplated responding in a British accent but I think would have known it to be fake and S.O. would have never let me hear the end of it.
So do I need to walk faster, look meaner or just enjoy the fact that one of the reasons I'm here is so assist those that are directionally challenged. And next time you're lost anywhere in the greater Chicagoland area or Western Europe just give me a call! )

A Thorough Examination

So just when I was thinking that I had nothing fun to blog about as of late, I had my annual gynecologist appointment today. (How many of you are just hating that you read that sentence right now!) Actually, it was a fairly quick and uneventful trip but as I am sitting on the examining table making the initial polite small talk (honestly if you can make small talk in that situation you should never fear cocktail parties - just a thought) the doctor pulls up my file on the computer and is just reviewing my file when he says "So are you still dating your boyfriend? It's been about four years, what's going on with that - when's he going to get to it?"
Oh no he didn't! I couldn't help but crack up and ask "what else do you have written in there!", so I can't wait to tell my "significant other" - he really wouldn't want his name tied to this post, that he lives in infamy in the computer system of Northwestern's gynecology department.

M. Herny - A Review - Three Stars

Now that it's that cozy, fall time of year I did one of my favorite things last Sunday, I went to brunch. Brunch is lovely all year round but you really don't want a big breakfast when it is 85 and 100% humidity so fall is the perfect time.
There's so many delicious places to go but for this trip I ventured to a new spot (new to me) called M. Henry in Andersonville. While not a locale I would typically venture to for brunch I recently had a friend move to the Ravenswood neighborhood or as she refers to it "the suburbs" so I thought I'd be nice and meet somewhere closer to her turf. We got there at 10 and I'm so glad we did because it was already packed although we were seated immediately (yay! bonus points for M. Henry right there!) but sadly that meant I was whisked away from the waiting area before I could peruse all the tantalizing baked goods on display - the smell of those alone is enough to make me want to come back.
A warm and welcoming spot, M. Henry is comfortable but a no-frills place, simple colors on the walls, minimal decoration and ample seating make for a snug but appealing spot for brunch. The menu isn't overly extensive but there were plenty of items to choose from, Benedicts w/out the egg, omelettes galore, quiche, pumpkin pancakes (they almost got me!), along with all your standards, egg/bacon, french toast, etc. My eye for some reason immediately went to the fried egg sandwich, (although to be fair you could put a fried egg on any type of sandwich and I would select it )and my brunching companion got the classic french toast with berries and whipped cream. M. Henry also has a full sandwich listing for those that interpret brunch with more emphasis on the the "unch" but that's not me - it's strictly breakfast all the way.
Both our dishes looked gorgeous and were quite tasty, the egg along with applewood bacon, goat cheese and sun dried tomato all served on a perfectly pressed pannini style sourdough baguette - can we say heaven? It was so good that I didn't even touch my side of potatoes - but to give them props they did appear to me perfectly crispy and delicious. The french toast was equally tasty per my brunching friend and from my perspective just plain pretty to look at - berries and whipped cream are beautiful! M. Henry was jammed but they didn't rush us out even after we had paid and lingered a bit at the table - a sign of a classy joint. So head out to M. Henry for a totally satisfying meal next time you are in the mood for brunch, just be sure to get there by 10 a.m. - the whole street was packed with would-be diners by the time we left.

Where I've Been Hiding

It's been an inexcusable three weeks since I've last posted but I was busy vacationing and the laptop just does not come with on vacation, that is a mandatory rule! I won't bore you with the details of my vacation, I know most people don't really care when they ask "how was your trip" but here it is in a nutshell. First went to Prague, gorgeous, colorful, classic European city - beautiful architecture, haunting setting, great local fare and beer - a must for anyone serious about seeing Europe. Next on to Vienna to visit friends, just the city you would envision it to be, lots of baroque, chandeliers, cafes, kuchen and more. I could easily envision Freud hanging out there in the day. If you visit definitely check out Schonnebruen (sp?) palace just outside of central Vienna, beautiful grounds and a zoo that will wow you! Finally, wrapped up the trip in Paso Robles, CA (can anyone say "jet lag"?) for a weekend celebrating the harvest in the Paso wine region. Lots of pinots, rhones and the like, while great, left me craving a beer by weekends end, a fun trip but I was ready to come home a nest a bit.
So now it's fall officially in Chicago after many weeks of glorious 70+ weather in October, I finally feel like cooking again and actually staying indoors during the weekend so I promise more faithful posting. I'll have a lot to discuss I'm sure, with half of my group of friends all being with child it provides for plenty of food for thought (and leaves me discussing breastfeeding far more often than I ever thought possible) .
That's all for now!

Saltaus Review : Two And A Half Stars

Another restaurant review coming your way, but before I progress I should provide some explanation to my rating system. The standard "1" is bad, "4" is the best scale doesn't apply here, my scale is modeled somewhat like Phil Vettel's (Tribune's food critic). 1 is okay, 2 pretty good, 3 a definite delight, I will be back and 4 means a place is made for you in my Chicago favorites list. So with being said, here's my review of Saltaus.
A restaurant also located on the West Loop restaurant row that is Randolph Street, Saltaus is a recently new edition opened for about a year and a half, located at the far west end of the strip of gastronomy. A contemporary American spot, Saltaus is housed in a very contemporary storefront, light woods, sparse white and black furnishing, a bit reminiscent of what Avec might be like if it were more spacious. The effect is sleek and modern, not at all cold as one might think. The menu is fairly brief with only about 5-6 items on the appetizer, first and second courses. However, this does not mean that the menu decisions were easy, I thought almost every entree on the list looked like a worthy selection. The salmon blinis with caviar tempted my palate but I was in a fall mood and went with a special for my first course, an heirloom pumpkin soup, it was tasty, I'd actually like to try and recreate it at home myself but the server failed to mention that the soup was served cold. While it didn't take away from the flavor of the dish I would have probably preferred a hot option instead. Since I'm on the subject of service, it was a bit lacking - we sat for awhile after being seated and then once drink orders were taken they promptly rushed back to take our dinner orders leaving me to finish my cocktail with my first course, not something that should ever occur. Back to the important matter at hand though - the food! All four of us dining opted for different entrees and everyone appeared to be quite happy with their choices, there was a beef fillet, pork tenderloin with accompanying entree du jour of late, the pork belly, a ricotta gnocchi so light and delicious I was happy to have been offered a bite and then my Colorado lamb chop on a bed pureed chickpeas with a hint of bleu cheese - I happily ate every last bite I am a bit proud and ashamed to say. Dessert was a bit standard, creme brulees, molten chocolate cakes, all fine but they could stand to notch it up a bit in the dessert department. My biggest disappointment with the evening was the wine selections, the server really wasn't that knowledgeable and most everything we tried to order off the list was unavailable as they were apparently in transition from summer to fall wine lists. (Suggestion: back that clear up front and have your sommelier provide some suggestions to the table rather than letting us suffer through only to be displeased with the option). The service and the wine list could both stand to grow up a bit but the food and sleek Randolph setting were enough to still make it a solid standout night in my mind. Next time I'll give them a try in a solid mid-season and be a bit more aggressive about wine preferences and I'm sure it will be a stellar night. Saltaus worth a visit next time you're considering a trip to Randolph's Restaurant Row.

Sepia - A Review, Two Stars

This past Thursday I finally checked out Sepia, the much-hyped new restaurant over the in the near West Loop. It had highly irritated me for weeks that I couldn't get a weekend reservation calling two weeks in advance, "hello, this is Chicago!" unless it's Trotter's or Tru I expect to be in given a two week notice, but no dice with Sepia. So I opted for the strategy of go after work on a week night with no reservations and hope for the best. It worked out, I arrived and my friend had snagged spot in the front, lounge/dining area so we were set. I had been reading about Sepia in the local press for so long, that coupled with the inability to get a reservation (I'm a sucker for anything that oozes a difficulty to obtain) and my expectations for the place were somewhat high. We started with the much touted flatbreads, which you are almost expected to order but they were tasty enough so I didn't feel too put out. True to it's name it's the flattest bread imaginable with peaches, blue cheese and prosciutto, the flavor combos were perfect but a tad greasy for my taste. My dining companion was a fellow food lover so we shared both appetizers and entrees as to not miss out on anything. The pork ritelle was interesting, I enjoyed the flavor and texture of the pistachio brittle that accompanied the dish but don't believe that I would order it again as it felt a little too much like scooping fat out of a dish and slathering it on some bread (alas, isn't this called butter?) but the grilled octopus with a reduced tomato sauce/compote, not sure which it was?? was excellent and on point. Entrees were a skate wing (lovely) with roots vegetables, cooked but nothing more (skins on, very rustic) and veal cheeks, never having had veal cheeks I must confess the cut of meat was not what I expected, fine, but not the cut of veal I would prefer. Both dishes were fine, not excellent but acceptable. Dessert was a lemon bread pudding, leaning more towards pudding than bread, probably could have passed on this summer item still lingering on the menu, but what kind of girl would I be if I passed up dessert?? The service was a highpoint, a very patient sever who tolerated our chatting and not ordering for quite some time but was always hovering in the near distance if we ever needed her. So after all the hype and frustration in trying to get in I must say that it was fine but didn't live up to my expectations, but then again, all those of the built-up expectations never do. Check out Sepia, but wait until it's become a neighborhood staple rather than the new thing to do.

Anteprima - A Review

This past week I had dinner at Anteprima, a relatively new Italian spot right in the heart of Andersonville. With a smaller but intimate front dining room and a lovely outdoor back patio the look and feel of Anteprima sets the scene, charming yet a bit rustic. The place started out on the right note, winning big points with me as I sat at the bar waiting for my friend and the bartender all of her own accord offered me several wine tastings to determine which Italian selection I'd like the best and then ended up pouring me a glass that wasn't even on the menu. Fabulous! (The pours are quite generous as well.) Anteprima's menu is not overcomplicated focusing on some simple, regional Italian dishes but that doesn't mean it's limited, there are a number of items that I would go back and try. I'm all about the movement to simple flavors and the focus on local ingredients and you get this at Anteprima. There were a number of specials that night and I shared one as an appetizer, some fresh figs that were deliciously in season with prosciutto, Gorgonzola and a balsamic drizzle - possibly perfection on a little plate. When going Italian I am usually a pasta girl all the way (and no surprise I was that night as well) but the menu had many intriguing meat dishes: quail, barramundi, veal - I was heavily tempted. In the end however I went with the bucatini with pea shoots, pecorino and seasoned with chili oil to give an interesting and welcomed quick, this was a light dish that still packed a punch. I also sampled the ravioli and it was melt in your mouth good.
Desserts, ours was an orange cake with sambuca whipped cream were so-so, I'd recommend skipping dessert and walking down half a block for a piece of confection perfection at Sweet Occasions bakery.
Anteprima: charming setting, solid service, simple and appealing flavors and most importantly plentiful wine! Definitely worth a visit.