Breaking Bread with friends at Piccolo Sogno

Bridget & Meredith 10.5.10

In honor of my birthday, Bridget & Meredith graciously took me out for dinner. We celebrated the big 2-9 with amazing wine, terrific food and fabulous company! If you haven't dined at Piccolo Sogno you are missing out. Piccolo Sogno (translated meaning "little dream") opened its doors back in 2008 and has provided the taste of Italy to Chicago's warehouse district ever since.

Piccolo Sogno is not only known for their food they also provide one of the best outdoor seating areas in the city. Clearly, our October visit didn't allow us to dine outside, however the chic and intimate decor inside did not disappoint. The dark blue walls are perfectly accented with yellow and gold which provides a warm, yet elegant feel.

A bottle of chianti kicked off our dining experience and was followed by their grilled veggie and meat antipasti special. We also indulged in cecina fritta which is chick pea flour fries with Parmesan - so delicious. Deciding what to have for our main event was difficult, everything on the menu sounded to die for. We each went with a different entree in efforts to sample as many menu items as possible! I had the four cheese pizza with gorgonzola, ricotta, goat cheese and mozzarella. This pizza offered a wonderful flavor and was enjoyed by all. Mer had the risotta special with peas and prosciutto - the risotta was cooked to perfection and one of the best I've ever had. Bridget went with a pasta dish (stracci di farro) pasta triangles, asparagus, mushrooms, garlic and truffle oil. Not going to lie, she might have had the winning dish. I truly couldn't get enough of this tasty dish and the wonderful flavors it offered (I totally had it for lunch the
next day).

If I don't have you convinced to hit up Piccolo Sogno for dinner yet then maybe this will... Tortino di gianduja - warm hazelnut and chocolate cake with hazelnut gelato, candied hazelnut and chocolate sauce. Happy birthday to me!

Thanks for the great company ladies and the b-day wishes. I couldn't have asked for a better night or a better meal!

Bon appetit,
Jenn & Matt

Back on Track with Lula Cafe

Alright friends and family, we have slacked a tad in the blog department. With job changes and the big move behind us, (well besides finding a place for just a few more odds and ends) we are "settled" and ready to pick up where we left off.

On September 25th, Matt and I headed to Logan square to check out Lula Cafe. Pulling up we soon realized the place was packed with an eclectic crowd. Young couples, families, and a very artsy vibe, we were ready to see what the hub bub was all about. With a wait to eat inside we decided to sit outside and enjoy a beautiful fall day in the Chi.

Matt and I both ordered one of their specials for that afternoon. Matt had an omelet with fresh mozzarella cheese and I was adventurous by going with the tamale with a pouched egg. Both plates offered a unique flavors and perfect size portions (not super large like most brunch options). As an extra bonus we were able to get some great people watching in!

Matt and I would be up for checking this place out again - I would go with a breakfast burrito instead though. Or perhaps head there on Monday night for their farm night!

Till next time - Jenn and Matt

Tiny Little Secret - Tiny Lounge in Lincoln Square

I've lived in North Center for over 4 years now; and it amazes me that I haven't taken advantage of what my neighborhood has to offer. Time and time again we head further south to meet friends, eat and drink - that wasn't the case though on Saturday night. Matt and I wanted to take advantage of the nice weather (it had finally stopped raining for the day) and walk to dinner somewhere in my hood. We landed on Tiny Lounge in Lincoln Square and we couldn't have been more pleased. Tiny Lounge is long, narrow, tiny and sign-less but the fabulous drink menu, trendy atmosphere and the amazing food makes this place a tiny little gem. We hit off the night with drinks - not only do they have a nice beer selection they have great mixed drinks (which are unique and perfect for summer). I had the summer solstice (lemon-infused vodka, luxardo italian triple sec, pineapple juice, orange juice, fresh lemon juice) which was both delicious and refreshing. I'm totally going back to check out some of their other specialty drinks...and so should you! Already extremely pleased with the drink menu and atmosphere,

Matt and I were ready to check out what the kitchen had to offer.

We kicked off our tasty adventure with marinated olives (citrus, chili flakes, olive oil, fresh garlic) - not only were the olives presented perfectly but they were fabulous. They offered a perfect balance of salty and spicy - I pretty much ate the entire jar. For dinner we ordered the pizzetta bianca (roasted shiitake mushrooms, fontina cheese, truffle oil, fresh parsley) & grilled chicken empanadas (achiote, fresh oregano, cotija cheese, chimichurri sauce). The empanadas were very tasty and filled with unique flavors but to be honest the pizza was to die for. The thin, crispy crust and roasted shiitake mushrooms were killer - we couldn't get enough! Tiny Lounge exceeded our expectations and offered the most amazing drinks and pizza!

Matt and I could not get over the fact we hadn't checked this place out before. We would highly recommend checking this place out - oh & be sure to invite us along (we want to check out another one of their pizzas)!

Our night didn't end at Tiny Lounge as we met some friends at a new watering hole called FountainHead and stopped off at Brownstone on the way home! We truly enjoyed ourselves and the North Center/Lincoln Square hood!

Till next time,

Jenn & Matt

Romance Accompanied by Drinks: Bistro Champagne

The weather in Chicago has been amazing, which always makes our outings more fun! On May 22nd, Matt and I took a stroll up north to check out Bistro Campagne on Lincoln Ave (which is not too far from my place). The night was perfect, not too hot or too cold. We were totally chancing it and hitting up this North Center hot spot sans reservations; which in the long run worked in our favor. We walked up to the rustic exterior of Bistro Camagne and we were instantly satisfied with the atmosphere. The inside was full of patrons sharing intimate dinners and drinks with loved ones and friends; the interior offered a quaint but homey vibe. Lucky for us there weren't any tables available inside and we were asked if we would mind sitting outside. We were definitely up for sitting outside on this wonderful night so off we went. Wow, the outside was even more wonderful than the inside. We sat in the courtyard and were surrounded by greatness. The lights on the trees, the small little tables and the water fountain created such a great backdrop for our dinner together (I truly felt like we weren't in the city any longer).

We started our meal off right with a bottle of wine accompanied by Price Edward Mussels in a Belgian ale. Matt and I love eating mussels and although these could have had a bit more flavor the mussels themselves were fabulous. These mussels were large and perfectly tender (we might have to go back for their bottomless mussel night). For our main courses we had the white fish (Matt) and the bistro burger (Jenn). Bistro Campagne offers a seasonal organic based menu; the food was certainly tasty but the ambiance was top notch! Matt took the liberty of ordering "desert" for us - aka after dinner drinks on the rocks. I'm pretty sure he was trying to get me drunk and I'm pretty sure it sorta worked.

Thanks Matt for yet another wonderful evening together! I absolutely loved the setting of Bistro Camagne, it was perfect for our romantic dinner just the two of us. Thanks for all you do for me, I couldn't ask for a better partner or a better friend.

To Drinks & Romance,
Matt & Jenn

Jenn & Alison

May 15th was a good day, mainly because my friend Alison was in town! Alison resides in Kansas but has a special place in her heart for Chicago (hello, who doesn't love a city with a lake and trains)? We didn't have anything special planned for her visit, which was kinda nice. We spent Saturday afternoon catching up over a bottle of wine and then headed out for some drinks and dinner. Matt suggested we hit up the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago to have vodka lemonades at The Fireplace Inn (not to worry we didn't get the big boys for $17.00 - put we will totally be taking advantage of that deal some other time) so off we went. After around adult beverages we decided to walk down the street to Salpicon (1252 N Wells) for some fancy Mexican cuisine and margaritas (yep, more drinks). Salpicon is located on the second floor which offers a pretty great view, I totally recommend sitting at the bar for a drink to check it out! The bright colors on the wall and in the paintings offer a bright and cheery atmosphere for dining.

Our eating adventure began with guacamole picado (fresh diced avocado mixed with onions, tomatoes, chiles & cilantro; served with fresh chips & fire - roasted salsa) - just thinking about it makes me want some more! This guacamole was extremely delicious and bursting with flavor. Matt & Alison went with the chiles rellenos (stuffed poblano peppers, lights -egg battered & sauteed; one with pork picadillo & the other with chihuahua cheese; served with a roasted tomato sauce & frijoles borrachos). This dish was delightful and cooked to perfection - these stuffed poblano peppers might just be the best in town! I ordered the tinga poblana (grilled brookfield farms pork tenderloin atop a roasted tomato chipotle sauce with chorizo & potatoes; surrounded by a cool avocado-tomatillo sauce) - this dish was outstanding! I loved the pork tenderloin, it was out of this world. And the avocado tomatillo sauce was robust in flavor and made the whole dish come together!

Salpicon offers upscale Mexican cuisine - with super flavorful dishes and a wonderful atmosphere! If you love Mexican food as much as we do you need to check out Salpicon for some tasty eats, and be sure to stick around the neighborhood for an after dinner drink. The Old Town neighborhood has lots of fun great hot spots to check out! The best part of the night was having Alison to share great drinks, great conversation, great company & great food! Thanks for coming to hang out Fetter - I totally enjoyed having you around! I miss you tons already.

To sharing good food with even better company,
Matt & Jenn

Yummy Brussel Sprouts @ The Gage

Wow, life has gotten in the way of our eating and blogging lately. Sorry to our loyal readers for not staying on top of things; but my job change has thrown Matt & I a little off schedule. With all that is going on, we managed to make our way to The Gage May 12th and we didn't let late trains, networking events or rain get in the way. We were on a mission for some tasty eats and some time to catch up, just the two of us. The Gage is located at 24 South Michigan Ave and fairly new to the Chicago scene.

The atmosphere was very pleasant (even if we were the youngest people there)! The bar has a wide variety of whiskey and other fun drinks but Matt and I went with a Half Acre and Dogfish Head. The menu was fantastic and had lots to choose from; in the end Matt and I were very pleased with our choices and left full (I don't think I have been that full in a long time). I ordered the caramelized lobster (lemon quinoa, basil, chili) - this dish offered unique flavors that both Matt and I enjoyed immensely. We ordered a burger (we both we craving meat); it was also delicious and came with amazingly tasty fries and a huge pickle (which I loved). The most surprising thing we ordered were the brussel sprouts - OMG these were fab! Cooked to perfection with brie and apple wood bacon I instantly fell in love with these crazy sprouts. Clearly the night was a success and it totally obvious why The Gage is one of Chicago's new hot spots. Good food, good drink, good atmosphere....

Eat Drink & be Merry -
Matt & Jenn

Otom or Bust - Bust for sure!

Friday April 23rd, Matt and I celebrated our two years together (crazy how time flies)! Matt is such an amazing boyfriend that he took Friday off of work to be with me.... Matt really wanted to head to Evanston to check out the town, so off we went. We checked out the Lululemon, a great wine shop, and had some lunch at Dixie Kitchen. Overall, we had a very enjoyable day. In celebration of our anniversary we made dinner reservations Otom 951 Fulton Market at(parent restaurant Moto - this place has to be great, right)?!?!

The decor at Otom didn't disappoint: exposed brick, light hard wood floor, orange accent colors and a striped accent wall crated, an amazing setting for our date! The decor was simple and the lines were cleanp; Matt and I were really liking the vibe. Now for the food....we totally couldn't decide on a starter so we asked for the waiter's assistance - he recommended the pork belly croquette (quail egg, gribiche, papaya). I'm not sure Matt or I knew exactly what we were eating but this pork belly croquette was extremely flavorful and delicious. This of course got us a bit excited for the main event, however our meal took a turn for the worse.... I ordered the pork chop (smoked, bone in; corn panna cotta, crispy kale, sauce piquillo); the pork chop was cooked to perfection but had little to no taste. Oh, and the corn panna cotta was tasteless and totally not worth adding to the plate. Matt had the duck breast (black vinegar gastrique, bulgar, yu choy, lemongrass, ginger) - no joke the duck wasn't edible. I don't think it was cooked and it was mainly fat; not acceptable! If I didn't have a cloth napkin I would have spit this duck right out; and for those who know me well you know I'm not a picky eater nor is there much I don't like. Luckily we ordered the “mac & cheese” (trofie, sweet pea, bechamel, goat cheese, pea tendrils). Otom's twist on mac and cheese was a pleasant surprise, we totally loved the addition of the peas. But let's be honest Matt and I didn't hit up Otom for some mac & cheese!

If you are looking for a Chicago hot spot to check out skip Otom, it isn't worth the trip! Trust us on this.....if you are in the area though do go to Fulton Lounge for a pizza or a good drink (pomegranate martini anyone?).

Matt, I love you! Thank you for a spending the day with me I'm looking forward our many more together.

2 yrs down and many more to come,

Jenn and Matt

PS: They do have PBR - thank God for that!