A Family Affair -Rustico Grill

Jenn, Mom, Mia 2.27.2010

Matt and I are still going strong in efforts to stop and taste all 52 Chicago based restaurants in the A La Card deck. I'm starting to think he is totally regretting ever giving me the deck in the first place. Our latest stop was at Rustico Grill in Logan Square, what made this flavorful adventure so amazing is that we were joined by my family! Matt and I usually head to the burbs to hang out with the Baldos in the house and suburb I grew up in, but with the A La Card challenge in the for front of my mind they agreed to join us in checking out Rustico Grill. Family is extremely important to me so having mom, dad and Mia join us meant a lot. I am so lucky to have such a close family who lives so close! We truly enjoy each other's company (most days) and find pleasure in being together.

Rustico Grill is located on restaurant row in Logan Square. This space is just charming; with a

rustic vibe and amazing chandelier that sets the mood in the cozy space. We started the night off with a drink and some appetizers: Empanadas de Chiloris (filled with shredded pork in acncho chile, onion and orange juice), Guacamole, Ceviche de Pescado and Chile Relleno en Escabeche (poblano pepper stuffed with potatoes & choriz) . Hands down the empanadas and the chile relleno were spectacular - they exuded surprising flavors and prepared our pallets for the main event.

We ordered strategically making sure there weren't any duplicates at the table! Honestly, with the unique flavors used on all chef Raul Arreola's dishes you can't go wrong at Rustico Grill. However, don't skip the Callos a la Poblana (grilled sea scallops in a creamy poblano sauce), Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (wood grilled black tiger shrimp with sweet garlic sauce) and Cochinta Pibil (slow roasted pork marinated with achiote and sour orange juice).

Rustico Grill offers a great setting with unique flavors and is definitely worth checking out! They are up for Chicago's Time Out best new Mexican restaurant!

Thanks Baldo family for a wonderful evening of family bonding time and good eats.
With love,
Matt and Jenn

Meatless Adventure-Spacca Napoli Pizzeria

Jenn & Matt 2.19.10

Lent is in full swing and I can’t eat meat on Friday’s which has an impact on what restaurant we venture to. Matt suggested I pick three options and he would pick the final destination - we ended up at Spacca Napoli Pizzeria in the Ravenswood neighborhood. I was excited to head to this Naples inspired Pizzeria that opened up on February 14, 2006. With a custom-built oven and inviting glow from the sidewalk this restaurant was bond to be a hidden little gem tucked away at 1769 W. Sunnyside.

Matt and I pulled up to Spacca Napoli and were immediately charmed; however upon entering we weren’t 100% sold. The wait time was only minutes but there seemed to be a little confusion at the front of the house. Once seated we were ready to partake in an adult beverage along with one of their Antipasti selections – we went with the Zucchine alla Scapece (fried zucchini marinated in white balsamic vinegar with fresh mint and garlic). The zucchini was extremely tasty but the mint overwhelmed the dish; needless to say Matt and I weren’t in love. For our main dish we were excited to try one of their famous pizzas from the fabulous pizza oven; we went with their special –Pizzeria Forentina. This white based pizza was topped with marinated spinach, mozzarella and ricotta. Hands down the dough was fabulous; it was full of flavor and extremely delicious. I think if we would of chosen a pizza with more flavorful toppings we would have been satisfied but this pizza left us wanting more.

Would we head back to Spacca Napoli Pizzeria? Yes, however we would change up our order a bit. The pizza dough was so amazing we would go back to grab a pizza pie for sure. However, this wasn’t the hidden gem we were expecting!

Bon Appetit!

Jenn and Matt

Valentine's Brunch in Wicker Park

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

2.14.2010

Matt and I celebrated our Valentine’s Day by heading to Wicker Park for some brunch at Birchwood Kitchen. This hot spot is nearly a year old but has already made a name for themselves; they were awarded Metromix 2009 best BYOB!

Birchwood offers a perfect setting for grabbing a cup of coffee (or Americano) and some scrumptious eats. The exposed brick with local photography, along with the friendly hospitality provides a comfy setting for catching up with friends/family. The menu is simple but delicious; keep in mind if you want to pick up some tasty pastries or something from their deli you can do so. I had the Belgian waffles and Matt choose their breakfast sandwich – both exceeded our expectations and hit the spot. Birchwood Kitchen offers daily specials and burgers after 5pm. Oh, and if you loved their coffee as much as we did you can take the grounds home for your daily coffee fix.

For those of you who live in Chicago be sure to stop by Birchwood Kitchen, we are sure you will enjoy it as much as we did!

“Loving is not just looking at each other, it’s looking in the same direction.”

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Love,

Jenn and Matt

Brunch @ Deleece 2/7/2010

On a cold winter morning in January, Deleece was our choice for contemporary American cuisine. Jenn and I ventured there on a Sunday morning to begin our day filled with grocery shopping and errand running.

Deleece is a small, colorful restaurant tucked away from the intersection of Irving Park and Southport in Lakeview. Deleece is self-proclaimed as an “affordable, eclectic, neighborhood haunt” that was created by a former chef at MK restaurant.

The menu at Deleece was unique and featured various specials, which we had to try. I had the veggie frittata omelet, the main special of the day, coupled with roasted red potatoes. Although the potatoes were enjoyable, the veggie omelet was average for Chicago brunch places. Jenn chose the breakfast burrito with chorizo, black beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo. Again, the burrito was a little above average for a Chicago brunch place, but was a change of pace from our typical breakfast orders. The good food was served by friendly wait staff, which made our visit to Deleece enjoyable. I would definitely suggest Deleece for their warm atmosphere and above average food. Next time we visit Deleece, we will have to partake in the $15 bottomless mimosas which would be a perfect start to a Sunday in the summer followed by a Cubs game. There is always next time…..

From,
Matt and Jenn

Hot Chocolate - 1747 N Damen Ave.

Jenn & Sara 2.6.2010

Sara and Matt grew up together in Iowa and just last October Matt stood up in Sara and Joe's wedding. Matt and I are lucky to have such great friends that live so close (and want to tackle our A La Card mission). I had the pleasure of meeting Sara/Joe early on in my relationship with Matt; I fell in love with them instantly. We often get together for dinner and we always enjoy our nights out together.

Matt wanted to head to Bucktown to change things up a bit and thought we should hit up Hot Chocolate. Hot Chocolate offers an extremely cozy atmosphere with chocolate walls, dark wood and brown leather accents. This Chicago hot spot provides decadent deserts and is a must try for all. We had the pleasure of being accompanied by Sara and Joe on this flavorful adventure; our night was filled with great gossip, wonderful eats, fabulous company and a few glasses of wine...

Hot Chocolate offers many great menu options and we all had trouble deciding on what we should order. We heard the mac and cheese was a must, so we had that and the Monkey Bread (paired with prosciutto and a warm dipping butter) to start. Both items were delicious and the mac and cheese didn't disappoint. Matt had the hamburger which was topped with a fried egg (mmm good). Sara had the sea bass special which was rich in flavor and Joe went with pappardelle. I went with the lavender beef which hit the spot and was super delicious!

The inviting atmosphere, friendly service and wonderful company made deciding to stay for desert an easy decision. Plus, how could we go to Hot Chocolate without having some chocolate? The deserts were absolutely to die for; I would highly recommend their signature Ice Cream Sandwich. If you are looking for something light you might want to try their Cold Chocolate - Matt certainly enjoyed this yummy martini. Hitting up Hot Chocolate for a night cap and some chocolate goodness is a must and it is perfect spot to hang on a cold Chicago winter night.

Till next time,
Jenn and Matt