Pizza & Steak in Rosemont (Chicago)

I was in Rosemont for a work conference, which is a village/burb northwest of Chicago.  But being in the vicinity of Chicago, I felt like I needed to indulge in some good eats.  This was actually during the world series timeframe, so it felt appropriate.

Of course, I had to find deep dish pizza.  So I grabbed a Lyft to the local Giordano's outpost.

You guys, this was my first real Giordano's experience.  Looking back, I realize that Gino's East was the only place I'd eaten before.  I had eaten Giordano's here when someone ordered a frozen one, but everyone says that's not the same.

Yes, that's a salad.  I was starving by the time I got there, and the deep dish pizzas can take 30 minutes from ordering.  (You can call ahead, FYI.)  So I tucked in to their Italiano Salad in the starter size, to tide me over.  Eating something green made me feel slightly better before deep dish diving!

Pepperoni and pineapple are my favorite toppings on pizza.  Don't judge until you've tried it, it's amazing.  No, not ham and pineapple, PEPPERONI.  I got their personal size deep dish, and I'm so glad they offer it!  I really loved it.  The think the sauce, thick crust, all of it was perfect.  I love deep dish pizza, because it's like the whole thing is a fluffy crust.

So then two nights later, my coworkers want to go out to eat... at Giordano's.  How could I not allow them that experience too?  So I decided this time to try their spaghetti and meatballs.  HUGE PORTIONS.  As in, I couldn't clean my plate!  If I were at home, I'd have taken home leftovers.  It was so much better than you'd get at national Italian chains, from the sauce to the noodles.  I was in a carb hangover for DAYS after these meals.

On my other night in Rosemont, my coworkers took me to Gibsons, a high-end Chicago steakhouse.  It's one of those places that prints the menu every day because they offer specials flown in from all over, and they have that cool meat presentation tableside too.

Quelle presentation!

I can't eat a huge steak, so I always go for a filet mignon.  This one I had topped with roasted garlic, because it keeps vampires away and I love garlic.  It was perfectly cooked, exactly what I expected from a good steakhouse.  It wasn't over the moon exceptional like Wagyu, but it was at a lower price point than specialty filets, so I appreciated its tenderness.

Like many steakhouses, the sides are shareable.  My favorite side was their enormous twice-baked potato.  It could probably feed four people.  Can you tell how huge it is from the size of the spoons?  Hot, soft, like a baked potato and a mashed potato had a delicious baby.  (Insert Homer Simpson's salivating mmmmm noises here.)  Excellent.  They also had a reasonably priced wine list, of which I partook!  Gibsons is a solid choice for a good steak night.

If you eat poorly in Chicago, it's your own fault, because even the suburbs have great foodie spots!  Eat up, my friends!

Wildfire (Schaumburg)

I was traveling for business on my birthday, but since my entire work team was there, we had some fantastic group meals planned.  The one that took place on my actual birthday was at Wildfire Schaumburg, a steakhouse near our hotel.  It reminded us a bit of the Palm restaurant, with a dark ambiance and loads of meat and sides on the menu.  I was shocked by how packed the place was, given it was a Tuesday night.  There were plenty of kids dining too, but it was loud enough that it wasn't disruptive.

I chose a Moscow Mule as my drink of choice (not bad, but not the best), and the special filet medallion trio for my meal.  The trio of 3 oz. filets were available with a variety of crust choices, but I chose Bearnaise, Parmesan, and double baked potato.  The meat was good and tender, and I had mashed potatoes as a side.  I love how good steakhouses don't mess up my steak temperature.  I can't believe I ever let my Mom order me steak "well done" growing up.  Overall, it was the perfect amount of food and I felt satiated and happy.

My coworkers surprised me with a birthday molten chocolate cake (delicious!) and a song.  I was blushing bright red at the song, but it felt good to blow out a candle.

Overall, Wildfire was a great steakhouse.  It wasn't distinctive by any means, but it was as good as a Ruth's Chris, Palm, or Morton's.  Not bad, Schaumburg!

The Chopping Block - Chicago

During a team business trip to Chicago, we spent a fun evening at The Chopping Block learning some fun cooking skills and preparing a fantastic dinner.  My boss loves the stores, and the Lincoln Square location we chose had two kitchens for demonstrations and classes.  (It made me miss the Viking Cooking School we used to have in Franklin!)  I think cooking classes are a fantastic idea for corporate team-building events, because wine, food, and fun are perfect for breaking down walls.

Our menu (seasonal of course!) included:

• Appetizers (prepped before we arrived, ready to eat and delicious)
• Watercress salad with radish, goat cheese, and mint-yogurt dressing
• Fresh pasta with roasted red peppers, peas, and Parmesan
• Scaloppine of Chicken with roasted asparagus and cremini mushrooms
• Strawberry rhubarb crumble

My buddy MM knew this photo would be on the blog and so we hammed it up!

My team was in charge of the pasta and the salad.  I really enjoyed making fresh pasta again, and it was so delicious I feel inspired to make it at home.  We included herbs in the pasta dough, so it had a great look.  We used hand-cranked rollers, but I plan to use a mixer attachment at home so I can manage it myself a bit better.

The other team handled the chicken, veggies, and dessert, and it was all awesome.  The chicken was so flat and thin, and I liked the cream sauce more than I thought I would.  I had seconds of the pasta!  Fresh pasta is just amazing.

The dessert was phenomenal. The crumble had steel cut oats in it, adding a crunchy texture.  We topped it with vanilla bean gelato.  Heavenly!  I scraped the plate clean.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend that you check out a class at The Chopping Block.  If I lived in Chicago, I'd take a week off just to do their full course!

P.S.  This was our ride.  For realz.

Gino's Pizza

(Sorry post is so delayed... I forgot this one!)

You guys, I was a bad foodie.  Or maybe I was a good foodie?  You be the judge.  On my last night in Chicago, I had the option to go to a gourmet, avant-garde dining experience at Chicago's Blackbird or grab some deep dish pizza.  And I chose pizza.  (To be fair, I was more into Blackbird's lunch menu over dinner...)

I wasn't disappointed with Gino's East Chicago.  It was probably one of the best meals of my entire Chicago trip.  You have to actually wait like 45 minutes from the time you order for the pizza, because it's that fresh.  It was a BANANAS.

Pepperoni and Pineapple is my pizza fav.

My coworkers and I demolished some beer and pizza.  The place had big booths, was covered in graffiti, and was loud and fun.  Those of us who snuck out for pizza instead of fancy food were in blissful pizza heaven.  We walked back to the hotel in food hazes, and I'm sure I wasn't the only one who went to bed early extremely fat and happy.

YUM.  If I'm back in Chicago, this is where I'll go for deep dish.  Well, unless someone has a place they think is better.  Because I'm all for trying new things.  Even Blackbird someday.   But sometimes a girl just wants to PIZZA.

 

Volare

On yet another rainy night in Chicago, our team ventured out to Volare for an Italian feast.

Y'all know I love me some carbs... especially in the form of pasta.  Housemade pasta to boot.  We started right away with soe fantastic wine and a salumi platter.  Some of that meat had a kick to it!

You'll have to excuse the poor photo quality.  There was some real mood lighting going on, and I was trying to discreetly snap pics of food without my coworkers noticing.  Since I don't really talk to them about my blogging adventures.

I love vodka sauce.  So when they had housemade gnocchi alla vodka, my order was basically a no-brainer.  This stuff was sooooo good... and yet so dense and rich and delicious I didn't manage to clear my plate.

Well, maybe part of that is the glutton in my ordered some meatballs as a side.  I totally shared them.  But still, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.  And this stuff was so good.  That's the challenge for me when I travel, I can't take the food home with me to repurpose as a lunch or something.

Volare was definitely YUM.  I'm not an expert in Italian, but this seemed pretty authentic for Americanized Italian for sure.  I'm salivating thinking of the bread and gnocchi right now... mmmm...

Bandera

My team decided to go to dinner together on our first night in Chicago, and we were hoping to try The Girl & The Goat.  Well, those reservations, even on a Monday night were nearly impossible.  So then we tried The Purple Pig, which doesn't take reservations... but the estimated wait was nearly two hours.  Yes, on a Monday!  And a cold and rainy one at that.

In the cool rain, we looked out across the Magnificent Mile, where we spotted Bandera.  The place was packed to be sure, but we were able to get a table within about a half hour.  We spent the waiting time at the bar enjoying the jazz music and libations.  I really liked the ambiance!

I guess I'd describe the food as a kind of Southern remix.  We had some awesome appetizers of the dip duo and the skillet cornbread.  The cornbread had some peppers in it so there was a definite kick!

I opted for the ribs, because the waiter said they would fall off the bone... and he wasn't lying.  Who'd have thought after six years in the South, some of the best ribs I've ever had would be from CHICAGO!  It was seriously amazing.

Also, everything my coworkers ordered was top-notch as well.  Can't believe how lucky we were finding this shelter from the storm on a complete whim.

Chicago

I had an amazing time spending a whole work week in Chicago for a conference.  While the weather was stormy (parts of Chicago actually flooded!) it was a great way to get to know my new boss and a ton of the people working for my larger parent company.

We stayed at the historic Drake Hotel just a step off the Magnificent Mile.  (My room had a "beach" view!")  The hotel is definitely circa 1920s in some respects, like decor and layout.  There are SO many random half-levels and steps all over the place.  I think one of my favorites was the powder room nearest to the lobby; it was totally set up for ladies to each have their own special bathroom stall and a lounge sort of setting.  I can only imagine the gossiping and primping that went on in there back in the day.

I also had a change to get some good eating in... It's Chicago, after all!  I'm going to write reviews of three of my favorites (Bandera, Volare, and Gino's) but there are definitely some quick honorable mentions...

I grabbed a matzo soup and sandwich at Goddess & Grocer, which I found via Urbanspoon.

I really liked the soup and grilled three cheese sandwich.  It wasn't too heavy, it hit the spot, and I would go back there in a heartbeat!  Perfect on the somewhat chilly day that I grabbed a bite at this place nearby my hotel.  They also had a TON of carryout salads and options.


I also stopped by Water Tower Place for a couple quick bites.  The food court there is AMAZING.  My friend and I chose MITY Nice for a quick drink and a bite, and I wished I was eating every meal there!

I got their fresh strawberry lemonade with some vodka, and we split their phenomenal flatbread pizza and macaroni & cheese.  The macaroni was so absolutely delicious.  I seriously liked this place so much, and there were SO many other options within the food court.


My friend also recommended that I taste the delicious Asian buns at Wow Bao while I was in the neighborhood.  I love dim sum, so this ground floor fast stop at Water Tower really hit the spot.  I had their housemade pomegranate ginger ale, as well as three different buns: spicy kung pao chicken, spicy mongolian beef, and BBQ pork.

I think the mongolian beef was my favorite of the three, with BBQ pork being my next favorite.  The bun were so soft, and perfectly sized.


And of course being within a couple blocks of an H&M I did a little shopping damage.  Such good deals!  It's hit or miss for me in that store, and this trip was a hit.  I had to be creative in packing my suitcase to go home.

Last, but CERTAINLY not least... there was a Sprinkles cupcake ATM.  Yes, they do exist!  I bought a banana cupcake from the store and it was fresh and delicious.  But I had to snap a pic of the ATM.

Stay tuned for a few more Chicago restaurant reviews! :)

Eating #Chicago

Yum... I'll regret that later.

Apparently, I don't buy groceries anymore, because I'm always on-the-go!  Work took me to Chicago twice in two weeks, but I wasn't complaining.  I mean, I got to shop at Zara and H&M!  But being the foodie I am, my inner fat kid was in paradise in Chi-town.

For one of the trips, I stayed at the swank W Lakeshore, which was conveniently located to our work functions at Navy Pier.  We definitely had some great wine and cocktails at the hotel bar, and I treated myself to a dessert martini that was the perfect nightcap.  Two other great drink/appetizer spots we hit were The Hubbard Inn (super loud but great for people-watching and match-making with the upwardly mobile) and at the top of the Hancock building at Signature Room at the 95th.  (I drank a Skyscraper; it seemed appropriate.)

View from the Signature Room

I ate a couple of times at Navy Pier, including Harry Caray's Tavern (American pub food) and America's Dog.  The hot dog I had included bacon and macaroni & cheese.  Doesn't that just scream AMERICA!  (And obesity... which is the same thing, right?)

I had fantastic steak dinners on both trips.  We had a feast at Chicago landmark Tavern on Rush, and I loved the dessert at Nick's Fishmarket.  Both had delicious filet mignon, which I ate at the perfect medium pink.  Nick's also served me a creme brulee trio... totally after my francophile heart.

But perhaps one of the best dinners we had was a private tour we scheduled... a Chicago Dine-Around progressive dinner!  We boarded our bus (with engaging tourguide) and explored Chicago at night, plus some fun trivia.  We had Mediterranean appetizers at Reza's, chicken parmigiana and penne pomodoro at Scoozi, and Asian fusion desserts (mochi!) at Ai.  Everyone had a blast, and switching restaurants encouraged people to sit by different folks each time, so we got to know each other a little bit better as we interacted.

Mediterranean at Reza's

Dessert at Ai... mochi!

Chicago... and Puppies

I was traveling for work (yet again!) and found myself in Chicago.  I stayed at the Hotel Sax, which is next door to the House of Blues and in a fabulous area to be near tons of restaurants.  It is a very modern hotel, and I liked the large bathroom, even though I only stayed a night.

For dinner, I met up with coworkers at Shaw's Oyster Bar.  Shaw's actually has two restaurants in one, the Crab House (more upsale, fancy seafood) and the Oyster Bar, which is noisy and bustling.  We loved the Oyster Bar!  They only serve what is in season, which is very cool.

I'm not a big fan of seafood.  But feeling brave after Nova Scotia, I tasted the Blue Crab Fingers and some amazing crabcake sliders.  The crabcakes were phenomenal, probably the best I've had, and the bread for the sliders was delicious.  Yum!

The next day, I headed to Soldier Field for work... with puppies.  You see, I was volunteering for a dog adoption event, which was totally amazing.  There were about 70 dogs available, and I think 40 were adopted.  It was crazy to see how happy these dogs were, and I teared up watching them walk away with their new owners.  They won't be going back to a kennel, they're walking into a HOME!  I loved it!

I hope everyone gets their new pets from a shelter; there were so many purebred beauties and adorable mutts available.  I can't even imagine what life was like for them to be abandoned.  I went home and brushed/hugged my Cally cat a little extra!