Kitchen Magic

The last time I said a litany to the life-forces in my kitchen, I prayed for sun. A day later it was sunny and warm. Luck of the Irish or purely supernatural?

Either way, I am a firm believer in positioning idols in the kitchen. In fact, a little altar is the best thing I added to my kitchen this past year to improve my cooking skills…or lack of them.

Half of my kitchen magic was shipped off to my sister this week. He’ll love watching her stand on her hands during a meditative, yoga state instead of pulling me through yet another fallen soufflé.

The other half? She’s going with me to Mexico so the pressure is all on her. In fact, I now have great expectations for my mole.

After months of the same routine, don’t you think a change of scenery will be good for our cooking?

Stay tuned and Bon Appetit!

If It Comes In A Bag Or A Box, Don’t Eat It?

This has always been my motto until I walked into Trader Joe’s the other day and took a taste of what the food demo was offering up.

Madarin Orange Chicken + Green Bean Haricot Verts  = GREAT ASIAN FOOD.

The nutrition facts aren't great but they aren't awful either. Best thing - ready in 10 minutes flat. I served it with a large bowl of Botan Calrose rice.

The experience: Tastes a lot like takeout from P.F. Changs.

Bon Appetit!

Egg White Omlets

I’ve been trying to eat a little healthier in the morning. One of my favorite things is an egg white omlet.

This one is full of fresh spinach, mushrooms, crisp bacon and blended cheeses – whatever I happen to have on hand and just a little. I usually mix mozzarella and cheddar.

The trick is to go light on the bacon. I use just enough to give it flavor and to trick me into thinking that I just enjoyed 3 slices.

Bon Appetit!

Tanglewood Gardens' Farm - Plato, Minnesota

We should not only be concerned about what we eat, but what our food eats as well. This was the lesson I left Tanglewood Gardens’ Farm with.

You’ll want to get on the top of their food chain as Scottish Highland Cattle, hogs and poultry are fed only top-quality fare. Brought up on natural pasture and grass-based diets, they produce meat that is lower in total fat and calories, and food that is higher in good fats like Omega 3′s, and rich with antioxidants such as vitamins E, C and beta-carotene.

I fell in love with the Scottish Highlands which are a striking breed and also are significantly lower in fat and cholesterol and higher in protein and iron than other beef. No surprise that the Royal family maintains a fold of Highland Cattle at Balmoral Castle. Highland cattle enjoy conditions in which other breeds would perish. Cold weather and snow have little effect on them which is a good thing since Minnesota got their fair share of snow this past winter.

Fresh produce is grown year-round in their greenhouses and fields, usually harvested in the morning and brought to the restaurant that same afternoon. They are also experimenting, grafting things such as tomatoes in order to yield the heartiest of breeds. 

Imagine the chef who gets to cook with meat and produce this fresh? This is one reason why the food at Wise Acre Eatery is so good.

Like they say on their website, it’s truly the shortest distance between the earth, the hand and the mouth.

And it is…

Bon Appetit!

Minnesota…Life On The Lake

And who said life on the lake isn’t great?

I loved getting up in the morning to a view of Lake and the only decision I had to make all day is where to eat.

It’s a good life… and here is where we played all week.

Bon Appetit!

Lakeshore Grill - 12411 Wayzata Blvd, Minnetonka

Lakeshore Grill is located at Macy’s and is a find. Honestly, when I go for shopping, I never think to eat at Macy’s.

The mini popovers were a treat but the desserts were simply to die for. I knew this white chocolate cheesecake was good when I could see through it as our waitress placed it on the table.

How clever is this? The key lime pie was served in a little jar. It was also wonderful and as Key Lime pie goes exceptionally good.

Desserts rang up at a mere $2.99. Yes, you could gain more than a few pounds just by forking over a $10 bill.

Island View Golf Club - 7795 Laketown Parkway, Waconia

49 cent wing night in Jamaican, Thai, Teriyaki and the best was when I spotted the onion rings which were double dipped in beer batter.

They are now at the top of my list of all time favorites.

Asian Bistro – 4669 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park

Mu She Pork and Beef with Asparagus was some of the best Asian food I've had. No secret that I would put this restaurant up against any in Chicago’s Chinatown. Of course, Theresa and her husband cook everything fresh.

A little love in the mix doesn’t hurt either.

Rancho Grande – 1004 Highway 55 East, Buffalo

There is only one thing on the menu that we eat here after a long day of shopping at The PORCH and Atelier…the California Chicken burrito with white cheese sauce. The sauce simply makes the burrito.

Going to try and recreate this in my kitchen with white American cheese and jalapenos.

A search in progress so stay tuned.

Victor’s 1959 Café – 3756 Grand Avenue South, Minneapolis

Since they opened in April, 1999, customer’s have been signing the walls and every square inch including the corners are decorated with graffiti and someone’s message. It’s part of what makes this place so charming.

We had Lechon Adado and Sandwich Cubano as seen on the Food Network. I missed the episode so I’ll have to go back and catch it.

This place prompted me once again to put Cuba high on my list of places to explore.

Frozen Blueberries

Straight from Michigan. Are blueberries as good frozen as they are fresh?

Remembering last summer, frozen blueberries are so good after no blueberries all winter.

Bon Appetit!

A Taste of Chicago

Let’s call this our own Taste of Chicago. From a BBQ brunch at Chicago Q’s to the delicious Lemon French Fries at Cross Rhodes, we’ve listed some of the best, must-try indulgences in Chicago.

Put them all on your list if you haven’t tried them because we would go back for every one.

Addicted? … One bite and you will be too.

Bon Appetit!

Bad Happy Poutine

Location: 939 N Orleans

Favorite: The Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake

BopNGrill

Location: 6604 N Sheridan Rd

Favorite: Kimchi Burger - caramelized kimchi, fried egg, sharp cheddar, bacon, kimchi mayo, shredded cabbage

Chicago Q

Location: 1160 North Dearborn

Favorite: Smoked Chicken Eggs Benedict

Cross Rhodes

Location: 913 Chicago Avenue

Favorite: Lemon French Fries

Davante Enoteca

Location: 1359 West Taylor

Favorite: Pizza della Fattoria - Farmed Egg, Pork Belly, Potato, Scallions, Asiago, and Béchamel

Don Pedros

Location: 1113 West 18th Street

Favorite: Carnitas

Girl and the Goat

Location: 809 West Randolph

Favorite: Wood Oven Roasted Pig Face, sunny side egg, tamarind, cilantro, red wine-maple and potato stix.

Green City Market

Location: located at the south end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton Drive - approximately 1790 N. Clark

Favorite: Snookelfritz Ice Cream

Haymarket Brewery

Location: 737 West Randolph

Favorite: Drafts

Heaven on Seven

Location: 111 N. Wabash - 7th Floor

Favorite: Gumbo with Jalapeño Cheddar Corn Muffin

Hot Chocolate

Location: 1747 North Damen

Favorite: Black and Tan

ING

Location: 951 West Fulton Market

Favorite: Honey Nut Cheerio infused rum, honey, lemon and frangelico 

Lilly Q

Location: 1856 West North Avenue

Favorite: BBQ Ribs

Mawell Street

Location: 800 South Desplains Street

Favorite: Rubi's Tacos Asada

Mercadito

Location: 108 West Kinzie Street

Favorite: Carnitas de Puerco - Michoacán-style braised pork, chile de árbol coleslaw, toasted peanuts with Guacamole

Parthenon

Location: 314 South Halsted

Favorite: Roditis

Purple Pig

Location: 500 North Michigan Avenue

Favorite: Turkey Leg Confit, Crispy Lentils, Treviso, Endive and Agrodolce and Pig’s Ear with Crispy Kale, Pickled Cherry Peppers and Fried Egg

Saigon Sisters

Location: 131 N Clinton (Chicago French Market) and 567 West Lake Street

Favorite: Porky Banh Mi - Braised pork belly, pho flavors, hoisin glaze, mayo

Tesori

Location: 65 E Adams

Favorite: Veal Cheeks

Urban Belly

Location: 3053 North California Avenue

Favorite: Short Rib with Scallion