Monday Lunch

Spinach and Basil Pizza on Whole Wheat Crust (Father & Son Pizzeria), Taro French Fries (Tamarind), Grilled Steak Teriyaki Skewers with Crispy Rice Noodles (Tavern On Rush), Tiramisu Gelato (Canady Le Chocolatier)

Monday Dinner

Crab Legs (Grazie! Ristorante), Parmesan-Crusted Chicken with Tomato and Mozzarella Cheese Salad (Tavern On Rush), Guacamole and Chips (Adobo Grill), Fried Dough (Harry Caray's)

Tuesday Lunch

Sesame Crusted Salmon (Chant), Chicken and Waffles (Lagniappe-Creole Cajun Joynt)

Tuesday Dinner

Toasted Cheese Ravioli (Harry Caray's), Orange Duck (Chant), Salpicon (fruit salad in watermelon juice) (Las Tablas), Garlic Mozzarella Cheese Bread (Polo Cafe & Catering)

***
1. Today I was on standby for jury duty but luckily I did not have to go!

2. I dragged JoeJoe into my insanity today by letting him accompany me to the Taste for lunch.

3. Despite the fact that I have millions of things to do I went over to MK's to watch Top Gear tonight...of course, I ended up just bringing my laptop and working the whole time...I have no idea what went on in that episode...

Edit: July 2, 2008, 7:18pm
I don't feel like making another post today, so I'm just adding to this one. I have discovered that the absolute maximum anyone can make it to the taste is 8 times. Between the rain and the 3 hours of sleep I'm working on I just couldn't make it after work. So here's my little lunch, and my last taste of the year:

Steak Burger with Blue Cheese and mustard sauce (Tutto Italiano), Hand-cut Sweet Potato Fries (Hashbrowns)

Posted by valry at 12:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Saturday was Taste number 3...this time with actual people and not just trying to cram food down my throat and leave...

So I met up with Emily at the bright and early time of noon oclock and we headed out to the Taste. We were pretty much starving so we wandered about and tried some mustard fried catfish before anyone else showed up. Then we shared some yummy deep-fried artichokes, which are my staple every year because I love them so much. I may have to get them again...

Throughout the day everyone was calling with crazy stories. Jeff calls and tells me he was in a bar fight the night before. Heather calls and asks what one wears when testifying in court. Josh calls and says someone fell into the lake the night before so the patrol helicopters were out all night keeping him awake (and THEN he showed up with a black eye!)

JoeJoe texted me and Emily at some point. Em texted him "Go Cubs!" so I texted "Go Sox!" JoeJoe replied to me "kick Emily."

Jeff finally got there and so we wandered tasting things. He got an arepa which looked really disgusting. We watched this group of kids who looked like they were going to come out and do hip hop but instead started tap dancing.

We saw Budweiser Clydesdales and Jeff stole my water. And Josh came and had a black eye. He looked more like what I expected Jeff to look like when he'd said there'd been a bar fight.

After everyone was there we headed over to watch the Stevie Wonder concert. But, since we couldn't really see him or hear him we headed off pretty soon after it started. (Later we still kept hearing him play...I think the dude played for like three hours straight.) Joe and Alina and Jen and Andrew were going to meet us, but they were at the Sox game and it hadn't ended yet. That didn't matter though because at last the Sox won!!!

We got a little bit more food before Josh and Jeff headed off, but then, alas, they had to leave :-(

Mustard-fried Catfish (B.J.'s Market & Bakery), Beer-Battered Artichokes (Bella Luna Café), Pistachio Gelato (Canady Le Chocolatier), Rum-battered Fried Tilapia Fillet (Polo Cafe & Catering), Fresh Pineapple Seafood Salad (Grazie! Ristorante), Toasted Cheese Ravioli (Tuscany), Petite lamb chops (Morton's)

Em and I then tried to wander off the Navy Pier but totally went the wrong way (seriously Chicago, stop being built on levels). On the way back we saw plenty of signs pointing us the right way that we should have seen in the first place...

Finally we made it to the pier and got set to conquer the beast: the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel!

I have never been on the ferris wheel because I am afraid of heights and, well, ferris wheels. The last time I actually went on a ferris wheel was probably sixth grade. I braved up the nerve to go on one at a fair, and of course it broke down and kept going back and forth instead of in a circle. That was the last time I set foot on one of those creatures.

So Em and I decided to brave the big tall scary one on the pier. I was actually perfectly fine all in line and when it first started moving...but then I started to freak a little, but by the end I was mostly fine. But I did it!

We celebrated by going to Joe's Be-Bop Cafe for mai tais and desserts. Only we would go out for dessert after spending the entire day at a food festival. Then we headed back to Em's where we attempted to watch the Incredible Shrinking Woman.

At one point Em asked if we should turn off the movie and just go to bed. Considering that her asking that question woke me up we decided that that was probably a good idea.

MORE PHOTOS HERE!

Posted by valry at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Taste of Chicago started today. So, of course, I have already been...twice.
I went eight times last year and one of my goals this year is to break that record. So I have to go nine times.
It's a 20 minute walk from my office to Grant Park, so with an hour lunch break that's enough time to get in 20 minutes of eating :-)

For lunch I had:

Jollaf Rice with Oxtail (Bolat African Cuisine), Grilled Plantain with Spicy Peanut Sauce (Bolat African Cuisine), Enchilada (La Justica), Vegetarian BBQ Twist (Soul Vegetarian East), Italian Breaded Steak Sandwich (Ricobene's)

I just ate my way through booths 1-4 :-)

Here's the way my taste planning works. I go through the brochure and write a list of everything that I could possibly want to eat. After the first time, I went back to my desk, stuffed and exhausted and sweaty from the walk, and look at my list. Anything that still sounds appetizing stays. Anything that makes me want to vomit goes. My list gets cut in half and I get a somewhat manageable list of stuff I might eat in nine times at the Taste.

You also have to factor in what's worth the money. Because there are a lot more 9-ticket items. Seriously, every dish should be cut in half and cost half. That way we could TASTE more. They each have one item for sale like that, but they all should be. Val has spoken.

Also this year, I was looking at the menus and something seemed odd but I couldn't quite place it. Then I saw an article that explained it: this year every booth had to have a "healthy alternative." Of course, this seems to be taken

There was something a little off about the menu for the taste this year and then I read an article that explained what. Every booth is required to have a "healthy offering." So...that's why there are a lot of WHOLE WHEAT pizzas and POTATO Chips and fried VEGETABLES and TURKEY meatballs. We're Chicagoans. Sorry, but Chicago wasn't built on steamed vegetables.

For dinner I had:

Skewered Shark Veracruz (Polo Cafe & Catering), Manzanita Sol (a weird apple soda they were giving away free), Blueberry Bajou Blasters (Heaven on Seven), Sesame Beef on a Stick (The Noodle Vietnamese Cuisine), Sweet Potato Hashbrowns (Hashbrowns), Mascarpone Gelato (Canady Le Chocolatier)

Posted by valry at 9:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

1. I'm kicking myself :(

2. While it may have been my EIGHTH TIME at the Taste this year, today was the first time I really got to go and enjoy myself without being rushed to get back to work, catch a train, or find a fireworks spot. Nad and I met up and headed over for a fun day of food! While Nad was perusing the Taste booklet she kept pointing out things she thought sounded good...and I basically said o everything "Yeah, that was good." :)
I love the Taste becuase I think it's the only place in the world where strangers openly walk right up to you and say "What are you eating???"
We also watched a crazy demonstration by this Japanese guy who cut fruit and vegetables into flowers and bunny wabbits.

Today at the Taste I ate...

Top: Steak Burger with Blue Cheese and Mustard Sauce (Tutto Italiano), Beignets (Lagniappe)
Middle: Jibarito - Plantain Sandwich with Steak (Sabor Latino), Rice Pudding with Mangos and Dried Cranberries (The Grill on the Alley)
Bottom: Frozen Grapes (Home Run Inn), Southern Comfort Frozen Hurricane (Southern Comfort Frozen Hurricane Booth)

Some of the things Nadia ate include...

No one went to the Potbelly Booth...

I am a floating head!

3. Nad and I found a crazy Target close to her condo. We bought a cable so she can finally watch real TV and so we hooked it up and found weird reality shows on networks we've never heard of where contestants stand on big crosses nd pretend to be scarecrows.

4. I am going to move into Nadia's spare room and be the resident dancer. Whenever she rings the bell I will come out of my room in a tutu and entertain guests.

5. I saw the Leaning Tower of Niles!!!

6. Went to Chilis with Nad, Jen, and Adam. Mananaged to scarf down my entire plate of chicken fingers despite having had too much food earlier. Adam is going to calculate the perfect coordinates for us to meet that will be the same distance between all of our places :)

Posted by valry at 1:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

1. What I ate at the Taste today (lunch + dinner)

Row 1: Toasted Ravioli (Tuscany), Crawfish Boil with with Potatoes and Illinois Corn (Lagniappe)
Row 2: Catfish Nuggets (Dock's), Fried Dough with Strawberry Topping and Whipped Cream (Volare)
Row 3: Frozen S'more (Bobtail Ice Cream Company), Grilled Chicken and Vegatable Chopped Salad with Lime Dressing (The Grill on the Alley)
Row 4: Puerto Rican Steak Sandwich on Criollo Bread (Sabor Latino) and Pepsi (Beverage Booth), BBQ Buffalo Burger (Grazie! Ristorante), Saganaki (Costa's)

2. I am a rockstar of Hungarian Folk Dance
I went to a Hungarian folk dance lesson tonight. It was insanely fun but also insanely tiring. Those Hungarians sure know how to party. :)

3. Three anticdotes from the Taste today
a.) In Paris at Notre Dame I was kind of making fun of the people who were taking their pictures while facing the monument they were in from of (so they had a random background and not the monument). Today I saw someone having their picture taken while facing Buckingham Fountain.
b.) Have you ever played catch with a dog? While doing so did you ever, after throwing the ball a couple of times, pretend to throw it and the dog kind of went after it? Did you know that same thing works using a piece of bread and a flock of seagulls? Did you also know that that's the most hilareous thing you can ever do?
c.) I saw a homeless man eating a variety platter of cheese cake.

Posted by valry at 10:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

now we all know in Chicago, the fourth is truly clebrated on the third...

1. Lunch

top: Italian Breaded Steak Sandwich (Ricobene's), Irish Curry Fries (Abbey Pub), Gazpacho with Avocado and Chopped Chives (The Grill on the Alley)
Bottom: Cilantro Steak Empanada (Vermillion), Pound Cake Pop Drizzled with Fig Vodka Butter Syrup and Chocolate (Polo Café & Catering)

2. Dinner

Top: Potato Pancakes (Kasia's Deli), Cheese Pierogis (Kasia's Deli)
Middle: Italian Fries (Tutto Italiano), Beer-battered Artichoke Hearts (Bella Luna Café)
Bottom: Chocolate-covered Rice Krispie Treat (Chicago Chocolate Company), Sweet Potato Chips (B.J.'s Market and Bakery)

3. Fireworks

I met up with Jen and Rory and some other peeps and then later JoeJoe and Alina...and then later later with Nadia and Bryan because cell phones kind of stop working when you are jam-pack surrounded by a million or so people all trying to use their cell phone.
The fireworks were coolcoolcool, but shortshortshort as always. Once the fireworks started all the idiots next to us cleared out because they realized that they could not, in fact, see the fireworks through the giant tree they were sitting behind...then a bunch of bigger idiots saw the new clearing and decided to start forming a line IN FRONT OF US WHO HAD STAKED OUT GOOD SEAT HOURS AND HOURS BEFORE because they apparently thought that a million other people just didn't notice this big empty spot. People are morons sometimes. We started a mutiny by not letting them through and this chick next to us almost got in a fistfight with this guy after scooting up to sit right in his path and kicking him so he couldn't get through. :)
All in all though, it was quite fun.
And then came the trek through the city amongst the biggest cowd you'd ever see in your life. Luckily we didn't take the el anywhere since there were apparently problems that left people stranded on it for hours. eh.
Afterwords most everyone ditched us and the rest of us headed off to Clarke's.
And I explained my new boyfriend plan...which is the most brilliant plan I've ever come up with. :)

Posted by valry at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lesson of the day...

GOAT

in any form

tastes nasty.

For years this one place at the taste had goat and I tried it once and hated it. But mostly because it was smothered in extremely hot hot sauce and so all I could taste was burning.

This year a new place had goat too. It was not covered in sauce.
It was sour and rancid and icky.
In conclusion, Val should never try to eat goat again.

Here is everything I ate at the Taste today:

Top: Sweet Potato Biscuit (C'est Si Bon), Prime Rib Quesadilla (Grill on the Alley)
Bottom: Grilled Wings with Pesto Aioli (Blu 47), Coconut Rice with Sauteed Goat (Bolat African Cuisine)

Posted by valry at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today...in pictures

1. Went to the Taste for lunch with these people:

It takes 20 minutes to walk to Grant Park, and 20 minutes to walk back. Which leaves me with 20 minutes to chow down on:

Top: Fried Ravioli (don't know where that was from, Jen had it left over), Pomegranate BBQ Chicken (Pars Cove Persian Cuisine)
Bottom: Mango Cumin-Dusted Fries with Tamarind Chutney (Vermilion), Fresh Pineapple Seafood Salad (Grazie! Ristorante)

2. SummerDance to learn Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata

3. The Taste for Dinner :)

Top: Rum-battered Fried Tilapia Filet and Garlic-Mozzarella Cheese Bread (Polo Cafe & Catering)
Bottom: Mustard Fried Catfish (B.J.'s Market & Bakery), Strawberry and Mango Italian Ice (Mazzone's)

Yesterday...in not so many pictures

1. Went shopping in search of the perfect martini shaker. In the process I found for myself the perfect powder blue colander, or maybe three of them. I didn't buy them though...yet.

2. fucked it all up.

3. Called Mat back...three times. He didn't pick up.

4. Mat called me. I picked up...

Posted by valry at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)