Entries Tagged as 'brunch'

Brunching

January 20th, 2009 · 3 Comments

vella_cafe

vella_sausage_frittata_panino
Vella Cafe, Bucktown, Chicago

I hadn’t seen Cinnamon since September, so she and I met up on Sunday at Vella Cafe under the Western Blue Line stop. I’d been there one time before, but it was about a year ago. Happy to say the food was delicious and I really like the space. Not only is it conveniently located one train stop from my house, but it’s nice and open and bright inside. So bright that I felt like wearing sunglasses in my seat for a while and my photo is all harsh light. I had the sausage frittata panino with caramelized onions, ajvar mayo, butterkase cheese and smashers on the side. Cinnamon had a ham crepe that she was happy to report tasted as good as I thought it looked.

I was still getting over a bad cold and though I felt better, I was losing my voice. Cinnamon and I had a lot of catching up to do so by the end I was sounding pretty bad. Whatever. Worth it! Hopefully Cinnamon and I can get back on track and meet up monthly again.. and hopefully we can convince Erin to come back out with us next time.

On another note, it seems like I will go months without going out for brunch and then I’ll find myself brunching every day of a weekend. This weekend I also went with Dallas and Kristin for brunch at Flo on Saturday. I don’t know why I’d never been to Flo before – it’s not far from where I lived in East Ukrainian Village. I wasn’t in love with my food (breakfast burrito – onions, tomatoes, veggies were all raw inside and the cheese wasn’t melted) but Dallas and Kristin loved what they got. Dallas got the smoked turkey hash with potato, onion, green pepper, squash and smokey chipotle crema, grilled and topped with two poached eggs, served with fresh fruit and wheat toast. Kristin got brioche toast with grilled smoked turkey, and fresh spinach, topped w/ two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and asiago cheese. I definitely was in love with the latte I ordered. Perfect amount of foam and soo tasty. And it felt great on my sore throat. I definitely do want to go back to Flo and try what Kristin ordered.

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Wisconsin BBQ

June 29th, 2008 · 2 Comments


Rachelle & Charlotte, Oak Creek, WI


Rachelle & Stephanie, Oak Creek, WI


Back: Jacob, Tessa, Caitlin, Gavin, Brice. Front: Jessica, Kayla

My brother had a barbecue at his house on Saturday. I took the Amtrak up to attend. Amanda and maybe Richard (?) have done a lot of work on their yard these past few years and it’s looking great. They got some new patio furniture and we all sat outside while the kids played on their swing set and slide. The weather was great for a few hours. Then it rained and we ran around picking everything up and stayed inside for a while. And then it was beautiful out again and we played bocce ball for hours.

I was glad Kelly and Jeff made it down for the party because I’d never met Charlotte before. She’s about 2 months old now. We figured that was about how old Tessa was when I first met her out in Washington DC. Now, of course, she’s running around with the older kids and talking like crazy. All of the kids were having a great time chasing each other around and playing.

Saturday night mom and dad drove me back to Chicago and stayed overnight here. We went to brunch at Sola and ran a few errands on Sunday and then they start their drive home. It’s kind of windy and cloudy here now. Hopefully they didn’t catch any rain on the way.

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Let That Global Warming Breeze In

January 6th, 2008 · No Comments

Back Door

Three days ago it was ZERO degrees outside at 7:30 in the morning. That night it was so cold in the apartment and I couldn’t get the chill out of my bones, so I layed in our bed on the heated mattress pad and watched TV all night.

Today at 4:45 pm it was up to 60 degrees. I had met up with Chuck, Margaret and Jim for breakfast at Vella Cafe (cute place, the chicken sausage was awesome and they serve Milk & Honey granola, which I love), took the bus back up Western, stopped at Jewel to get groceries. We had the back door open all day to let air in and it wasn’t even cold. Especially since I was using the Jewel groceries to cook some healthy vegetable soup, biscuits and an applesauce cake dessert.

Weather

Still, 3 days and 60 degrees warmer!

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Brunching

September 17th, 2007 · 1 Comment

Brunch at Sola
Black Forest Omelet (gruyere, crispy leeks, black forest ham, caramelized onions) with togarashi potatoes and whole wheat toast :: Sola, North Center, Chicago

This weekend I brunched at two of my favorite brunch places with two of my favorite brunch friends.

On Saturday I biked to Wicker Park and met Margaret at Milk & Honey. I had the panini with scrambled egg, bacon, cheddar and tomato and Margaret had the casserole-style huevos rancheros. We then went to Alliance and used the free wi-fi and drink more coffee and go over Chicagoist stuff. Afterwards, we walked through the Renegade Craft Fair, which was on the street right outside Milk & Honey, and I got a pair of earrings, two necklaces, and a cool tshirt. .. even though I told myself I couldn’t buy any tshirts. I had to have this one because it had fashion plates like I had when I was a little kid on it. I’ll have to take a photo the first time I wear it. After all that walking around at the fair (it stretched from Damen almost all the way to Ashland on Division), we stopped at Sweet Cakes for a sweet treat and more coffee. I don’t know why I drank so much coffee on Saturday. It was a beautiful day and Margaret came over to my birthday party last weekend, but it’d been a while since we’d hung out for the day, so it was great.

On Sunday I biked to the Chicago Photography Center to do some things for class this week, picked up some fruit at Whole Foods, dropped it off at home and then biked to Sola. Erin insisted on taking me to brunch of my choice since she was out of town and missed my birthday party and who am I to not milk my birthday out as long as I can? I chose Sola since I’d been there for brunch once earlier this summer and it was fantastic. We both had the Black Forest Omlette (gruyere, crispy leeks, black forest ham, caramelized onions with togarashi potatoes and whole wheat toast on the side) and coffee, which was delicious. I don’t think I’ve seen or talked much to Erin for 6 weeks or something so it was great to see her too and to sit outside and enjoy a nice sunny fall day.

Also, I was dogsitting this weekend for Jen and Chad, who were out of town at a wedding. So on Saturday I checked in Drake and Cortez in the afternoon and then hung out at the house Saturday night. On Sunday I got up early to take care of them in the morning and then was about to go over after the Packers kicked the Giant’s butts, but Jen and Chad were already back. Always nice to get a little Drake and Cortez time. They’re such nice dogs and so easy to take care of now that we’re only a block away. I didn’t take any photos of Drake and Cortez this time, but here are some photos from other times I’ve watched them: 1, 2, 3.

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Orange

July 1st, 2007 · 6 Comments

Orange
Orange, Roscoe Village, Chicago

Orange Frushi
Frushi

Orange Omelet
A three-egg omelet made with sauteed garlic, asparagus, forest mushrooms and Vella Farms dry, aged jack cheese, with marjoram (that’s wild oregano) and topped with toasted almonds, then drizzled with balsamic reduction

Orange Frushi
Frushi For Two

Orange French Toast Kebab
Coconut-infused French toast skewered and grilled with fresh strawberries and pineapples, served with coconut-mango salad

Literally years ago when trying to plan a Chicagoist brunch, Margaret suggested we go to Orange. I remember passing it over for something else, but always wanting to try it out. But I never did. So, I was really excited when I found out another Orange restaurant was opening on Roscoe, a few blocks away from my apartment. Now I didn’t have to search it out, it was coming to me!

A couple weeks ago when our office was moving, I was working from home and went to Orange for lunch. I loved it. Something is weird about the interior. Like the previous restaurant moved out and the folks at Orange just threw some tables and chairs in and hung a few paintings on the wall. It’s just off. .. but the food was really great, so I’m willing to forgive. I had the frushi (fruit sushi) and an omelet. I thought I posted on it, but I guess I didn’t, so today when Margaret met me at Orange for brunch, I took more photos to post. We had frushi for two and for a meal I had French toast kebabs. I felt the same about the interior, but the food was really imaginative and delicious so I’ll be back.

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