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A Gourmet Mexican Adventure

July 23, 2012 by

As part of my “day job”, I occasionally get to entertain out of town guests, which often times, includes dinner at fancy smancy restaurants. Last week, I was fortunate enough to attend a business dinner at Frontera Grill in Chicago. Now, for anyone who is a foodie or is familiar with Chicago, you will know that Frontera Grill is the restaurant of Chef Rick Bayless. The restaurant is difficult to get into on any given night and reservations often have to be made weeks in advance. However, through our connections, we were able to secure a room at the last minute in Chef Bayless’ very private kitchen/library.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we wove our large party through the back of the restaurant, through the main kitchen and through some very secret entrances and exits, where we finally ended up in the private kitchen on what I think was the second floor. This covert entrance added to the excitement as did the beautifully prepared appetizers waiting at the end of our trek. Now you may look at the photos and wonder why this guacamole is so special.

This guacamole is not your average guacamole – it is Frontera Grill guacamole, paired with homemade tortilla chips, made famous by Rick Bayless. Aside from the mouthwatering guacamole, Rick Bayless is also famous for serving authentic, gourmet Mexican food, with a mix of flavors that will leave you dreaming about your next trip to Frontera. Oh, and did I mention the margaritas? They were definitely the best I have ever had and would be worth a 2-hour wait without question.

Although my photos of the rest of the meal did not turn out well due to the dimly lit dining area, the courses served in our five-course tasting menu were amazing. Trust me – the mole sauce rocked! As you can see, the whole experience turned into one complete Gourmet Mexican Adventure….and one that will be hard to top.

If you ever find yourself heading to the Windy City, I highly recommend dining at Frontera Grill. And when you do, have a margarita for me!

Ciao

Filed Under: Food & Wine Tagged With: , , ,

Celebrating Bastille Day 2012

July 16, 2012 by

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Bastille Day may have come and gone, but not without celebration from this Bistro Chic! Each year, my husband and I try to remember the French holiday in our own way, whether it’s having a French-themed dinner at home, seeing the latest French movie, or perusing a French market. This year, Bastille Day was especially memorable for I was fortunate enough to indulge in many French-inspired delights. In just one day, I was able to:

  1. Sip some lovely French Rosé
  2. Savor a yummy citrus scone and a nespresso latte
  3. Dine at Mon Ami Gabi and have an amazing chopped salad
  4. Listen to classical music under the stars at Ravinia
  5. Enjoy French macarons from Vanille Patisserie

How did you celebrate Bastille Day?

Ciao!

Filed Under: Joie de Vivre Tagged With: , ,

Travel Insights from the New York Times

July 9, 2012 by

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Each week, I look forward to reading the many travel articles on the New York Times web site. From the Frugal Traveler – who shares tips on how to travel on a budget, to 36 Hours – an hour by hour guide on what to explore in popular cities if you are limited on time, the travel section really provides something for every type of traveler…. the seasoned to novice traveler; cautious or adventurous; and those with shallow and deep pockets.

The NY Times travel section also allows you to search by keyword (ie. city or country) for articles covering 1,000 destinations. If you’re traveling somewhere specific, the search functionality is a great way to brush up on the culture, food, and sites of your destination, many times offering an insider’s perspective. If you’re just daydreaming about far off or even nearby destinations, the travel section does an admirable job at covering popular locales, such as Paris and London, but also introduces readers to B-List cities, such as Dresden, Germany; Oxford, England; and Osaka, Japan. And, by the way, if you’re not interested in foreign travel, the major (and not so major) US cities are also featured.

Even if a long-distance trip is not in your future (or budget), the NY Times travel section let’s you experience the exotic, extraordinary, and excestential places of your dreams, in about 1,000 words or less.

Ciao!

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: , ,

French Canada Awaits

July 2, 2012 by

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Long before reading this weekend’s Chicago Tribune article about French Canada have I wanted to travel back to Québec. Although growing up, I lived 30 minutes from the Canadian border, I never ventured far enough north to actually get to the French province of Québec. However, in 2005 and well into adulthood, I had my first taste of Montreal – 6 days of the beautiful city that, unfortunately, I did not get to enjoy to its fullest due to nonstop business meetings. Upon leaving this old, European-like city, I knew I needed to come back, if not for the lovely cobblestone streets in Old Port then for the wonderful culinary delights, including those found at Olive & Gourmando.

Now, 7 years later, I am finally heading back to Québec on my first summer vacation in many years.  But why Québec? After much thought and review of our finances, my husband and I opted to not go into debt by traveling to Europe this summer during the Olympics. Instead, we will make our way to the north, via car, where we will visit cities including Montreal, Mont Tremblant, and possibly Québec City, plus stop offs in Ottawa and Niagara Falls. And it is on this Canadian adventure where I hope to capture the essence of Québec and see first-hand how the province emulates Europe and, particularly, France.

A trip to Europe may still be on the agenda in 2012, but until then…French Canada awaits!

Ciao

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: , , , , ,
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