Growing up, my family went to Benihana for pretty much every special occasion. Like most people I know, this restaurant really is such an intergral part of my childhood memories. And, if you're anything like me, you've always wished you could get behind the teppanyaki grill and be the chef. Well, I'm about to make all your childhood dreams come true by telling you about the "Be the Chef" program at Benihana. For just $200, you can get trained to get behind the teppanyaki grill and cook ... [ Read More ]
Elia’s First Birthday Party – A Unicorn Wonderland
I seriously cannot believe I am the mother of a 1-year old. This year flew by so quickly. Planning your child's first birthday is hard for a few reasons: 1. You have no idea what they would like for a theme. Or, if you miraculously figure out how to decode your baby, you probably won't be able to do much with what they like. If I had to guess, Elia would probably have picked "cheese" as her theme, since it's the only thing she will eat or say. 2. Your child probably doesn't have a ton ... [ Read More ]
Quinoa Veggie Power Bowl using a Local Farm Box from Peapod
There is nothing more I love than seasonal, fresh veggies from the farm. When I found out that Peapod (my favorite grocery delivery service ever) was launching a farm box, I squealed with joy! They are basically brining the farmers markets right to your door! Each region of the country will get different boxes because they are truly working with local farmers to bring you what's in season just steps from your home. Here is what mine looked like... </br> I was so inspired by the ... [ Read More ]
Fun with Hotdogs – 5 Ways!
With Baseball season in full-swing, I feel like I'm constantly entertaining. Since I love to stay "on theme" with the food I'm making for my guests, I always opt to serve hot dogs! What a better way to make my guests feel like they're actually in the ballpark than serving up some good ol' friendly franks! Since I'm me (and I can't do anything too simple), I like to spice up my hotdogs by serving them in a totally different and unique way. For my last party, I created 5 incredibly ... [ Read More ]
Midwest Microblading: Best Eyebrow Microblading in Chicago
They say eyebrows are the frame for the entire face and frankly, I couldn't agree more. For as long as I can remember, I have been filling in my eyebrows. This annoying beauty regimen literally takes up about 10 minutes every single day. That's over one hour a week and if you do the math, I spend over 2 days a year filling in my eyebrows. What the heck, right? I had been hearing a lot about eyebrow microblading, but honestly, I was scared to try it. Here were the things I was most scared ... [ Read More ]
EASY Homemade Pop-Tarts
You guys, these homemade pop-tarts are the perfect morning time treat. They're super sweet, very easy, and absolutely delicious! Lately I've been so busy with the baby, I am constantly trying to create quick but yummy recipes and this one totally fits the bill. If my baby girl Elia could eat, I can bet she would love these (for now she's on a milk diet!) These beauties are also the perfect party snack or a fun way a treat yourself to some nostalgic eats. There are so many different ways you ... [ Read More ]
The Easiest Way to Boil and Peel Eggs
I absolutely love deviled eggs! That being said, up until a year ago, I use to freak out every time I had to make them, because the process of boiling and peeling the eggs was just so tedious. I always found myself losing an egg or two because I destroyed it, or even worse, I'd spend 10 minutes peeling tiny bits of shell off a single egg. Not anymore! After years of trial and error (and a 2-month stint on the Atkins diet, where all I ate was hard boiled eggs), I've finally found the easiest ... [ Read More ]
Restaurant Review: Bub City
Since I am a born and raised East Coast girl, I was dying to find some good Midwest BBQ once I move to Chicago. I asked around and some friends recommended Bub City on Clark Street in River North. I recently headed over there with a group of friends (the best way to go there) and was able to try the majority of the menu items. While my BBQ standards may not be as high as some of my Midwest readers, I have a lot of dining out experience and I was overwhelmed by how delicious (and fun) our ... [ Read More ]
Recipe: Utica Italian Greens
My guess is that most of you probably don't know what "Utica Greens" are. The fact is, up until I went to college in Utica, I didn't know what they were either! This regional appetizer is a specialty that you'll only find in Central NY, so when I moved away, I needed to find a recipe to fulfill my craving! The typical Utica Greens are a sautéed mix of escarole, cherry peppers, bread crumbs, prosciutto, parmesan cheese and then broiled to form a golden crust on top. This signature dish is ... [ Read More ]
Ask Erica: How to Remember Great Restaurants
Hi Erica, I love finding new favorite restaurants. I try getting cards from places I enjoy to eventually go back or if I want to recommend them, but if anyone asks me where to go for brunch/lunch/dinner, my mind goes blank. How would you suggest I keep track of amazing places? -Gabriel _________ Hi Gabriel, I can totally sympathize with you! Since I'm a huge foodie, people typically ask me where to go and it's hard to keep track of all the great places I go. I think I may ... [ Read More ]
