Between being a new Mom, working full-time and trying to maintain some sliver of a social life, my time is VERY limited. With lots of holiday parties coming up, I need to get to the grocery store and finding time has been nearly impossible. Thankfully, I discovered Peapod. This awesome service allows me to grocery shop right from my computer or mobile device and have the groceries delivered whenever I need them. The great thing is, Peapod has everything you would find at your favorite grocery ... [ Read More ]
2016 Holiday Gift Guide for a Foodie
I simply cannot believe how quickly this year flew by. Last year at this time, I found out I was expecting and now I have a 4-month old angel! Pinch me. For the 3rd year in a row, I have scoured the interweb to find what I think are the absolute best gifts you should give to your foodie friends this holiday season. I tried to pick things at different price ranges that you wouldn't find on other gift guides. In the end, I wanted this guide to feel totally unique and celebrate some really ... [ Read More ]
Brussels Sprouts with Pear, Pecorino and Morton Coarse Sea Salt
Last month I attended one of the coolest secret pop-up dinners and today I can FINALLY tell you about it. Morton Salt hosted a very intimate, Thanksgiving-inspired dining experience with Chicago chef, Jason Vincent of Giant. Jason's role in the dinner was to coach Cara, a novice cook, on how to prepare a restaurant-quality meal by showcasing how the proper usage of salt transforms home-cooked food into an elite dining experience. It turns out that using table salt for cooking purposes just ... [ Read More ]
A Variety of Burrata Toasts
I have an absolute obsession with burrata. If you haven't had it, it's basically mozzarella cheese stuffed with cream. It is SO delicious and I could honestly eat it every single day. Most of the time, if you order burrata at a restaurant, it comes simply with some toast points. I wanted to jazz it up a little bit, so I decided to create a few different types of fun toasts to eat with the burrata. Here are the 4 kinds I chose: -Maple Bacon Brussels Sprout -Strawberry Honey ... [ Read More ]
Family Fun with Conagra
I simply love the fall in Chicago. Not only does it give me a chance to whip out my favorite boots and cozy sweaters (sans coat), but now, I get to bring my daughter Elia to all the fun fall festivities! This weekend we headed over to a free, family-friendly event in Bucktown thrown by Conagra. The event was put together to unveil their gorgeous mural by renowned artist, Jeff Zimmermann. This insane work of art is right off the 606 park system. To celebrate, the Conagra team had a fun, ... [ Read More ]
Best Bites: Chicago Gourmet 2016
I can't believe that another Chicago Gourmet has come an gone! It is seriously one of the best weekends of the year. I had such an amazing time (as I always do) and ate so many delicious bites from some of Chicago's best restaurants and chefs! This year was also extra special for me, because I was asked to emcee two different cooking demos! I seriously felt so honored to be asked! It's crazy to me that just 3 years ago, my brand was nothing more than a distant pipe dream in my head. Now, ... [ Read More ]
Elia’s First Family Day Trip: Apple Holler
For the last 3 years, Dan and I have made an annual trip out to Apple Holler to go apple picking, stock up on apple cider donuts and just get out of downtown Chicago for the day. In fact, I distinctly remember on our trip last year, I had a conversation with Dan about how this may be the last time we here as the two of us. Well, I was right!This year we had our permanent plus one and it was a totally different experience than it has been in the past (and we loved every second of it). I had so ... [ Read More ]
Hey Chicago, Baskin Robbins is coming to your front door!
Guys, I'm SO excited, so I HAD to share. Last week, Baskin-Robbins announced that they are testing delivery service via DoorDash in Chicago! This is amazing because now whenever you get a craving for a polar pizza (or any one of their amazing options), you can get it delivered right to your door without even leaving your couch! In fact, this was actually a life saver a few days ago! You see, as a new Mom, I have a little bit of "mommy brain" and keep forgetting about different plans I have. ... [ Read More ]
A Farm-to-Table Chat w/ Chef Kevin Hickey
WOW, I can't believe Chicago Gourmet has come and gone. To be honest, I am still on a high from this incredible weekend. It's my favorite event of the season! This year was extra special, because I kicked it off by attending an amazing Q&A session with Chef Kevin Hickey about the farm-to-table culture in Chicago. This awesome program was courtesy of COUNTRY Financial who have an exclusive partnership with Chicago Gourmet. This partnership is actually a perfect fit because COUNTRY ... [ Read More ]
10 Products Every New Mom Needs
Becoming a new Mom is very overwhelming. Not only are you trying to navigate this new chapter in your life, but you are constantly bombarded with all sorts of information, products, gadgets and gizmos. Deciphering them all is a challenge in itself, so I wanted to put together a list of 10 products that have gotten me through the last couple of months (or helped make them more fun). 1) Willow Baby Stroller Cover: If you follow me on social media, you know Elia and I are always on the go. Since ... [ Read More ]
