Brunch at Bar Siena – West Loop, Chicago

Two poached eggs with vine ripened tomato, toasted marcona almond and sea salt on this delicious avocado toast from Bar Siena.

Galician Home Cooking at Cera 23 – Barcelona, Spain

Make your way down the narrow streets of Barcelona and take in the beautiful sounds and smells from the various Southeast Asian, African, South American, Pakistani and Spanish stores, restaurants and homes that make up El Raval neighborhood. Cera 23 is a cozy spot in the middle of El Raval serving Galician and Mediterranean home […]

Breakfast at The Winchester – Chicago

Poutine is usually served with cheese curds, french fries and some sort of meat gravy but this is the flavor-packed vegetable poutine from The Winchester. Rich mushroom Bolognese, flash-fried potatoes, a sunny egg topped with scallions.

Stained Glass Dome in La Rotonda – Madrid, Spain

Beautiful light flows through the elegant stained glass dome at La Rotonda restaurant in the Westin Palace hotel in Madrid Spain. Known for their Sunday Opera Brunch it’s also a great spot to stop by for tea, enjoy the decor and people watching. The mannequin with the vintage suitcases was part of the 100 Years […]

Farm Fresh Lunch at Locally Grown Gardens – Indianapolis

On the road back from Louisville I decided to go off the beaten path and have lunch at Locally Grown Gardens a year round farm market owned by Chef Ron Harris. Housed in what looks like a former garage the patio is filled with wooden crates bursting with bright purple flowers, herb garden and large […]

Pintxoteca Orkestra at Platea Madrid

Pintxos, also known as pinchos or tapas, are typical Spanish bar snacks. These beauties are from Pintxoteca Orkestra at the Platea Madrid food hall – largest gastronomic center in Europe. It includes a theater, bar, restaurants and a club.

48 Hours in Louisville – City Guide to Sites, Dining, Shopping and More

Louisville is a five-hour drive from Chicago but a world away, full of Bourbon, Kentucky Fried Chicken, horses and changing neighborhoods. Here are must-do activities to experience some of the best food, drink, shopping and sites of Louisville in a short amount of time. Day 1 – Morning: From the Marriott Louisville Downtown head to […]

Peach Shake-Up – Locally Grown Gardens, Indianapolis

On my way back from Louisville we stopped in Indianapolis for lunch at Locally Grown Gardens, a local produce market and restaurant. We enjoyed the sun at our picnic table and a deliciously sweet Peach Shake-Up – homemade lemonade with chunks of freshly picked peaches and peach purée served in a 3-cup Mason jar.

The Dish to Get at Pasteur – Edgewater, Chicago

Pasteur is beautiful and airy with high ceilings, white table clothes, rattan chairs, dark chocolate leather banquette, gold celestial-ringed chandeliers and serves traditional Vietnamese. Here’s what you are getting at Pasteur – the Bo Luc Lac, Pasteur’s signature beef steak and commonly known as Shaking Beef. The beef is

Burrata – Spacca Napoli Pizzeria in Chicago

Burrata is mozzarella and cream. Spacca Napoli serves it drizzled with olive oil and served with toasted bread – the perfect appetizer for sharing but it will not last long!