anybody hot?
cause damn, it’s hot…

it’s going to be 101 today in nashville.  and 103 tomorrow.  and that’s without the heat index – whatever that is.

but i’ve been out of town.  i did a 3 day chicago quick trip to visit some of my best old college friends – change the scenery and enjoy the pleasant 95ish temps. at least they’re still in double digits…

and um, so much for watching the weight.  my intentions were good.  but i blew it.  so today i am literally fasting.  i think.  i hope.  ok, maybe i’ll eat some fruit.  yes, fruit it is.  but nothing else.  that’s it.  zippo.  you can’t make me… (btw and fyi, tomatoes are fruit – especially in august.)

dear god,

i am getting fat.  again.  could you please help me out here by giving me some extra needed strength to stay out of the kitchen even though all my csa veggies are silently pleading to be cooked into some fabulous creation? 

that would be soooooo excellent.

thank you

also, i forgot my camera.  i left it right on my desk.  i had visualized putting it into my bag but was mistaken.  so i have no proof that i was even there.  i could be lying to you, making the whole post up.  but i will pinkie swear right now that this is the truth and after all we’ve meant to each other you might as well believe me. 

we did go on the architectural river cruise and with all the amazing buildings – and chicago is the american city for amazing buildings – this was my modest-in-compariison favorite, designed by harry weese in 1990.  they are 4 private residences known as the ‘river cottages’ and they struck me as being a wonderful space to live.  i had this 30 second fantasy while floating by these homes that i could one day live there – and then i woke up.  and bought a lottery ticket.

ok – enough photo’s that aren’t my own.  let’s talk food.

‘bice bistro’ – on delaware, off rush at the talbott hotel - it was right next to where i stayed so convenient tuscan food sounded wonderful upon arrival.  granted, we had an off hours late lunch – maybe 3pm, but… not good/bad service/oh well.  i believe this is a scaled down version or an offshoot of what is considered a very good restaurant called ‘bice restorante’ but i’m not exactly sure…

‘vosges chocolate‘ – chicago based company.  fun combinations - try the bacon/dark milk chocolate.  no really.  i’m serious.  try it.  really.  (why must we argue about such things?)

‘japonais‘ – beautiful room with a hot nightclub below that opens onto the river.  i’ve been before and it was again, very good.  we ordered everything.  there were 4 of us and my friend knows the owner and well, we had probably 15 different dishes including 3 desserts.  the standout for me was a chilean sea bass that came wrapped in little plastic parcels with some kind of tomato compote served on top.  it was inspired and delicious.  the apple dessert was buttery and caramelized and well, great.  but the doughnuts filled with chocolate chestnut cream with some kind of green tea sabayon…  well people, that rocked me.

‘the original pancake house‘ – it may not be original to chicago but it’s a mainstay for that killer breakfast menu.  i had poached eggs over corned beef hash with a side of buttermilk pancakes.  joe had the mandarin crepes and tim had a big baked puffy egg white omelete with tomatoes.  it was a lot of food and we couldn’t finish.  everything was good, not great - but the big winner was the small unassuming plate of buttermilk pancakes.  they were really outstanding.  perfect flavor and texture… it’s hard to find that.  we ate and ran because a line was forming to get a table and we had a boat to catch.

‘fox and obels‘ – this place is my kinda heaven.  the gourmet store to end all gourmet stores.  it’s friggin amazing.  there’s also a cafe but we were too full from breakfast to eat.  i bought a bunch of things and shipped it all to my house for a mere $6!  so i got me some new salts, and white truffle oil, and rick’s bread and butter pickles, and stokes blushed tomato mayonnaise, and verjuice…  what the hell do you do with verjuice?  i’m a gonna find out…

‘due’s’ – don’t get me started.  it might have been an off afternoon for the crew over on wabash - but the crust was flavorless to me, the dining room kinda smelled, the caesar was mediocre and we were all somewhat underwhelmed.  oh well.  i won’t be back.  because due’s, they may love you in droves – but personally i thought you sucked.

‘le colonial’- great place on the gold coast.  french vietnamese.  owned by my dear friend and restaurantier, the great joe king.  the food is consistently wonderful.  the service is impeccable and the room is lovely.  it’s not a steak, a hot dog or deep dish.  it’s an exotic melange of great flavors in great dishes that work every time.

‘lou malnati’s‘ – now we’re talking.  ok – so like i’m not into this style pizza even on a good day.  but this stuff was delicious.  i opted out of the butter crust option which i hear is the ticket but i just could NOT add more fat to this already calorie laden pie.  but i had to say, in a category of it’s own – as in ‘not real pizza in my world’, it was mighty tasty.

and then i flew home.