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Chicago Names its Cocktail of the Year

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YELP bought together 15 of Chicago’s favorites bars and challenged them to create a unique and simple cocktail for their Cocktail of Chicago competition.  Attendees were greeted by enthusiastic drink masters who showcased their cocktails and shared the inspiration behind their drinks.

After sampling each of the cocktails, attendees then voted for their favorite.

There were several clear standouts of the night.

Cocktail by Son of a Butchers  Cocktail by Son of a Butchers

After the tallies were in, The Get Down from The Walk Inn Bar was named Chicago’s Cocktail of the year.

As the winning drink, the Get Down will be carried at ALL of the participating bars for the next year! So if you don’t make it to The Walk Inn, you can order this drink at any of the bars listed as competitors. Scroll down to the bottom for the complete list of competing bars serving the Get Down.

The competition was held at the beautiful Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall, a 2,522 concert venue that dates back to 1904; a stunning space!  The Orchestra Hall was designed by renowned Chicago architect Daniel Burnham.

Competitors and vendors were spread out throughout the first and second floors of the space making for easy navigation.  There was a nice mix of vendors at the event, in the midst of all the sampling I got to enjoy a chair massage.

A-Z Music provided the DJ for the night.  He was so fun and energetic.  In addition, his song selection had me grooving!  I’d recommend hiring him for an event!

Our first drink of the night was actually The Get Down at the Walk Inn Display station. It came as no surprise that this drink was declared the winner.  I wanted to vote as soon as I tried it even though I had 14 additional stations to visit! This cocktail consisting of pineapple rum, Drambuie, lime, pineapple, and bitters blew my friend Robea and I away!

The Walk Inn is located at 2727 N. Milwaukee Ave in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood.  Their goal is to create elevated cocktails in an approachable way.  They never want to be seen as pretentious bartenders in this spot.  They use super high ingredients and make fresh juices in-house for their cocktails.  They have a Happy Hour  Monday through Friday from 5-8 pm during which guests can get $5 cocktails and $3 draft beers.  They offer a limited menu so you can get food delivered to the bar.  They have a very relaxed and friendly vibe and I can’t wait to visit the bar.

Le Bar: French Boulevardier No. 6 Le Bar: French Boulevardier No. 6

I had a few other standouts from the night.  Like Le Bar’s French Boulevardier No. 6: Delord Napoleon Bas Armagnac, Grand Marnier, Carpano Antica, Amaretto, and an assortment of bitters and garnished with a foie gras stuffed cherry, fresh apricot, and dried mandarin orange. That garnish bite was INCREDIBLE!  I imagined myself sipping this after dinner drink in front of my fireplace.

Le Bar’s French Boulevardier No. 6

My third standout was Throwing Shade from Brando’s Speakeasy!   It was amazing.  It’s a combination of coconut cream, lime juice, vodka, and hpnotiq.  The creator Freddie was going for refreshing and playful; he nailed it!  It’s easily something that you could make at home. It was my final sip of the evening and the drink that I voted for.  It was close between Throwing Shade and The Get Down; I was happy with either winning. Both cocktails were outstanding!

Throwing Shade came in second place overall.

Brandos Speakeasy, located at 343 S. Dearborn St., Chicago, has a 5-7 happy hour 7 days a week and has been named one of Chicago’s top Karaoke Bars.  I’m also looking forward to checking this spot out in the near future.  Good cocktails and karaoke are a recipe for fun!

Yelp put on a fantastic event, and I’m looking forward to their next one.

Are you a Yelper?  Make sure that you sign up so that you don’t miss out on their fantastic FREE events.  To join, you can either download the app to your smartphone or join from your computer.  Make sure that you check the YELP events for your particular city.

Here’s a link to the Chicago YELP events page:  https://www.yelp.com/events/chicago

Hope to see you at the next event!

Tell me, which Cocktail would get your vote?

THE COCKTAIL COMPETITORS INCLUDED:

Son of a Butcher by Whisk:  Malort, blueberry puree, citrus, agave, mezcal
The Walk-In:  The Get Down- pineapple rum, Drambuie, lime, pineapple, and bitters
The Bar & Table at CH Distillery:  Pretty Thoughts-CH Vodka, CH Dogma Rubin, Elderflower Cordial, Orange, topped with soda
Baptiste & Bottle: The White Walkers-Belvedere Vodka, ?,  Hot Coffee, Peppermint, and whipped cream
Brando’s Speakeasy:  Throwing Shade:  Absolut Elyx Vodka, Hpnotiq, Coco Looez, Lime Juice
Broken Shaker: I Would Die For You-Beefeater Gin, Clement Canne, Bleue Rhum Frappe, Blackberry, Tempus Fugit Violette, Absinthe, Coconut, fresh citrus
Freehand Chicago: 
Joy District:  Whisky Maple Cider- Apple Cider, Crown Royal Regal Appel, Fresh Lemon, Maple Syrup, garnished with an apple cider donut
Larry’s:  Guava Fresca:  Tequila, guava, yerbamate (an Argentinian tea)
Le Bar: French Boulevardier No. 6-Delord Napoleon Bas Armagnac, Grand Marnier, Carpano Antica, Amaretto, Angostura Bitters, Angostura Orange Bitters, Egg White, Simple Syrup, Crushed Almonds
Nacional 27: Beethovens Supper-Ford’s Gin, Lemon Juice, Thyme Syrup, Cheese Infused Wine Syrup, Aquafaba
Primehouse: Middle of Nowhere-Old Overhold Rye, Carpano Antica, Cynar, Mike’s Hot Honey Syrup
Polk Street Pub:  Chicago Breeze:  Jameson, Yulupa Champagne, elderflower liquor, orange juice
Remedy:  Alternative Facts-Aperol El buho Mezcal, Yellow Chatruese, Lime Juice
Roanoke Restaurant:  Lush #135-Tea Drip Infused Tito’s Apple Syrup Reduction, Angostura, Lemon Expresss.

 

Navigator Taproom: Self-Pour Comes to Logan Square!

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The self-pour taproom trend seems to be growing as Chicago recently welcomed it’s second to the city.

Navigator Taproom opened in Logan Square, one of Chicago’s hottest neighborhoods and home to several breweries.

My husband and I were doing a bike tour through the city and stopped in for a visit during their grand opening.  We had a blast!  My husband said that it was easily his favorite stop of the day.  This place was hoppin (yep hoppin, lol)!

Co-Owner Erik Swanson Co-Owner Erik Swanson

Co-owner Erik Swanson is a self-proclaimed beer nerd who’s traveled the world. He noted that an enjoyable highlight of any trip was visiting the local breweries and speaking with the brewers.  Navigator Taproom came about from his desire to share his passion and love of beer in his hometown of Chicago. His enthusiasm was contagious and enjoyable!

Opening Day at Navigator Taproom Opening Day at Navigator Taproom

Navigator has 48 beers on tap under constant rotation.   Many Chicagoland breweries are showcased.  In addition to beer, guests can enjoy cider, wine, and a full-service bar.  There’s something for everyone here!

There's a bar for those who prefer cocktails There’s a bar for those who prefer cocktails

In my opinion self-pour taprooms are genius and here to stay!  While I love frequenting my favorite breweries, sometimes a girl just wants to indulge in a buffet…a little of this and a little of that.  Pour-your-own taprooms enable you to try multiple styles and brands of beer with little risk.  You don’t have to pay for a whole glass of beer if you don’t end up liking it.  Try an ounce or two and see what you think?!?!!  Who knows, you may find a new favorite.  Also, you don’t have to wait to be serviced because the bartender is too busy.

Once you receive your pour card you’re good to go!  Selecting which beer to try first is the biggest challenge.  Fortunately, there’s plenty of information to help you in the choosing process.  Each of the tap screens allow for you to tap to read about the beer, where it’s from, and the price per ounce.

Here’s a tip! In the above photos, you’ll notice an IBU number.   IBU stands for International Bitterness Units, the higher the percentage the more bitter the beer.  I like to keep my IBU between 60-70%.

Another tip is to rinse your glass before you pour.  This allows the glass to cool down and prevents CO2 from expanding and creating unwanted foam.  The cooler and tap heads are kept at 38 degrees to ensure less foam and cold brews.

After rinsing, tilt that glass 45 degrees and go for it!

Guests are encouraged to stay a while to enjoy the atmosphere, making use of the games and televisions.  This is a great spot to meet up with friends to catch up and hang out a while.

Navigator Taproom is a wonderful addition to the Logan Square neighborhood and a favorite new spot!  Hopefully, you’ll get a chance to check it out soon!

FYI, this awesome Chicago Mural is pretty much across the street.  Make sure you stop by and snap a few pics!

Navigator Tap Room is located at 2211 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago

A Day at Crane’s Orchards, Restaurant, and Winery in Fennville, MI

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What are some of your favorite Fall activities?  Apple picking is so enjoyable and relaxing, it’s easily one of things I look forward to most during the season; especially when the colors are popping.  I’ve been very fortunate that the days I scheduled to pick at Crane Orchards the past few years have turned out warm and sunny!  You can never be too confident with the weather. Spending at least one day at Crane’s is a must every Fall!

Circa 1920's green truck with Crane's Restaurant written on the side
Crane’s Orchard, Restaurant, and Winery
  • All Smiles

Crane U-Pick Orchards

I look forward to my yearly visit to Crane Orchards in Fennville, MI because it offers so much more than apple picking!  There’s also Crane’s Winery, restaurant, and Pie Shop right next door to the orchards. It’s easy to spend a full day in activities with family and friends.

The orchard is only 2 hours from Chicago.  The drive is easy and peaceful with colorful trees lining the highway.

Woman playing an upright bass on patio while singing at Crane's Restaurant
Delilah DeWilde

There’s over 17 different varieties of apples at Crane Orchards, therefore, everyone can find a favorite!  In addition, you’ll find ten varieties of peaches and sweet cherries for your choosing, and the scenery is beautiful and calming.

Woman picking apples in at Crane orchards
Crane U-Pick Orchard

We always start our time off in the orchard doing apple tasting.

Man cutting apple for free sampling at Crane Orchards
Apple Sampling

Some of the varieties I was previously unfamiliar with such as Mutsi and Cameo have become my favorites.

Red building at Crane Orchards where apples are weighed and sold
Check-Out

The staffers are very knowledgeable and will answer all of your questions.

The apples are spread out, but the directions are clear. If the walk is too much there are golf carts for pickers to ride in.

Apple Orchards at Crane Orchards
17 Apple Varieties

After tasting so many good kinds of apple; I wanted them all!  I got a little carried away with the picking.

Apple picking cartoon
  • Inspection
  • More Sampling

All varieties are $1 a pound.  Make sure to start with a wagon in addition to your bag so that you’re not carrying all of this from the orchard like me!

Red wagon filled with apples at Crane U-Pick Orchards
Wagons to help bear the load

Spotted these mums while walking through the orchard and I couldn’t pass them up!  Only $10! The pumpkins are $0.45 a pound.

yellow, red, and purple mums for sale at Crane U-Pick Orchards
Mums
large Pumpkins lined on shelves for sale at Crane Orchards
Pumpkins

Restaurant and Winery

After we finished picking, we headed next door to Crane’s winery and restaurant.  Live music is offered on the patio from July through the end of October. 

Man playing guitar on patio at Crane's Restaurant
Delilah DeWilde

Be warned, the restaurant usually has a wait, but it’s worth it.  The inside is like a mini museum with a lot of antiques and newspaper clippings bringing back the good memories of yesteryear.   We had an hour and 15 minute wait but it wasn’t a problem, there’s plenty to enjoy while waiting for your table.

We hung out on the patio during our wait, there’s a walk-up with a limited food and drink menu if you need something light to keep hangriness at bay!

Apple cider donut sold at Crane's Restaurant
Cider Donuts

The cider donuts are the bomb!  Also had a wine slushy which was amazing.  I know that wine slushies and donuts aren’t the usual pairings; I think we should make it the new normal!

The patrons at the orchard are usually laid back and friendly, maybe because they’re enjoying wine and cider flights.   Communal seating is always fun allowing for chit chatting with your neighbor and getting to know them a bit. I usually discover that a large number have also made the drive from Chicago for the day.

Wine & Cider Tastings:

Inside the restaurant, you’ll find the bar for flights and tastings from Crane’s Cider Winery!  I’ve recently become a fan of cideries, preferring the dry and semi-dry.  I learned that Michigan has 66!  The ciders here are solid.

Different wines in glasses for sampling at Crane's Winery
Crane’s Winery: Wine & Cider Tasting
Glass of wine at Crane's Winery
Crane’s Winery

The restaurant offers soups, salads, and sandwiches served on fresh homemade bread.

  • Sloppy Joe
  • BLT

I usually have their Famous Sloppy Joe served on their homemade bun.  I know, who goes out to a restaurant and orders a Sloppy Joe?  Normally, not me, however, I’ve been hooked on their Sloppy Joe every since I tried it at Crane’s In the City, their second restaurant in downtown Holland. It’s just the right amount of sweet and savory.  The spicy peppers are a nice touch too.

Crane’s Pie Pantry

Inside of Crane's Pie Pantry
Crane’s Pie Pantry

After eating stop in the store and take home some of Crane’s famous apple crisp. They also have their award-winning ciders for sale.

2 jars of Michigan Apple Butter for sale at Crane's Pie Pantry
Michigan Apple Butter

Crane U-Pick Orchards is an enjoyable way to spend the day without breaking the bank.  I’m always surprised at how little money I spend for an all-day venture.

In case you’re wondering what I do with all of those apples, scroll to the bottom.  YUM! If you want the recipe to the most incredible homemade apple pie that I’ve ever had, click here for the recipe!

Make sure Crane U-Pick Orchards is on your Southwest Michigan Fall bucket list! 

Know of another exceptional orchard, tell me in the comments.

Click here for other Southwest Michigan places to visit.

Crane Orchards is located at 6054 124th Ave, Fennville, MI 49408

Woman sitting on the runner of a truck with Crane's written on the side.
Crane U-Pick Orchards
Woman smiling holding a bag of apples at Crane U-Pick Orchards
Fall Fun at Crane U-Pick Orchards

Red Arrow Taproom: A Craft Beer Fest Everyday!

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There’s no better way to describe Red Arrow Tap Room than in their own words “A Chicago Craft Beer-Fest Every Day!”  With a whopping 48 taps categorized by style, It’s a beer lovers dream!!!!!

Located in downtown Elmhurst*, it’s Chicagoland’s first self-pour tap room.

48 Self-Pour Taps 48 Self-Pour Taps

Whatever you fancy, you’re sure to find something that suits your taste here.  For the non-beer drinkers, there are several wines and ciders on tap.

Between the beer, wine, and stellar technology, they’ve thought of everything!

CEO Joe Tota has a background in technology consulting and it’s evident in the tap room’s many cool features.  This place is pretty high tech!

The tap room, named after Michigan’s Red Arrow Highway, adopted the motto ‘Embrace Independence.’  Here, the values of the small, independent, hardworking, committed craft breweries are wholeheartedly supported and celebrated, hence, you won’t find any Big Brewing company’s featured.  In fact, they say NO to big beer guys!

Thirty to Forty Percent of the breweries featured are of the Midwest and Chicagoland locale. It’s a one stop shop for craft beer sampling!  I discovered several new flavors during my visit.

The way that the tap room is arranged makes it super easy to navigate and enjoy yourself.

You’re good to go in a few simple steps:

First, open a Pour Pass tab and Insert it into the tap.

Second, rinse your glass

Third, pour your choice (it can be a few ounces or a full glass).

It’s priced by the ounce.  I preferred sampling a few ounces of each beer. It’s a good way to experiment with new styles without the risk.

Obviously, I need practice with my pouring…Look at all my foam, ugh.

Pour a few ounces or a full glass Pour a few ounces or a full glass

This pour is better! Oh yeah!

Regulars are invited to download Red Arrow Tap Room’s Smart Phone App which enables users to track the beers tapped, rate them, reload their card, receive event notifications, and track food.

The App is even integrated with the social beer site Untappd, allowing you to share your favorite beers with others on the site.

Prepare to receive a little beer education to enhance your experience.

Interactive screens educate you about the beer and where it comes from.

Placards scattered throughout the tap room are set up for you to scan with your phone to get additional beer information…..for example what goes into beer?

Scan the placards to get beer facts Scan the placards to get beer facts

Educational pages about the breweries lining the wall were created for you to learn their history and other interesting facts.

In addition to the interactive stations, beer ambassadors are available to educate customers and answer any questions.  You can impress all of your friends with the knowledge you gained at the tap room!

Learn the history of the breweries pictured on the walls Learn the history of the breweries pictured on the walls

I was able to see what goes on behind the beer wall in the cooler.

Lines are kept around 5 feet or less to keep beer colder and prevent excessive foam, all to the benefit of the consumer.  It’s obvious that careful thought and planning have gone into the concept and design.

The Food

The menu’s big focus is barbecue!  They use hickory wood with their in-house smoker. I tried the brisket sandwich and wow! It was so tender and full of flavor! The flatbread pizza was also a winner.

Although I didn’t taste it, I was told that the soft pretzel is very popular; it’s accompanied with a beer cheese made with Noon Whistle’s Cozmo pale ale.  Noon Whistle brewery is located in Lombard, IL.

Beef Brisket Beef Brisket Flatbread Pizza Flatbread Pizza

Patrons can order food using the table topped tablets. It’s pretty simple and eliminates the need to wait for anyone to take your order.  It’s then delivered to your table.

All of the prices include tax and gratuity.  The restaurant does a revenue share for their team. Every two weeks sales are analyzed, and a percentage is divided among the team according to the hours worked.  Team based approach.  I like it!

This place is fun and a solid choice for gathering with friends to hang out for a while.

In addition to live music on Friday and Saturdays, the tap room hosts a variety of social events throughout the month.  Make sure that you check the schedule on their website to stay in the know. Another noteworthy thing worth mentioning is Red Arrow Tap Room is family friendly which is always a plus in my book!  So bring the kiddos!

I had a great time tasting so many different beers and playing around with the tech features of Red Arrow Tap Room.  I highly recommend trying this experience.

With so much variety even the pickiest beer drinkers will love this place.

Make sure you check it out and as always, tell me what you enjoyed in the comments!

***Red Arrow Tap Room is a 20 minute drive west of Chicago.  There is free parking available on the street.  You can also hop on the Metra which drops you off across the street from the tap room.  Elmhurst is a  30 minute train ride from Chicago.

Beer Fun Facts

  • Mississippi and Alabama only legalized home brewing in 2013
  • America’s largest craft brewery is Yuengling
  • The strongest beer in the world has a 67.5% alcohol content.
  • Beer was not considered an alcoholic beverage in Russia until 2013.
  • You can swim in pools of beer in Austria.

Marina Grand Resort: Lovely Views, Deluxe Accommodations

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Coming off an exceptionally hectic prior week, I was counting the days until my getaway to New Buffalo, Michigan.  Relaxation was on the agenda and the Marina Grand Resort was where it was going to happen!

This waterfront property sits on the New Buffalo Harbor and is within easy walking distance to beaches, restaurants, and shops in the downtown area.

It was my first time at this particular hotel, although I’ve stayed at the sister hotel, the Harbor Grand, several times.

Upon entering the hotel, I was greeted by a splendid lobby.  It was gorgeous, inviting, and further fueled my excitement!

Check-In was a breeze thanks to the Puja and Karen at the front desk.

We’d arrived in town pretty early and headed straight to the resort after breakfast.  We were graciously allowed to check-in early which was very much appreciated.

Our reservation was a 2-bedroom suite on the first floor.  I was not disappointed when we entered the room.  The suite was marvelous!  It had a stocked kitchen, large living and dining area, three bathrooms, and enough bedding accommodations for at least eight people.
There were also patios located off both bedrooms and fireplaces in the living room and the second bedroom.  Ahhhh Yes!

I was tempted to just hang out in the suite due to its comfort, but New Buffalo is such an adorable community, and the weather was beautiful; I just couldn’t stay inside.

No worries, there’d be plenty of time to enjoy this delightful resort later.

We took advantage of the complimentary bikes, one of many amenities.  If you’re heading to the beach, the resort also provides complimentary beach towels and chairs for you to take with!

Complimentary bikes are provided by the resort Complimentary bikes are provided by the resort

Guests will also appreciate the indoor and outdoor pools, sundeck, game room, and the fitness center.

Following our bike ride through town and the beach, we set out for a bit of wine tasting.  We discovered several new wines during our tasting that we really liked and left with a few bottles to savor on the patio.

It was so quiet……..

After chilling out for a while conversing, we walked over to Bentwood Tavern for dinner; it’s conveniently located in the resort.

The restaurant’s menu had many offerings to choose from including wood fired pizzas.

There were 5 of us, and I swear we tried to order everything on the menu.  The food was fantastic!  My favorites were the Rosemary and Sea Salt Pretzels, Proscuitto and Fig pizza, Goat Cheese Dip, and crab cakes.

Kudos to the restaurant for featuring many local breweries on tap and having a solid wine list.

Our group decided on to go up to the rooftop after dinner to watch the sunset.  Bar service is available on the rooftop Fridays and Saturdays from 5-10 p.m.  If you’re there on a weekday you’re welcome to take your own beverages up there.  We took our wine.

This spot was a treat!  I became a little obsessed with this space.

The next morning I popped in at JOE, the in-house espresso bar, to select a few items to take to the rooftop.  I had an assortment of scratch-baked scones, muffins, and breakfast sandwiches from which to choose. The pastry chef, Brandon, makes everything fresh nightly.

I had this rooftop all to myself first thing in the morning and it was energizing!  Total peace and calm. Couldn’t think of a better way to spend my final moments before check-out.

I’d usually be inclined to rent a beach house while visiting New Buffalo.  After being spoiled during my stay at the Marina Grand Resort, I’m pretty sure that I’ll be booking here in the future. You can’t beat friendly service, hospitality, and comfortable accommodations.

It was so relaxing and easy; I thoroughly enjoyed my stay!

The Marina Grand Resort is located at 600 West Water Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117 www.marinagrandresort.com

******I received a complimentary stay at the Marina Grand Resort, however, the experience and thoughts expressed are my own and genuine.

New Buffalo: Why You Should Visit This Resort Town

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I begin this post as I’m sitting on the rooftop deck of the Marina Grand Hotel in New Buffalo, Michigan.  I’m in a place of total peace and relaxation, and I’m grateful.  Coming off of an especially hectic prior week, I was looking forward to my escape to New Buffalo.  Although a short 2-day trip, I’m leaving refreshed and happy.

Marina Grand Hotel

I could spend a whole day in the breeze on this rooftop.  Watching the owners in the Marina tend to their boats, I imagine their plans for the day.  I wonder what would happen if I asked for a boat ride? Hmmm, lol.

My son, my friend Carol, and I arrived in New Buffalo the day before.

Marina Grand Rooftop

New Buffalo, Michigan

New Buffalo, Michigan is a Midwest resort community located on the shores of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Galien River.  The town has a population of around 2,000.  Although a popular destination for many, especially Chicagoans (the town is an hour and a half drive from Chicago), a great number of those I’ve spoken to state that they’ve never heard of the town or have only passed the city while on the highway, never stopping in.

They’re missing out on this gem!

New Buffalo checks the boxes of what I look for whenever I plan a vacation or a quick getaway;

  • A Variety of Good Restaurants
  • Beaches
  • Activities
  • Shopping
  • Wineries
  • Breweries

Jackie’s Cafe

We arrived around 9 a.m. and breakfast was the priority.  We stopped in for a bite at Jackie’s Café owned by Chef Jackie Shen. It’s a quaint café on one of the main roads of New Buffalo.

Interior of Jackie’s Cafe

The place is intimate, so it was easy to catch a glimpse of Chef Shen in the kitchen.  Not long after I caught a glimpse, Jackie comes hustling out of the kitchen to greet tables of customers. She’s obviously very personable.

We ordered the Belgium waffle, Quiche, Eggs Benedict Benito, and Buffalo Bill.  My eggs Benedict was on top of a jalapeno cornbread that had an evenly distributed heat that made for a tasty dish.  

At one point after the meal, Chef Jackie came to our table to chat us up and see how we enjoyed our breakfast; very friendly and full of energy.  It was a pleasure meeting her.

Lining the walls of the hallway leading to the restrooms are awards and newspaper clippings highlighting her career and achievements.  I learned that Chef Jackie Shen is one of Chicago’s original celebrity chefs and was regarded as the Queen of Fusion.

Following breakfast, we headed to the Marina Grand Resort hotel for check-in.

Marina Grand Resort Hotel

The first impression upon entering the lobby of the Marina Grand Resort Hotel was “this place is gorgeous!!!

The two-room suite that was reserved for us was awesome! It had a nice-sized living and dining room, fully stocked kitchen, and a patio off each of the bedrooms.

You can easily sleep up to 8 people between the two rooms.

The resort’s location is ideal for exploring.  It’s within a short walk to the beach, restaurants, and shops and Complimentary bicycles are provided for guests.

Redamak’s Beachside Grille on the beach

If you appreciate learning the history of the towns you visit, you may want to stop and take a look at the walking tour map located on the beach. It gives the history of the town and directs you to points of interest.  The beach is the starting point of the tour.

New Buffalo Beach

Song Sushi: New Buffalo

We headed out for a light lunch at SONG sushi after our bike ride. I’d heard many good things and recommendations for SONG, but it was my first time here. The sushi was yummy and worth the visit.

Song Sushi

Galien River County Park

Taking advantage of the beautiful day, we headed to Galien River County Park for a walk.  The park consists of 86 acres of mostly wetland with tons of wildlife. It’s an ideal spot to find a bit of tranquility. There are elevated walkways for the visitor to check out the marsh.

Wine Tasting at Promeny Olive & Wine

Wine tasting is always a good idea so we stopped in at Promeny Olive & Wine. They offer unique wines from all over the world and gourmet olive oil.  Also located in the shop was Black Dragon Meadery.

My favorite was the Dragon’s Blood made with Michigan cherries.  We were the only tasters in the place, so we got the star treatment and a wealth of information about Mead wine. We made several purchases, including Yakut, a dry red from Turkey.

Bentwood Tavern: New Buffalo

Bentwood Tavern, located in the Marina Grand Resort offers artisan comfort American cuisine from Chef Jenny Drilon.  I get excited over wood-fired pizza.  We started off with a few appetizers and let me just say they were amazing!  The soft rosemary sea salt pretzels stood out to me because I’m not crazy about soft pretzels (too heavy). However, I couldn’t get enough of these.  They weren’t too heavy or overly salty, and the mustard and aged white cheddar jalapeno dip that came with it was delicious! I highly recommend the soft pretzel!  We also enjoyed the fig and prosciutto pizza (Have Mercy!!!!) I’ve often thought about how good that pizza was! The sweet and savory combinations were on point and that crunchy thin crust, ahh!

I also had the Bankok Chicken.  The skin was seasoned well and crispy while the inside was moist.  The sauce was light and sweet with the heat on the end.  The pickled cucumbers were ooooh good too!  Let’s just say that I ate myself into a food coma. Crab cakes, goat cheese dip, pizza, pretzels, etc…… No regrets!

Marina Grand Resort Rooftop

After dinner, we headed to the resort’s rooftop to hang out and watch the sunset.  This place has it all! High top tables, comfortable furniture.  We took our own wine to the rooftop but on Fridays and Saturdays, from 5-10 p.m. there is bar service available there.

Our first day was quite enjoyable!

Day 2

As stated at the beginning of this post, I started the next morning off early on the fabulous rooftop of the Marina Grand.  I’m a bit obsessed with this rooftop!

Pastries from the cafe

On my way up I stopped at the hotel’s café to pick up fresh pastries that were prepared the night before.  The resort has an on-site pastry chef that makes all kinds of goodies nightly. You can taste the difference when everything is fresh!

Rosie’s Restaurant: New Buffalo

I’d planned on breakfast at Nannis Café but discovered that they were only open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday…boooo….will have to make a return trip for that.  I’ve heard the food is great.

We decided to head to Luisa’s for breakfast instead.  I don’t know how but I walked into Rosie’s thinking it was Luisa’s….I was so confused.  I didn’t realize it until we were seated and given menus.  No worries, it was a Happy Accident, as service was friendly, and our food was good.  It was about 90 degrees out, and I ordered chili, lol.  It tasted homemade.  My Greek salad was very fresh and tasty too.  Everyone liked their meal.

New Buffalo Shopping

Lining Whittaker St. are many shops offering unique finds.

T-Shirt Factory

T-Shirt Factory

We first popped into the T-Shirt Factory.  If you’re looking for customized t-shirts, this is your spot.  Pick out your shirt and d-cal, and  Amir, the owner, will have it applied in minutes.

Hidden Gem

We next stopped by The Hidden Gem.

Owned by cousins Jessica and Lisa, the eclectic shop showcases many items from local artists.

Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Warner Vineyard’s Tasting Room

We took a break from shopping to do another round of wine tasting, this time at Warner’s tasting room.  We received five tastes for $7; it was money well spent!

Warner Vineyard is the 2nd oldest winery in Michigan, and it’s one of only three wineries that uses all Michigan grapes.  Patty greeted us as we entered…I took to her right away because she had Stevie Ray Vaughn blasting overhead.

She’s quite the people person and knows her wine.

Great customer service in this place in addition to many excellent wines.  It’s hard for me to pick one favorite as there were several wines that I favored.  I loved the 2Cab/Merlot, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer.  I always have trouble pronouncing Gewurztraminer; Patty teaches her customers to say girls are meaner in order to remember the correct pronunciation, lol, it works!

Downtown New Buffalo

After leaving our wine tasting, we walked a bit more around town before heading home.

Oinks

You can’t head out of town before stopping at OINK’S for ice cream. In business for 30 years, OINK’S is a favorite spot. Make sure you take the time the check out the nostalgia explosion inside. So many neat things to bring back recollections of year’s past. There’s also a candy store attached.

OINK’s serves Sherman’s Dairy ice cream. Sherman’s is dear to me because it’s located in the resort town of South Haven, Michigan where I grew up. I spent a lot of time in that place!

In business since 1916, Sherman’s Dairy still makes ice cream the old-fashioned way.  I have friends who drive from Chicago to South Haven just for Sherman’s ice cream.  It’s that good!

Our visit to OINKS was the perfect way to top off our 2-day getaway.

New Buffalo is a charming, beautiful, laid-back town.  This girl was able to slow down, decompress, and enjoy many good moments.  Can’t wait to return!

I hope that you create the opportunity to experience this lovely town for yourself.  Make sure you share your memories in the comments.

*Although the Marina Grand Resort hosted me, all thoughts and expressions are genuine and my own.

Hunter’s Brewing: How This Small Midwest Brewery Maintains a Loyal Following

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There certainly is no shortage of brewery choices in the Midwest; well over 500 between Chicago and surrounding areas, Indiana, and Michigan! Whew!  When did that happen?

I’m pleased that we have so many to choose from because I’ve developed a true love for craft beer! I don’t know when or exactly how this happened because I didn’t care for beer in the past.  Maybe I just wasn’t drinking good beer!  Oh well, I like the beer drinking me!

Hunter’s Brewery, located in Chesterton, IN continues to be one of my favorites.  They have an ever changing selection of beers on tap and there’s always something that I like.   Right now I’m into porters.

Owners Justin and Amy opened their doors in 2013 with six taps and no chairs.  Today they’ve grown to 8-9 of their beers on tap and 9-10 guest brew taps.  It’s still the smallest brewery in Northwest Indiana though.  That doesn’t bother them; their focus is always quality over quantity.

Possessing an extremely manual approach to their handcrafted beer, they develop and generate their recipes and do most of the brewing by hand. The small batches turn over fast, therefore, your beer is always fresh.

“Our number 1 thing here is quality.  A beer doesn’t go on tap if it doesn’t meet our standards. If it’s not right and not ready, it doesn’t get served.  First impressions are important to us” -Justin and Amy

They scrutinize everything from production down to the glass the beer’s served in.  “It’s critical that we check the glasses that our beer is served in to make certain they’re clean and free from smudges and lipstick.  We work hard to make good beer, and we want it served right.” -Owners, Justin & Amy

I can appreciate that…how often have you been at a restaurant and immediately turned off by your drink because there’s lipstick on your glass?

Ok, I’m not that dramatic, but I appreciate their passion for ensuring that my experience is good. One of many reasons why Hunters has a loyal group of customers.

Ok, I’m not that dramatic, but I appreciate that even the smallest details matter and they take care to ensure that my experience is a good one.  One of many reasons why Hunter’s has a loyal group of customers.

Communal Seating  

The bar has communal seating with an atmosphere that is friendly and welcoming.  Numerous friendships have been created as patrons genuinely get to know each other over time and the consensus is everyone’s there to unwind and enjoy the moment.  You may be surprised to learn that many women frequent the brewery, either alone or in groups, sometimes outnumbering the guys.

The easy, open, comfortable, environment is something that Justin and Amy are proud of.  The laid back atmosphere is conducive for having great conversations about beer and learning a thing or two.  The more I absorb, the more I appreciate the product I’m drinking.  I haven’t absorbed much, lol, it’ll take a while!  Good thing that questions are encouraged here and oftentimes customers are prompted to try different things and experiment a bit.

Food

Hunter’s only serves vegetarian/vegan fare, setting them apart from others.  Yep, I said ONLY vegetarian/vegan fair….. No MEAT!  How many vegan, vegetarian Breweries are there I wonder? How do the meat loving beer drinkers feel about this?  Well, let me just say that I’ve gone with groups of meat-loving guys (they’ve threatened to bring meat flasks to taco Tuesday, hahaha). Fortunately, that hasn’t been necessary since the food passes their test.  We had the cauliflower tacos on one occasion, and they were amazing!  We didn’t miss the meat at all; the cauliflower tasted like ground beef to all of us…hmmmmm, how did they do that?  Their Black Bean Burger and Kentucky Moon sandwich (served warm with Swiss cheese, spinach, and red pepper jam) is also a winner.

Kentucky Moon Sandwich Kentucky Moon Sandwich Black Bean Burger Black Bean Burger

Everything, the bread, black bean burgers, dips, and condiments are handmade prepared from scratch.  Great care has been taken to ensure that the flavor profiles balance with the beer. Your meal may take a bit longer to reach you because everything is cooked to order using quality, fresh ingredients without preservatives.  There are no fryers or freezers in the brewery; nothing is pre-cooked.  Good quality takes a while. Just relax and enjoy your beer while you wait, there’s no rush.

I'm drinking the HB EXP 03:  Spiced/Herbed Beer with flavors and aromas of New Mexico.  There's a heat on the finish courtesy of green chile peppers.  It was VERY good! I’m drinking the HB EXP 03:  Spiced/Herbed Beer with flavors and aromas of New Mexico.  There’s a heat on the finish courtesy of green chile peppers.  It was VERY good!

I was curious as to the style of beer that Justin and Amy preferred so I asked:

What’s your favorite beer at the moment?
Beer is like food; you’re not going to be in the mood for the same thing every day.  At the moment, Justin is a Hop Head; IPA would be his go to.  For me, in the past, I’d prefer the browns, porters, and stouts.  Currently, I’m on a kick where I’m interested in the lightest beer that a brewery can produce.  Believe it or not, one of the most difficult beers to produce is a light lager because there’s zero room for error and there’s nowhere to hide anything.  There are some amazing craft lagers and pilsners out there.  We also love sours.-Amy

How are guest taps selected?  
We appreciate the quality of other breweries and select those that balance our list. Our desire is to have something for everyone between our drafts and bottles.  We may get things from Austria, Denmark, and Norway…Our list is quite eclectic.

For those that don’t drink beer…….

They’ve recently expanded the wine list to include choices by the glass or bottle.  There’s also cider and Mead wine.

The brewery features live music every three weeks on Friday and once a month on Sundays. All sets are acoustic with everything from classic rock, folk, 80’s 90’s, Blues, covers, and original music.  Yes! I love music with my beer; I especially enjoy a sing-along.

“We know that you have many choices in the market when it comes to breweries and we thank-you for choosing us again and again. It shows that we’re doing something right for you and us!”

— Owner’s Justin and Amy

Producing 180-200 barrels (31 gallons per barrel) this past year, Hunter’s continues to experience a slow but steady growth, no doubt due to the personable owners and their passion for delivering a quality product that their patrons will enjoy.

If you’re in the Indiana Dunes area, make sure that you check them out.  You may just become a regular!  Be sure to tell me what you enjoyed about your visit in the comments.

Hunter’s is a nonsmoking brewery for 21 and over.

Co-Owner Amy Co-Owner Amy Nice selection of beer! Nice selection of beer!

Beer Fun Facts

  • There’s a beer brewed from bananas in Africa
  • Norway’s first aircraft hijacking was resolved after the hijacker surrendered his own weapon in exchange for more beer
  • Cenosillicaphobia is the fear of an empty beer glass

First Fridays Art Walk: A Treat for the Whole Family

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From 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., on the first Friday of every month, local, uptown businesses in Michigan City open their doors to the public and host artists and their work.

I’ve attended in the past but never experienced it fully as I have in the last several months of attendance. What’s different?  Well in the past I WASN’T WALKING, lol, I’d only make it as far as The Pickle and Turnip restaurant for dinner and live music (rolling my eyes at myself for this mistake, oh the fun I’ve missed!)

Art Space Uptown Artist Lofts

A friend of mine recently invited me to her daughter’s live make-up demonstration held at Art Space Uptown Artist Lofts.  I’d never heard of this spot before, so I decided to attend.

Much to my delight, I was impressed with this place upon entering and learning more about it.

Art Space is a non-profit organization that uses the tools of real-estate to create affordable, appropriate places where artists can live and work.  Their uptown lofts house a variety of artists such as chefs, dancers, welders, painters, photographers, and musicians.

The layout and location of these lofts are tops!

I met many of the artists living in the lofts and was blown away by the community.  We snacked on light refreshments, enjoyed wine, and listened to live music while taking in the works of the resident artists.

Here’s a recap of some of the artist’s that I had the pleasure of meeting:

Latreese Neal, a talented photographer, who happened to be the coordinator of that night’s artists reception.

Fueled by the lack of pictures capturing her childhood and the loss of her older brother, Latreese’s passion became to preserve memories and capture moments.  She took up photography in high school and never looked back.  Meeting and living among other artists at the Uptown Artist Lofts has benefitted her in her art.

“Living here has helped bring out more creativity by motivating and challenging me. Meeting and living among other artists inspires me push myself.”

Latreese also gives back to the community.  She and a group of artist friends provide one senior male and female student, a free full arts services package including hair cutting, styling, make-up, a photography session, and pastries and cakes for an event.  Paying it forward and providing excellent service to others through her photography gives her great happiness.  If you’re looking for a photographer for your special events or moments, make sure to look her up at www.socaniphotos.com
She does weddings, portraits, photo booth rentals, parties, etc.

Baby Portaits by Latreese Neal of Socani Photos Baby Portaits by Latreese Neal of Socani Photos Photos by Socani Photos Photos by Socani Photos

Kane Fletcher:
Kane works for the building as a maintenance person. He describes himself as more of an abstract artist. Wanting to follow in the footsteps of his artist older brother, he started making comic strips and painting while in high school.   His high school art teacher saw his gift and encouraged him to pursue more with the arts.  Many may not know that Kane is also a dancer.  He’s done everything from ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, and contemporary, which is his favorite.

“Art is therapeutic to me, especially dance; I can be in a bad mood and have a sharp, fast-paced dance and at the end of it I’m worn out and tired, but I feel better because I spilled everything out.”-Kane Fletcher

One of the things that Kane mentioned to me regarding the benefits of the Uptown Artist Lofts was witnessing the development of the many artists living there through collaborations and getting to know each other.  “There’s growth and more depth to the artists…they morph and take flight and learn from each other.  This is a good community; the artists pull together as a family.”

Kane Fletcher (right) and his painting depicting when he and Nicole Barnett (left) first laid eyes on each other.  He proposed to her that night in front of this picture. Kane Fletcher (right) and his painting depicting when he and Nicole Barnett (left) first laid eyes on each other.  He proposed to her that night in front of this picture.

Nicole Barnett was the featured artist that I was invited to see:
She knew that she wanted to be an artist as a little girl. Her mom fed her creativity by keeping her art supplies stocked and letting her go at it.

Her pointillism art wowed me!…standing far away it looks like a solid color, but when you stand closer, you can see all of the details. Very tedious!!!

Live Make-up  Live Make-up

She enjoys details.  I asked her how much time it takes to do something like this.  A LOT!

Sometimes when we’re admiring the finished product we don’t think of the amount of time that these artists put into it.

So THANKS to all of the artists who share their hard work and passion with us.  We appreciate it!

Besides art, Nicole enjoys reading and singing.  I heard that she’s a great singer, maybe I’ll hear her sing sometime!

“My make-up art is more about self expression…you can turn yourself into anything.  My other art is more therapeutic.” -Nicole Barnett

See more of Nicole’s art on her Violet Rebel Instagram

Pointillism Art Pointillism Art

The evening was truly enjoyable, and I was hooked.

I admit I didn’t walk anywhere AGAIN!  However, in my defense, it was difficult to leave the Artist Loft’s reception.   Live music, appetizers, and a room full of talented artist’s sharing their works and inspirations.  I even ran into my son’s pre-school teacher Ms. Tracy and witnessed a proposal!  A fun night full of the unexpected!

Ran into Ms. Tracy (left), my son's preschool teacher.  My son is 17 now!  She still looks the same! Ran into Ms. Tracy (left), my son’s preschool teacher.  My son is 17 now!  She still looks the same! Live Music Live Music

There’s just something about the arts that gets me. I knew that I would make first Fridays a regular occurrence and I’d have to bring my husband, who’s also an artist back.

Jacob Bonha Jacob Bonha

THE NEXT MONTH

The next first Friday, my husband I started off at the Uptown Artist Lofts again.  This time we met artist Jacob Bonham, a quiet, talented artist with some serious stencil and spray painting skills.

The Hubs just had to have his Batman Portrait.

We perused the newer art hanging at the Artist Lofts before more exploring

Chef Bizzaro Millinery

Amanda of Chef Bizzaro Millinery Amanda of Chef Bizzaro Millinery

After leaving the Artist Lofts, I happened upon The Closet by Franklin Vintage and Millinery Studio by Chef Bizzaro Millinery, owned by best friends, Julia and Amanda.
OMG! Let me again emphasize how annoyed I am at myself for missing out on these gems for so long.  If you could see the hearts in my eyes when I walked into this place….I’m in love, and I’ve needed the services offered here for soooooo long!  I’ve learned my lesson though.
Blogging has helped me develop a whole new level of appreciation for the communities around me, and I’ve become a tourist in these communities.  Lol, I’m in the know!

I’m drawn to unique, so I took to Chef Bizzaro straight away.   Amanda Joyner, the owner, who’s style can be described as quirky and whimsical, has been a milliner for seven years.  She’s had a love of hats since she was a little girl, thanks to her grandmother exposing her to musicals at a young age.

If you think fancy hats are just for the Kentucky Derby, you’re wrong.  Amanda has shipped hats to South Korea, Russia, and the UK for all sorts of occasions from regular everyday wear to Avant Garde. She’s even done work for Disney and TV shows.  Some of her clients are as young as three years old.
She enjoys what she does, and it shows in her work.  The more creative, the better. Her hats are beautiful!
I love the hand painted flowers and vintage jewelry that she adds to some.  Be sure to check out the Chef Bizzaro Etsy Shop

The Closet by Franklin Vintage

Beautiful, Delicate Clothing Beautiful, Delicate Clothing

Julia Nielson, owner of The Closet by Franklin Vintage, has collected vintage clothing for 30 years.  She started collecting while attending auctions with her father, an antique dealer.
I learned that vintage pertains to anything that is older than 30 years.
Julia’s collection is vast; flapper hats, dresses, swimsuits (have you ever seen a wool swimsuit? hmm), shoes, coats, jewelry, purses, evening gowns, the list goes on and on; and she’s very picky when it comes to quality.

She has clients all over the world with unique styles and ideas. One client couple buys vintage outfits to wear while driving their vintage cars across the county.  I want to meet them!  She has another client from Japan who only wants a particularly dated denim and another woman from the UK who loves fabulous items from the 1930’s and 1940’s.

Sounds like a fun job shopping and outfitting different personalities.

I browsed through her things and let me tell you; she has some great designer items!

“I love doing this! I get so much joy from sourcing the right pieces for my customers!”

— Julia Nielson, Owner of The Closet by Franklin Vintage

Check out Julia’s The Closet by Franklin Vintage Facebook Here

The enthusiasm in this store is contagious; I love it!

I'm in love with these clothes   I’m in love with these clothes I want the this! I want the this!

Catchlight Studio

Continuing further, we found Catchlight Studio at 617 Franklin St where we met the hilarious duo of Rhonda and Carol!  They had my husband and I cracking up…their energy exhausted us in a pleasant way, loved them!

Rhonda is a Midwestern girl through and through. Growing up, her parents exposed her to the entire United States and immersed her in different vistas and cultures year after year. “My childhood taught me to look for the allure and depth of my surroundings. My health odyssey as an adult has taught me to appreciate every moment given.”

As an artist “I have a piqued interest in the idea of what is around the next corner? This idea, more than anything, is what drives my photographer’s eye.  It could be a sunrise, the intricate texture of a leaf, or the joy in grandpa’s eyes while watching his grandchild.  The point is, you never know what beauty you will find.  Always keep moving, it is the only way the next corner arrives!”-Rhonda of Whispered Photography

Rhonda Mullen Rhonda Mullen

Rhonda’s works were recently on display in Paris, France. Check out her Whispered Photography Facebook Page Here

Carol Estes Carol Estes

Carol is a poet and photographer who’s won many awards for her work.  Recently her works were featured at the Driven to Abstraction opening reception at Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Company in Chicago. Check out her works here

The preceding was just a peak into some of the gems you’ll find at Michigan City’s First Fridays Art Walk.  This was by far my longest blog post!  Just think….there were so many exhibits that I wasn’t able to explore….I will for sure catch them at the next First Friday.

It was fantastic hearing so many artists comment on the huge community and business support given to them during first Fridays. Many local business owners make it a point to come out to view the displays as well as hang the works of the local artists in their restaurants and shops. Bravo!

Make sure that you don’t miss out on this awesome monthly event.  It includes the Uptown businesses of Franklin St, Lubeznik Arts Center, the Historic Barker Mansion, the Uptown Artist Lofts, and The Uptown Center.

Fun for the whole family and a tremendous support to local talented artists.

Don’t forget to tell me what you enjoyed in the comments!

Terrace Room: Rustic Italian Food Memories in an Intimate Setting

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A hidden gem located inside New Buffalo’s Harbor Grand Hotel; Terrace Room offers rustic Italian fare in a beautifully styled intimate setting.

The Atmosphere

The ambiance ignites various feelings in people.  I’ve heard an assortment of descriptions such as relaxed, sexy, and intimate. Although each relatable, intimacy always comes to mind whenever I reflect upon Terrace Room.

When I’m there, I feel a connection with those dining with me.  The atmosphere prompts me to relax and be freer with conversation.  It could have something to do with the beautiful fireplace located between the dining room and the bar.

The idea when designing the space was to provide intimate dining along with a dynamic communal bar scene while highlighting the harbor front experience.

Influenced by the Frank Lloyd Wright approach to architecture and interior space planning, handcrafted natural materials of local and regional craftsman were utilized whenever possible. The result is an environment that celebrates artisans and unique one of a kind experience.

Curioso Design of Chicago completed the interior design.

I’d say that they’ve succeeded in achieving their goal.  This space greatly enhances the dining experience.

Chicken Bandera:  half chicken roasted with citrus whole-grain mustard chili sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes with artichokes, and sauteed spinach.  The sauce is amazing!!!!!! Get extra, YUM! Chicken Bandera:  half chicken roasted with citrus whole-grain mustard chili sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes with artichokes, and sauteed spinach.  The sauce is amazing!!!!!! Get extra, YUM!

The Food

Pulling inspiration from some of the beautiful meals enjoyed throughout life as well of some of the chefs of Chicago, Chef Alberto llescas’s goal was to create cuisine that would remind diners of times past.

Hand made pastas, breads, and flavorful sauces are made in-house and from scratch.

Chef Alberto’s idea of Rustic Italian means slow cooking takes priority.  “It’s important to take the time to prepare things like sauces and put in extra care like grandma would do it. There’s no rush; real cooking takes time.  Roasting takes hours…..when a person tries one of our sauces, I want them to taste all of the flavors.  I lean towards that over anything.”-Chef Albert llescas

Rainbow Trout:  brown butter, hazelnuts, and sage with sauteed spinach and farro..... My favorite dish; the trout is super-fresh!!! Rainbow Trout:  brown butter, hazelnuts, and sage with sauteed spinach and farro….. My favorite dish; the trout is super-fresh!!! Seafood Cioppino:  One of my favorite dishes!  The flavors coming through in the sauce were spot on! Seafood Cioppino:  One of my favorite dishes!  The flavors coming through in the sauce were spot on!

Sourcing is of utmost importance.  “We want our diners to know that we work hard at continuously searching for the best quality ingredients and we hope that shines through with every one of our dishes.”

During our conversation, I discovered that Chef Alberto has somewhat of an obsession with tomatoes. He uses several different tomato types for his sauces and salads.  We chuckled over how picky he is but SERIOUSLY, don’t mess with his tomatoes.  He only selects the best! Ingredients are very important.

The broth in this dish was so light and flavorful.  The pasta was cooked perfectly! The broth in this dish was so light and flavorful.  The pasta was cooked perfectly!

When I tasted the Seafood Cioppino, I understood.  The sauce had just the right amount of sweetness from the tomato and was so light and flavorful!  The bomb!!

The same pickiness goes into wine selection.

“We’re not always looking for the big names when it comes to selecting wine. We search for the best quality wines in small batches; something unique, that you can’t get every day.  We want to create a memorable experience in every aspect.”-Chef Alberto llescas

Chef Alberto is one cool, humble dude.  I enjoyed my conversation with him.

Here are a few additional things that he shared with me:

Chef Alberto llescas Chef Alberto llescas

What’s your favorite Terrace Room menu item?
The Chicken Bandera; It’s a half chicken cooked to order…the oven roasting develops a nice crispness on the outside, and I feel like all of the components work together.  The chicken comes from a local Amish farm and is very high-quality.

What is the most memorable meal that you’ve ever had?
That depends on the cuisine; there’s so many that I’ve loved……I’d have to say a Gnocchi that I ate at Sienna Tavern in Chicago.  It was the perfect Gnocchi.

I’d also have to say the risotto from Riccardo Trattoria in Chicago.

As a chef I always try to do the best, I want to make the best gnocchi and the best risotto, and when someone does it better than me, that makes it memorable. It’s a shock and motivation at the same time….it always encourages me to improve.

What are your favorite things to eat?
If I’m in a restaurant and they have octopus, I must have it.  In my experience octopus is very difficult to cook, people love it, but not everyone can prepare it well, so when I’m in a restaurant, and I have a good octopus, you can be sure that the whole meal will be spot on and a good experience.  I judge people by their octopus.

What are your must-have ingredients?
Cheese, Olive Oil, Basil, Tomatoes

Have you always wanted to be a chef?
No, if I had the opportunity to be a mechanic in the past I would have done that because I’ve always enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together. Now that I’m a chef I understand that it wasn’t so much about being a mechanic, it was more about working with my hands…I’m always learning, and I enjoy what I do.

“Creating memories and a good experience is always what I’m searching for. We want people to come here and spend time together, enjoying a nice conversation, over a beautiful dish; that’s a memory. So the next time that you bite into something similar, it will bring you back to your time here. ”

— Chef Alberto llescas

Charcuterie Charcuterie Crepes Crepes My son loves the Chicken Bandera My son loves the Chicken Bandera

I already favored Terrace Room, but after my conversation with Chef Alberto and managing director Robert Kemper, I appreciate it even more.

There’s nothing like a great memory of a wonderful conversation over a delicious meal.  I have good food memories here!

Hopefully, you’ll experience the same vibe when you visit Terrace Room.

  • New Buffalo is a 90 minute drive from Chicago
  • Gluten free options are available
  • Terrace Room is good for Sunday Brunch

Al Fresco dining is also an option Al Fresco dining is also an option

Running Vines: Winemakers & Community Supporters

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My husband and I decided to check out Running Vines Winery on a random Wednesday afternoon.  We soon learned that we made a smart choice.   I don’t know how in the world I was missing out on this gem in my backyard!

Located in downtown Chesterton, Running Vines is one of many wineries in Indiana.  There are actually close to 100 wineries in the Hoosier state.  I had no idea Indiana had so many wineries!

Upon entering the winery we were greeted by some seriously delightful smells permeating from Albanos Pasta Shop which shares the space. Why does fresh roasted garlic smell so good!!??!!!

A winery with access to fresh made pasta; I’m never leaving!  This spot is genius.  Internally, I was making plans for my new relationship with Running Vines…Let’s see Girl’s Nights, Date Nights; I need to bring my mama here, my out of town visitors, and all of my friends!

Cathy, who was working the tasting room, attended to us. Impressed with her vast knowledge of wine, I asked her way too many questions.  We learned a great deal as she really helped us to appreciate what we were tasting.  We later discovered that she was a chemist, which made a lot of sense.

It was a pleasant afternoon of escape with tastings and good conversation. Both my husband and I agreed that we liked the wine.

I knew that I wanted to learn more about this hidden gem so I subsequently reached out to owner Nicole Caylor to get all of the details. Upon seeing her, I realized that we’d met years ago!  Over a glass of wine, she shared the history of the winery.

It was during a 2014 visit to her cousin Walter’s winery when she decided to finally take him up on his offer to start a winery together.

She’d desired a career change along with her own business and felt it was the right time.

The name Running Vines is a fun play on words incorporating the family’s passion for running with their business.  Vines is two-fold.  It encompasses the grapevine of course but also the desire to be involved and give back to the community.

“Our biggest vision was to be involved in the community and do something meaningful. Our philosophy is a vine and it branches are intertwined with the community”

— Nicole Caylor, Running Vines Owner

They have certainly followed through on their passion for community involvement by hosting numerous give-back events as well as sponsoring and donating to many community charities.

The winery offers a nice selection of whites, reds, and blends.   I’m a red wine girl and I love their Merlot, OH YES!  When I occasionally want white, their Pinot Gris is my go too; it’s a bit of a drier white.  They have race-inspired names for their blends. Sprint, Half-Marathon, Marathon, and Triathlon. My favorite of the blends would have to be the sprint:  it tastes like candy.

All of the wine production takes place in the basement with grapes sourced from California, New York, Chile, and Argentina. The grapes arrive in crushed format and the fermentation, racking, and blending are done on site. There’s a full-time winemaker, Emily Kennedy, that oversees all of the production at the Chesterton location.

Last year just under 2,500 gallons of wine were produced.  This year’s production goal is 5,000 gallons. Therefore, due to growth, production will eventually be moved to a different location.
Always curious about the wines that winemakers prefer, I asked Nickie the following:

What’s your go to wine?

It’s all about what I’m experiencing at the moment.  If its 90 degrees out and humid, I’m going to tend to want a sweeter, clean, and crisp wine.  If it’s cold, I’m a dry red girl; every once in a while a dry white.

What do you pair with your meals?
I’ll pair our Gewurztraminer with Thanksgiving meals.  It’s a white wine with a light sweetness and more of a dry finish.  It pleases sweet drinkers as well as dry drinkers, and it won’t overpower the flavors of the Thanksgiving meal.

If I’m making spaghetti and meatballs, I’ll go for a dry red.  Depending on the palate, if a person prefers a lighter red I’d direct them to Pinot Noir.  If they’re like me and want something heavier with a bit more body to it, I’d select for them a Merlot or Syrah.

What separates your winery from others?
Every winery is different. The wine’s flavors depend on the location of sourced grapes.  For example, a Cabernet Sauvignon made with a Chilean grape will taste different than a Cabernet Sauvignon made with a Californian grape.

The winemaker’s style is also a factor.  All of our wines are Italian in style; more fruit forward, with a good body and dryness to them.  We’re a young winery, so you’re not going to get the really heavy body from any of our wines yet, however, over time, as our wines age, you’ll see a heavier, fuller-bodied wine from us.

“At the moment, we source from other places because we don’t have our vines. Our 5-year plan is to have own vines and grow some of our grapes. However, I will continue to source grapes such as Californian and Chilean because I cannot duplicate the soil and growing conditions that they have”

— Nicole Caylor, Owner of Running Vines

In addition to supplying wine, Nickie creates experiences for guests to enjoy. She hosts free monthly fun runs where participants meet at the winery, go for a run, and afterward return to the winery for a glass of their favorite wine.  She also hosts a monthly book club at the winery.  Nothing like discussing a good book over wine and chocolate!  Game nights, paint and sips, karaoke, and family nights are some of the other monthly activities.  It’s an added bonus to have Albanos Pasta Shop within the same space.  We’ve been able to enjoy the best of both worlds. You can order a glass of wine to go with your meal while dining at the pasta shop or you can enjoy a tasting while waiting for your table at the restaurant.

Live music is featured every Saturday night.

Nicki describes the environment as positive, happy, and fun.  A place where everyone enjoys their job.   “We want our customers to feel welcome and enjoy their experience.  I’m an Italian girl, and everyone’s my family; I want everyone who walks through the door to feel like they’re part of my family;I want to establish relationships with them.  I believe that we have something special here.”

I indeed feel the love!  Be sure to drop-in on Running Vines to experience it yourself.

Tastings are $6 for 6…add an extra $2 if you want to keep the souvenir tasting glass.

Tell me you favorite wine in the comments.

Elements Wine Bar: Good Wine Vibes

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I stepped into the recently opened Elements Wine Bar in downtown Valparaiso, took in the ambiance and was immediately beyond excited!  In my mind, I was thinking “Ayeeee, this is my spot!” Mesmerized by the colorful lanterns hanging overhead, as the soulful sounds of Susan Tedeschi played through the speakers I curiously peaked around the bar. Oh yes, there’s wine on tap!

Although super excited, I played it cool.  I didn’t jump up and down like a kid, lol.  I decided that I’d save that for my next visit.

I’ve always frequented wineries, so this was my first experience in a wine bar.  It’s self-service. Here’s what you do:

  1. Select your glass; they’re hanging on a rack under the wine machines.
  2. When you enter the bar you will receive a plastic card from one of the employees to track your tab.  Insert the card into the machine.
  3. Choose your wine from the numerous bottles displayed in the machine.
  4. Select your taste, either a 2 oz, 4 oz., or a 6 oz. portion. Displayed above each bottle’s taste portion on the machine are the prices; they range depending on the wine.  My first taste was a 2 oz Petite Petite Blend for $2.50.  It was fabulous!  I had to get a glass.
  5. Don’t forget to REMOVE YOUR CARD after your selection.  I kept leaving my card inserted in the machine and not realizing it until I was ready to go for another taste.  I obviously was trying to buy a round for everyone in the bar, lol, I’m so generous!

There are 20 bottles on tap, but much more are available.  Wine imports from all over the world including Napa, Italy, France, Australia, New Zeeland, Chile, Austria, and Germany are displayed on the wine rack and behind the bar.  The selection always changes.

See something on the rack display that peaks your interest?  You can get any bottle of wine opened.   Say you’re eyeing that $300 bottle of 2007 Opus One but don’t want to commit to buying the whole bottle. Request it opened for a tasting.  The tasting of the luxury wines will run anywhere from $15-$20 but at least you’re not spending $300, and you can tell all of your friends that you tried a 2007 Opus One.

The cozy environment and music greatly enhance the experience. Owner Michelle Prosser desired a jazzy look with a friendly welcoming atmosphere.

“I wanted comfortable, velvet tufted furniture, and natural woods with a bit of funkiness” -Owner, Michelle Prosser

She nailed her vision.  I loved the cozy with a bit of edge design.  I felt welcome from the minute I walked in.  Cotteena was on staff my first visit.  She explained the concept and steps to me a couple of times. I didn’t absorb everything the first time because I was too distracted taking in everything (sigh…thank goodness for friendly, patient, wine enthusiasts, lol).  I found not only the staff to be friendly but the fellow wine drinkers in the bar were very nice and pleasant.  The mood is very laid back.

Michelle fell in love with wine ten years ago while frequenting the Michigan Wine Trails. Some of her favorite tasting rooms are Contessa in Coloma and the Warner tasting room in Paw Paw.

Speaking with the knowledgeable winemakers at wineries inspired her to study wine.   She set out on this path in 2011 while managing Kelsey’s Steak House in Valparaiso.

“Wine to me is intellectual; I enjoy the cerebral aspect just as much as I enjoy drinking it.”

— Michelle Prosser, Owner of Elements Wine Bar

Once she began this education, she couldn’t stop.  She described it a Black Hole of information; once you dive in you never want to get out.  “Wine is so interesting and fun; I just kept taking more and more classes!”  She also took her studies abroad to Florence, Italy, where she achieved one of several wine certifications.

Equipped with a passion for wine,  desire for her own business, and encouragement from her boss at Kelsey’s, she was prompted to make a move and open Elements.  Yep, her boss encouraged her to quit and pursue her dream; I had to make sure that I heard her right…that’s indeed what she said.  Shout out to supportive bosses; you know who you are!!!  Unsure of reception when starting this venture, she found additional support from the city of Valparaiso and her business neighbors.

“I love doing business here in Valparaiso! I didn’t know what to expect initially. This experience has been wonderful.”

— Elements Wine Bar Owner, Michelle Prosser

From left:  Cotteena, Michelle, and Starlett From left:  Cotteena, Michelle, and Starlett

Patrons are encouraged to speak with any of the wine bar employees and ask questions, as they’re all knowledgeable about the wine selections.

Wanting to learn a bit more about wine myself, I asked Michelle the following questions:

What would you recommend for someone who usually prefers a sweeter wine?

We have something for every palate. I like to talk to people when they come in to see what they usually drink.  I find that many come in with a favored wine but want to branch out into other wines.  I know it can be a turnoff to jump too drastically when you’re used to sweet, and you jump to something like a Napa Cabernet…I can find a nice bridge for them.  I’ve been pretty lucky with finding wine for people after speaking with them.”

Any bottle of wine can be opened at the customer's request Any bottle of wine can be opened at the customer’s request

What’s the difference in wine taste from country to country?
Italy has its indigenous grapes.  Many of their grapes don’t grow well in other areas, so they’re going to have their unique flavor profile.  One of the easiest ways to think of it is old world and new world.  New world wine would be anywhere except Europe.  American and Australian wines would typically be more fruit forward. New World wines like those of NAPA will give you bigger, bolder flavors.   Older World wines may tend to be softer, less fruit forward; there’s more elegance to it.  They’re not going for the bigger bolder flavors as much. There’s also colder climate and warmer climate.  Colder climate wines like Riesling will give you more acidity and a different kind of fruit flavor than a warmer climate wine that will have more tropical fruit flavors to it.

Meat and Cheese Platters Are Available Meat and Cheese Platters Are Available A mixture of craft and domestic bottles are available for non-wine drinkers. A mixture of craft and domestic bottles are available for non-wine drinkers.

Although the bar doesn’t offer full kitchen services, guests can nosh on meat and cheese platters and popcorn.  If you’re looking for something a bit heartier, you can either bring in carryout or have food delivered to the bar from local restaurants.

Not necessarily a wine drinker but still interested in socializing? You’ll be happy to know that Elements Wine Bar offers a mix of 8 different bottled domestic and craft beers.

I can’t say enough good about Elements Wine Bar.  If you haven’t checked it out yet, do yourself a favor and GO!

Make sure to tell me your favorite selection in the comments!

“The Steele Merlot is absolutely fabulous. Not only is it robust, the aftertaste gives you an explosion in your mouth. The oaky finish is phenomenal. For this price point it’s a steal! (Pun Intended)”

— Patron, Teresa Janovitz of Portage, IN

Things to Keep in Mind

  • Elements Wine Bar is Non-Smoking

  • There’s Indoor and Outdoor Patio Seating

  • Patrons Must Be 21 and Over

DIVVY Diaries: New Experiences, New Favorites

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In my opinion DIVVY bikes are the best when it comes to exploring Chicago and I was extremely excited to finally have a nice weather day to start my first Divvy Tour for the year (Steps for Using DIVVY).  Although thundershowers were in the forecast, my friend Robea and I decided we’d go through with our plans rain or shine.

We were so pleased that the sun was shining bright and no rain was in sight when we arrived in Wicker Park.  We parked under the El for $8 after securing a deal from Spot Hero.

We selected our bikes on the corner of Wabansia and Milwaukee and headed 1.3 miles to Logan Square for our first stop at Gaslight Coffee Roasters.

Gaslight Coffee Roasters Gaslight Coffee Roasters Mocha Latte Mocha Latte

I liked the look and feel of Gaslight Coffee Roasters.   It was pretty hip with quite the variety of people. There were business people on their computers, friends casually catching up over coffee, and what looked like regulars seated at the bar. Everyone was friendly.   I’d like to just spend a day here with my laptop.  ‘

I ordered the mocha latte. It was verrrrryyyyy good! Strong, fresh, and flavorsome!

The food menu had several items that I wanted to try which made choosing difficult. I decided to go with the Gaslight Breakfast: Pan roasted Nueske’s ham, mightvine tomatoes, floriole seeded toast, Swan Creek duck egg, everything bagel spread, and a side salad. Good Choice! I enjoyed all of the flavors but that everything bagel spread was the bomb! I could put that on everything!

Robea ordered the breakfast bowl which included sofrito rice, caramelized onion, smoked ham bits, Applewood bacon, and Swan Creek duck eggs. This bowl was amazing! As much as I enjoyed what I ordered, I see myself getting the breakfast bowl in the future.

Gaslight Breakfast Gaslight Breakfast Breakfast Bowl Breakfast Bowl

After leaving Gaslight, we explored the neighborhood, and I scoped out some spots to hit in the future (I see you Revolution Brewing Company).

Popped into Wolfbait & B–Girls, a retail shop that represents more than 300 local Chicago artists as well as Chicago-based fair-trade companies.   I appreciate shops like this.  Not only does it support local artists and designers but you can also spot unique and interesting finds. There is a lot of talent here.  I purchased a pair of earrings made from recycled bicycle tires.

Wolfbait and B-Girls Wolfbait and B-Girls

The weather was beautiful for strolling and just taking our time discovering Logan Square, a great neighborhood that I know I will return to time and time again.  There’s so much to see and eat here.

After making our way back to a bike station, Robea stated that she wanted to try an ACAI Bowl.

Acai is an antioxidant rich fruit found in the rain forests of the Amazon.  It’s known to give your skin a healthy glow, boost immunity, improve focus, and combat fatigue.

We’d both heard about these bowls but never tried one.  After looking up the best bowls in the city, we started on our 4.2-mile ride to HI-Vibe Organic Superfood Juicery in River North.

ACAI Bowl, Isn't it pretty?!! ACAI Bowl, Isn’t it pretty?!!

Being new the ACAI game, we first had to learn to properly pronounce what we were seeking (A-Sigh-eeeee). I won’t even say what I was calling it.

We ordered the Acai Cacao: organic acai and pitaya blended with fresh pressed apple, banana, and honey. Dressed with raw Hi-Vibe granola, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, bee pollen, shredded coconut, sprouted gourmet nut butter + fresh seasonal fruit.

We split it between the two of us. The portion was huge.  I appreciated that it wasn’t overly sweet and the ingredients blended well together.  We both agreed that we’d get this again.

Next, a quick pit stop at the Merchandise Mart then more strolling and enjoying the beautiful day and scenery in the Loop’s Theatre District.

We picked up new bikes at Randolph and LaSalle and headed to Chinatown which was 2.5 miles away. STRINGS here we come!

Made it…I’d heard about STRINGS Ramen from friends, and I had to try it.

I quickly realized that it was a happening place as I observed the decor and listened to the Hip-Hop playing overhead.  I loved the fact that I could see right into the kitchen.  We took notice of the other patrons…some were ordering with confidence while others were eating their Ramen like pros. We were given a menu and were immediately overwhelmed, being Ramen newbies and all.  Our server was the best.  He explained everything to us thoroughly probably three times, haha.  He never lost patience.

We decided on the Tonkotsu Broth, a creamy pork bone stock which takes 48 hours to prepare and the Hell Ramen level 2.  I like spicy, and level 2 is my spot.  The levels go up to 5!  I only know one person that could make it to that level.  He eats ghost peppers like nothing.

Hell Ramen, level 2 Hell Ramen, level 2

Ramen is meant to be slurped and eaten fast, so we went all in.  The noodle thickness was good.  The noodles are straight instead of wavy.  They’re prepared in house, and they’re amazing!  I Ate all of my Ramen and souped up every last bit of the luscious broth!

Between the two I think I liked the Tonkotsu Broth the best. It was so rich and flavorful! Next time I’ll order that with a little of my heat sauce on the side.  I’m definitely returning!

Tonkotsu Broth Tonkotsu Broth

No rain yet, on to our next destination in Lakeview, 8.5 miles away.  We took the Lakefront Trail, an 18-mile trail along Lake Michigan.  It made for an easy and peaceful bike ride.  We paused and took a few pictures.  This trail is picturesque with many options along the way.  You can stop at the beach, have a picnic, play a little volleyball, etc.  There are Divvy Stations all along the trail.   FYI; there’s also bathrooms.

Theres DIVVY Bike Stations all along the Lakeshore Trail Theres DIVVY Bike Stations all along the Lakeshore Trail

We get off the trail at Belmont and head to our next spot. Philly’s Best in Lakeview. Time to try a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich with a couple of foodie friends. This Philly Cheesesteak is the real deal. The owners are from Philly and are committed to only using authentic Philly Cheese Steak ingredients. They ship pure tenderloin from Liberty Bell Steak Company, bread from Amoroso Bread Company, and cheese from Cedar Farms.

This sandwich was soooo good.  Easily the best Philly Cheesesteak I’ve EVER had! The tenderloin lived up to its name; tender and flavorful.  The bread was soft and tasty on its own.  It absorbed the juice so well.  I also had Philly fries and a slice of the Greek Pizza, YUM!  I recommend all of it!

Phillys Best Cheesesteak Phillys Best Cheesesteak

I’m glad we’re still bike riding because I managed to eat half of my sandwich and fries, I seriously needed to pedal some of that off.  It’s worth the extra pedals!

So many people were out, I think the forecasted rain that hadn’t come made us all happy.

We now headed to our final stop in Wicker Park which was 3 miles away.  We had a little time snafu and had to take a detour, quickly find a DIVVY station, and get another bike.  It was close, but we made it.  Robea and I are both cheap and don’t want to pay extra by going overtime.

Now we continue to Wicker Park to go back in time!

I was extremely excited to see this sign after our 3-mile ride!  Anyone else here obsessed with Saved By the Bell growing up?  I often fantasized about attending Bayside High.

Saved by the Max is a pop-up diner that serves American fare.  It has all of the memorabilia from Saved by the Bell allowing you to relive some of your favorite show memories.  There are several TVs located throughout with Saved By the Bell episodes playing from different seasons.  It was awesome just experiencing this place and reminiscing as the episodes played.  It’s funny how you still remember every detail from all of the episodes.

Mostly there for the experience, I honestly hadn’t given much thought to the food.  I was pleasantly surprised by the Mac & Screech, Snow White, and the Seven Dorks wings and the Senior Prom Salad I had.  Tasty.  My salad consisted of pork belly, escarole, frisee, black kale, and one-hour egg tossed with a warm mustard vinaigrette.  Wonderful!   Robea had the Tori’s Fried Chicken, but she preferred my salad.  Maybe she was too full from all of the eating we’d done prior. I loved the chili sauce on top of her fried chicken.

Saved By the Max was a perfect way to end our day of touring the city on the DIVVY bikes.  We made nine bike exchanges and rode a total of 21 miles, but it didn’t feel like it at all.

Another day of wonderful memories that we won’t soon forget.  Stay tuned for more DIVVY Diaries and let me know which Chicago neighborhoods you’d explore in the comments.

Steps For Using DIVVY

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Divvy is a bike share system, which is a form of public transportation by bike. Designed for use with frequent short trips, users may only have a bike for 30 minutes at a time.  No worries, there is an abundance of DIVVY bikes and docks throughout the city making it easy to reach another dock and select another bike with time to spare.  Navigating through the city on a bike is convenient and easy and allows you to cover numerous neighborhoods in one day.

In my experience biking in Chicago, I’ve found that the drivers watch for bikers and are courteous.

Steps for using Divvy:

1.    Download the CycleFinder App:  It Maps all of the DIVVY stations in the city and tells you how many bikes are available at each station.  I highly recommend this step.
2.    Purchase a 24-hour DIVVY pass:  you receive unlimited 30-minute rides for 24 hours
3.    After ensuring that there’s an available bike at the dock station, follow the screen instructions to get your ride code
4.    Enter your ride code at the dock of the bike you’ve selected; wait for the green light to flash; pull your bike from the dock
5.    Set your phone timer for 25 minutes to ensure that you arrive at your next bike dock station in plenty of time.
6.    Return your bike to the station.  Make sure it locks in the dock and is secure before walking away.  You don’t want someone to come along and take your bike because you’ll be responsible for it.
7.    Explore and have fun!!!!

3 Dune Challenge: Steep Climbs, Attractive Scenery

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Warm days are ahead, and I’m excited to play in the sand and hit the trails.  I do both simultaneously whenever I undertake the 3 Dune Challenge at Indiana Dunes State Park.

The 3 Dune Challenge is a self-guided 1.5 mile challenge loop trail with 552 vertical feet of climb! Don’t be intimidated; you don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to conquer this.  I’ve witnessed people of all fitness levels take on this challenge; some slow walk it with pets, families climb it together, and yes, the warriors scale it with ease.

Important things to remember before beginning are:  bring plenty of water and dress appropriately for hiking (comfortable shoes, clothing, etc.) I’ve noticed people give up and turn around because they didn’t have adequate supplies or weren’t dressed right for the challenge.

Ready?  Here we go.

The self-guided tour kicks off at the Nature Center at the back of the Indiana Dunes National Park campground.

 

 

You will find signs directing you to the challenge’s trails.

After following the trails you will arrive at Mt. Jackson, our first climb.  Named after Indiana Governor Edward Jackson, Mt. Jackson is 176 feet above Lake Michigan and has 32 million cubic feet of sand. The first climb tests you right away; you will feel your heart working.  I usually focus on the top and never stop climbing. The struggle is real!

You’re greeted with far-reaching views once you reach the top!

View from the top of Mount Jackson View from the top of Mount Jackson

Often, while walking the dunes, you’ll encounter friendly people, who smile and greet you as you pass. Some may even stop for a conversation.  I’m always interested in from where people are visiting.

While taking in the view atop Mt. Jackson, I met a family visiting from Bloomington, Indiana.  I inquired how they enjoyed the first climb: “so far so good they said” the view is worth it.

Family visiting the dunes from Bloomington, Indiana  Family visiting the dunes from Bloomington, Indiana

After lingering for a while, I continued, following the signs to my next climb; Mt. Holden.

Mt. Holden is 184 feet above Lake Michigan, contains 53 million cubic feet of sand, and has a maximum slope angle of 32 degrees!

My legs were feeling this!!!! My legs were feeling this!!!! Climbing Mt. Holden Climbing Mt. Holden

My legs were feeling this one.  As I’m climbing, I’m thinking about how I seriously need to get back into my fitness routine!

At the top, I met and chatted with another visitor, this time from Chicago. He’s employed in Indiana and had no idea that the dunes were here.  His co-workers urged him to visit.

Chicago is only 50 miles from the Indiana Dunes State Park.  It’s an easy trip for a day of hiking.

Chicago visitor seeing the dunes for the first time at the urging of his Indiana co-workers.  Chicago visitor seeing the dunes for the first time at the urging of his Indiana co-workers.  View of the beach form Mt. Holden View of the beach form Mt. Holden

Continuing on to Mt. Tom now, it’s the tallest dune.

The signs make this self-guided tour easy to navigate.

The perfect weather coupled with the birds singing to me create a calming and peaceful feeling while walking the trails in between each climb.

Here we are at the start of Mt. Tom, our 3rd and tallest climb.

Some may choose to take the stairs.

I usually climb the steep sides; might as well go all in!

Stairs leading to the top of Mt. Tom Stairs leading to the top of Mt. Tom

Once you reach the top, you’ll not only take in a scenic view; you’ll also receive a lesson in history.

Imagine over 5 thousand years ago this very spot was the shore of Lake Michigan. Wow!  Read all about it at the top of Mt. Tom.

Learning about ancient shorelines at the top of Mt. Tom Learning about ancient shorelines at the top of Mt. Tom

At this point we’ve completed climbing the 3 tallest dunes in the Indiana Dunes State Park!  It was worth the effort.  I always enjoy this hike.

Thanks for following along with me.

View atop Mt. Tom View atop Mt. Tom Fall evening view atop Mt. Tom   Fall evening view atop Mt. Tom

To finish the trail, take the stairs down and follow the trail 4 signs to the campground and visitor center.

Or if you prefer, head north to the beach!

Trail leading to the beach Trail leading to the beach Signs of Spring!!! Signs of Spring!!!

Have you completed the 3 Dune Challenge?  How’d you like it?

Let me know in the comments.

Hope to see you on the trails soon; be sure to say Hi!

Girls Night Out: The Chopping Block Recreational Cooking School

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My friend Carol and I recently decided to treat ourselves to a night out at The Chopping Block recreational cooking school in Chicago (although it was a girls night out, guys would certainly love this place as well).  It was an experience we won’t soon forget.  We had a ball!

Me and my partner in crime, Carol Me and my partner in crime, Carol

I still laugh at some of the shenanigans that took place; In spite of our silliness, our meal turned out great (scroll to the bottom for our delicious empanada recipe); so it was money well spent.

I even learned some things!

A Little History
The Chopping Block opened it’s original location in a small cottage in Lincoln Park in 1997.  It has now grown to be Chicago’s largest recreational cooking school with 2 locations:  the larger of the two (the relocated and expanded, original Lincoln Park location) is inside the Merchandise Mart.  It has 8,000 square feet and features three kitchens.  The smaller location in Lincoln Square, has 4,000 square feet.

Making Empanada Dough Making Empanada Dough

With hundreds of classes and events each month, The Chopping Block is one of the busiest recreational cooking schools in the country.

The Merchandise Mart’s three kitchens can be used individually or collectively to accommodate groups as small as six people to as large as 300 people. Groups larger than 300 can utilize event space available in The Merchandise Mart. The Chopping Block Lincoln Square also has three kitchens, including an outdoor grilling patio that can accommodate small groups or gatherings as large as 100 people.

This year the school will be celebrating its 20th year in business.

With so many classes to choose from, it was a tough decision.  After much back and forth and elimination, we decided on the Tapas Party!  The main reason for me was because PARTY was in the title!  Plus, I was going to learn how to make PAELLA, and I LOVE PAELLA!!!

Our chef instructor for the evening giving us direction Our chef instructor for the evening giving us direction

Some of the skills we’d learn included: determining shellfish doneness, preparing empanada dough, making tomato sauce, making bean fillings, working with Arborio rice and saffron, and getting familiar with Spanish ingredients.

We immediately booked after deciding on a date. There are only 13 slots in the class, and they fill up fast.

After our arrival and check-in, we were treated to complimentary truffle popcorn. That stuff is highly addictive!  I had to refrain myself so that I wouldn’t ruin my appetite. On a side note, they sell the truffle salt in the school’s retail shop so you can make the truffle popcorn at home!  You also get 15% off on the day you attend a class.

We were separated into groups of four and five once inside the kitchen.  Since it was only two of us, we were merged in with another group of three.  Although we didn’t know any of the other women in our group, we quickly became friends and worked beautifully together.  We were a little loud and crazy too; just having a good time. Our chefs were very patient with us.

The menu consisted of:

  • Bacon wrapped chorizo-stuffed dates
  • Black bean and cilantro empanadas
  • Baked goat cheese in tomato sauce
  • Shrimp & Mussels Paella

The menu seemed challenging enough. Mastering it while enjoying wine slightly increased the challenge, LOL.

The chefs had all of the ingredients gathered and ready.  If this were the case at home, maybe I’d be motivated to cook more.

First up, our group conquered the empanadas.  I appreciate how our chef talked us through each step and would repeat as necessary.  The recipe was simple and easy to follow.  Each of us took a task; I was in charge of the filling.  Everything came together nicely.

Master Cheese Shredder Master Cheese Shredder Empanadas in the making Empanadas in the making Preparing the Paella Preparing the Paella

Next up: Paella
The chef gave us instructions on how to select mussels properly.  Some important things to remember are:  purchase them alive, never select chipped or damaged mussels and never choose one with an open shell; the shells should be tightly closed, if there is a slight opening give the mussel a tap, it should quickly close; If it does, it’s still alive.  If it does not close DO NOT USE it, it’s no good.  Pretty easy to remember.

Carol's distracting me! Carol’s distracting me!

I also learned the proper way to chop an onion after all these years: Cut off the stem and leave the hairy end.  Cut in half through the root end, peel off layers, slice following the natural vertical lines without cutting through the root, place the onion flat side down, and slice horizontally.  EASY! I’m embarrassed to mention the way I’ve been chopping onions all these years…let’s just say it’s involved me needing band-aids on many occasions.  I was in charge of all of the Paella steps involving the pan.  Again, the recipe was easy to follow, and if I had a question, the chef was always willing to help. I believe that I can successfully prepare this for my family. I’ll have to update this post when I do.

The final two dishes we prepared were Chorizo stuffed bacon wrapped dates (I couldn’t wait to try those) and the Baked Goat Cheese in Tomato Sauce.

Working on the chorizo stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates Working on the chorizo stuffed, bacon-wrapped dates Goat Cheese in Tomato Sauce Goat Cheese in Tomato Sauce Preparing the baked goat cheese in tomato sauce Preparing the baked goat cheese in tomato sauce

Now it’s time to eat! My team (lol, we made it a Top Chef competition in our minds) cooked up some amazing dishes! Everything turned out delicious despite our mischief! I couldn’t stop eating and had to force myself away from the table.

Black Bean & Cilantro Empanadas                            Mussel & Shrimp Paella Black Bean & Cilantro Empanadas                            Mussel & Shrimp Paella Baked Goat Cheese in Tomato Sauce Baked Goat Cheese in Tomato Sauce Paella Paella

All in all, a successful, fun night, and a wonderful memory!

I’d recommend the Chopping Block if you’re looking for an entertaining and enjoyable new experience.

Hopefully, you’ll check them out; feel free to leave a comment on your experience.

In the meantime, here’s the recipe for Black Bean and Cilantro Empanadas.  

Black Bean and Cilantro Empanadas

Yield: 1 to 2 dozen small empanadas
Active time: 35 minutes
Start to finish: 55 minutes
For the dough:
6 tablespoons butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1/4 teaspoon cayenne or espellette pepper
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
For the filling: 
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 roasted red pepper, small dice (see note, below)
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, rough chopped
1 scallion, thinly sliced on the bias
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste
1 egg, lightly beaten
Egg wash: 1 egg, lightly beaten with a fork with 1 teaspoon of water

  1. To make the dough, mix the butter and cream cheese in a food processor fitted with a metal blade until smooth. Add the flour, cornmeal, cayenne or espellette pepper and salt, and process until the dough forms a ball.
  2. Remove the dough from the food processor and form into a disc. Wrap in plastic and chill for about 1 hour. (May refrigerate for up to 2 days.)
  3. Preheat the oven to 400º.
  4. To prepare the filling, chop the garlic in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add the black beans and pulse until slightly broken up. You can also use a potato masher.
  5. Transfer bean mixture to a bowl. Fold in cheese, roasted pepper, cilantro, scallions, lime juice, and salt and pepper. Stir in the egg.
  6. Now for the assembly: Roll the dough on a lightly floured work surface until it is 1/8 inch thick. Cut approximately 3-inch circles with a biscuit cutter.
  7. Place dough onto a parchment lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
  8. Lightly brush the edge of one circle with egg yolk. Place about 1 tablespoon of filling in the center. Fold the circle in half, pinching the edges together.
  9. Place empanadas in the oven and bake for 20 minutes (rotating halfway through) or until golden brown.
  10. Remove from the oven and cool
  11. ENJOY!!!

Recipe courtesy of The Chopping Block www.TheChoppingBlock.com

Noteworthy Mentions

  • The Chopping Block hosts private events such as corporate team building and bridal showers
  • The retail store offers a wide array of kitchen necessities such as cookbooks, kitchen tools, and spices. You get a discount on the day of your class
  • There’s a variety of activities and classes including, Iron Chef cooking competitions, wine parties, and even kids/teen cooking camps

Black Bean and Cilantro Empanadas Black Bean and Cilantro Empanadas