Birthday Celebrations, part 2

Also, my baby sister turned a year older. She is now sixteen, meaning driving and boys ahead. EEK! It's funny because when people ask me how old she is, I instinctively tell people she is eight years old. But then again, I also "instinctively" tell people I'm 21, although thanks to some felonious actions, I spent three years of my life being "21". hahaha

Baby Sister a la Sweet Sixteen

Birthday Celebrations

A belated note, but I recently celebrated a birthday! Busy with my cousin's engagement party, I almost forgot about the day until these arrived. (Thanks to +1) Be jealous:

Please ignore my messy kitchen table....

Tasty Taquitos and Janky 짬뽕

My cousin has stayed over with me for the past few days. Since we're best when we're together, we've been dining like royalty: late night taquitos and nasty 짬뽕 mix of drinks (i.e., pineapple margarita, apple martinis, malbec, merlot, etc.)


Our time together has mostly been comprised of this:

A semi-full stocked wine rack, yayyyyy!

Free Apps and Some More Cemita, Please!

Do you love Mexican? I do. And one of the best I've ever had is at Cemitas Puebla in Humboldt Park. Their cemita is scores better than the overpriced ones at Xoco (although I still <3 Rick Bayless!).

Now, now, don't be quick to judge. Normally I wouldn't take any recommendations from the wild-style Guy Fieri, but Cemitas Puebla rocks my world. Their combination of that toasted sesame bun, the schmears of avocado and braised meats.. droooooool.

But I digress, check out this Chicagoist piece on the awesome Cemitas Puebla, which is offering their chalupa appetizer free until the end of this month!

Look at all that cheese.....

Some More Cemita!!!!
♡M

Cupcake Craze: Part 2

Cupcake Craving Kicking In?

mm... Cupcakes now come in the most convenient form known to the Chicago (wo)man, delivered to you at various locations across Chicago!

Read about Flirty Cupcakes in today's Chicagoist. They come with cupcakes, right to you!

Wait one minute, who's in that byline????

IT'S ME!
♡M

me and ms. alpana

So for those of us in Chicago, most of us are aware of the awesome program "Check, Please!" and it's host Alpana Singh. She's a well recognized sommelier, and author of a handful of books.

Back in February of this year (before my camera decided to crap out on me) I headed over for a quiet brunch at the then newly opened Purple Pig. It was a quiet afternoon, and quite frankly, after Miss S and I had shared many morning mimosas, everything was a little foggy/hazy.

We sat at a table at the eastern side of the restaurant and low and behold. Who's sitting next to me? Alpana Singh! I embarrassingly gushed about how much I love her show and her books, and told her about my own (albeit, stagnant) aspirations of becoming a sommelier myself!

I could tell we were both pretty sloshed, hence the awkward pose and purple, wine-stained teeth of this photo. But here it is!

Genius Idea: No.2

A Soup Truck in Chicago? Genius, indeed! How many places in Chicago actually focus their attention and love on soup (other than the soupbox)? Not many!

Think of this:

- A soup truck in the loop. Come out in the brisk cold for just a minute to grab a piping hot bowl of homemade soup.
- A ramen truck. Need I say more?

Star Struck Night of Celebrity Chefs

Last night, a friend (Thanks, Kell!) forwarded me her tickets to Food+Wine magazine's Chicago Entertaining Showcase, for FREE!!!!!

Oh what luck I have! I called my fellow food friend JP and we made out way to the event. What a star-studded night! We got to talk to all of our favorite chefs: Graham Elliot, Stephanie Izard, Rey Villalobos, Jared Wentworth, Bill Kim, and TAKASHI YAGIHASHI!!!

 Is it embarrassing to admit what a fangirl I am of these guys?

Here's JP and my awards:
Best celeb: Stephanie Izard
Best dish: Longman and Eagle's Jared Wentworth
Most elaborate: Naha
Best Dessert: Takashi
Nicest conversationalist: Randy Zwiben

Oh my.. I can't even begin to mention the fun we had...

Monday Music

Video posted in light of the fact that I just discovered what neurotic mess I really am. Not like the beautiful one J.Mraz sings of below. Woe is me.

A mindless mess I am,
♡M

Cupcake Craze

It's mid-afternoon. The Loop feels dead, as almost half of it's workforce is celebrating "Veterans Day". One could use a sugar pick-me-up. Enter: Flirty Cupcakes on Wheels, the food truck delivering scrumptious cupcakes to office drones in need (ie. the likes of me).

Last time they pulled up in our neck of the Loop, I scarfed down so many, that my stomach and head we're angry with me for a good two days. But that's a sacrifice worthy of such sugar fix. So this time, I practiced extreme self-restraint. I watched a friend purchase hers, and dolefully drooled and watched. Without purchasing any. What has taken over this glut?

Enjoy my photos above!

Cravin' that Cupcake,
♡M

Brauhaus: Beers and Brats

I had a jovial time last weekend at Brauhaus, taking in some beer, brats, and a little boogie. No place on Chicago is quite like this welcoming atmosphere, drawing in everyone there in song and dance. But with the beers they offer, food that comes in abundance, and strudel to meet your bliss, who can resist a cheery little song and dance? I sure can't!

BEER ME! ..and you wonder why I'm a glut....

PROST, PROST, PROST!
♡M

The Best Cure-All Solution

Kimchi can save your life. No, no, I'm serious. The potent amounts of garlic fights off diseases from across the spectrum whether they be the common cold or the bird flu/SARS.

Better yet, the older and stinkier it gets, the more potently delicious each concoction becomes. I give you... my weeks-old-kimchi jjigae:

Boiling over with hunger yet? Because my Jjigae sure is!

Hands down, spicy Kimchi Jjigae can kick wimpy Chicken Noodle Soup's ass in a best of soups competition any day. Can Chicken Noodle Soup (CNS) cure a hangover? Kimchi Jjigae sure does. Can CNS scare illness right out of your body? Kimchi Jjigae does. Does CNS hold enough girth and nutrients to be a full meal in itself? Kimchi Jjigae is!

*ding*ding*ding*

We have a winner (but I'm a biased judge).

Still learning to navigate the kitchen,
♡M

2011 Bib Groumand Selections!

Wanting a table at Chicago's new trending spots? The wait might be a bit at some, as Michelin has announced their 2011 Bib Gourmand Selections!

I made my way to half of these, and look forward to tackling the other half!

Pre-DOOMDAY Pamper

I am slowly and yet quickly approaching that quarter century mark. eep!

As a pre-bday gift, +1 was nice enough to gift me a one-hour massage! Now to be honest, I'm very ticklish and so have never had a massage before. But lately, I guess I've been stressed, as noted by my dentist who pointed out I've been night-grinding my teeth!

Open-minded, and ready to be pampered,
♡M

A delicate palate.

I love food.

I love smelling it, seeing it, reading about it, writing about it, shopping for it, and of course, eating it. One probably assumes that since I have such a great love of the stuff, I'd have a delicate palate with tastes to distinguish certain bold vs. soft flavors, ambivalent vs. intensified tastes, etc. etc. etc.

No. I guess not, because for the last few days, I've been craving fried chicken. Not fast food chicken, or Korean chicken wings. I'm not sure exactly what type of chicken I'm craving, but I know that when dinner time comes around, I'm craving chicken.

Not to mention, the intensified dreams I've been having! Most people (aka poor friends who have to hear my endless drama-queen-style stories) have heard me tell of my elaborate dreams. Dreams where I'm a crime fighter, or a flying superhero, or distraught world traveler. But lately, I've been having the same dream, and of all things, about fried chicken.

The dream starts like this: I have a crush on a man. I am lamenting over this man, and distraught in my overtly obvious one-way attraction. In a plan to seduce said man, I devise a plan. I call over every single one of my girlfriends and beg them to help me make fried chicken. We make at least eight different varieties of fried chicken, until it's overflowing my small apartment, and the smell of grease has been infused into every crevice of my tiny space. Then the doorbell rings, but I panic. I'm not ready to seduce this man with fried chicken, and my girlfriends and I begin to hide the chicken in every place imaginable.

End dream. Wake up in a panic.

Conclusion? My neighborhood is soon to open a Dominicks in my neighborhood, which is in very close proximity to my apartment. Dominicks is notoriously known for marketing, by wafting smells of fried chicken outside of its store (this is an assumed statement). I really need to start sleeping with my windows closed shut....

Still cravin' that chicken 'n waffles,
♡M

I ♡ Web Comics

Becuase I'm a nerd. Here's one I just discovered, love this quirkiness, and can totally relate!
Enjoy, a la Liz Prince.

It's Friday Night and I just....... Got Paid~!

I love 'N Sync, forever and ever~~

But I digress,

I love Kate!

So classy and chic, I wish I were her! It's Friday here in Chicago and the chills are picking up.Those lying bastards at weather.com keep saying snow, sleet, rain, etc. but this Autumn girl refuses to believe.

In severe denial,
♡M

Miss S, Engaged!

My best friend, Miss S, is engaged! But y'all already know this because I've blogged about it before.

While I haven't been asked to be a bridesmaid or anything (because there's still quite a bit more years of planning!) I've taken it upon myself, to assume the duties of:

• PR B**** for the Min/Choi Union: ie. answering e-mails, messages, and what not when people go "Miss S IS OFF THE MARKET?!"
• EVENT PLANNER: Engagement Party? Bachelorette Party? Wedding Shower? Bridal Shower?

Which brings me to my next topic. My cousin also recently got engaged and I was talking to Miss S about different party ideas and what not that I could share with my cousin. Miss S came up with this idea of having a wine-themed party, where each guest is asked to bring one bottle of wine under $5, which is then put in a blind taste test by all guests at the party. The winning bottle is then selected to be the main drink at the wedding. What a cute and novel idea, no?

And then I saw these!

Engagement Ring Wine Stoppers!

What a cute idea, no?

The Princess of Parties,
♡M

Community Art

Mosaic on the Underpass to the Lake

Community art breathes life into the lives of neighbors, reflecting the joy and hope of the neighborhood it represents. After years of living in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, I made the move away from the cookie cutter walk-ups, and made my way to my new neighborhood, one that I've come to love and appreciate to no end. Each day as I jog (albeit, verrrrry slowwwwwly) past, it's a comforting feeling I get from seeing the heart that was poured into creating this art.

I wish more that our "western" culture would incorporate art into our lives. Many Muslim countries incorporate art into the most minute of details of their buildings, really bringing all viewers into a scared space of exaltation of the space.

My favorite activity when I was studying in Morocco was seeing all the different patterns of buildings, sidewalks, doors, ceramics, which is incorporated in really every aspect of Moroccan urban living. Here are a few of my favorites:

I loved hearing from guides, shopkeepers, my host sister (or really anyone in ear shot of my aloud-wondering) about the history and significance of each design. How one famous person or another commissioned one piece and the next. How the numbers used in these intricate tile designs were exaltation to Koranic verses. It was all so breathtakingly beautiful.

But I a fool, and always a goof:

Tile, tile, everywhere!

All about the art!
♡M

[GASP] I'm a fatty

After writing a handful of reviews for the Chicagoist, friends and family alike have approached me about "YOU GOTTA TRY" cheap eats restaurants of their choice. I'm grateful for all the suggestions and love hearing what makes each place unique!

Below is a glimpse of what I've heard from others so far... and doesn't even include my own list of places I wanted to check out!

Join me in this conversation, leave a comment if I'm missing a "must-try" favorite place of your own!

Borinquen Restaurant
Sun Wah
Nu Lan
Sabor Express
Convenience Store next to Tango Sur
Macondo
Veerasway
Vincent
City Provisions
Marble
Pret a Manger
La Boulangerie
BomBon Café
Joey's Shrimp House
Mac and Min's
Ameer Kabob
Taco Fuego
Franks - n - Dawgs
Zaytune
Benjyehuda
Fame Da Lupo
Roots Caribbean Cuisine
Bucktown Soup Café
Iyanze
P&P BBQ Soul Food
90 Miles

Fatty travels ahead,
♡M

Election Day!

Please don't take this as an endorsement for Quinn. I didn't vote for him, if that helps?
Photo a la Chicagoist

Today was election day, and I hope you all went out and voted, or at least partook in absentee voting/early voting?

Fining my polling place this morning was horrible, who puts three different polling places within a 4 foot walk from each other? I waited in three different lines, was told three different things, was treated like an imbecile three times, but do you know what? It was worth it.

Voter #125****,
♡M