SNAP Challenge

Often times, it's easy to forget about the vast socioeconomic disparities that happen in the city. Especially living in this urban environment, one usually learns to block out the need surrounding our neighborhoods as we go about on our daily routines.

Chicago Foodies recently took up on the SNAP Challenge, a challenge to live like the 1.6 million Illinoisans who get by on only $4.50 a day. SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federal-assistance program that provides assistance to low- and no-income people and families living in the U.S. Though the program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, benefits are distributed by the individual U.S. states.

Join Feeding Illinois in this program to bring awareness to these disparities that exist and combat the food desert so prevalent in our troubled urban neighborhoods.

Chicago Food Film Fest 9.24.2010

A bit belated, but updates from the Chicago Food Film Festival on Sept. 24, 2010.

Neighbor J and Friends from Purdue, Moi and neighbor J

As the first ever Chicago Food Film Festival, none of us were sure what to expect. One of us had read that it was an open door free for fall event, and warned us not to expect organization. I must say however, it was a very organized event and enjoyed by all of us!

The evening began with the opportunity to try foods of all sorts of food from around the Chicagoland Area.

fOOd~

We sampled pomegranate margaritas, cucumber martinis and lavish wines from Lush.Delicious braised carrots and beets from Harvest Moon Organics, an abundance of cheese from Jarlsberg Cheese, and fried foods galore (hellO cheese curds)!

The rushed reception of food was following with a screening of multiple short films focused on film.

Food Film Festival Founders George Motz and Harry Hawk

Each film was paired with surprise samples passed out during the film. From out comfortable seats we sampled: Deep Fried Orero, Cucumber Soda and AMAZING Hoosier Mama Sugar Cream Pies.

One of the films, Mr. Okra

And what better way to top off a fun fall evening of food, films, and friends than with some festive pumpkin spice ice cream. gaaahhhh... still drooling~

Bobtail Ice Cream's Amazing Pumpkin Spice

p.s. Did I ever tell you I love alliterations? I could wordlessly write these warming words all day....

Cruisin' to Chinatown

Three years ago, after a very traumatizing late night trip to Chinatown, I vowed to myself I would never return there. (My trauma to be shared later... **shudder**)

Unfortunately, since my last trip to NYC (and this lovely crisp fall weather Chicago is experiencing) has left me craving soup dumplings. ME WANT! So I spent the week scrolling through all the online reviews I could find, in search of "Chicago's Best Soup Dumplings" (literally what was entered into every search).

Well this brought me (+1) to dinner at Lao ShangHai in Chinatown, go figure. WoW~ how much Chinatown has changed! Not drastically so, but there are definite improvements in the area, and notable changes in accessibility to the Chinatown-Cermak red line stop.

photo a la Metromix Chicago

The Chinatown mall was, as usual, packed and crowded with hoards of teenage cliques and posses waiting in line for a seat at the hipper/trendier looking restaurants like Chi Cafe or Joy Yee's. Lao ShangHai, despite great online reviews, was particularly empty and appeared to serve an older crowd and small families. For a bustling Saturday night, it appeared only half the restaurant was filled.

Me and +1 were glad, though, that we didn't need to wait in a horrendous line. We weren't particularly hungry, I just really really wanted the soup dumplings! So we ordered:

SOUP DUMPLINGS

Shanghai Style Fish Fillet

I'm not going to lie, the soup dumplings were a definite disappointment. There wasn't enough soup inside, and the dough was disproportionately more than the filling/soup. I guess nothing can compete with Joe Shanghai's soup dumplings! Craving has subsided for now, but I'm sure it'll come back with full force again soon!

The surprising dish of the night was the Shanghai Style Fish Fillet. The photos didn't make it seem that appealing, and from reading the descriptions online, I was expecting something that was cold and bitter. Was I wrong! It was warm, grilled fish fillets in a tasty, under-stated white sauce and it came out piping hot, keeping us warm despite the draft that floated around the restaurant.

Next step: Seek out soup dumplings in "Little Vietnam" which is MUCH closer to home than Chinatown, on the other spectrum of the red line.

**Chicago Food Film Festival photos coming soon! Currently battling some technical errors with my little Olympus SLR~

Chicago Heart

can one love school?

Any of those who know me, know I've been struggling in choosing a master's degree program. Well world, It's been decided.. I've found my dream school in Carpigiani!

Carpigiani Gelato University is an international center of learning dedicated to training entrepreneurs who want to enter the gelato business or who already work with gelato and want to improve their abilities. Around 9,000 courses every year are donein our gelato school by top chefs.

Yes, that's right. A university solely dedicated to the art of GELATO! Now only if there was a winery nearby.. oh wait, it's in ITALY where wine is more prominent than water (or at least in the Italy of my mind's eye).

**sigh** now i just need a wealthy "benefactor" to fund my dreams of gelato-filled gluttony....

 

Essential: Water

A journey as beautiful as life has to start with water

What's your preference when dining out? Tap or Mineral? I've come to miss drinking bubbly mineral water on the cheap when living in Budapest.... but it seems much more appropriate to have tap here in the states.

Countdown: 2 days until the Chicago Food and Film Festival

So excited! The FIRST ever Chicago Food Film Festival kicks off on Friday, September 24. Featured on Saturday's agenda includes "Beer Wars", a film about one of America's favorite drinks.



Are you excited?!

Black Market Grilled Gouda

This morning on my morning commute, I caught a snippet of Dinner Party Download talking about... good grilled gouda on the black market.Below is a snippet of the conversation that ensued:

BRENDAN FRANCIS NEWNAM: OK. I'm here on location in the Lower East Side. I just texted this number and I just told him where I was. So it's been about 10 minutes and every time I look around I think I see Ronnie. Is Ronnie a kid with alabaster legs that look like lollipop sticks riding a skateboard? Is Ronnie riding a bike with a cast on one leg?
RONNIE: Hey, how's it going?
NEWNAM: You're Ronnie? Do you have the stuff?
RONNIE: I do. I have the stuff right here for you.
NEWNAM: We didn't even talk about price?
RONNIE: Price? This is a $5 sandwich.
NEWNAM: Do you have change for a $10?
RONNIE: What kind of dealer would I be without change?
NEWNAM: Look at all that cash. How many grilled cheese have you moved today?
RONNIE: Today, I've done like 50.

The low down:
Only marketed in the Lower East Side of NYC, you just obtain Ronnie's number and text him your location and grilled cheese sandwich preference. Ronnie comes over with the goods in tow, at $5 - $7 a pop. Unwrap. Enjoy.

Apparently his unconventional methods go beyond his manner of business. These sandwiches are built, wrapped in foil, then tossed into a oven at 500 degrees. drooool... this particular one, built with

Gouda cheese, jalapenos, crushed black pepper and tomatoes looks super tasty....

F O.O D

Boys and Girls,

I am particularly excited for this upcoming weekend.Why? Not only is my (now fully employed, and hopefully generous) older sister coming to town, but she bought us tickets for..

the FIRST ANNUAL CHICAGO FOOD AND FILM FESTIVAL!!!!!!

So far, we've only planned on attending Friday night's events, but I'm hoping to convince her otherwise... muhahahhaa

excited?! yes i am...  :)

Hungry Hump Day

[...grrrOOOOOoOOOWL...]

Don't panic, that wasn't an earthquake. You just web-witnessed my empty stomach crying out for food.

Today was a busy day at work, getting materials prepped for a meeting in the afternoon. I was so busy getting work done, that I forgot I didn't pack a lunch/didn't grab anything to eat. Well, now it's 3 p.m. and it seems like a waste to buy lunch when I'll be home cooking dinner in a few minutes anyhow!

My new favorite recipe source is The Pioneer Woman, whose step-by-step photo instructions are extremely helpful in determining if my "toasted" veggies are indeed toasted.. or just damn burnt. haha But that is the dilemma of being an absent-minded glut wandering in uncharted territories known as "THE KITCHEN". Woe is me.

Anyways, I'm so happy I got a chance to chat with my dear friend S, who is currently living the life as a make-up artist in Paris! Follow her awesome blog here!

Can you imagine what it must have been like living in a world of the rotary phone? Thank goodness for skype, google chat/voice and the like for making life so much easier!

Empty on Fuel

a la Cowbirds in Love