My Body/Mind is Revolting Against Me

I love food. And drink. And MOST especially the combination of the two. So "diets" and "attempts" at "losing weight" are no easy feat.

A lot of times, this is what I think:

via

I've also been really into Doctor Who lately (you can start judging me now). It's strange to watch though. I'm usually watching wide-eyed and excited, but a lot of times, the episode ends and I go, "huh?" I'm sure it also doesn't help that sometimes I can't really understand British accents....

via

It freaks me out. This show (and usually any/all versions of Law&Order) messes with my mind. I end up checking every crevice of my apartment, and each of the locks TWICE before I can comfortably sleep.

I don't know whether to blame my excessive eating (usually junk food) addition, or my choice in television but I've been having some crazy dreams. I should stop both addictions, but it's just so damn hard.

So in conclusion, f-you brain and body!

via Unknown

P.S. You say you don't agree of Doctor Who's awesome-ability-ness-dom? F-you, to you too.

Chicago Public Transit

I actually don't mind the el. In theory, I love that I can get anywhere via bus/train. I love that I can do my "green" part and use public transit. AND, I love people watching on the train: the good, the bad and the ugly.

via

Sometimes it's not so bad, but then sometimes, you've had a bad day, the heat/air isn't working on the el, it's so crowded you're staring at someone's ass your entire commute home, and then the douche next to you decides this is the perfect time to have a conversation.

via 4gifs

Overall, though, it's not so bad. I love the CTA... or at least that's what I have to keep saying to myself.

BUT THEN I MOVED TO LAKEVIEW and experienced the horrible-ness that is SWARMS of Cubs fans.

Yesterday, on my commute home I was cornered by a bunch of loud obnoxious Cubs fans who were shouting and hitting one another, and blocking the doors at EVERY. SINGLE. STOP. My anger was about to bubble over, when I saw my chance.

I was sitting near one of said fans, who was wearing a Fukudome bandana (which 1. hasn't it been years since he was on the team? and 2. why people, why?).

via

Side note: it bothers me when people have Asian letters tattooed on themselves. I mean, c'mon folks, it could easily just say "POOP" and you would have no idea!

So back to this obnoxious fan. I waited until we we're near the Wrigleyville stop, and started to giggle. Then I leaned in and asked him, "do you want to know what that REALLY says?"

I'm Korean, so I have no idea, but that bewildered look on his face was worth it. SO, so worth it.

It's Not Over Yet!

With September (and [gulp] school) right around the corner, it seems everyone has given up on all that is "summer". But NOT ME. You can still call it summer while it's still 90 degrees out (err... although a mention about the hazardous affects/effects of global warming should go here, but we'll save that for another day).

One thing I love about summer is cocktails. Most days, I'm a wine or whiskey girl. Complex flavors, simple pours is my mantra for about 8 months of the year. Summer months, however, is a reason/excuse/celebration to break out the funny twisty straws and my massive blender for a drink made more of fruit and sugar than alcohol.

My favorite cocktail blend so far? The Pink Tequilla via R29. It's a refreshing blend of watermelon, strawberries, lime, agave and tequilla that's both sweet and simple, but even easier to make.

via Refinery 29

It's labor day weekend, and I'm going to spend it blending up another mighty concoction. FOLLOW me on Pinterest, and see some ideas I have in mind.

Spotted: North Center

Spotted in the North Center neighborhood, a small sign no bigger than a square inch.

via Glut with Guts

Minna-made

Unpacking after moving has taken quite a bit longer than I had expected. This in addition to minor "issues" with our apartment have kept me hesitant from breaking in the new space. It's now week four in my apartment, and slowly but surely, things are coming together and I've started to feel a bit more at "home".

via moi

S came over the other day with two lovely new additions to my kitchen: basil and rosemary! After I wake up each morning, I scuttle into the kitchen and rub a leaf of each for good measure. They smell so great!

Moving out of my old apartment, I did a major purge of my things: I threw out boxes of old clothes, many bottles of lotions and sadly... a lot of kitchen stuff too. However, essentials at hand, I've started to cook once more.

via moi

I made my pseudo pad thai. I say pseudo (and probably should) about most/all my cooking as... I barely measure. This is a bad habit I've picked up from years of watching my halmoni (grandmother) cook in the kitchen... only I have no experience to back up my method. haha oh well.

I love "easy made" recipes. I hate when I pick up a cookbook filled with ridiculously obscure french names and processes or 'crazy' ingredients. I'm a simple girl, with simple tastes and would like a recipe to be blunt and show me how in 10 steps or less. No hand-holding, just slap it down on the table.

(Also, please ignore my washer/dryer in the background. My kitchen is cramped but functional and cute!)

Other weekend happenings: I'm loving my new neighborhood and all the foodie/wino nooks and cranies.

via Glut with Guts

Truffled eggs at Fork in Lincoln Square/North Center = HEAVENLY. Sitting atop a light puff pastry with a thin layer of mushrooms and goat cheese, this truffle flavor infused eggs made me happy and giddy. I don't think I spoke the entire time I was eating this and had my eyes closed like a freak after each bite.

Other notables from the Fork menu:

via Glut with Guts -- Duck Crostini

via Glut with Guts -- Orange Carrot Juice

After brunch, +1 and I went to our favorite breakfast/bakery place (that had a 2 hour wait for brunch! Hence why we choose the no wait Fork instead.) for some coffee.

Welcome to Lincoln Square:

via Glut with Guts -- Cafe Selmarie

via Glut with Guts -- The Fountain of Lincoln Square gets a washing!

via Glut with Guts -- Sunday Sprawl

via Glut with Guts -- Summer Sprigs! :D

Dirty Betty's Deliciously Decadant Doughnuts

Early this morning, when most people are fighting the snooze button (which I'm usually up to myself) one thing made me jump out of bed and jump on the smelly train to Lincoln Park: Dirty Betty's opens today.

Doughnuts are definitely the new pastry craze. Move over cupcakes and macarons, there's a new kid in town. Each morning a long  line forms around the block at the Doughnut Vault, Scott Harris of Mia Francesca announced his move to open a small shop called Glaze and Dirty Betty’s the latest to join the game.

But with flavors like ginger doughnuts with key lime glaze, and blueberry doughnuts with a lemon glaze, how can one possibly resist?

ps. I love alliterations.
pps. I'm pretty sure I need to double my workout after this morning's "meal".

Taste of Peru

While their grilled seafood and meat entrees make great options, a must-try dish at Taste of Peru is the sopa de viagra soup. Albeit a pricier order ($25), this creamy soup with mixed seafood is truly unique in it’s broth filled with Peruvian spices. This dish with the funny name has serious flavor, and although it has no connection to the drug, it’s hearty portions of vegetables and nutritious seafood (known aphrodisiacs) combined with the romantic ambiance of live Peruvian music might just kick your libido into gear. 

Read more about this yummy soup and sezty zesty ceviche from Taste of Peru!

Photo Credit: Minna An

 

(Belated) Restaurant Week Review: Rhapsody

Rhapsody, albeit in a central location, was certainly a dining experience surprise. Located centrally near the Art Institute and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, this is definitely a great selection for patrons of the arts.

Restaurant Week Menu Review

First Course: Arancini Filled with prosciutto and taleggio cheese, saba, grape salad; Carpaccio of Beef, truffle potato salad, fried cipollini onions; and Grilled Smoked Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp, chick pea puree, calabrian peppers, mint
Review: While I'm a big fan of arancinis, this one was a bit disappointing, lacking in bountiful flavors although fulfilling promises of deep-fried rice. The carpaccio was definitely flavorful, but a bit too salty for my tastes, with competing flavors of aged beef and intense truffle flavor. I always prefer my truffle flavor a bit mild and freshly shaved, not enveloping every last bite. The shrimp, although beautiful, was a task to consume, with the head and tail still attached, just not a preferable presentation in my book.

Second Course:Artichoke Ravioli, provolone cheese, brown butter artichoke broth; Roasted Chicken Breast Salad, local apples, celery, hazelnuts, pecorino cheese, bibb lettuce; Nonna Zanella’s Gnocchi, braised lamb, tomatoes, rosemary, parmesan
Review: I think the surprise here was the chicken "salad". The plate came to the table with a huge hunk of chicken bedded next to a lump of cabbage. While roasted to perfection, it was an interesting presentation and preparation of a "salad". The ravioli was beautifully plated with roe added great color to a normally beige pasta dish. The gnocchi with braised lamb is what won me over, with soft gnocchi paired with the marinated braised lamb, this dish was both hearty and flavorful.

Third Course: Bombolini, custard filled doughnuts, chocolate dipping sauce; Panna Cotta, vanilla, citrus & mint salad, crispy “crepe”; Café Espresso, baked chocolate custard, espresso merginue,
vanilla gelato
Review: I had higher expectations for the bombolini, as many food critics predict the cupcake craze to be replaced with a passion by beignets. The pana cotta was a great selection to be followed by a heavy meal, with the creaminess not overtaken by the fluffy flan-like textures. The cafe espresso was the boldest of the desserts, with such rich chocolate and espresso bean flavors.

The Room: I had no idea this gem was hidden away in this space. Seemingly appearing dark and draped from the outside, the inside was surprisingly large with great open spaces, making the dining experience feel as if in a large outdoor garden. Despite the large space, the room provides a balanced atmosphere which could be great for shared business conversations during lunch, or even romantic nothings whispered over dinner before a show.

A love for.. decaying buildings

I have a strange love and appreciation for decaying buildings, and even more so for those amazing photographers who can capture their standstill beauty. I still dream of getting to tour the Uptown Theater one day, and now adding to my list, is this former church in Hyde Park. On sale this week for just under 1.5 million.

via WBEZ

Read the full story, and see more pictures in the piece by WBEZ's Lee Bay.

Restaurant Week Review: Blackbird

Blackbird is foodie heaven, if there ever was one. Named in most places as a foodie destination, and recognized in several awards across the county, I felt like the last person on earth to make my way here. It's safe to say my expectations we're high, and sadly, disappointing.

First Course: garbanzo bean soup with falafel, pickled asian pear, caramelized egg yolk and sumac
AND seared diver scallops with pears, brussels sprouts and powdered sauerkraut
Review: The garbanzo bean soup with falafel was amazing, with the deeply rich soup and heavy falafel contrasted with the pickled asian pear and caramelized egg yolk. I'm biased though, because I consider falafel one of my favorite foods (is it bad to admit my favorite falafel is the $2 one from Taste of Lebanon... still?). The soup was one of the best parts of this meal. The scallops we're decent, but definitely not my first choice. What the heck is powdered sauerkraut?

Second Course: atlantic cod with flageolets, pink lady apple, fried pumpernickel and winter herbs AND butternut and ricotta tart with black trumpet mushrooms, quinoa and wakame
Review: My personal choice was the butternut squash and ricotta tart. Anything with a tart is usually fine by me, with this tart's crust made with what appears to be the wakame. So creative! The rest of the dish was so-so, with the butternut and ricotta flavors too mild to enjoy, although the toasted wakame made for some interesting saltiness. The atlantic cod was a better choice, with the crisp skin with the pumpernickel making for a delightful texture and taste.

Third Course: vanilla parfait with satsuma, campari and almond AND chocolate ganache with  tahitian vanilla gastrique and parsnip ice cream
Review: The chocolate ganache was pretty standard. That is all. The vanilla parfait, was vanilla.

The Service: The whole night, I kept asking my dinner date, "do you think the waiter hates us?" Our waiter was only at our table to take our order and hardly returned for anything else. It also appeared to be some sort of hierarchy/seniority between the waiters and busboys. More than once I saw a waiter push a busboy in the back shoving them forward while they were waiting for patrons to clear the space. I get that there are hierarchical "ladders" everywhere, but that doesn't mean one person shouldn't be treated as an equal. UGH, annoyed.

The Atmosphere: This is probably going to put me in the "old person" category but why the hell is it so loud in there? Either due to the music, pour acoustic space planning, or the obnoxiously loud cat lady seated next to us, it was near impossible to share a conversation with my dinner date. Half way through our meal, we just gave up and either mouthed the words or just remained silent. By the time I left Blackbird, I was craving conversation so much, my friend and I ended up talking non-stop for the next 30 minutes.

Chicago Restaurant Week runs from Feb. 18 - 27. Blackbird is located in the West Loop at 619 W. Randolph.

Restaurant Week Review: Topolobampo

Most of you know, I'm a fan of almost all things Rick Bayless. He was the nicest (yet also fiercest!) competitor on Top Chef, and I'm a long time fan of his show "One Plate at a Time". So when I started discussing an annual Restaurant Week meal w/my friend Z, I was more than excited when she suggested Topolobampo.

Restaurant Week Menu Review

First Course: Sopa Azteca - Pasilla broth with lime, avocado, tortilla strips and hand-made jack cheese
Review: More than anything I was immensely impressed with the presentation of the dish! First the plate of toasted tortilla strips, grilled chicken and jack cheese came to the table bare, adorned only by a single slice of avocado. What a delight, however, as the server soon poured out a hot broth from a single sized saucepan, tableside. The dish was a bit messy, with strings of jack cheese hanging from my mouth (I'm sure I was a classy date) but I couldn't stop dipping the large soup spoon into the bowl until near nothing remained.

Second Course: Puerco en Mole Poblano - Red chile-marinated, grill-roasted Maple Creek pork loin in Mexico’s classic fiesta sauce, mole poblano. Black beans, grilled green beans
Review: Both Z and I ordered the Puerco en Mole Poblano, each of us enticed by the Bayless famous mole. Each bite was quickly followed by an, "omg", with even the green beans packing flavor and  punch. The beans were warm and filling, and the entire dish was floating above mole. Even better, Z thought to ask for hot sauce, upon which we we're brought a small bowl of habanero sauce and strong warnings of "please, it's very very spicy. only use a small amount." but greed gave in and large amounts of habanero we're slathered. Although extremely hot, the habanero sauce was done really well!

Third Course: Crepa con Cajeta - Warm, buttery crepes filled with plantain custard. Nieve de crema (sour cream sorbet), peanut crunch, homemade cajeta and bittersweet chocolate drizzle
Review: Jennifer Jones (Topolobampo Pastry Chef), I am forever your fan for introducing me to this awesome dish. This was amazing. Z and I had originally planned on hitting up Xoco post-meal for a churro and chocolate festival, but after such a larger portioned, filling meal followed by this amazing dessert, churros and chocolate was the last thing on my mind. This light crepe filled with rich plantains mixed with ice-cold sour cream sorbet was a perfect balance of everything that's right with this world.

The Service: Our waitress was so sweet, attentive to our needs, and carefully apprehensive to other requests (i.e., the one for hot sauce). Everyone was on their A-game, even though our meal was just for a lunch. Water glasses we're never empty, our quickly emptied plate never lingered, and out wait was totally forgotten in conversation, in other words really great harmony and flow in the service.

The Room: Topolobampo, Frontera and Xoco share a corner block that really should just be re-named Rick's Corner. Topolobampo's interior was filled with traditionally Mexican art, but brought together and displayed in a very upscale manner. The best surprise was seen on our way out, with the art installation of butterflies inspired by the annual staff trip to Mexico. I love everything about this place, the menu and Bayless!


Chicago Restaurant Week runs from Feb. 18 - 27. Topolobampo is located in River North at 445 N. Clark St.

Restaurant Week Review: BOKA

Restaurant Week Chicago has begun!

I'm all smiles, even though I'll be 10 pounds heavier and wallets cheaper by the end of the week. Restaurant Week began for me on Monday night with an early dinner w/ a good friend and colleague JP at BOKA of Lincoln Park.

Restaurant Week Menu Review

Pre-Course Teaser: Truffled Edamame Mac and Cheese
Review: I can't even type this without drooling a little.

First Course: Maine Diver Scallop, Broccoli Sauce, Sweet & Sour Onions AND Crispy Chicken Thigh, Potato Puree, Pickled Celery Root
Review: Both dishes we're decent, with more flair for presentation and style than for taste and texture. The Scallop was cooked relatively well (Personally, I'm really picky about how scallops are cooked as the texture can be off-putting sometimes, depending on the way they were prepared), but the flavors of the broccoli and onions was mild if not absent. The crispy chicken thigh was an interesting dish, again with the focus more on presentation and plating than on the flavors. Full of home-style flavors, this dish had an interesting glamour to a normally uninteresting combination (chicken and potatoes).

Second Course: Angus Tenderloin with wild mushroom croquette and parsnip sauce AND Braised Pork Belly with Fried Oyster, Spicy Bok Choy and Green Tea Soba Noodle
Review: I'm a huge fan of croquettes, so I opted for the Angus dish. The beef was cooked medium rare, but lacked a certain ompf of any flavor. The mushroom croquette was mildly lukewarm, and was mushy, for a lack of a better word. Wild mushrooms should have been packed with bold, earthy flavors that were sadly absent in this dish.The Braised Pork Belly dish was tasty, but lacked any class in presentation. Presented like a traffic jam of lego-sized squares, this dish, while not appealing as such, was the highlight of the menu with bold flavors that made up for the lack of pizzazz elsewhere.

Third Course: Ginger Kulfi, Toasted Marshmallow, Espresso, Tangerine, Chocolate
Review: Insanely rich and decadent only to be sharpy contrasted with tangy ginger kulfi, this dessert was a promise fulfilled in flavor and zing. Boring alone, all the ingredients combined made for a delicious bite of balanced sweetness.

The Service: Attentive to an overwhelming degree, with a busser/bread provider/waiter breathing down our necks at every second. Yes, it was nice not to have to linger over messy plates, or to have to raise a hand for a request, but asking me how it tastes the second after the plates have come to the table... isn't very welcoming. I wanted to enjoy the conversation I was sharing, not be rushed through each course. While very nice people, I must say you all must have been bored, seeing how the four people apparently assigned to our table hovered above us our entire meal.

The Room: I like the classy touches of this space, with the illuminated drapes enveloping diners in this large space. Great wine list with interesting selections.



Chicago Restaurant Week runs from Feb. 18 - 27. BOKA is located in Lincoln Park at 1729 N. Halsted Ave.

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....

Tac Quick in my TUMMY!

They've done it again. The apparently delusional people at Chicagoist think my writing is good enough to be published! Read my review of my recent trip to Tac Quick, but be warned there's no mention of Neighbor J in this write-up!

Still in disbelief that people read my writing!
♡M

Read this review!

Hello readers!

Yours truly recently reviewed the Maxwell Street Market for the Chicagoist. Read about it here!

Ecstatic to be published,
♡M

Hola, Zocalo

Zocalo: 358 W. Ontario

Anyplace that has "TEQUILLA" advertised in their name is alright by me! Zocalo is no exception, with it's dim drinks, soft live music and dangerously strong margaritas.

"Special" Margarita

I love when the servers mix the drinks at your table, and courtesy of Cointreau, we were each given the small mixer to take home, enabling dangerous "Glut with Guts Kitchen" possibilities.

We ordered the appetizer platter and the guacamole. For the portions you receive, prices were obscene, but then again, it's River North dining.

The appetizer platter was made of Zocalo's three signature appetizers: empanada con plantanos fritos, flauta capitalinas, and scalpion de res. Of all the appetizers our group shared, the best was the empanadas, a combination of savory fried dough, and sweet plantain filling.

Omnivores, beware. This restaurants only caters to the extreme ends of the spectrum: the picky plant-only eaters and meat devouring carnivores.

For my entree, I ordered the Tinga Poblano, a server recommended favorite. The first few bites were divine, chicken grilled to perfection slathered in the cool avocado salsa. Mmmm....

Then I realized that the chicken was sitting on a bed of chorizo and potato chili. Oh My God. There is so much meat on this plate. I looked around at my friends' plates and realized much of the same meat theme in all of their entrees. For example, a steak garnished with shrimp?

A little to meat-y for me, but no question, I'll be back for the soft music and strong margs.

swayin' to the beat,
♡M

Lauren Launch

[GASP] is my forehead really this big?

I was recently mailed (what? snail mail still exists?) an invitation to attend the launch of Ralph Lauren's new handbag collection Lauren, which I almost threw out until I read the words FREE CHAMPAGNE. So of course I:

1. called and rsvped
2. called dear friends m and c to join
3. make friends with the server upon arrival who was in charge of the champagne tray that night


Being in Macy's the event was a bit shabbier than I assumed it would be, and welcomed in lots of (smelly) people from the street who wanted in on the free champagne (much like me).

purses and champagne, this grown-up girl's Thursday night

The event was a bit diappointing, and teh appetizers were beyond gross, but m, c and GwG (aka me) enjoyed the abundance of champagne, and the opportunity to get psychic readings.

psychic: ohhh... your aura is yellow.
m: uhh...  but i hate yellow...

psychic:  your aura reads that... the suede lauren handbag over on that top shelf would best fit your spirit
c: uh... thanks. But my spirit doesn't need a new $200 bag...

psychic:  your spirit is very, very close to the earth. you are an earth mother... you are more attune to this earth than others
GwG: really? I eat a lot, maybe that's why you're getting that reading? I eat lots of food from the ground? Oh wait... that didn't come out right....


Apparently there's new art in block 37? I'm loving the pop-up art loop revolution, I really think it does stop people in their tracks and draws people into inhaling and observing the arts.

waiting for the weekend (part. 2)

Still seeking: a neighborhood Thai place to call my own. A place that knows my love for Pad Thai and the like, and can satisfy instant needs on a whim. I continue my search through Asia-land of the Northside, known as Argyle Street.

Thai Pastry Restaurant
4925 N. Broadway (Just south of Argyle)

The restaurants on Argyle always surprise me. They appear so small and quaint from the front, but as you approach and enter, it's a ballroom of a restaurant with bright colors and festive decor to welcome both you and your taste buds.

I love Thai food. As "plain" and as "non-cultured" it may be to order either Pad Thai or Pad See Eiw wherever I go, it's the one indicator I have to determine whether or not I can make this "MY" go-to Thai place. After I determine which will be "MINE", then I'll venture further into the menu, veering off path to see what other spices can delight my taste buds.

This is why you take a +1, someone who doesn't mind when you pick and grab at their food as much as you are from your own. This is why I probably am a glut with a GUT... because meals are taken from all ends of the table, and no friend's dish is safe from my eager fork.

Thai Pastry is BYOB!

Pad See Eiw... a great dish, but I'm still searching!

Remember: Always bring an adventurous dinner with you....

We brought our wine and ordered our meals,
Me: Pad See Eiw, my process for determining good Thai
+1: Red Snapper with Hot Peppers, the special for the day

The Pad See Eiw was decent, but I don't think it was my favorite, as I seem to have DRENCHED it in hot sauce by the end of the meal. The Red Snapper with Hot Peppers, on the other hand, has me drooling in my seat as I type these words.

The red snapper was grilled to perfection, and had been fried with it's skin in what I assume was a flour batter. It was crispy, but not overtly so and DEFINITELY not oily, a good combination for a fish. The hot peppers were hot, the sauce was saucy and the dish was infused with basil throughout.

Next time, I'm skimping on the noodles and headed straight for whatever is on their "specials" menu... but ofcourse leaving room (this time) for the immense number of pastries in their glass counter in front.

Still seeking tasty Thai,
♡M

waiting for the weekend

Being the horrible blogger I am, I'm updating y'all on the last weekend... now that the new weekend is quickly appraoching.


Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant
5631 N. Ashland

It was my cousin G's birthday... a month and a half ago. As a very belated gift, I took her to check out Lalibela on Ashland, an Ethiopian gem. Neither of us were very familiar with Ethiopian food, but were willing to check it out and desperately seeking something new to try.

Inside

I must say, I love this little place! The interior was so cozy, and the HUGE chairs made me feel like I was dining royalty. On a Friday night, this space was filled with couples and groups alike, but still felt intimate and quiet enough to share a conversation over our meal.

Dori Wot, Injera, Fitfit Salad

Now one thing I learned about Ethiopian food is that you share, you share everything. We ordered two entrees (Gored Gored and Doro tibs), which came with two sides (Dori Wot and the Fitfit Salad). We weren't sure at all what to expect and had just sorta guessed on what might be good to get.  Our dishes came out on a HUGE platter lined with injera, the semi-sour bread used with your hands to pick up each of the dishes. My cousin and I don't mind sharing (in fact, it was more fighting over the last pieces than it was sharing) and started in on our meal. The platter was so big, making the rest of the dishes look so small in comparison, but I was shocked when near the end of the meal, I WAS TOO FULL TO GO ON. What? Unheard of for this glut.

The foods were all scrumptiously savory and subtly spicy making me so so so so happy. I think my falafel craze will have to come second now, to my new love for Ethiopian food. Any of you who know the rate at which I inhale falafel know... that this food must be THAT good to take over the number one reins.

I wasn't sure what "Lalibela" meant so I googled it. I am so amazed at what I found! Lalibela is apparently an ancient world, comprising of 11 magnificent, medieval, rock-hewn churches, dimly lit passageways, hidden crypts and grottoes. The ancient city was carved into the red volcanic rock underlying this remote Ethiopian town almost a millennia ago by the Zagwe dynasty. Today that world remains, frozen in stone.

Lalibela, a monument of beauty and wonder

What an amazing story and (from what I could see via Google images), an architectural masterpiece. I just had some knowledge dropped on me. I'm adding this to my list of places to visit before I die.

Until I make it to Ethiopia, I can't wait until the next chance I get to grab my favorite bottle of vino (I recommend merlot for this meal!) and head back to Lalibela... or maybe make my way to Demera and check them out too!

Dreaming of Dori Wot,
♡M

HOT DATE

I had a hot date with a sexy, single man.... now only if I didn't love him like a brother and if he was more into my gender.. but small potatoes.

Jor and I go way back (as aforementioned in this blog!), having lived the poor student life. "Poor student life" mostly entailed drinking out dinner (cheap wine for dinner) and scrappy social hour ($1 drinks on Wednesdays at SPIN). It was tough times, but we made it work... and our livers apparently survivied.

Well Jor and I were separated after college, as I finished out my senior year as a workaholic (and not so much school-aholic) and Jor left for fabulous adventures abroad. He recently returned after two years trotting this vast globe and we met up to share in conversation and catch up on the many things that have happened!

Both having close ties to Korean-ness, we trekked to the new Korean fusion taco stand, Del Seoul in Lincoln Park. Hello hype! Del Seoul had been getting lots of attention from all sources across the Web and newspapers, and I was ready to hop aboard the trend train.

sacsac! i haven't had that in a while!

Shrimp and Pork Tacos

Gamja Fries... I accidentally ordered the wrong ones!

Spicy Pork Bah Mi

While both of us agreed that the whole idea of a fusion Korean-Latin taco thang was interesting. Something seemed... missing.

The tacos were great, but there was a lot more salad than there was meat (my shrimp taco had only two pieces of shrimp, one for each tortilla) and didn't have enough spice/kick. I wish there had been an option to include a hot sauce, or to choose a spicier option.

I had mistakenly ordered the gamja fries rather than the kimchi fries... a decision I regret to this moment. The fries were (temperature) hot, and packed a paunchy garlic pow... garlic ties all Korean food together.

I'm ready to head back and choose different items from their menu, but I think I've ruled out the tacos for now.

Trying to be a trending taco taker,
♡M