Unforgettable Dining at Asador Bastian: A Spanish Steakhouse Gem in Chicago

Unforgettable Dining at Asador Bastian: A Spanish Steakhouse Gem in Chicago

Comments 0 Comment

My husband scored a reservation (they book only 30 days out) for my birthday this August, 2024, to the very hyped, very hot, and very exclusive Asador Bastian, one of Chicago’s most highly-praised restaurants of the last year. We adore Spanish food, and we also love steak, and our recent experience at Bazaar Meat (another incredible Spanish Steakhouse in Chicago) made for some very high expectations. Truly, this was one of the best meals I’ve had this year. The place…

Read More Read More

St. John Restaurant, London: An Hommage To Protein

St. John Restaurant, London: An Hommage To Protein

Comments 1 comment

We were lucky enough to stay in the Clerkenwell neighborhood of Central London, a bit off the beaten path for tourist attractions, though close enough that most were walkable, or at the very least, easy to get to via public transportation. Clerkenwell is also a growing foodie neighborhood of London, and we were able to check out some of the very best it had to offer while visiting in July of 2024. St. John restaurant has a few outposts, but…

Read More Read More

Sketch Lecture Room & Library: Funky Vibes, French Culinary Excellence

Sketch Lecture Room & Library: Funky Vibes, French Culinary Excellence

Comments 1 comment

I love exposing the kids to the world outside of Chicago, and part of doing that is exposing them to some of the world’s best food. After our amazingly epic experience at Cocina Hermanos Torres in Barcelona on our last trip to Europe with the kiddos, I was confident that they could handle just about anything at a Three-Michelin-Starred restaurant. It was really difficult to choose just one in London, as the city chock full of fancy eateries, but I…

Read More Read More

The Vault: A Secret, Sexy, Speakeasy at Bellagio, Las Vegas

The Vault: A Secret, Sexy, Speakeasy at Bellagio, Las Vegas

Comments 1 comment

It was tough to resist checking out the allure of a secret bar in the middle of the bustling Bellagio resort in Las Vegas on a girls trip in June of 2024. The Vault opened in August of 2023, and is still pretty new and still a bit unknown to casual travelers to Las Vegas. Barely noticeable and unmarked, the door to get into this uber-upscale speakeasy is just behind the cages in the middle of the main casino area….

Read More Read More

Mad Day Out Beatles Tour: An Authentic Look at Early Beatles History in Liverpool, UK

Mad Day Out Beatles Tour: An Authentic Look at Early Beatles History in Liverpool, UK

Comments 1 comment

My youngest stepdaughter Clara is a massive Beatles fan. I mean, she is 12 and knows their entire history, and all the words to pretty much every song. George is her fave and she’s also dug deep into his solo career. When I told her that we would be spending a day in Liverpool during our trip to London in July of 2024, she was ecstatic! Getting to Liverpool from London is easy. I booked advance tickets on the Avanti…

Read More Read More

Cala de Mar: A Luxury Escape in Ixtapa, Mexico

Cala de Mar: A Luxury Escape in Ixtapa, Mexico

Comments 0 Comment

We came to Ixtapa, Mexico, after a few busy, food-filled days in Mexico City to relax and unwind. Cala de Mar has won many accolades for being one of the best resorts in Mexico, and it definitely lived up to the hype. We stayed here for a very relaxing five nights from February to March of 2024. We absolutely loved the quiet location, stunning views from our suite that had ample outdoor space and a private plunge pool, as well…

Read More Read More

Exploring Artisanal Mezcal in Mexico: A Tasting Journey at Cala De Mar Resort

Exploring Artisanal Mezcal in Mexico: A Tasting Journey at Cala De Mar Resort

Comments 1 comment

We stayed for an enchanting five nights at Cala De Mar resort in Ixtapa Mexico this past winter of 2024 (full review coming soon!), and one of the highlights of our stay was a small group Mezcal class. Mezcal abounds in Mexico, and while Tequila has really taken off here in the USA, Mezcal is more artisanal, and tastes way more interesting. I’m glad it’s still a bit under the radar here, as prices are generally much higher than tequila…

Read More Read More

Rosetta Restaurant, A Garden of Delight

Rosetta Restaurant, A Garden of Delight

Comments 0 Comment

Rosetta was our last stop in Mexico City in late February of 2024, and we were pretty exhausted and stuffed from all of the eating we had been doing all around the city by this point. No worries here, though, the menu is generally made up of many small, sharable plates, so we were able to eat as little, or as much as we wanted. Rosetta recently received a Michelin star accolade in the first year of stars for Mexico!…

Read More Read More

Quintonil Restaurant, A Grand and Memorable Dining Experience

Quintonil Restaurant, A Grand and Memorable Dining Experience

Comments 1 comment

We travelled to Mexico City this winter for the primary purpose of diving into its food and cocktail culture. I chose several dining and drinking spots based on recommendations from friends, travel books, World’s Best lists, and my own research. I chose Quintonil for our eighth anniversary dinner on February 23, 2024. Quintonil is located in the chic Polanco neighborhood of sprawling Mexico City, an area full of gorgeous restaurants, bars, shopping, and architecture. The space here is modern, minimalist,…

Read More Read More

A Love Letter to Jose Andres from Chicago

A Love Letter to Jose Andres from Chicago

Comments 1 comment

Dear Jose (can I call you Jose?): Thank you so much for opening such brilliant restaurants in our fair city. Bazaar Meat and Bar Mar are delightfully fresh, and a much needed addition to not only pre-theater and pre-opera dining, but to the loop neighborhood in general. A while ago, I wrote a short little article singing the praises of Bar Mar after a nice three course lunch I enjoyed there. Since then, I’ve been back to Bar Mar for…

Read More Read More