Chicago Visit

So March ended on a high note. Tim and I took a trip the last weekend of March to visit my sister and her husband in Chicago. We had a great time and saw lots of new stuff.

We started out our trip leaving after work on Thursday and first stopping a night in Des Moines, visiting Tim’s sister and family. We had a great time and an awesome dinner with them. The next morning we were up with only a 5 hour drive away, which was also awesome. And to make the drive even more enjoyable, we stopped at Cedar Ridge Vineyard Winery and Distillery, near Swisher, Iowa, just a short drive off the Interstate, for lunch. If you ever need a place to break up driving across Iowa, this is the place to do it. We enjoyed tasting their wines and had a delicious lunch of flatbread pizza and chicken salad in a great atmosphere.

I highly recommend it, and Tim also highly recommends their bourbon.

Next up was Sallie and David’s! We stayed in our first night, and got takeout from Bien Trucha. I’ve mentioned this Mexican tapas in Geneva before as we’ve eaten here a few times. We absolutely love it!

The next morning, we got on the train in Geneva and made our way to the Frank Llyod Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park. I highly recommend making this a stop on your next Chicago visit. It is easy to get to by train and then just a 6 block walk, while enjoying beautiful downtown Oak Park.

After the tour, it was time to hit the city and explore Eataly! What is Eatlay one might ask? Well, think eating and Italian and you’ve got Eatly! Combine that with some really good wine and shopping and you have a whole afternoon of fun and entertainment! We spent a couple hours here, enjoying wine, cheese, meats and shopping.

I also had to stop at the Nutella Restaurant for a Saccottino con Nutella as well. Yes, I did say the Nutella Restaurant, one of like 15 different restaurants, ranging from sit down to stand-up-and-nosh, scattered throughout the superstore. Definitely worth a visit.

After Eataly, we did some shopping on Michigan Avenue, which is an easy walk from there. Then, we made our way down to Three Dots and a Dash, where we had reservations for happy hour and Hawaiian tapas.

Now, Tim and I were most excited about this place. As you know, we have a little fascination with tikki bars! We’ve been to the Tonga Room in San Francisco, La Mariana in Honolulu and plan to visit a couple more this summer, which I can’t wait to tell you about!

So, this was the entrance to this bar, which actually is located off an alley, in a basement:

We made reservations like a month in advance, and got a cute half-moon booth for the four of us. We ordered drinks and also enjoyed the thai fried chicken, crab rangoon (which were really good and made with fresh blue crab), coconut shrimp and curry chicken skewers. My favorite was probably the crab rangoons, followed by the thai fried chicken. Don’t come hungry as the tapas are pretty small. Luckily we’d been eating all afternoon at Eataly. ha!

But really, one doesn’t come to Three Dots and a Dash for its food, one comes for its drinks, which are presented just as wonderfully as they taste.

I recommend the Painkiller No. 3.

After this, we made our way back to the train station for the ride back to the burbs, where we spent most the day Sunday shopping — Fashion Outlets and Ikea. Then, it was dinner at The Turf Room before calling it a night. Monday we did a bit more shopping — this time the Chicago Premium Outlets, with lunch at Lou Malnatis before heading home.

Another wonderful trip!

Fun Weekend in Chicago!

Back in the swing of things after a fun weekend in Chicago visiting my sister Sallie and her fiance David!
Can’t believe the trip is over already. Trips always go so fast!
And speaking of fast! Where did May go? Can’t believe Memorial Day weekend is nearly here!
So, May has been a good month. It started out with the half marathon, followed by a fun Mother’s Day weekend with the fam trying out the Bohemian Cafe in Omaha and then touring the Lauritzen Gardens. I’v written about the Lauritzen Gardens before. We have visited a couple times already this past winter. However, we had never been there in the spring or summer when you can tour the outdoor gardens. I had no idea there were over 100 acres with so many different types of gardens to see! Definitely worth a visit if you have never been before! So, back to the Bohemian Cafe. Wasn’t one of my favorite places to eat, but it was something different. If I ever go back, I will stick with the Goulash. I had the Svickova (Czech Sauerbraten, which was roast beef in a sweet, creamy gravy), which was just too sweet for my liking. Tim had the Jaeger Schnitzel (veal steaks in wine sauce and mushrooms), which was also too sweet. The Goulash was more savory and tangy. My sister had that. My parents had the duck and turkey, which were good.
But anyways!
Back to Chicago this last weekend!
It was a great time. We did our usual — Friday we shopped till we dropped! We visited Crate and Barrel Outlet, Ikea, REI and the Chicago Premium Outlets. Nordstrom Rack was also on our list, but we didn’t have time and went there Sunday instead. Friday night, we were greeted by Sallie and David after getting off work. They grilled us up a great supper of fish (steak for Tim, of course) zuchini and sweet potatoes. It was fabulous! (As was sitting on the porch and drinking lots of wine! ha!)
The next day, Sallie and David took us to Geneva for shopping in all of its cute little shops and lunch at this most awesome restaurant called Bien Trucha. Holy cow. This Mexican Tapas place was so freaking good. We started out with freshly made, muddled drinks. Next up it was freshly made gauc and chips and rice and corn. The corn! It was so good! Cheesy and peppery! I must try to make this at home! ha! Next up was the main course — three different types of tacos — Pescado —
crispy beer battered tilapia, red cabbage, onion, tomato, lime, chipotle-morita aioli; Pastor — chile ancho and guajillo marinated pork, cilantro, onion, grilled pineapple, chile morita salsa; and Bien Trucha — grilled skirt steak, home-made chorizo, manchego, roasted tomatillo-serrano salsa. We got seconds on the Bien Truchas! ha!

Dessert was at the Galena Cellars in Geneva where we did a wine tasting and enjoyed wine slushies out on their patio.

Next up it was time to board the train into the city! We used the train stop in Geneva, so just had to walk up to it. (After having to run back to the car to get our Cubs tickets I nearly forgot! doh!)
In Chicago, we hoped on the L and went to the Cubs vs. White Sox game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs lost, but we had a good time!

It was a great day.

Sunday, we had breakfast at Egg Harbor Cafe in Naperville. I think this is another favorite when we go out and visit.
All in all, it was a fun trip. Can’t wait to do it again.
I am so happy the weather is nice and warm and summer kicks off this weekend! Happy summer!