Happy Pi Day! A Trip to Greektown

Happy 3/14! As many of you fellow math nerds may know, today is officially pi day! So, what kind of foodies would we be if we didn't take this as the perfect opportunity to get some pie?! One of our favorite Chicago food blogs, Chicagoist, suggested in a recent article that you go to Pan Hellenic Pastry Shop in Greektown for their famous Spanakopita. We figured this was an excellent idea considering Spanakopita is a savory greek pie and pi is a Greek symbol! Double whammy! Pan Hellenic is an adorable pastry shop that has been sitting in a cozy location on Halsted (conveniently right off the 8 bus) since 1974. It has been family-owned since its opening, and Athena (the woman behind all the magic) was one of the most friendly bakery owners we have ever met. There were only a few other people in the shop when we arrived (granted we did arrive at an off time, around 3 pm) and the ambience was extremely cozy. Catch Greek music played over the radio and the smell of all the pastries was enchanting. 

 Greek Mountain tea

We both decided to order the Greek Mountain tea and Spanakopita. Neither of us had heard of Greek Mountain tea, but being tea enthusiasts we were excited to give it a try. Athena told us that it was similar to chamomile, which was exactly what we both needed after bearing all of this chaotic weather change in Chicago. She brought the tea out with wedges of lemon and it immediately soothed my throat and cleared my sinuses. I did a little research when I got home, and apparently Greek Mountain tea is a very popular tea in Greek culture that is known to do away with colds, aches, and pains. I second that! 

Spanakopita ($4.95)

I could not have picked a better treat for pi day than Pan Hellenic's Spanakopita. Athena was nice enough to heat it up for us and when she brought it out my mouth was watering. The Spanakopita is made with a phyllo dough that flakes as soon as you break it with a fork, followed by a creamy filling of leeks, spinach, feta, and onions. The flaky crust and gooey filling worked together perfectly to provide crunch and delicious creaminess with every single bite. The flakiness of the dough brought out a delicious hint of butter that also went really well with the cheesy interior. My personal favorite part of the dish was the accompanying yogurt spread. Athena informed us that the yogurt is handmade by her mother, and it is unlike any Greek yogurt I have ever tasted. It had a tanginess to it like Tzatziki, but it was thick and almost like a creamy butter spread which made it perfect for spreading on each bite of the pie. Everything about this treat was handmade, and you can definitely taste the authenticity. 

Apart from the delicious treats, the hospitality at Pan Hellenic Pastry Shop was one of the best that I've ever experienced at a bakery. Athena (a name which I think is gorgeous, by the way) was extremely attentive and even gave us refills on our tea! We got the opportunity to have a nice chat with her and learned that the pastry shop has been owned by her family for forty years and was where she grew up as a child. Many people often complain that the authenticity of neighborhoods such as Greektown and Little Italy in Chicago is being compromised by gentrification and the expansion of UIC, so it was extremely refreshing to hear such a nice story about a family-owned business. Greektown does have many chains (and some of them are very delightful!) but you can tell from the moment that you walk into this pastry shop that it is an original, family-owned, Greek establishment. This is exactly what we set out to find when we headed down to Greektown today, so I came home very happy. 

Before we finished up at the register, Athena surprised us each with a parting gift: their house speciality known as "Louie's Cookies." The mini cookies were made of two chocolate walnut meringue cookies with a chocolate ganache center, and they were the best treat I have tasted in a long time. They were so good, in fact, that I didn't even get the chance to snap a picture before I had completely devoured mine! Be that as it may, the chocolate walnut meringue cookies were extremely soft and had the shiny crackle that is seen in delicious brownies. The chocolate ganache center was warm and gooey, and every bite had a little hint of crunchy walnut which was an extra special treat. There is no doubt: we will be back for more of these. If you're ever in Greektown, be sure to stop by Pan Hellenic Pastry Shop and say hi to Athena and her family. It was a truly lovely experience that we will certainly be repeating soon! 

Visit Pan Hellenic Pastry Shop's website!

Did you do anything in celebration of Pi Day? Leave a comment below, we'd love to hear! 

Get Some Homie: Friday Night Dinner at Homeslice

Megan's Avalance

Friday night, Caitlin and I had a hankering for some pizza. Having lived in Lincoln Park for awhile now, I have walked by Homeslice and seen it from the El dozens of times and have always wanted to stop by but haven't had the chance. Friday, I was finally able to check it off the bucket list! We got there around 7:30 and it was packed, which we were expecting since it was a pizza restaurant on a Friday night. I was surprised when the hostess told us that it shouldn't be longer than a half an hour wait! She took Caitlin's phone number for their handy phone-notification service (much cooler than the traditional buzzer) and we headed over to the bar. 

Whole wheat goat cheese marinara breadsticks ($9)

Upon sitting down we immediately ordered the goat cheese breadsticks, having heard from numerous friends that they were the best thing on the menu. About five minutes after we ordered, we realized that we completely forgot to order them whole wheat! Homeslice is one of the few restaurants around that will allow you to get your breadsticks in whole wheat, and being firm believers that whole wheat actually tastes better (in addition to being better for you), Caitlin and I knew we needed to correct our mistake. We called our waiter over and he was extremely accommodating to go and switch our order to whole wheat after it had already been put it. Props to you, sir! Now, let me say the breadsticks were a REAL treat. First of all, for $8 you get eight breadsticks. I don't think I have ever been to a restaurant that brings that many breadsticks as an appetizer! The bread was hot out of the oven and the beer-basted whole wheat had a very rich and deep flavor. The goat cheese marinara dip was sinfully delicious. The top had a thick and creamy layer of goat cheese that, once penetrated, led to a creamy marinara. Top. Notch.

Ava-Lance pizza ($10) 

For my entree, I decided to order the "Ava-Lance" veggie pizza. The small size is nice for an individual pizza and the $10 was a reasonable price. This pizza in particular comes with artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, mozzarella, provolone, feta, garlic, and olive oil. Just like their breadsticks, Homeslice gives the option to order your pizza with a whole wheat crust (THUMBS UP) which naturally, I went for. To be honest, I was underwhelmed by this pizza. It was hearty, and I ended up finishing the entire thing by the end of the night, but there was something missing flavor-wise. For the vast list of veggies that top this pizza, I felt like it was rather bland. I think it might be lacking in sauce, or some sort of component that brings in the typical "pizza" flavor. My favorite part of the pizza was probably the artichokes. They were very firm and provided a nice texture to the pizza. However, for a dish that includes roasted garlic, I really was not getting the full-array of flavors. Caitlin had a similar experience with her veggie pizza and thought maybe it was because we ordered pizzas without meat. However, I'm a veggie fan and think that veggie pizzas are actually an opportunity for even more flavor than meat-heavy pizzas, so I think that Homeslice is lacking something here. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the whole-wheat crust. This is a really easy pizza to handle with your hands and the leftovers keep really well.

Caitlin's Moscow Mule and Big Teve

Standard Mule: Russian Standard Vodka, Lime, and Ginger ($9)

Moscow Mules are one of my favorite drinks, saw that they had that one the menu at Homeslice and knew I had to order it. Definitely packed a punch, seeing as I was tipsy after I finished it...not sure if thats because I am a light weight or if the bartender was just being extra nice! It was a perfect size and a crisp palette cleanser between courses at dinner. It even comes in a funky mug, but beware of the disclaimer: you will be charged if it happens to go missing... or let's say accidentally falls in your carry out bag when your leaving. If you feel like you would be tempted to steal this mug or a klepto then maybe I would opt for a beer instead.

"Big Teve" ( $11 )

Overall, I liked the pizza but wish it was not a friday during Lent because I was feeling extra carnivorous! Flavor-wise, I agree with Megan that something was missing, but the whole-wheat crust was great. It was also extra cheesy which made it messy in a good way! The "Big Teve" is topped with spinach, roasted red peppers, red onions, mushrooms, oregano, feta, parmesan, mozzarella, provolone, garlic & olive oil. YUM. They are also very generous with the portions, so leftovers make for a great late night snack! I definitely see myself going back there, but I will be ordering off the meat-lover menu.

Megan and Caitlin's Overall Review of Homeslice Pizza:

Atmosphere: 5/5 stars

The decor in Homeslice is extremely fun as it is designed to look like a log cabin. There is a "backyard" ambience that I bet is even homier in the summer. However, it was very busy and loud, so definitely skip it if you're in the mood for a quiet dinner.

Service: 5/5 stars

The service was speedy considering the crowd and our waiter was extremely accommodating when Caitlin and I decided to be high maintenance and switch our breadsticks to whole wheat. The friendly bartender also gave us free shots of Fireball!

Food: 3/5 stars

While the breadsticks were out of this world, Caitlin and I both felt our pizzas were missing that extra "umph" that Chicagoans expect from their pizza. Although I'd be willing to come back and try one of the meat pizzas, my ideal visit to Homeslice would probably be to order the goat cheese marinara breadsticks for carry-out and then bring them over to the bar ;)

Pricing: $$

The breadsticks are a great bang for your buck, and the pizzas range from $9-$32. 

Sai Cafe: Japanese Seafood & Sushi

Make it a date night at Sai Cafe! That's what my friend Ken and I did last week when him and I were on a hunt for some sushi. Situated on Sheffield Ave near the corner of Armitage in Lincoln Park, Sai Cafe is a local restaurant that I always walk by when I am headed to the Brown line for class at the Loop. Having dined there once before last year, I knew that Ken would be able to get me to be a bit more adventurous in my sushi endeavors. Ken, also a DePaul student is cultured in the sushi scene having worked at various Thai/sushi restaurants in the past. 

By adventurous, I mean, he made me eat salmon skin people! Never thought I would say that that was one of the best and unique items I have had at a sushi restaurant. It is called the Sake Kawa (Salmon skin) salad on the menu. When I heard Ken say skin I immediately thought we would be handed a plate of crispy fish scales but to my surprise I barely even noticed them. The salad was mainly flaked pieces of juicy-filleted salmon meat with bean sprouts, citrus, and an amazing dressing that Ken and I wanted to drink with a straw. The waitress had to basically pry the plate away from Ken as he tried to soak up every last bit of salad. If you go to Sai Cafe, are looking to share an appetizer, and like salmon, don't be detered from the name and order the Salmon skin salad! I promise it will be a crowd pleaser.

Like I mentioned, Ken is clearly the more adventurous eater in the sushi department, which I will have to work on for all you sushi seekers out there. I opted for the a maki roll with tuna, cucumber, avocado, spinach, and gourd (which is like a squash, traditionally dried, soaked in water, and simmered in sugar, soy sauce, and rice wine). Also, you can ask your waiter/waitress for brown rice instead of white rice if you have a specific preference. 

Overall, Ken and I had a cute little date night at Sai Cafe. Great service and food. They also have a nice wine and cocktail selection!  

Calling All Hummus Fans

I have to admit I am guilty of making the trip to over to WholeFoods for some speciality grocery items...one item that I never leave off my grocery list is Chicago Raw Food's hummus.

Chicago Raw Food is an organization that strives, "to deliver only the highest in quality of fully uncooked, 100% plant-based products to an under-served community in need." Not only is the whole "raw" movement a major health trend with added health benefits, but it highlights the quality of the ingredients being used. I am a firm believer that in cooking, simplicity is the sign of perfection and this hummus is flawless.





















This hummus, only consisting of nine ingredients (sprouted garbanzo beans, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), tahini, garlic, parsley, Himalayan Crystal Salt (HSS), cumin, and cayenne), has an acidic taste and a different consistency, unlike traditional hummus. Pairs nicely with the traditional carrots, celery, apple slices, or crackers. Sometimes I even spread some on toast when I make a sandwich for an extra flavor kick!

One thing I wish is they would make it in a bigger container...tend to eat about half of it in one sitting. Also it is not the most budget friendly ($6.99 at WholeFoods), but if you're in it for the taste, I would recommend it!

Loving this brand of hummus, I naturally wanted to explore the Chicago Raw Food Website and the menu. They are located at 131 N Clinton, Suite 7. Saving the address you can count on a visit from Megan and I to check out the hype over the "raw" food scene!

You can find this raw hummus on the shelves in the refrigerated section (by the prepared foods stations) at the WholeFoods located off at the North/Clybourne Redline stop.

- Caitlin -

A Lovely Saturday at Dinkel's Bakery

Old Fashioned Donuts and Creamy Hot Cocoa
Megan's Remarks:

On Saturday, we ventured to Dinkel's Bakery, an adorable bakery that has been warming the hearts and bellies of Lakeview Chicagoans since 1922. Dinkel's is known for its old-fashioned donuts, cakes, and extremely friendly staff, so naturally Caitlin and I had to check it out.

The exterior is that of a classic bakery and immediately draws you in. When we first walked in, it was extremely busy with families coming in to place their orders for Paczki Day and get their weekly Saturday morning donuts. I definitely got the vibe that the majority of the people in the bakery are regulars, and one woman even gave Caitlin and I some suggestions while we were waiting in line. "Now that you've come here once, you're going to be hooked! There's no turning back now!"

The display case wrapped around the shop and was filled with enough delightful treats to satisfy even the sweetest of teeth. I was tempted by the cannolis and chocolate chip cookies, but I ultimately decided to get an old-fashioned sour cream donut and Dinkel's homemade hot chocolate. Because of my Polish heritage, I should note that I do feel guilty for not ordering paczki, especially so close to Paczki Day! However, despite the fact that I am obsessed with food and will pretty much eat anything and everything I possibly can, I'm not actually the biggest fan of jelly-filled or cream filled donuts. The old-fashioned donut on the other hand...that is something I will never turn down. 

The hot chocolate was rich and creamy. You could definitely tell that it was homemade and not from a box of powder. The only thing that would have topped it off nicely is some whipped cream! The sour cream donut was by far one of the best donuts I have ever had. The cake was hearty but not too dense and there was the perfect amount of sour cream glaze to make it sweet but not overpowering. For those of you who like to dunk your donuts in your coffee, this would be the perfect contender. It was so good that I finished the entire thing while Caitlin was waiting for her breakfast sandwich in the cafe section! Also, as a college student I have to give a shout out to the fact that this donut was only $1.11. Most city bakeries would charge at least $2.50 for a donut of this size and quality, so it's a miracle that I didn't buy two dozen of them! All in all, Dinkel's was an extremely delicious and charming experience, and the woman who we spoke to in line was right: I'm hooked. -Megan

Veggie Baker's Sunrise, Yezzzz paaleeaase

Caitlin Comments:

Megan told me about Dinkel's and it's history, from there I knew we had to go. After we grabbed our numbers to be called we anxiously waited to put in our orders. Thank goodness for the heaping pile of their famous chocolate chip butter cookies which Megan and I inhaled, they were so delicious. Not only could you tell they used quality chocolate but man, those little guys, packed a ton on flavor! Not the chewy-gooey kind of cookie but needless to say it was one the would make you want to eat at least a dozen. The cute older women at the counter was very sweet and helped me decide on what to order. Having heard that they just recently added breakfast sandwiches to their menu I could not resist. I ordered the Veggie Baker's Sunrise. Unfortunately I inhaled it to fast to snap a picture, but I kid you not it looked exactly like the picture in this article taken by TimeOut Magazine. The Veggie Baker's Sunrise is made with avocado, scrambled eggs, spinach, cheddar cheese, and pesto smeared on their house-made root bread. These ingredients worked together perfectly, but the real highlight was the root bread. It was hot and slightly toasted from the panini press with a fluffy inside that was the perfect thinness to soak up the herby pesto and melting cheddar cheese. O yeah and it's only $5.49! A steal for the quality of the food. 

Also, how could I forget the service. Waiting at the sandwich prep station, which is open to the public so you can see the kind gentlemen prepare your sandwich, one of those kind gentlemen behind the bar greeted me and asked me about my experience at Dinkel's. Having told him it was my first time in, he told me about their passion for local ingredients as well as his own passion for the food industry. Catching his excitement similar to mine about food, I told him the Megan and I were thinking about starting a blog and sure enough, he recommended what he called a "foodie-hotspot" known as Chilam Balam. (You can count on a blog post from Megan and I soon about our experience once we dine there!)

Megan and Caitlin's Overall Review of Dinkel's Bakery:

Atmosphere: 5/5 stars

The ambience at Dinkel's is charming and family friendly. Even though it was very busy, everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming.

Service: 5/5 stars

All of the employees that we spoke to were extremely friendly and welcoming, especially since this was our first trip to Dinkel's. One of them even recommended another restaurant for us to blog about!

Food: 5/5 stars

From our experience, both their pastries and deli sandwiches are positively divine. You can't seem to go wrong with anything on the menu...but good luck picking from the vast selection!

Pricing: $ 

This place is extremely college-budget friendly, with better donut and cafe sandwich prices than you see at most bakeries.

Visit Dinkel's Bakery Website

Happy Birthday to Caitlin! Afternoon Brunch at Mindy's Hot Chocolate

Megan's Quiche and Challah Toast

Sunday was our lovely Caitlin's birthday! To celebrate such a wonderful day, Caitlin invited me and a group of her wonderful friends to the renowned Bucktown restaurant, Mindy's Hot Chocolate. I had quite the biased opinion going in because Hot Chocolate is actually my family's favorite restaurant in the area. We have been going there since it opened and I can honestly say they have the best mac & cheese and burgers that I have ever tasted. This outing was particularly exciting for me because although I've been to Mindy's Hot Chocolate over a dozen times, I have never been for brunch! I could not wait to try a different spin on my favorite restaurant. Hot Chocolate is situated in the super trendy neighborhood of Bucktown, which has lots of shops and cute cafes to explore. I highly recommend coming on a nice day (although we haven't had many of those in Chicago recently) and exploring the neighborhood after you eat! That is... if you can motivate yourself to walk after all the delicious food :)

For my meal, I decided to get the ham & kale quiche with a side of the grilled challah toast. I had heard nothing but good things about the quiche and clearly it is a popular item because by the time our waitress took our order she informed us there were only three left! I'm lucky that I was able to snag one because the quiche is a lovely treat. It comes with a thick, buttery crust and a side salad with a light raspberry vinaigrette.

My mouth is watering just thinking about this quiche. The thick crust perfectly complemented the gooey center of the quiche. The cheese and eggs were perfectly blended to form a creamy custard. The kale and ham were wonderfully balanced with each bite and the whole dish was loaded with flavor. The side salad was not outstanding or overwhelming with flavor, but it nicely complemented the main event. 

The side of grilled challah toast was also a great treat. The toast had a nice crust but was not burnt at all. The butter that accompanied the side was nicely churned and gave the toast an even fluffier taste. For only $1.50, I would definitely recommend this dish alongside any of the brunch entrees. All in all my experience at Hot Chocolate's brunch was even lovelier than expected... but you can't really go wrong with such an incredible restaurant and such wonderful company! -Megan

Order Up for Caitlin: Bellini, Half&Half, Brisket Hash

Two words, chocolate & espresso. The Half&Half is a must have at Mindy's HotChocolate. The fact that HotChocolate is included in the restaurant name should be a no brainer that they know how to make a great cup of cocoa. For all you mocha fans, this drink combines dark chocolate with a single shot of espresso. And did I mention the homemade marshmallow...pop that sucker into your mug while its still hot and it will melt into a creamy layer atop the delicious chocolate masterpiece! Yes it is $6...but money well spent!

Having crept Mindy's Hot Chocolate's online menu, I saw the brisket hash consisting of a pesto-topped poached egg, root vegetables, and cubes of brisket, I knew I had to try it. The flavors were spot on, but I will say that the majority of my pieces of brisket were quite fatty. Sorry Mindy. With the brisket hash at $14, I would advise ordering the veggie scramble or the crab cake benedict instead, both priced at $13 each. Overall, I had a great birthday brunch and so did all of my friends! We will definitely be back.

If you want to book your reservation with Mindy's Hot Chocolate or just creep on their brunch menu, like Megan and I, here's the link: http://www.hotchocolatechicago.com

Megan and Caitlin's Overall Review of Mindy's Hot Chocolate:

Atmosphere: 5/5 stars

The ambience in Hot Chocolate is extremely trendy and visually pleasing. The music is hip and comforting, and there is lots of funky art to feast your eyes on. Our table was situated close to the kitchen and it was very cool to watch the culinary masters at work in such an energetic atmosphere!

Service: 3/5 stars

Our waitress was not the most enthusiastic server we have ever had and there was a bit of a snafu with the bill at the end, so we docked a few stars for this time around. That being said, we had a large group and the restaurant was very busy so we understand a certain level of stress. I (Megan) have been to Hot Chocolate dozens of other times for dinner and their service is usually impeccable. Sometimes it's just an off day!

Food: 5/5 stars

The food at Hot Chocolate is like no other. My quiche was divine and while Caitlin's brisket hash was a little fatty, it was still a great treat. I'm still partial to coming to Hot Chocolate for dinner, but you can't go wrong with an afternoon brunch at Mindy's either!

Pricing: $$

Hot Chocolate is a little on the pricier side, with most entrees being between $12-$20 for brunch. The food is definitely worth every penny though so if you're in the mood for a bit of a splurge, we highly recommend it.

Food. The Zest to Life

About Me:

"It all started with a food blog..."That's honestly what I hope to say one day when I am in London talking to a customer that ventures into my Cafe & Bakery inquiring about my culinary journey as a successful business owner. Moving on from my wishful thinking about the future, let's talk about the past and where this passion for food all started. My memories from the kitchen, like many other stereotypical food lovers, began with my grandmother. Growing up, my parents were overwhelmed with the crazy hours of residency as doctors and would ship us off to Woodridge, New Jersey to my grandparents house for the summer. What I remember the most is my love of coffee at such a young age (which probably explains why I was such a spastic child...I was wired up on caffeine all the time!). Every morning I can remember my grandpa-mac making his Columbia roast and setting some aside for me in my little sippy cup with some sugar and ice. My exposure to caffeine at such a young age I swear is what inspires me to find that perfect latte every morning. My grandmother, on the other hand, was the master in the kitchen and exposed me to my love of culinary, mainly with her famous butter cookies and Irish soda bread. I always think about anxiously waiting for the freshly made cookie dough to be pulled from cooling in the fridge to be pressed into shapes from the cookie-press and decorated with the assortment of sprinkles housed in the pantry by my siblings and I. 

Now for the present. Who is this caffeine-addicted, cookie-loving person with these big dreams and a passion for food? My name is Caitlin Reynolds, I am currently a sophomore studying Hospitality at DePaul University. I am a native to Cleveland, Ohio, but fell in love with the city of Chicago the second I made the six-hour drive with my dad to tour college campuses. Living in the city, I quickly realized the potential to experience a culinary adventure and expand my palette with visits to numerous diverse neighborhoods of Chicago. But who wants to wine and dine alone! Meeting Megan my freshman year, we knew that our shared love of eating out and finding those exotic-trendy-affordable-dives in Chicago would begin our food journey. Our obsession with finding those local culinary havens is what we hope find, blog about, and share with our foodie followers! We will tell you about the bad the good and the amazing. We will find the best bargains and best places to get that great morning latte to get you through that crazy homework assignment. Anthony Bourdain, chef, author, and world-traveler, says, “I’m a big believer in winging it. I’m a big believer that you’re never going to find perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one. Letting the happy accident happen is what a lot of vacation itineraries miss, I think, and I’m always trying to push people to allow those things to happen rather than stick to some rigid itinerary.” I hope that this food blog will inspire you foodies to not try and search for that perfect experience, but rather make your own adventures where ever you go and join Megan and I as we "wing-it"  in our discovery of Chicago exotic food scene. 

All About Megan

Hi there!
My name is Megan and I am a sophomore college student in the greatest city in the world: Chicago! I have always enjoyed food of all sorts and exploring new restaurants and dives, but it wasn't until I started going to school in the city that I realized that I am a foodie in absolutely every sense of the word. Luckily, I am not alone in this. Freshman year of college, I had the not-quite pleasure of taking an 8 AM literature class. However, every cloud has a silver lining and in this class I met one of my most wonderful friends and co-bloggers... Caitlin! We quickly realized that we share the same passion for exploring new restaurants and culinary delights...and the rest is history! After many delicious brunches and trips to cute cafes, Caitlin and I decided we should start a food blog to document all of our adventures and perhaps meet other enthusiastic foodies! So, here we are!

One of the reasons I'm so excited to start this blog is that I think we will be able to bring a new and exciting perspective to the foodie blog community. While Caitlin and I definitely have expensive taste, we are college students on a budget. I hope that this blog will eventually be a great resource for college students and all people like us who love to explore the city and try amazing restaurants, but have to keep a budget in mind. Because of that, this blog will not discriminate. We will be covering every meal, every genre, every culture, every price range, and every neighborhood that we possibly can! Whether it is classy high-tea brunches in the loop or the best late night greasy eats, we plan on trying it all and sharing it all with you! And while Caitlin and I love a good restaurant meal, we also both love to cook! You can definitely expect to see some posts about our home cooked meals and favorite recipes. Since we hail from The Windy City, the majority of our posts will revolve around restaurants in the area, but any travels that we do outside of Chicago will surely be blogged about. After all, eating is the best part of any trip! I am so excited to get this blog off the ground and see just how much we can eat! If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please do not hesitate to comment!

In a nutshell: I am just a college girl who frequently channels Mindy Lahiri and has an extremely obsessive and loving relationship with food. If my belly is full, I am happy! To finish off this post, I'll leave a few random foodie facts about myself!

All-Time Favorite Restaurant: 
Picking my favorite restaurant is about as impossible as picking my favorite movie, but I do have to say there is one family favorite that really stands out: Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Bucktown. My family has been going there basically since it opened, and it is still my absolute favorite restaurant in the world. You have not lived until you have taken a bite of Mindy's mac and cheese. It is quite honestly the most sinfully delicious dish that I have ever come across. It doesn't stop there though, their burgers and, of course, hot chocolate are belt-bustingly delicious.

Favorite Genre of Food:
I quite honestly have yet to find a category of cuisine that I don't love, but I would have to say my favorite is Italian. I love pasta, cheese, and bread....so any genre that revolves around that trio is the genre for me.

Favorite Late-Night Chicago Dive:
Devil Dawgs in Lincoln Park is by far my favorite late-night grub. Best hot dogs and french fries in the city, energetic late-night staff, and all around DePaul institution.

Favorite Foodie Websites:
I'm pretty sure I spend more time on seriouseats.com and thrillist.com than I do on Twitter or Facebook. They both post such great articles about restaurants around Chicago (as well as many other cities around the world) and I am constantly using them as ways to find new places to try. If you love food I highly recommend frequenting these sites!

In the words of Squidward Tentacles, "Empty your mind of everything that is not fine dining. Fine dining, and breathing."