One of my favorite things about the 9th year of Chicago Gourmet is the fact that I learned so much. By tasting so many wonderful dishes, my mind was opened even more on how to intermingle texture, flavors and cultures. (In case you missed it, click here to see some of my favorite bites this …
Trying to Make Nice With Cauliflower Rice
Do you remember having a substitute teacher in school? Depending on the class, this imposter would come in and either be the coolest person in the world or a complete nightmare. They could be funny and laid back or be the kind who wants to quiz you on things you haven’t even learned again. Maybe …
Shaw’s Oyster Fest 2016
Close your eyes. Smell the saltiness of the ocean in the air. Feel a spray of water hit your face as a mental wave splashes on the shore. Can you feel where you are? If you stop long enough, I bet you can almost feel the rhythm of the tide under your feet. This is …
Good-Bye Summer Garden, Hello to a Souper Fall
The leaves are starting to change colors and there is briskness in the morning air. The smells of the outdoors have lost some of the floral essence and now smell woody. The warmth of the sun seems to be powering down and there is just enough chill to make me want to stay home. It …
Chicago Gourmet 2016: Food Is Art
Art. I am not sure who said “Art is subjective, and means something different to every single person on earth” but I think the same can be said about food. You can see artistry in everything from how a top chef plates a meal to the beauty of a rustic family tomato sauce cooking on the …
Sister Scampi
If you think about the people who molded you, who are they? Maybe your parents were your biggest influence? Maybe a teacher was the person who taught you the most? Maybe during your darkest days there was a nurse by your side? I can look at a lot of people in my life and pinpoint …
The Hype and a Passive Aggressive Salad Dressing
It is dreadful….absolutely dreadful. Have you been watching the news? It is absolutely scandalous. I just can’t believe that they had the audacity to do such a thing. Oh wait, you have no clue what I’m talking about. I’m talking about some headline news I saw about 2 weeks ago that has put me into …
The Good. The Bad. The Habits.
Are all habits considered bad? I mean when you hear someone mention having a habit, is it common for them to say “I have such a good habit…..” When was the last time you heard your sister say “I have such a good habit of doing my dishes right away.” NO, she is more likely …
Desserts Spelled Backwards Spells Stressed
Believe it or not, every week I give myself a writing assignment for the blog. It helps me stay dedicated to cooking something new each week and then having a topic for Felt Like a Foodie. But these last two weeks have been absolute cooking disasters….or maybe I should specify baking disasters. I thought it …
Gold Medal Pickles
I know the Olympics are over and I didn’t watch one event or follow it on the news. It isn’t that I am un-American (I’m wearing my USA undies as I type this) but I had a bad Olympics experience that really kept me from really ever wanting to watch them again. I would love …