Parachute

To call Parachute 'creative Korean-American dining' is a misnomer; I'd prefer to call it 'American fine dining with a Korean twist', as the menu items had very little in common with the food I usually eat in the motherland. Nevertheless, the concept intrigued me enough to warrant a visit into a neighborhood that I otherwise never frequent.

The menu was full of intriguing items that embodied the creativity I often look for in a restaurant, but I wasn't too pleased with the interior; aside from a few tables on either side, most of the restaurant consisted of an extremely long table in the middle of the room at which multiple unrelated parties would sit side by side.

MOTD: Bacon and prosciutto mac & cheese

I've been told that combining a cheap meat like bacon with a luxurious product like prosciutto is sinful, but combining two things that I like into a single dish is, to me, an ambitious endeavor at worst.

I used one part sharp cheddar and one part gruyere; that gave the roux a fondue cheese-like consistency, which I am all about. I also added a touch of sriracha as well as chili powder and red pepper flakes into the mix before pouring it over the macaroni.

WNTD: 5 Burgers in Chicago That Are Better than Au Cheval's

Unless you have been living under a rock, you may have noticed that anyone who's anyone has been raving about Au Cheval's infamous cheeseburger. Ever since Food Network deemed its double cheeseburger the best burger in America, the lines at Au Cheval - which were already unmanagable at one or two hours on weekdays - have nearly doubled in size.

So is it worth it?

Absolutely not. I fancy myself a bit of a burger connoisseur, and I'll be sharing with you 5 burgers I have had that are better than Au Cheval's, and without the four hour wait.

The best coffee cake

Today's post is a short one but a must. This is a coffee cake recipe I have been swearing by for a couple years now. I deliberately avoid making it often because it always gets demolished within days, and that much butter and sugar is never a good idea for anyone. It's that good.

Tunnel of cinnamon sugar

Foodventures: Pacific NW

My Pacific Northwest food adventure was actually two months ago; I just never found the time to write about it (things have been crazy at work these days). Nevertheless, here it is! I had such a blast travelling in the northwest US and southwest Canada over Memorial Day weekend - this was my first time in that area and something I had been looking forward to for a long time.

Owen & Engine

Owen & Engine is a British gastropub tucked away in a random part of town; it is actually right across the street from the movie theater that I go to but never noticed until a friend of mine took me there. Normally I'm not a huge fan of British food but a quick glimpse of the menu told me that I would be a fan of this place. From banh mi to paneer to one of the most decadent cheese plates I have ever seen, this place had it all.

And of course, they had a cheeseburger.

If you know me at all, you would know that I'm obsessed with cheeseburgers and all things red meat. Our server was very courteous and enthusiastic about the flavors on the menu. I took diligent notes, which is how I know that the burger patty is composed of 40% chuck, 30% short rib, and 30% brisket. A winning combination I daresay, because it certainly tastes different in a luxurious sort of way.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Before I ate this burger we actually ordered a cheese plate for the table.

Longman & Eagle

"Never play cards with any man named Doc. Never eat at any place called Mom's. And never, ever, no matter what else you do in your whole life, never sleep with anyone whose troubles are worse than your own."

My visit to Longman & Eagle had been a long time coming; out of all the Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago, it is by far the most affordable. I had high hopes for this place due to its high culinary standing.

The first thing I noticed is the poster above. What on earth is that quote even talking about?

Chef Week 2015: Tanta

What is the difference between Chef Week and Restaurant Week? The answer to this question - from the avid eater's perspective - is absolutely nothing. They are completely identical and equally glorious.

When my husband and I were dating he lived near a Peruvian restaurant that we used to frequent until  they seated us directly underneath a ceiling fan on a rather wintry day and served our food cold (though I ordered a cold seafood salad, so I wasn't too pissed). We never went back after that so Peruvian food held a special place in my heart, which is why I was beyond excited to go to Tanta for Chef Week 2015 per a friend's recommendation.

Peanut butter soba noodles

I won't claim to have invented the combination of peanut butter and noodles but I will say that if you get bored with your own cooking as frequently as I do (seriously...it's like eating at the same restaurant every day), this is something you can whip up quickly while still trying something "new."

One thing that's easy about this recipe is that there is no right way to make this. Some people (i.e. myself) like their noodles extra peanut butter-y while others find it bizarre and would rather taste just a hint of nuttiness. Some people (again, like myself) like spicy food and others, not so much.

The best food in life often looks like diarrhea

To make these noodles, you're first going to mix peanut butter, soy sauce, hot pepper flakes, sesame oil, and garlic in any ratio you like. I mixed the first two ingredients in a 1:1 ratio and used three large cloves of garlic.

MOTD: Clam Chowder

It's been nine months since my last MOTD...

The truth is, when I'm not going on my wild food adventures I'm actually quite uninspired - I get home from work and feel too spent to try something new, so I end up just sticking to what I know for a quick 30-minute meal. I know, I know, but as I have said many times before - as much as I would like to explore the culinary world in depth on the daily, I have non-food-related adult responsibilities that take up most of my day.

I noticed, however, that clams were on sale on Peapod this week (which is an AMAZING service I recently started using and am kicking myself for not starting sooner), and being an avid fan of clam chowder, I decided to give it a try.

Restaurant Week 2015: The Highlights

I know this post is long overdue but I figured it would still be helpful - after all, Chicago Restaurant Week is not going away any time soon.

I managed to visit four participating locations this year and I intend to give each of them a quick rundown.

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Foodventures: San Francisco, CA

In early February I had a week between jobs and chose to venture into one of my favorite cities: San Francisco. Fortunately, a $120 round trip ticket from Chicago to Oakland enabled my binge-eating ways and bestowed me with an opportunity to enjoy some much needed warm weather.

My first stop off the flight was Hog Island Oyster Co. in the Ferry Building in downtown SF. The location was overlooking the Pacific Ocean but because it was nighttime I was unable to enjoy the azure hues of the sea that drew me to the city in the first place.

Facade of the ferry building

Foodventures: Orlando, FL

I was fortunate enough to grow up with the Harry Potter books as they were being released, and I was more disappointed than I would like to admit when I did not get my Hogwarts acceptance letter by owl post. Though I was old enough to know better (you must be at least eleven years old to enter Hogwarts), I couldn't help but be a part of that magical world.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was the closest that I, as a mere Muggle, would get to being at Hogwarts. I decided to pay a visit to the newly opened Diagon Alley and attempt a food adventure (though Orlando isn't much of a foodie city).

Foodventures: Seoul, South Korea

I don't like my hometown much.

Seriously, with North Korea right around the corner, their sky-high suicide rates, insane academic competition, socially accepted anorexia, and plastic surgery addiction, I honestly wonder how anyone makes it out of there alive (literally). The five or so years I spent there around my tweens was more than enough for me.

But even I have to admit that it's a magnificent place to visit, and I am glad I managed to spend my Thanksgiving holiday in Seoul.