International Gluttony

Blackberry Bliss Cakes, again from M. Henry, my favorite brunch...

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:10:00 -0500

Blackberry Bliss Cakes, again from M. Henry, my favorite brunch spot in Chicago. Warm blackberries, mascarpone cream, and fluffy pancakes, balanced perfectly with the crunch of an oat topping. I would move to Andersonville entirely for proximity to M. Henry. Chicago, IL, June 2012.

Tilapia sandwich from M Henry. What I love most about M. Henry...

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 23:57:00 -0500

Tilapia sandwich from M Henry. What I love most about M. Henry is the care that goes into each plate. The finesse is evident in both the food’s taste and presentation. This sandwich tasted even more phenomenal accompanied by blackberry bliss cakes, good friends, and five cups of rich black coffee - a fundamental complement to all of my brunches. Chicago, IL, June 2011.

Cinnamon rolls at St. Peter’s Bakery (Sankt Peders Bageri)...

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:59:00 -0500

Cinnamon rolls at St. Peter’s Bakery (Sankt Peders Bageri) in Copenhagen. Every Wednesday, this small bakery churns out thousands of sugar-dusted cinnamon rolls. At 12 DKK a piece, they were suitably tasty and more affordable than most other confections in Copenhagen. September 2010.

Salad dinner in Malmö, Sweden, September 2010.

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:47:00 -0500

Salad dinner in Malmö, Sweden, September 2010.

Bourbon Pear Crumble and Lemon Chess pie slices at Four &...

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 02:11:00 -0500

Bourbon Pear Crumble and Lemon Chess pie slices at Four & Twenty Blackbirds. I rapidly consumed my slice and a chunk of Steve’s as well. (A woman next to us took two bites of her pie, separated the cream away from the slice, then stared longingly at the rest before throwing it away. I wish it weren’t socially uncouth to ask strangers for their leftover food!) This place is a necessary pilgrimage for pie fans. Brooklyn, NY, March 2012.

First foray into Chicago’s restaurant week. Main course of...

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 19:56:00 -0600

First foray into Chicago’s restaurant week. Main course of classic filet mignon, medium rare, complimented with mushrooms and whipped potatoes (served family style). The presentation of the steaks was bleak and uninviting - hunks of charred meat on massive, plain white plates. I was happy with the temperature of my steak, but I noticed that Peter’s steak was cooked medium, despite his medium rare order. All of the steaks at our table seemed pretty inconsistent. Nonetheless, I enjoyed mine. I’m still relatively inexperienced in the world of red meat, and this was my first steak not cooked by Steve, Zach, or Chris. As much as I love my friends, I think David Burke did it a little better. David Burke’s Primehouse, Chicago, IL, February 2012.

Cannolis and Baba Rums from Veniero’s Pasticceria in the...

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:33:00 -0600

Cannolis and Baba Rums from Veniero’s Pasticceria in the East Village, March 2011.

My classic Vietnamese sandwich (pate, roasted ground pork,...

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:19:00 -0600

My classic Vietnamese sandwich (pate, roasted ground pork, pickled carrots, cucumber, cilantro, mayo) and Steve’s pork chop sandwich (recommended by Aaron Sanchez). Best Bahn Mi I’ve ever had.
Nicky’s Vietnamese Sandwiches in the East Village, March 2011.

Despite making myriad meals of candy bars and snack food during...

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:54:29 -0600

Despite making myriad meals of candy bars and snack food during the quarter, I like to assume the guise of healthy eating when I’m home with my family. Thus emerged this lentil pate, a simple spread made by heaping cooked green lentils in a food processor, drizzling in some olive oil, and seasoning with garlic, salt, and pepper. Incredibly easy, tasty, and perfect for vegan/vegetarian dinners. Orem, UT, December 2011.

Birthday brunch at Ann Sather. Cinnamon rolls, “French...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:50:00 -0600

Birthday brunch at Ann Sather. Cinnamon rolls, “French Toast Fantasy,” Banana Pecan French Toast, and a brownie a la mode. Both of the French toasts we ordered were made from cinnamon rolls in lieu of bread. French toast can’t get much better than that. Although Ann Sather is known for their cinnamon rolls (which are phenomenal), their brownies shouldn’t be overlooked! This one was rich and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Nothing like a massive food coma to celebrate my 21st birthday. Chicago, IL, January 2012.

I’m thrilled to finally post about making my own macarons!...

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 12:34:00 -0600

I’m thrilled to finally post about making my own macarons! This occurred the day before I flew back to Chicago, when I spontaneously decided to postpone my goodbyes to my friends for several hours, went out and purchased a shoddy kitchen scale, and got down to business. I’m amazed by how swimmingly my macaron-making went, especially since I’ve seen/heard about the horrors of even minute mistakes. I used raw, unblanched almonds. Instead of aging my egg whites over the course of several days, I microwaved them for a few seconds to remove extra moisture. I didn’t anticipate successful shells, so I actually didn’t have a filling in mind - the result was a mixture of nutella and tiramisu mascarpone. Still delicious. Next time, I’ll be a little more adventurous and start flavoring/coloring them! Orem, UT, December 2011.

Macarons from the Upper East Side Laduree, from Steve. (His...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:37:00 -0600

Macarons from the Upper East Side Laduree, from Steve. (His friend works there - I’m incredibly jealous of all the macaron-eating that that job entails!) The macarons are not made on-site but rather shipped in from Paris. I found the shells bit too crisp and dry (perhaps a result of semi-extensive traveling?), but the flavors were pretty spot-on. Consumed in Chicago, IL, January 2012.

Fall sage soup that I prepared just a few minutes ago. Pumpkin,...

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 20:46:00 -0500

Fall sage soup that I prepared just a few minutes ago. Pumpkin, carrot, apple, potato, and a generous amount of sage. Perfect for a cool autumn evening. Evanston, IL, November 2011.

Coffee and cupcakes from Sugar Sweet Sunshine on the Lower East...

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:13:00 -0500

Coffee and cupcakes from Sugar Sweet Sunshine on the Lower East Side. My favorites are the Pistachio and Pumpkin. I’d take this place over Magnolia any day. New York, NY, July 2011.

Guacamole burger from Jackson Hole Burgers, medium...

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:04:00 -0500

Guacamole burger from Jackson Hole Burgers, medium rare—the only wait to eat a burger. Strawberry milkshake not pictured. New York, NY, July 2011.

Major hiatus….sorry! Does anyone know why a lot of the...

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 13:54:00 -0500

Major hiatus….sorry! Does anyone know why a lot of the likes/reblogs/notes aren’t showing up on my page?

EarthFruits Yogurt, Provo, UT, June 2011.

Made granola with raisins, golden raisins, coconut, sunflower...

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:46:00 -0500

Made granola with raisins, golden raisins, coconut, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, and almonds. I inhale granola, and this was no exception. Evanston, IL 2011.

Rosemary chicken soup, all organic ingredients & cooked with...

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:11:00 -0500

Rosemary chicken soup, all organic ingredients & cooked with white wine…mmm. Ungodly amounts of cooking/eating during my last week in Evanston. Soup is one of my favorite things ever. June 2011.

Late lunch at Franks ‘n Dawgs. Dan’s Brunch Dog, my...

Sun, 29 May 2011 18:32:00 -0500

Late lunch at Franks ‘n Dawgs. Dan’s Brunch Dog, my Tur-Doggin (turkey and date sausage, duck confit, herb garlic aioli, pickled carrots), and our sides of Triple Truffle Fries and truffled mac n cheese. Buttery brioche takes these hot dogs to a whole new level. I would eat the Tur-Doggin again and again, but I’m also dying to try the rest of the menu. (Ya know, the next time I’m willing to spend $15 on a hot dog and a side.) Chicago, IL, May 2011.

Woke up and promptly threw together chocolate blueberry bread...

Sun, 29 May 2011 18:11:00 -0500

Woke up and promptly threw together chocolate blueberry bread pudding with toasted coconut. Warm and ooey gooey chocolatey…utterly fantastic hangover food. Evanston, IL, May 2011.