Travel Bites - Chicago

After my weekend in Massachusetts, I boarded a plane to Chicago for a work conference (and a few extra days with my girls). The meetings went well, so it was off to play with Sarah, Meaghan and Lester.

Now, I've been to the Windy City a number of times, so this trip ended up being a lot of friend time and a lot of meals cooked in the comfort of their apartments . . . which are usually the best anyway. So, we spent our time catching up, gossiping, and laughing at totally inappropriate volume levels. Oh, and, of course, enjoying good food and an occasional adult beverage.

First stop on our reunion tour: drinks at the Signature Lounge at the 96th floor of the Hancock Building.

Sarah, Meag, Jessica (aka Lester)

Excellent view, mediocre cocktails, touristy clientelle (which I understand that I was contributing to). As my wise friend Meaghan pointed out: "the quality of the drinks here is in direct correlation with the number of flip flops being worn." And, let me tell you, there were a lot of flip flops.

The Redeeming View

We made up for my poor judgement the next night, when Sarah brushed off her new grill and made us all a delicious meal of fish tacos with tomatillo-avocado salsa and steak with chimichurri sauce.

Sarah, Alex, and the grill named Titus. Yes, the grill is named.

Top it all off with homemade margaritas and it was perfect.

For tasty margaritas - 1 1/2 part tequila,
1 part freshly squeezed lime juice, 1/2 part Cointreau  

The next morning we refueled with an al fresco brunch at Feast in Wicker Park.  We all enjoyed the fresh seasonal berries with honey-lime yogurt, the breakfast burrito and a trio of benedicts.
     
That evening, we trekked over to Meaghan and Eoghan's apartment for an Independence Day cocktail party. And they really outdid themselves with an amazing spread.

Carnitas Bites

Tandoori Chicken

Caprese Salad Skewers

Roasted Eggplant Dip

Their swanky digs come with a panoramic view of Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago. Not a bad way to catch the fireworks. And definitely not a bad way to cap off a great week with new family and old friends.