Happy Sunday Everyone!
It is 2 weeks to Christmas, some of you might be all done with your Christmas shopping or perhaps you are like me and are still deciding what to get as gifts. December Is the month of celebrating and joy. I alway spend my Sunday afternoons at my favorite local stores Looking all the whimsical Christmas decorations in the shop displays. My two favorite stores that I have been drawn to at this time a year to enjoy their fantasy decorations are The Marguerite Gardens and The Foursided in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago.
The Marguerite Gardens ( ANDERSONVILLE ,5059 North Clark Street, Phone: (773) 506-6295 )
is a European-Style flower shop with a unique floral design with locations in both the Andersonville on the West side neighborhoods. They golden and glittery decorations remind me of the magical element of Christmas. While I was walking in the shop, I felt a little like I was in an "Alice in Wonderland," Christmas special.
The Foursided (5061 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60640 Phone 773-506-8300 )has framing, cards, and vintage gifts. Every year they gather all the vintage Christmas decorations and display tin the store in a way that can be described as whimsical. Every kind of ornament that you would think of are hanging on the decorated Christmas tree.
The fun vintage decorations are so beautiful and beg to be taken home. My favorite part of the store is the Chicago art wall which features great items that you will cherish forever. Remember to Support local stores and to shop small. Natty
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Once a year I have a chance to enjoy some peppermint hot chocolate and Christmas cookies. I'm surrounded by my favorite smells of fresh cut Christmas trees and peppermint candles . My best ornaments glow under the twinkling lights on the tree.
I bringing out all of my Christmas decorations and putting them around the house. I am excited as a kid waiting for Santa Claus to bring some presents. My Christmas song playlist is on while I am baking Christmas cookies. Getting them ready to send out and to say thank you to friends and family. It's time of the year to show appreciation to family and friends. I have a few great Christmas gift ideas to share with you . Some of these selections are from my local shops. I love to support small local businesses!! You should too as they need your support. I hope all of these gift ideas bring joy and happiness to you and your loved ones. 1. For the baker in your life : White Marble Cake Stand. 2. Big Shoulders Coffee box: a great idea for the coffee lover. 3. Buona Vita Italian Vino & Antipasto Gift Box: this is good for a whole family as a treat. It comes with cheese, crackers, cookies, salami and bottle of WINE. 4. "lyssna! (LISTEN!) lyssna! (LISTEN!) hor du angle sangen! (HEAR THE ANGELS SINGING!)": the Christmas art print comes with a size of 8x10 or 11x14. Beautiful artwork cards are available to send out too. 5. The Baking Bible: one of my favorite author at all time, especially cake recipes... don't get me wrong anything else wonderful, but I love cake! 6. Black "Tickets" Ticket Box: Piggy bank idea but for the tickets. Great for displaying your interests and your life story. And believe me I still keep old movie ticket that I watched with my old boyfriends. 7. Mixology Cocktail Kit: I love cocktails. Lets just say that I will get one for myself and send another for my friend. 8. Flowers are good for any occasion! : Marguerite Gardens Florist, our best local florist shop. 9. Kitchen Stand for Tablets_: save time and it is easy to clean especially when someone spills wine on the counter top. Thank you for stopping by and reading my article. It is beginning to look a lot more like Christmas. Xo....Natty
Happy Sunday Everyone!!
After Thanksgiving, celebrating with family and enjoying so much good food I need to get back to the gym. A smoothie is my on-the-go meal before or after my workout. I will share my recipe for a quick breakfast or snack time smoothie. Like my previous posts about smoothies, it is clear I enjoy the sweet tasting variety. I always add agave liquid or stevia liquid in with the smoothie. This recipe is special to me as it reminds me of being a little girl at home being given a sweet treat with my breakfast. The creaminess from banana cuts the sweetness from pineapple, but the flaxseed and almond milk reassure me that this is also healthy and so good for me. All of these ingredients whipped together to make a good start in the morning. “It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” Natty
JELLYFISH_: - fresh fish sushi, great desserts, fun mixologist created drinks and good service. Jellyfish solidified itself as one of the best sushi restaurants on Gold Coast.
I got an invite from “The Strange Foods Chicago” to tag along toJellyfish this past week to photograph some food. I was blown away that the food not only photographed well but tasted phenomenal.
With it sleek interior, cool blue lighting and incredible skylight Jellyfish, made me feel like I was inside the Shedd Aquarium jellyfish display, made only better with the stellar sushi and sublime cocktails. The menu has a largely Pan-Asian influence. On the Dinner menu, you will find roasted pork belly, spicy chili tofu, squid cucumber salad and togarashi fries.The brunch menu has a distinctly Asian flair like New York steak salad with yuzu vinaigrette, the ginger waffle and 5 spice french toast. Many of the dishes have a decidedly French influenced style flair. The standouts on the sushi menu are Kiss of fire, Sweet P and Torched salmon offerings.
Hector , the head chef creates the dishes including his signature ramen broth which he says takes 10 hours cooking for it to be just perfect to the taste.
Kiss of fire: - spicy tuna inside the roll topped with white tuna, salmon garnish with jalapeno and wasabi tobiko. Spicy tuna brought the roll to life with a great compliment from fresh salmon and the white tuna gave the roll a nice balance.
TorchedSalmon:-crispy shrimp, sweet potato and avocado tucked inside the roll topped with torched smoked salmon and spicy mayo. This quickly became one of my favorite sushi bites in the city so far with a great smoky flavor from the charcoal torched salmon. Simply delicious and awakes all the senses.
Sweet P: spinach and sweet potato tempura, cream cheese and avocado inside the roll with outside rice rolled with wasabi tobiko. Crunchy and creamy roll an especially delicious treat for vegetarians.
As I took pictures and sampled of all these bite sized pieces of heaven from their menu, the bartender Oliver Figueroa made me a black cherry Old Fashioned. I had not had a whiskey in over 4 months and this old fashioned was the best way for me to be welcomed back into the world of whiskey.The hints of orange bitters, black cherry syrup, and the cherry liqueur made this drink perfection.
I couldn't leave without trying their dessert menu. I embraced the idea that the sugar rush was inevitable and ignored the fact that I had 5 different desserts for one sitting.
Warm Banana Donut: - bruleed bananas, blueberry compote based served with espresso cream and vanilla ice cream. This banana donut hole was a decadent surprise, and the combination of flavors is a party in your mouth.
Taro Bread Pudding: - Traditional bread pudding, taro sauce with vanilla ice cream. I found the bread pudding was so light and luxurious much like pillow floating on a heavenly taro sauce.
Ginger Apple spring roll: -a crispy apple spring roll seasoned with cinnamon sugar and served with a side with mango sorbet topped with orange candied peel. This dessert can on initial contact be too sweet so savor the sour bite of candied orange peel as it will cut the sweetness just enough.
Green tea panna cotta: - a silky custard with green tea flavor served with wild berry compote and strawberry sorbet. The combination of the custard, sorbet, and compote, while similar in texture, the flavors compliment each other well and make for a not overly sugary dessert. Definitely one of my favorites.
Chocolate Brownie: - a Chocolate brownie topped with vanilla ice cream and a vodka cream served with bruleed banana. I liked this dessert to a chocolate martini on a plate. The perfectly bruleed bananas were a delightful surprise.
Keys
Atmosphere: Lounge concept with vibrant under the ocean colors. What to eat: Brunch - Ginger waffles ( 8 ), Tamago Omelet ( 11 ) Sushi - Torched Salmon (18),Cherry blossom ( 33 ) Dinner - Roasted pork belly (20),Oxtail Dumpling ( 14 ) Dessert -Green tea panna cotta ( 8 ),Warm Banana Donut (8) What to drink: crafted cocktails, wines, sake, and imported beer. Olive Figueroa, the bartender, can help to create your favorite drink. Where to sit: If you come for the drink and sushi, sit in the bar area. For sunlight, lovers sit down in the open area. Thank you for stopping by and reading :) Natty |
AuthorHi, I am Natty! And Thank you for stopping by!! I am a foodie girl who has a passion for cooking, exercise and photography. There are so many favorite recipes from my family and friends I have tried throughout my journey that balances out and makes a healthy meal. I would like to take you on a journey to a different pantry around the world to share my favorite stories and recipes. My hope is that they inspire and benefit you. "You love someone, you open yourself up to suffering, that's the sad truth. Maybe they'll break your heart, maybe you'll break their heart and never be able to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks. That's the burden.Like wings, they have weight, we feel that weight on our backs, but they are a burden that lifts us. Burdens which allow us" Bones Don't wait for the perfect moment,take the moment and make it perfect. - Zoey Sayward- Archives
June 2017
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