 Memorial Day is quickly approaching and next Monday. It’s good for throwing a BBQ party, either at home, in your backyard, park, or by the lake. You can complete the party with a fun drink to entertain your guests. I love celebrating holidays by creating fun mixology drinks. This Tamarind Margarita is the best drink to pair with your barbecue or taco for this Memorial Day Weekend.
This recipe doesn't require any syrup because the tamarind drink I use is packed with tamarind flavor and sweetness. Let's set up bar for your guest and enjoy the party! Thank you for stopping by. Cheers! Natty
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Last Monday at Lyric Opera here in Chicago was the James Beard Awards ceremony. This award ceremony is well known as “the Oscars” for the food world, chefs, and the food industry worldwide. Congratulations to all of the Chicago winners of the 2016 James Beard Awards! Here are a few of the award winners:
Many local Chicago restaurants and bars threw great parties in honor of the awards last Sunday. I am lucky that I got into a few of the parties including at Boka Chicago and the after party at Lena Brava and Girl and the Goat. Here are some photo snaps from the day’s celebrations.
 Regular Cheeseburger  - Collaboration Burger: Goat Gouda with fried cauliflower, dill mayo, and spiced red pepper jam. I wish I could have this burger for every Sunday Brunch!  Falafel  These "Capital Oysters"; Apple and Celery give a fresh twist to the mignonette sauce for the fresh cold oyster.  Boka BBQ Drink: Almond Old Forester Bourbon with mango and Moroccan bitters garnished with fresh mint. This drink inspired the #jbfa party.  Lemongrass Syrup cocktail : gin, lemon, and lemongrass syrup. Lena Brava: a preview of Lena Brava and after party of the James Beard Awards ceremony. Congratulations are in order for chef Rick Bayless and his team for a job well done! I was not prepared for the incredible night that I was stepping into at such a fine dining Mexican restaurant, who also happens to be the home of the largest mezcal selection in the city of Chicago. Their centerpiece is this "spunky” firewood pit in the back, which happens to be the most popular spot that everyone lines up at for amazing Black Cod Al Pastor tacos. The staff continued to bringing out tasty small bites all night long. These taco bites came in 4 different choices from spicy hot, achiote, medium spicy, or mild with a garlic marinade. The Cruz Blanca Cervecería Brewery and Taqueria is also conveniently located right next door.
Here is their small bites list:  Oysters served with cucumber and Arbol chile, shaved ice with a smoky-spicy Salsa Negra, and green chile Adobo  Who doesn't like a good meatball? These SHRIMP ALBONDIGAS, will wow you! These are wood oven roasted meatballs made with Blue shrimp, Gunthorp pork shoulder, ginger, and cilantro topped with roasted tomato Chipotle sauce, and a micro green with a touch of Añejo cheese.  These Hiramasa tlayuda bites are packed with flavor and spice from Chimoy sauce.  Clockwise: -Black Cod Al Pastor taco from their spunky firewood oven with garlic, topped with Napa, salsa, and salsa verde. -Black Cod Al Pastor taco from their spunky firewood oven with achiote, topped with Napa, salsa, and salsa verde. -Short Rib Taco  Pork Cecina: red chile pork loin  Garlic-Agave and portobello mushroom  Caramel Apple Empanadas: this the perfect way to get your Caramel Apple fix without a fuss!
The Cruz Blanca is a new beer brewpub in the West Loop. They are passionate and inspired by Mexico's spirited flavors and lovely hospitality. "Rick Bayless’s Cruz Blanca makes it clear that the West Loop spot is not like most other brewpubs." - Chicago Tribune Cruz Blanca’s master brewer Jacob Sembrano is knowledgeable and gave me a tour of the brewery. Previously Sembrano worked for Goose Island Brewery for 6 years. In the spring of 2015, he made his transition to The Cruz Blanca Cervecería Brewery and Taqueria as their head/master brewer. Here is the two Items that I tasted from The Cruz Blanca **Winnow is an American Porter made with cocoa bean husks from Cocoa's chocolate program, with cocoa tobacco from Mexico roasted here at Lena Brava. This porter has a medium-body with a rich, dark, deep flavor from cocoa beans. **La Guardia Rubia is a Blonde Biere de Garde, so think a pale malt meet Illinois honey. It has a dry finish with smooth and mild sweetness to the palate. It is bright golden in color.   Cruz Blanca’s master brewer Jacob Sembrano  Todd White: The Head Bar
This was a CIRCUS THEMED PARTY with delicious food bites from Stephanie Izard and Jamie Bissonnette. The party was packed with so many, different food and hospitality industry people, and celebrity chefs added to the mix making for an unforgettable night. There were so many fun elements to this party including a fire dancer in the front, a goat-shaped ice luge, balloons, bright colors, a carnival popcorn cart, ice cream cart, and a carnival photo booth. 
The Party menu included: -Smoked Duck Drumettes with Buffalo Ranch from Jamie Bissonnette (@JAMIEBISS) AND Ken Oringer (@kenoringer).   Funnel cake with trout roe Thank you for stopping by and reading my review article,
Natty   The weekend for Mother's day show her your application with some flowers, a card, a present, her favorite dessert, jewelry, a spa gift card, take her out for brunch/dinner or cook for her. My mom lives a thousand miles away and I will give her a call. If she were here, this would be an ideal moment for me to bake this "MIXED BERRY COBBLER" with her. Making this Mixed Berry Cobbler is good to celebrate with for someone special, like your mom. I found this recipe from “The Kitchen Show”; chef Katie Lee shows her special Peach Cobbler recipe from her grandmother. Since Berries are out for the beginning of spring, the bright fresh colors and acid balance well with the sweetness of the cobbler biscuit topping.. I like to add an addition of vanilla to the top. If you have some vanilla ice cream, just add a little dollop to the top and it’s a perfect match! You can make this recipe ahead or on the morning of because it is so easy to make. I hope you all enjoy spending time with your MOM. Thank you for stopping by and read my article. Natty 4 Mother's Day Recipes Idea |
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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