Reel Club

We just returned from Chicago. We stayed in Oakbrook, one of it's suburbs. My husband did some research on restaurants and came up with 2 that he wanted to try. We decided on the Reel Club, which specializes in seafood.

The decor was very classic bistro. We sat in one of the half circle banquets surrounding the perimeter of the restaurant--cozy and romantic! The service was outstanding and the food even better! I can't remember the last time we ate out and my husband said "this is really good", in fact he said it at least 4 times! He had clam chowder, whitefish with an espresso BBQ sauce perfectly baked on a cedar plank served with an apple watercress salad. I had their seafood gumbo and a spicy linguine dish with lobster, shrimp and fresh crab meat. I am glad that the server asked if I wanted it a little or a lot spicy, as I choose a little and it was the perfect amount of heat!

The Shedd

While in Chicago,we revisited the Shedd Aquarium, which is the world's largest indoor aquarium. The Shedd has over 8,000 animals and over 650 different species. One of my favorite spots is the Caribbean reef, where you can watch a diver feed the animals! The Oceanarium is filled with beluga whales, sea otters, sea lions and dolphins is another don't miss! The curved ceiling to floor glass wall behind the Beluga Whale tank is a visual delight that makes you feel as if Lake Michigan itself is part of the room!!

The Shedd recently underwent a substantial renovation in 2009 and is definitely worth the visit or revisit. It was quite impressive, but I left wondering..... Isn't it ironic to have fish on the menu in their restaurants?

Smoked Salmon Spread

8 ounces of cream cheese
4 ounces of smoked salmon
1 T lemon juice
1/8 t fresh dill
1 T green onion, finely chopped
1 cucumber, sliced

Blend until smooth, put a teaspoon on top of a cucumber slice and garnish with fresh or dried dill.

Yes, you are reading this right!

Miller Brewing Company's Girl in the Moon

Alcohol Drinking Age:

"The alcohol drinking age in Wisconsin is 21. However, persons under age 21 and over the age of 16 who are with a parent, legal guardian, or spouse (if the spouse is 21 or over) may, at the discretion of the establishment, be sold and allowed to drink alcohol beverages. Nineteen and twenty year old military members can drink and purchase alcohol in bars and restaurants. "

I first heard this when we where having dinner at our friend's Craig and Kathy's house, who live in Wauwatosa in a beautiful house in the suburb of Milwaukee this past summer. (We have an agreement with them that they will watch out for our daughter who moved up there if we watch out for his mom who is here and just lost her husband--sounds like a fair agreement!). I thought they were kidding as we ate Wisconsin brats, and then they told us that a DUI is considered a misdemeanor in their state!

Wisconsin is known for it's history as a brewery state that dates back to the Great Chicago fire of 1871. When Chicago burned, Milwaukee saw this as an opportunity and began supplying Chicago with beer. Today the state is still the largest producers of beer! (Hence the name Milwakee Brewers!)

MY TIP: The tour at the Miller's Brewery lasts one hour but allow yourself time to relax and sample the 3 different beers that are served in their Inn. (NOTE: to drink at the brewery you must be 21.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Chocolate garnishes dress up any dessert from ice cream to cakes! They look gourmet-like and artistic but are very simple to make. Per my husband's request, I used strawberry cheesecake ice cream. This dessert is also pretty made with vanilla ice cream with a splash of amaretto, topped with candied walnuts. What I like about this dessert is that it can be assembled the day before and kept in the freezer until you are ready to serve it.

To make the chocolate garnish:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper, making sure that the baking sheet will fit in the freezer.

2. Melt 4 ounces of chocolate in a double boiler.

3. Pour melted chocolate into a squeeze bottle.

4. Squeeze chocolate over the paper, making abstract shapes. Leave a bit of space between each shape, for easy removal.

5. Place the tray in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Once the chocolate is set, use a spatula to remove it from the parchment.

MY TIP: The garnishes can also be made a couple days ahead of time and stored in the freezer between wax paper.

Jambalaya

So everyone has their own way of picking their favorites for a Superbowl match-up. It was easy this year because we live in Indiana and of course we are Colts fans! But there are lots of ways to choose your favorite teams to be in the Superbowl. You have the fans who watch every game and study the statistics...you have the ones who vote by team color... and then there is me... let's see.... I go by food fare---Saint Louis style ribs or New Orleans's Cajun/creole food! I love them both, but have to go with creole...I mean New Orleans!

It was a tough lose, but congrats to New Orleans--Drew Brees and his team did a great job against Peyton Manning and the Colts!

2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons flour
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 glove garlic, crushed
1 red pepper, seeded and finely chopped
14 oz. can of whole tomatoes
4 cups fish stock or 2 cans chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
pinch allspice
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
pinch salt
1 cup uncooked rice
1 1b. shrimp
parsley or green onion to garnish (optional)

Melt the butter in a heavy sauce pan and then add the flour. Stir to blend well and cook over low heat until a pale straw color (make Roux). Add the onions, garlic and pepper and cook until soft. Add the tomatoes and their juice, breaking up the tomatoes with a potato masher. Add the stock and mix well. Add the spices, bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Add the rice, stir well and cover and cook until the rice is tender (20 minutes). Add the shrimp and cook until the shrimp curl and turn pink (2-3 minutes).

MY TIP: Andouille sausage can be added for extra spice to this recipe.

Snow Days!

Snow Days Chicago 2010

Who doesn't like snow days??? When my children were little I think I liked them even more than they did--it meant a day off of work for me and a full day with them! I would bundle them up to go outside. I think I spent more time bundling them then what they actually spent in the snow and then I would unravel them so they could enjoy a toasty cup of hot chocolate. When the snow would reach 3 feet, I would tell them that this is "REAL" snow--like the kind I grew up with in Buffalo. They would always laugh. Then my stories of the blizzard would come out!!

But the girls are older now, and still love snow, so we bundled up and headed to Chicago to enjoy a weekend in the city. Chicago's Snow Days, now in it's second year is a winter festival held in Grant Park. It features an international competition of teams who transform piles of snow into beautiful, artistic creations.

To keep warm this winter, try this recipe!

Hot Chocolate:

2 cups whole milk
Cook over a medium heat, do not boil.
Grated milk chocolate (for children) or bittersweet (for adults) to taste
Add marshmallows (optional)
Serves 2