Whatta day! I was going and going and going and then suddenly crashed when the clock struck 10.
This afternoon I ventured out of doors on a 2-mile walk up to the Gold Coast neighborhood for a special treat.
A blog reader friend manages a massage spa and treated me to a session this afternoon at Urban Oasis. This was my first real spa spa visit – I even got to wear a robe and take a fancy shower afterwards! My massage was amazing. Wish I could visit there once a month at the least! But I think the shower with many jets was my favorite part 
On my walk to the spa, I stopped for a Jamba smoothie! I was pretty darn hungry (it was nearing 6PM at home) and new I had a few hours at least until dinner.
This guy was perfect – and you know I’m a sucker for granola on top so I got a splash on the side!
Of course ate it with a spoon!
After my massage, I set back to walk the 2 miles home – which went by pretty quickly. Walking in cities is so great because there is so much to SEE. In the south a 2 mile walk might have you on sidewalks in front of gas stations. Cities are much more fun.
When I was just about back to the hotel, I bumped into Heather (literally!) and we decided to turn around and get something for dinner (I was headed back to change clothes since I was in walking gear!)
Upon many recommendations, we walked another MILE back to Rick Bayless’s casual Mexican restaurant, XOCO.
Was it worth the walk? Yes it was!!
The menu was full of flava –
And when I saw a focus on local food, I knew it was a good time to try out something I rarely order in restaurants: pork!
I got the Cornitas bowl, a VERY spicy soup with slow-cooked pork, potato-masa dumplings, avocado, greens, arugula, serrano.
With lime on top, this soup was SO GOOD. Very very spicy. The pork was melty, the potato-masa cakes buttery and the greens and arugula made my night!
Because everything is better with bread, we got a side of grilled bread that totally exceed expectations!
It had a really sweet floury taste that I loved
And get this – they had sparkling water on TAP!!!
Really fun, inexpensive, flavorful dinner!
6 miles of walking plus 225 swag bags in process, I’m intoxicated by sleepiness.
Night!
{ 82 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks like you had a great first day in Chicago!!
Wow, Chicago looks amazing!! I hope to be able to visit someday. Glad you got to de-stress a bit with the spa visit!
How fun! I love the emphasis on local meat. I rarely eat meat at restaurants simply because I have no idea where it is coming from.
Dinner looks great! And great that it’s all local.
I wish I was at the summit, can’t wait to hear how it goes
Sparkling water on tap? WOW. Looks like an amazing dinner!
Wei-Wei
I love cities that you can walk around. I don’t eat pork but I love the idea of arugula in soup! Peppery. Mmm…
What a wonderful day!
wow, that’s quite the day!! the restaurant sounds amazing…i love me some spicy soup
That soup sounds amazing, and totally unlike anything I’ve ever come across in Australia! Hope you have/had a lovely sleep – can’t wait to read what happens next!
Hahahaha. I did an accidental 7 mile walk today! I guess some days you just feel like walking. I am so jealous that you were able to eat at Rick Bayless’ restaurant! I have been wanting to try his food for ages.
That place looks delicious! One of the reasons I want to move away from Dallas – you can’t walk anywhere! It’s not pedestrian-friendly. I love Chicago – can’t wait to get there Friday.
I love big cities for a variety of reasons, but walk-ability is definitely high up on the list. Your dinner looks amazing, especially that side of grilled bread.
Looks yummy! Just FYI – most restaurants have sparkling water on tap – just order “soda water.” All places that serve mixed drinks & cocktails will have a soda water tap, and even a lot of non-bar restaurants have it. Sometimes it’s free and other times the restaurant will charge the price of a 7-up or Coke. I always prefer sparkling to boring still
Yeah,but it’s no self serve!!
You should tweet @Rick_Bayless and tell him what you thought of Xoco. I tweeted him to tell him how much we loved his new restaurant here in LA called Red O and he responded to say thank you!
See you soon!
just recently went to rick bayless’ new place in l.a. – there was no walking involved (b/c it’s l.a.) and it was expensive!!!
Ok, I’m going to write down the places you’re going to in New York, because one day I’m going to be there and everywhere you’ve been seems delightful!
Please note I’m in CHICAGO!
Oh boy, i love walking around the city. so many people to see & buildings & restaurants & hidden gems.
That bread looks INCREDIBLE
I just got back from Chicago (my hometown!) and I miss it so much! Its most definitely a walking city and has so much going on!
with all the travel you do i am curious about your tips for eating healthy on planes.
i have an epic (15 hour) plane ride in a week…..any food hints?
Shelf stable snacks – whole fruit, bars, trail mix.
I lived in Chicago for 11 years before moving to NY and I used get massages at Urban Oasis. So jealous! (and happy for YOU to enjoy that fab place!) Enjoy Chicago, enjoy HLS, can’t wait to read all about it and join you all next year!
I think Rick Bayless is a total genius and I love his use of fresh and local foods. I am jealous! That dinner looked awesome, and your post made me miss the city..
The Gold Coast neighborhood is awesome! My boyfriend lived there for a while when he was doing research at the Newberry Library.
Also, that Cornitas bowl looks amazing. Glad to see they have South Haven fruit on the menu. Their peaches are the best and I miss Michigan so much this time of year!
I so wish I was there! Next year hopefully I will be!
Have a fantastic time!
Julia x
Looks like your day was so fun! You deserve it – glad you got to relax a bit!
That looks beautiful. I agree that cities are amazing to walk in because of the different things to see. I also love me some mountains for hiking, but each both have their own appeal.
Lots of walking and things to see…that’s Chicago
Awww…Chicago looks like such a blast!! I would love to visit there someday. It seems to have a lot to offer.
I love the look of that soup! Cities are so much fun to walk around in, and its great exercise
I don’t know how you managed to fit in a spa trip, but how fun.
Totally agree about city walking — I walk miles in DC and don’t even notice, but distances seem so much longer when there’s nothing to look at and just a straight, endless road ahead.
Sounds like a great way to start the Summit! Glad you had a good day! I hope today is just as good!
I ADORE Rick Bayless!! That meal sounds so fantastic!
Looks like fun! I love Chicago!
I love walking. It really is entertaining because even if your surroundings are super interesting you notice so much more walking as opposed to running (which I also love) and your thoughts can really get places on a walk.
All that walking in my town would get you no where! I do love living in the country, but it would be awesome to be able to just stroll on over to a restaurant.
Oh hey! That city looks very familiar!
Glad you are liking Chicago so far – I am in love with my city!
That massage treatment sounds heavenly! Glad you had a good night.
As a top chef lover, you can’t beat the opportunity to go to a Rick Bayless restaurant. Glad you enjoyed it.
Wow, that place sounds amazing! Is it weird that I’m most impressed by the symmetry and neatness of the chalkboard? It’s the little things that get me
I am so glad that you found someone to take you to XOCO. Its is so delicious! I can’t believe you passed up the Churros for dessert thought
I went back in September the week they opened and got to see Bayless on the line!
http://whitneyinchicago.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/xoco/
Yay Wisconsin!!! I know where all those farms are
Mmmm, massage. That must have been **awesome!**
I am so glad you liked it Kath!!! My boys also loved the Churros for dessert. Definitely not healthy but a wonderful treat! We also were some of the crazy people that lined up at Fronterra Grill during our trip last week to snag a table and it was worth it! Rick Bayless was doing a radio show for Martha Stewart Live in the bar area! : ) I was so excited because my husband had taken me to Fronterra Grill several years back for my birthday and Rick was having dinner at Fronterra with his wife Deena. I had my 10 year old snap a photo of him. : )
Chicago looks awesome, totally jealous.
So jealous! I want to eat some Rick Bayless food so bad!
so jealous…two of my favorite things in the world are pork and rick bayless!
Chicago is one of my favourite cities, I’m jealous! lol I know you are super busy but if you have a chance; Molly’s has the best cupcakes in the city, Berry Chill is fantastic FroYo and Des Colores is the best mexican food I’ve ever had (totally worth the bus ride). Have a great time, looking forward to reading all about it!
oh a massage! awesome
Sparkling water on tap!! Very cool!!
I watched Rick Bayless on Top Chef Masters last year! He seems like such a fun guy and his food looked amazing.
I love showers with many jets — I hope to have one in my house one day!
So jealous you got to eat at a Rick Bayless restaurant! From the looks of the food on his show, I would love to go to his restaurant. Good to know it was worth it!!!
That restaurant looks AWESOME, and reasonably priced, too. I love sparkling water so much. I’m a simple girl.
Walking in cities is the best – before you know it, you’ve covered huge distances and didn’t even realize it because you were so busy looking around!
enjoy your stay in chicago!
Kath – Urban Oasis is only THE best place to get a massage in Chi! Great find. I’ve gotten so many massages there it’s ridic. Amazing massages! See you this weekend at HLS!
All that walking will getcha! I’m sure you slept very soundly last night!
Don’t know if you’ll have time on this visit, but the Medici Bakery in Hyde Park is worth a visit. If you go, order an almond croissant (they only make these on the weekends) and a fruit turnover. Our favorite way to get between Hyde Park and Downtown Chicago is the #6 (Jeffrey Express) bus.
SO glad you loved Xoco – it’s one of my favorites. If you’re ever back in the city and want to go out for a really nice dinner, try Topolobampo, Rick’s upscale spot next door. You will never be the same!
Fabulous day! Thanks for sharing your Rick Bayless’ meal – yum! Although the Jamba Juice look fantastic in the summer heat too!!
That soup sounds divine! seriously.
I’ll be in Chicago next week to pick up my boyfriend from the airport and I’m definitely considering checking out Xoco! Thanks for the review.
It’s always nice to read reviews from people you “know.”
I’m going to Xoco for lunch today – I love that place. I saw a talk/cooking demonstration with Rick Bayless last week and it was fantastic. They grow peppers and tomatoes on the roof of his restaurants to use in the food and he mentioned that he grows the greens that they use at Topolobampo in his backyard. He also started a non-profit that provides capital improvement grants to small sustainable farms (http://www.rickbayless.com/foundation/about.html)
If you end up with any free time today, there is a nice farmers market that runs until 3 pm in Daley Plaza (on Washington between Clark and Dearborn).
Restaurant looks amazing! And Snug Haven Farm is on the list..they are at our local farmers market every Saturday! Have fun in Chicago!
I love walking in cities. It’s so much fun! Walking where I live means walking by gas stations, too. That restaurant looks so cool! Glad you’re having fun!
Kath, if you’re looking for a little “green” space in Chicago to chill for a moment – Millenium Park offers some beautiful gardens, you can kind of wander around or walk over the bridge over Columbus Drive – it’s pretty unique. Take a hat and some sunscreent to ward off the rays! Your Chicago pals should know how to find it from the hotel.
Here’s a map of the Park: http://www.millenniumpark.org/documents/5x7in.pdf
Sparkling water on tap is a miracle. Yum.
I love the south for it’s scenery but you’re right- cities are soooo much more fun to walk around! There’s something new around every corner!
In my eyes … Rick Bayless does no wrong when it comes to food. He is a master of flavors!
Rick Bayless’ food has mexican soul with a great taste for the local. He learned from the best in Mexico.
So fun that you ladies for HLS are running into each other. I can’t wait to read the tweets and recaps.
I agree with you about walks in cities, you can walk for miles and not even notice because there’s so much to explore. Why don’t more places have sparking water on tap?!
That’s awesome that the restaurant gets its food from local farms! A dining experience is so much more special when you know where your food comes from!
LOVE Xoco! So glad you were able to try it out. Frontera Grill is also amazing…also a bit more pricey!
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel like I exercise more on vacation or trips between walking and doing things all day long.
Glad you went to Xoco–Rick Bayless rocks! (So do the “ideal meal” smoothies from jamba. Love them!) Enjoy sight-seeing in Chi-town.
Man, do I love Chicago!!
Xoco, I was there for lunch yesterday!! I would have shrieked if I’d seen you, like an Elvis sighting.
I was in Chicago a couple of weeks ago and went to Xoco but before the soups were available. I had the MOST AMAZING sandwich with goat cheese and mushrooms, and amazing guacamole and chips. So awesome and worth standing in line for. I loved the sparking water and lime on tap.
Hi Kath, Just found your blog when I was looking for overnight oats recipe. And once I looked at your story, I realize I had seen you “before” pics previously, at Shape Magazine website, as a weight loss success story! So now I’m excited to follow your story
So cool that you remembered me two years later!!
Hey Kath! Glad to hear you are having a great time in Chicago! I review tons of healthy restaurants around Chicago on my blog Eat Chic, check it out!
I never thought to put granola on top of a smoothie until I came to your website. I am eating granola on a smoothie right now and it is AMAZING! I love all of your meal ideas and you are truly a testament to being healthy yet eating a bunch of delicious food and still living your life. Thanks Kath