I love cities that feel ALIVE! This one sure did today.
At 3PM, Whitney in Chicago, one of my favorite bloggers for her beau-ti-ful photography, met me for a walk around the city. She was an excellent tour guide! The highlight was Millennium Park to see tons of great art!
But first, I was thirsty and hungry so we went to Intelligentsia for coffee! Whitney actually sent me some of their coffee this spring (along with some fantastic granola) and it was awesome.
MY OTHER RECIPES
I got an iced coffee enhanced with skim milk, whole milk and cinnamon
Whitney’s coffee was beautiful!
With our coffees we walked for about an hour 45 mins.
GIANT American Gothic!!
The bean!!! (Hey Kanz, I’m a bean!)
More coolness – water “spits” from his mouth!
Unfortunately it started to rain pretty hard, so we walked back to the hotel. I was starving with the time change, so i had a handful of trusty nuts from my snack bag to tide me until dinner. I did NOT want to spoil my appetite!
I got to relax in my bed for a bit before getting dressed up for dinner and meeting the group in the lobby. This bed is the most comfortable hotel bed I’ve ever been in!! I think there’s a foam mattress under the covers, which is what we have at home and absolutely love. I got under the covers because I was freezing even in a sweater!
At 6:15 I met the Edelman crew and Linda, the other Balanced Living blogger, in the lobby for dinner, and then we cabbed over to Graham Elliot’s restaurant!!!!!!! <—- Check out the totally unique menu + style! The food was phenomenal and totally about the flava. Graham Elliot uses such interesting flavor combinations, and this dinner went perfectly with my Gather post this week on using dining out as an opportunity to try all kinds of new tastes.
[Sorry for all the yellow photos – it was the lighting!]
We split a bottle of Calera Pinot, which was rustic and delish. I had 3 half glasses throughout the evening. LOVE drinking red wine in fancy restaurants!
We ordered a few appetizers to share across the table. I can’t even begin to remember all the different flavors in these dishes –
Scallop with pancetta and potatoes –
Tuna sashimi with avocado puree, radish, plantain and cacao nibs!!!
Asparagus salad (stalks molded in goat cheese!?) with egg and frisee –
Chowder with corn nuts and a garlic marshmallow!!
I had a taste of everything!!
For my entree, I couldn’t decide between the Land and the Sea!
But I chose the Heritage Pork Loin with farro, grilled peaches, baby spinach and pistachio gremolata (mostly for the farro!)
It tasted better than it looks! (The wheatberries/farro, especially)
Other entrees (they shared bites, so I had a taste of everything! Love sharing 🙂 )
Sea Bass + Halibut
Duck + Walleye – all with incredible ingredients!
And for dessert we all shared the Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with ice milk, sea salt + caramel
And the Deconstructed Strawberry Shortcake with strawberry gelato and some delicious granola-like stuff 🙂
A huge thank you to the fabulous Edelman Team for treating us to dinner on behalf of Boca!! What a fun + intelligent group of women 🙂
Alexa, Linda + Danielle
Teresa and me
Once we were back at the hotel I checked out the People’s Party going on. I think it’s sort of an unofficial BlogHer thing? One thing about BlogHer – it’s soooo confusing!!! There are so many parties and events and exhibits and vendors and speakers and you are totally overwhelmed and don’t know where to go at what time. There are unlimited choices!! And it’s kinda intimidating that it seems that a lot of the other bloggers know each other already. Kind of like the first day at a new high school! I didn’t know if I was supposed to “be” at this part, but I think the point of the people’s party is that everyone is invited!?
It was packed, but I got there a little late and have an early morning tomorrow with the 5K and all, so I called it a night.
Back in my room I found a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a tote from iVillage!! How lovely!
My stomach is feeling a bit funny today. It started on the plane and then got better and now it feels super full and fluttery and in knots again. I think I am just nervous and excited to be here. Hopefully I’ll feel better for tomorrow’s run.
The bed is seriously SO comfortable I can’t wait to close my eyes!
G’night!
***
[So I just woke up and checked my email to find ZERO comments on this post. Uh-oh. Turns out it never went up! And you know what’s weird is that I almost always verify my posts go up and last night as I was closing my computer I realized I hadn’t done that but said “Eh, it’s up” Wrong!! Sorry for the delay everyone!]
Isn’t Chicago great?! I think it’s such a perfect sized city because there’s so much to do but I don’t feel overwhelmed.
That restaurant looks incredible. I love how inventive the chef is with his dishes!
Enjoy all your activities today! 🙂
Looks like a fun night!! All of the eats look delicious!
Glad you are having fun in our city!
I’ve never been to Graham Elliot – heard great things – that’s where Barack and Michelle went the last time we was in town 🙂
your meal sounds divine! i love love sharing when i go out to eat too – my family always shares bites, and it makes it that much more fun. keep having fun out there!
Those purple flowers with the city background looks so cool and I love the guy’s face that spits water…lol!!!
Very Creative!
Hope you are feeling A-Okay and have a great day,
http://www.alovefornewrecipes.blogspot.com
Everything looks fabulous! It looks like you made great choices.
That looks like so much fun – I’m going to have to try to get to BlogHer next year!
Wow the dishes look beautiful! I love the chocolate dessert, looks soo good. Have fun tomorrow!
Looks like dinner was as very and interesting as I have heard it is!
I had so much funny showing you around. Next time you will have to spend an extra day and I can show you the neighborhoods and what not.
Have a great day at the conference! I’m heading to a coffee shop right now to get one more big day of studying in. Sigh.
wow sounds like a great trip so far! Can’t wait to read about the rest of the conference 🙂
Food looks amazing!
I love visiting new places and trying new foods when dining out. It all sounds so amazing!
So does that comfy bed! Enjoy:)
I am going to visit Chicago for the first time in October. I’ve been there before (just passing through the airport). I’m glad you went to a great place for dinner…but today…how about some deep dish pizza photos!!! At least one slice! 🙂
I’d love the visit Chicago someday! The duck looks interesting – kudos to you for being such an adventurous eater! That’s the best part of travellng 🙂
I really want to go to that retaurant!
my dad curated the show in millenium park! sorry, just had to put it out there.
i’ve always wanted to try graham elliot… it looks amazing. have fun in chicago!
i looooooooove intelligentsia chicago! i need to go back soon!!!!!
Ahh Chicago! I love Chicago. I’m about 2 hours south, though. Going there next weekend. I’ll try to get to that restaurant – looks awesome 😀 Good luck today!!!
What a fun night! BlogHer looks like a blast!
So many lovely things in this post! I love Anish Kapoor’s sculptures and Intelligentsia coffee. And that dinner looks outstanding!
looks like such an amazing time!
ASPARAGUS MOLDED IN GOAT CHEESE?!? oh my. that sounds glorious.
keep enjoying yourself! <3
Hope you’re feeling better. I just saw The Bean last weekend for the first time! I loved seeing your pics of it!
That dinner looks so great! All of the appetizers were so beautifully presented. Enjoy the conference:)
Your pictures of Chicago are fantastic! They make me miss living there! Enjoy yourself today!
So jealous you got to go to Graham Elliot – he was on Top Chef Masters (love that show!) and looked like such a creative and unique chef!
See “The Pioneer Woman” , Ree Drummond, speak if you have a chance. She is soo funny and her blog has fantastic photography too!
That cafe looks fun! I love fun coffee shops!! Your dinner looks fabulous!! I want to go to Chicago!!
There is nothing quite like Chicago in the summer. Loves it!
Fantastic photos! The food looks amazing.
Jenn
Nothing beats summertime in Chicago!! Dinner looks crazy amazing!
Looks like fun! Can’t wait to hear more 🙂
you had a good tour guide–intellgentsia coffee is the best in chicago!
Looks like your already have an amazing time!! 😀
As you said, there’s nothing like a city that’s “alive.” That’s the prime reason I can’t imagine trading my apartment in DC for the suburbs! And more so, why I miss NY every day.
So glad you got to try such a fabulous restaurant as Graham Eliot! He is one of Chicago’s best chefs, by far. We’ve got reservations to go on Aug 8th, and I’m very excited!
You’re such a good tour guide Kath! Thanks for sharing 🙂
It looks like you’re having a blast so far – I hope tomorrow bring more fun!
That dinner looks delicious–grilled peaches–yum!
Fun fun fun!! that restaurant looks awesome. Like the “Land” and “Sea” options. I’ll be in Chicago in a couple of weeks and I can’t wait – thanks for reminding me of some stuff I love about it!
Graham Elliot according to my folks is fantastic. Cannot wait to try it!
Did you have your first Obama sighting yet? Haha.
dinner looked like lots of fun; very interesting food.
good luck on your run this morning!
Oo and since you like Farmer’s Markets, check out the Lincoln Park Farmers market on Armitage Ave. & Orchard St. tomorrow if you have a chance. I worked their for years. There is also the Green City Market on the south end of Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton. It runs 7am-1pm on tomorrow too.
Holy yumbos – that food looks great!
The weather did crap out yesterday afternoon – today looks beautiful though!
Hope your run went well – on the lakefront I presume?!
I LOVE Chicago! It’s my favorite US city – enjoy your time there 🙂
The city sure looks gorgeous! What a fun way to spend the day.
Wow, dinner sounds so amazing! All that food looks fabulous… a little bit of everything.
Hope you feel better soon! 🙂
It looks like you are having a great time! I have never been to Chicago when it is summertime, only in the early spring and winter. It looks beautiful!!
Great pics and looks like an even better dinner! Glad you are having such a great time. Stay warm!
Looks like such a great time! Enjoy your weekend!
I love that huge gothic statue! Lol! the red man face is kind of creepy though, ill be honest. haha!
glad youre having a great time!
-muffy
Seriously weird…my sister had coffee at Intelligensia at around the same time and I think that she might even be at the same hotel!
I just clicked on the link for that restaurant and freaked out when I hear Sufjan Stevens playing! I love him! Anyways, looks like a wonderfully unique spot 🙂
I have been trying for years to create latte art and I just can’t get it!! 😛 Hope you slept wonderfully on the foam matress 🙂
Ooooh, I am definitely adding that restaurant to my must list for… well whenever I make my way to Chicago.
Also, because I loved the unexpected Sufjan playing on the site!
Have a great time at the conference!
Chicago is a really fun city…I was only there for about half a day on a cross-country drive, but there is SO much to see! Glad you’re having fun so far at BlogHer…I’m sure you’re learning a ton.
aww how much fun did you guys have 🙂
hi, i am a newer reader but i love your blog! i am from chicago so just wanted to say hope you are enjoying it! looks like you are so far:)
GREAT pictures around town! sounds like such a good time. and OMG that food! jealous and drooling over here, not a good sight. lol. hope you feel a little better now.
What a GORGEOUS city!!! I want to visit Chicago so badly! That statue of the pitchfork couple (that’s what I call them…) is so cool. Huge, too!!
fabulous pictures!
The perspective on your pictures is really awesome 🙂
SO FUN! Can’t wait to hear about what else you get into in Chicago 😉
isn’t chicago the best? I love living so close to it! Im happy you got to see the bean! 🙂
intelligentsia is so great – they have one in la too and they make the best coffee ever!!!
Beautiful pictures! Chicago is the greatest city in the world! 🙂
Uh, that asparagus goat cheese is freaking me out. I do love your pretty flower pics though- Chicago looks gorgeous!
I’m from chicago and thats awesome that you went to graham elliot. I was just there on July 2nd for a birthday and its so interesting to see that some parts of the menu have already changed! Instead of chowder I had a delicious sweet pea bisque and it looks like the lamb dish on the menu was different as well. I’m glad you enjoyed it, I really want to return in the fall when they completely change up the menu.
I’m glad your enjoying the windy city!