planning pretty

champaign lunch date

 Maize {Champaign, IL}

 torta {milanesa}

 quesadilla {pastor, fish, pumpkin flower}

fish quesadilla

brie + fig jam

baked brie with fig jam

mocha latte brownies

 who needs coffee when you have mocha brownies :)

"we eat like queens!"

"You are eating like queens! I want to pull up a chair and join you!" --our waitress {at 2 Sparrows--Lincoln Park, Chicago} when she placed the giant tater tots on our table. 

 tater tots!!

 latte

 bloody norseman

 maple+bacon doughnut

 salted chocolate+blueberry doughnut

 shrimp+grits ~ grilled shrimp, creamy grits, tasso ham gravy

 belly sandwich ~ biscuit, pork belly, sunny side egg, pickled onions, tots

love pork belly!

black dog's goat cheese cashew caramel gelato

and one more maple+bacon doughnut to go!

we dream of sweets

 I Dream of Sweets Bistro {Evanston, IL}

 chili

 mac & cheese

cappuccino crunch ice cream + root beer

apple crème brûlée

I was eager to use our new tart pan from Sur La Table. The tart pan is made in France, so of course I had to make a french dessert :) 

You first have to bake the apples before pouring in the custard.

Date Night

Jane's {Bucktown, Chicago}

 {rare tuna, wasabi, wilted spinach, carrots, and shiitakes, wrapped in flour tortilla and pan-seared, served with citrus soy sauce }

 {angel hair pasta~chicken, cilantro, spinach, tomato, chipotle pesto, and cotija cheese}

{goat cheese stuffed chicken breast~served with mushroom pastina and marsala wine}

Panozzo's Italian Market

 Panozzo's Italian Market {1303 S Michigan Ave, Chicago}

When I walked in I felt like I was in Italy again.

 {chicken parmesan sandwich}

 {meatball sandwich}

 I drank this ice tea when I was in Italy :)

 gelato!

 my favorite Italian chocolate {Baci means "kiss" in Italian}

zucchero means "sugar" in Italian