Burmese Fall Feast: Khao Soi

Posted in Cooking by mrsgcg

Noodles might just be my favorite food. Ever. Growing up, I had an obsession with any and all noodle dishes – from my mom’s homemade stir fry noodles & veggies, to soupy, masala-filled Maggi in India, I loved it all. Living in Indonesia for four years was pretty much food heaven (mie goreng, anyone?) and I’m probably the only American college kid who didn’t hate having to live on ramen.

So when I saw a new noodles recipe floating around on Instagram for the Burmese coconut curry and noodles dish Khao Soi, I knew I had to try it at home. I had tried Khao Soi at a family friend’s home and I remember loving the unique combination of coconut milk, chicken, and egg noodles. SO yummy!

My recipe is slightly adapted from Mallika Basu (my new favorite Indian food blogger!) so feel free to explore both and adapt based on your tastes. The great thing about Khao Soi is that it’s completely customizable – want more spice? Throw in some extra chilli powder. Vegetarian? Food Fashion Party has a great recipe for a vegetarian version of this. Do it your own way, enjoy, and let me know if you try this at home!

Getting the ingredients prepped: spring onions, egg noodles, fried onions, eggs (I ended up only using two), cilantro

Cooking the delicious chicken coconut curry to pour over the noodles

Pouring generous amounts of chicken curry over the noodles

Voila!

Beauty.

Ingredients (serves 2 generously…with leftovers!)

6 chicken thighs
1/4 large onion, diced
6 garlic cloves, finely diced
1/2 teaspoon ginger paste
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 small can coconut milk
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 servings of egg noodles (if you can’t find egg noodles, ramen packets, stir fry noodles, or even pappardelle works!)
Oil

Garnishes

2 eggs is plenty, but feel free to add more if you’d like more protein
Cilantro
3 spring onions, chopped up
1/4 large onion, diced
Limes

Recipe

There’s two parts to this dish: making the chicken curry and preparing the garnishes. To prepare the chicken curry, heat oil in a large pan. Fry the onions until they become golden brown. Add in the garlic and ginger until everything is nicely mixed together. Then add the turmeric, garam masala, chili powder and stir for a few minutes. Drop in the chicken thighs and fry on each side for a few minutes. Stir the chicken with the mixture so that they’re nicely coated in the masalas. Add a cup of hot water and cover. Let the chicken cook for 15 minutes.

While the curry is cooking, prepare your garnishes and set them out in separate bowls for people to prepare their own noodles.

Boil eggs, cut into two separate pieces (you can also mash them up into little pieces like Mallika’s recipe)
Fry the onions and garlic together till they’re golden and a little crispy
Chop up the cilantro
Set out the spring onions
Cut the limes into small pieces
Cook noodles, per directions

Once the chicken is done cooking, shred each thigh into 2-3 pieces using two forks. Pour in the coconut milk and let simmer for a few minutes until the chicken is completely cooked in the coconut curry. Pour the curry into a large bowl. You can dress this up however you want, but this is how I did it:

Serve noodles in a bowl
Pour the chicken curry over the noodles until they’re submerged in curry
Top with onions, garlic, spring onions, and cilantro
Add the eggs on top
Squeeze some lime over the dish
Devour, and help yourself to seconds!

And voila – you’re done!

12Oct2015

Indian Bridal Inspiration: Sabysachi Mukherjee

Posted in All Things Indian, Weddings by mrsgcg

I’m not quite sure why we still celebrate Columbus Day here in the US, but I’m not going to complain about having an extra day off to nurse my sinuses back to health, do a little bit of online shopping, and catch up on all my favorite food and Indian fashion blogs.

Today’s post has nothing to do with food, though if you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know I have a yummy Burmese noodle recipe to share soon. Instead, I wanted to give you a sneak peek into what’s been inspiring me lately. I’ve been obsessed with Indian fashion for a while now, but especially after I started planning my big fat Bengali/Punjabi wedding two years ago. I would scour Indian fashion blogs, Pinterest, and online shopping sites to find inspiration for my own bridal outfits and would find myself in awe of one particular designer. The one and only Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

I had a chance to experience Sabyasachi’s Spanish-inspired Indian collection in person at the IIFA Awards when they were held in Toronto back in 2011. It was truly love at first sight, and I’ve been following his work closely since. I love his ability to fuse antique textiles and traditional Indian styles with an incredibly modern aesthetic. His style is constantly evolving and very universal in its impact, but he manages to stay true to his Indian and Bengali roots which is really admirable considering how much richness our culture has to offer.

There are two recent Sabyasachi campaigns that I am particularly obsessed with. In the “Revive Banaras” collection, Sabyasachi repurposes traditional Bengali banarasi saris into more modernized lehengas and saris. As someone who proudly wore a banarasi sari for her own wedding, I love the idea of Sabyasachi bringing them back into the limelight and making them more relevant and tangible for a modern audience. The colors are bold and rich, but the styling and details are elegant and understated. I just love the way he’s styled this entire collection and selfishly wish it came out a few years ago before my wedding! Just how gorgeous are these pictures?

The second campaign I’m obsessed with is an editorial/ad campaign for Conde Naste Traveller India, styled by Sabyasachi and featuring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looking more stunning than ever. I’ll let the pictures speak for itself, because it’s not hard to tell why I’m in love with everything about this campaign. I mean, just look at that floral white sari with those impeccable pearls. Flawless.

Leave a comment if these campaigns inspire you as much as they inspired me! I’d love to hear about what other Indian designers you’ve been following and why you love them. xo.

8Oct2015

Bengali Salmon Curry (Macher Jhol)

Posted in All Things Indian, Cooking by mrsgcg

Every family has that one meal that reminds them of home. It’s usually simple and uncomplicated, the meal that you remember eating on a weeknight after a long day of school and homework. For me, that dish is bhaat, daal, and macher jhol. Rice, lentils, and fish curry.

My family hails from West Bengal in India and we’re obsessed with fish. Growing up, we moved from the United Arab Emirates, to France, to Indonesia, to Texas and Bombay, but fish was always a staple with our dinner. The best part about living in different countries is that we would get to try different types of local fish (pomphret, carp, Indonesian gurami, Bengali hilsa), but always cooked as a simple macher jhol with Bengali spices. The ultimate comfort food that made our home feel like home, no matter where in the world we were.

I miss my mom’s fish curry every day. My recipe will never be as good as hers, but at least it satisfies my cravings for a little taste of home on cold Chicago nights. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Pieces of salmon, cut in squares, marinaded in turmeric and salt

Kalo jeere (black cumin) – the most important spice for Bengali cuisine!

Salmon simmering in the light curry of onions, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and turmeric

Ingredients (serves 2)

1 salmon fillet, cut in 4-5 squares
1/4 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic
1/4 tsp ginger paste
Salt, to taste
2 tsp haldi (turmeric powder)
1/2 tsp kalo jeere (black cumin)
1/2 tomato, diced (can be substituted with 1/2 tsp tomato ketchup or paste)
Oil

Recipe

Marinade the salmon pieces in 1 and a half tsp of haldi and season generously with salt.

Heat oil on a non-stick pan – use your best judgment, but I usually add a little extra than I normally would. A little bit of extra oil makes curries more delicious! Once the oil is heated, pour the kalo jeere and let fry for 15 seconds. Add in the onions, garlic, and ginger and fry this mixture together for a minute or till the onions are slightly brown. Add in salt, tomatoes (or ketchup) and the remaining haldi. Stir for a minute on low to medium heat.

Increase the heat to high and gently drop in the salmon pieces. Fry the salmon on each side for a minute. Pour half a cup of water into the mixture and let the salmon simmer in this mixture for a few minutes. Turn off the heat and cover the mixture to let the salmon continue cooking until ready to serve. Do not overcook! The salmon will cook very quickly, especially if they’re cut into small squares, so just keep an eye on the fish and remove from heat so that they’re as soft and succulent as possible.

Serve with a plate of hot rice and make sure to mix it with the curry to enjoy the true flavor of ‘macher jhol’.

30Sep2015

Creamy Handmade Fettuccine with Pancetta, Leeks, Mushrooms & Caramelized Onions

Posted in Cooking by mrsgcg

Two Fridays ago, my husband and I said “screw you, cold weather” and made creamy handmade fettuccine with pancetta, leeks, mushrooms, and caramelized onions. Drizzled with truffle oil. And generously topped with freshly-grated parmigiano-reggiano.

I know that’s the longest description EVER for something that basically sounds like carbonara, but each of these ingredients were essential for making this pasta the most decadently delicious thing I’ve ever made in my life. The combination of salty pancetta and mushrooms with the sweet caramelized mixture of leeks and shallots, with a touch of cream and truffle oil was just perfect. So perfect, that my husband immediately called his parents after polishing off his plate and invited them over for lunch the next day to sample leftovers. NBD.

You obviously don’t need to make the fettuccine from scratch in order to enjoy this recipe, but trust me, it’s so much better handmade. I’ve included the steps for making the dough below the pictures in case you’re interested in a fun pasta-making workshop with your girlfriends or significant other. It takes some time, but it’s fun and once you’ve tried handmade pasta, there really is nothing better. The texture and taste is just unbeatable! We had a blast turning our home into a little pasta factory–hope you enjoy the pictures and the recipes 🙂

What my kitchen looked like during this entire process:

Prepping the ingredients – pancetta, leaks, shallots, garlic, mushrooms, semolina flour, and lotsa cheese!

The creamy mixture of pancetta, caramelized onions and leeks, and mushrooms. So good.

Making the fettuccine – from scratch!

Voila! The final product. A little plate of heaven.

Recipe for Handmade Fettuccine
*Straight from Bob’s Red Mill Semolina Flour recipe for basic pasta!

Ingredients

1 and a half cups Bob’s Red Mill Semolina Flour
Half teaspoon salt, optional
2 eggs or 3 egg whites, beaten (we added in an extra yolk or two for the yellow color!)
2 tbsp. water
2 tbsp. olive oil

Combine the semolina flour and salt. Add beaten eggs, water and oil. Mix to make a stiff dough. Knead 10 minutes or until dough is elastic. Wrap dough in a towel or place in plastic bag and let rest for 20 minutes.

For this next part, we used our pasta machine (you can see the process on my Instagram @mrsgcg), but here’s what the recipe suggests if you don’t have a pasta maker:

On a lightly floured surface, roll out to desired thickness and cut as desired to make fettuccine. Bring large pot of water containing half teaspoon oil to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender (this should take no longer than two minutes).

Recipe for the Sauce

Ingredients (serves 4)

1 and a half tablespoons of olive oil
1 and a half tablespoons of butter
4 ounces pancetta, diced in small squares
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 leek, thinly sliced (throw away the dark green and tough stems)
4 cloves of garlic, grated
Sea salt
1/2 cup or 3/4 cup heavy cream (depending on how creamy you want the sauce – can also be subbed with two tablespoons of Greek yogurt)
1 box of mushrooms
Truffle oil
Parmigiano-reggiano
Thyme leaves for garnishing

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large pan on high heat. Once the oil is heated, add the diced pancetta, lower the heat slightly, and cook for 3-5 minutes until slightly brown. Stir frequently to make sure the pancetta doesn’t stick to the pan.

Add the butter to the pan, along with the sliced leeks, shallots and grated garlic. Saute this mixture for around 5 minutes stirring frequently, add in the mushrooms, and continue stirring for another 5 minutes until the leeks and shallots become soft and caramelized. Lower the heat, and fold in the heavy cream along with a splash of water, stirring all the ingredients until becomes a creamy mixture. Simmer the mixture for a few minutes, until the cream thickens. Season with sea salt and pepper – remember, the pancetta already packs a ton of salty flavor, so go easy on the salt! Turn off the heat till your cooked pasta is ready to be added into the mixture.

Once the pasta is prepared, transfer in small increments to the creamy mixture to make sure you’re happy with the pasta-to-cream ratio. Stir the pasta with the mixture until it’s evenly coated to your desire.

Suggested Plating

This is a beautiful lookin’ pasta, so make sure to dress it up just right! Serve the pasta hot on a plate with freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano. Garnish with thyme leaves and a few drizzles of truffle oil. A little bit goes a long way with truffle oil, so make sure it’s just a drizzle! Sit back, enjoy. With a big glass of red.

Pssst – if you liked this recipe, don’t forget to subscribe to my blog so you get new posts via email!

15Sep2015

Why Ukrainian Village Is My New Chicago Food Haven

Posted in Restaurants by mrsgcg

My first foray into Ukrainian Village’s culinary scene was an incredible meal at Trattoria Ultimo, my current favorite Italian BYOB in the city. I was straight up obsessed with everything in this hole-in-the-wall restaurant – the handwritten menus, fresh ingredients, the low-key European vibe, mouthwatering handmade pastas…I could go on and on, but I’ve already committed an entire blog post professing my love for this restaurant. I went back two times pretty soon after I wrote that initial blog post, and I’m thinking I’m long overdue for another visit. When I took my mom there during one of her Chicago visits, she complained about the long Uber ride, but it was all worth it when she had her first bit of pasta. Everything was forgiven.

Then this spring, my husband and I decided to check out Yuzu Sushi and Robata Grill, which is down the street from Trattoria. I’m always craving sushi and have struggled to find a solid sushi spot that has a casual vibe and is also easy on the wallet. I LOVE Hatsu Hana in Lakeview, and still believe it’s the best place for simple and fresh sushi, but it’s pretty pricey for what you get. At Yuzu, you can treat yourself to enormous rolls with the perfect fish-to-rice ratio and a great selection of robata items. My favorite is the Pot River Roll, stuffed with all sorts of fresh fish–so flavorful and perfect for sharing! Yuzu’s presentation is super creative, but I love that the sometimes gimmicky presentation is backed up by taste! Additional bonus – 90s hip hop music all night long.

Another favorite Italian BYOB spot in Ukrainian village is Briciola. They have a beautiful outdoor garden patio (RIP, summer) and really great pastas. The food is just as good as Trattoria Ultimo, but the ambience isn’t as charming and unique. I ordered the black fettuccine special with scallops and jumbo shrimps in a sweet saffron cream sauce, and it was honestly one of the most delicious and unique pastas I’ve ever had. I’m pretty traditional when it comes to my pasta (the simpler the better), but the saffron cream sauce was such a great addition to the dish. I’d love to go back this winter and sample some of their other pasta dishes!

Finally, this past weekend, we tried the shared omakase (chef’s selection of fresh sushi and sashimi) at Kai Zan, which firmly cemented my belief that Ukrainian Village has the best food scene in all of Chicago. At least right now. I loved, loved, loved Kai Zan! We came here with my brother-in-law and his fiance and sat at one of their cozy, semi-private tables. We were going to order a la carte till our waiter suggested the shared omakase for two, at just $35 a person. It’s 10 courses, but each plate is half the portion of the regular omakase, so you don’t get as much food. We were plenty satisfied with the amount of food that was provided, but you can always get a side of yakisoba or teriyaki. This is the perfect option for someone who wants to sample omakase without investing in the full spread. Every item was like a piece of artwork and so mouthwateringly delicious. Our group’s collective favorite was the “Angry Crab” – spicy crab wrapped in tuna, topped with tempura crunch and generously drizzled with truffle oil. It was AHHHH-mazing. We all just stared at each other in disbelief after taking a bit of this roll!

Anyways, my point isn’t to ramble on about specifics of these restaurants, but just to show my appreciation for Ukrainian Village as a food destination in Chicago. I love the distinct personality of Ukrainian Village restaurants – much more relaxed and laid-back than River North/West Loop, but the cuisine rivals some of the bigger, more well-known restaurants of Chicago.

Are there any other restaurants that you would add to this list? I’d love to check them out!

10Sep2015

Travel Diaries: Kauai

Posted in Travel by mrsgcg

The lush, amazing, beautiful Garden Island of Kauai was Part II of my recent Hawaii adventure. If you haven’t read Part I yet, go read it first!

While Maui was all about family, Kauai was perfect for some alone time with my husband. I knew that Jurassic Park was filmed here, so I was expecting greenery, but was still completely blown away by how visually stunning this island is. I’m talking palm tree after palm tree, gorgeous waterfalls everywhere, and the most unbelievable scenery I have ever seen in my life. It’s true what they say – Kauai is just the prettiest.

We stayed at a vacation rental at the Hanalei Bay Resort, which we absolutely loved. It looks like a five star resort with a beautiful lagoon-style pool, has the most stunning views of Hanalei Bay, and shares its beach with the St. Regis (minus the St. Regis prices). I mean, you really can’t beat that. Every night, we would pour ourselves a glass of white wine, sit on the hills facing the bay and enjoy the most spectacular sunsets. I so wish we could be back there!

I’m so excited to share some of my favorite images from the trip – it was incredibly difficult to edit these down, because every part of Kauai is so picturesque. These pictures do a great job of highlighting some of our favorite things about the island – Hanalei Bay sunsets, hiking part of the beautiful Napali coast, kayaking to the secret waterfalls, feasting on incredible sushi, and just the sheer amazingness of Mother Nature.

The beautiful grounds at Hanalei bay resort

Admiring the bay at sunset, just steps away from our room at the resort…truly breathtaking.

The view from St. Regis’s outdoor patio – an amazing place to grab a glass of champagne right at sunset

We hiked the first two miles of the Napali Coast. The full 11 hike mile is considered to be one of the most scenic (and dangerous) hikes in the country and requires overnight camping and permits. The first two miles to a secluded beach is supposed to be the “easier” portion, but it was still challenging for me – lots of ascending and descending on muddy trails with absolutely stunning views. Many hikers do an additional two miles to the waterfalls, but this takes the entire day. We were plenty satisfied with our three hour adventure and recommend this for less experienced hikers.

I mean, just look at those turquoise waters – just gorgeous! We were lucky to do this hike on a clear, sunny day.

The delicious sushi burrito from Sushi Girl! A must visit for anyone visiting Kauai- it’s a little hole in the wall stand en route to the Napali Coast with the freshest selection of take out sushi. We went here three times in four days – that’s how good it is (plus the food selection in Kauai is pretty limited). Especially good after hiking.

Our third day in Kauai, we signed up for a kayaking tour with Ali Kayaks on the Wailua River. This consists of fairly easy and relaxed kayaking for two hours, a moderate hike through a VERY muddy rainforest, and splashing around in a pool by the beautiful secret waterfalls that’s only accessible by kayaking. Such a fun morning adventure!

Lazing around on Hanalei Bay beach on our final day in Kauai

Shave ice from Hee Fat, considered to be the best ice on the island! I had no idea what to expect, but this stuff is AMAZING. We got the strawberry and coconut real fruit syrup with macadamia nut ice cream on the bottom. So, so good.

Hope you enjoyed this peek into our Hawaii trip! Be sure to follow me on Instagram @mrsgcg if you’d like to see more snapshots from our trip. And don’t hesitate to leave a comment if you have any questions or need advice about traveling in Maui and/or Kauai.

10Sep2015

Travel Diaries: Maui, Hawaii

Posted in Travel by mrsgcg

Aloha! I just got back from an incredible eight-day trip to Hawaii (four days in Maui, four days in Kauai), and have never felt more refreshed and rejuvenated. Aaand…depressed about being back in concrete jungle Chicago. I. love. the. island. life. Take me back already!

This was my first trip to Hawaii and my expectations were set pretty high, for obvious reasons. Having spent much of my formative years in Indonesia, I felt completely at home in the tropical climate the minute we landed in Maui. The warm air, the exquisite greenery, the dynamic landscape–I just couldn’t wait to soak it all up. The Maui leg of the trip was spent with my immediate family to celebrate my dad’s 60th birthday, so it made the whole experience all that more special. My parents and brother love traveling as much as we do, and we were adamant about making the most of our four short days on the island.

In no particular order, I’ve recapped my top five moments in Maui below. Not featured but also deserving special mention: sipping on Mai Tais and listening to the sound of crashing waves from our Maalaea Banyans lanai every night, sunset dinner at Kimo’s, and just the beautiful quietness of island life. Such a necessary break from a busy, stressful summer.

The Old Laihana Luau: Rated one of the best and most authentic luaus on the island, the Old Laihana Luau was a fantastic family experience. We booked the luau for my dad’s actual birthday, and it was the perfect celebration. Gorgeous venue right by the water with a spectacular sunset view, incredible service, traditional Hawaii cuisine (which was pretty good for a buffet meal), fabulous entertainment, and an open bar. All for hundred bucks per person. Not a bad deal and definitely worth it, especially during your first few days on the trip to really get in the Hawaiian state of mind.

The feast at Old Laihana Luau: Fried rice, roasted pork, mahi-mahi, ahi poke, and stir fry veggies

Snorkeling on Kaanapali Beach: I’m a snorkeling newbie, so my husband and I were really, really excited to to check out Maui’s beaches. We didn’t want to waste a whole day on a snorkeling trip (though I now regret not doing Molokini Crater), but we heard that Kaanapali Beach’s Black Rock is perfect for a quick morning snorkeling dip. We had so much fun swimming side by side and saw a ton of little colorful fishies, including a baby sea turtle! It was amazing and an experience I’ll never forget. I just wish we had a GoPro!

The unfiltered beauty of Kaanapali Beach – no underwater pictures, but you can see the Black Rock in the distance

Giddy after encountering a baby sea turtle!

Road to Hana: Road to Hana is probably the most popular drive in Maui – I have major motion sickness and can barely drive, so I didn’t think I would enjoy the long, winding roads as much as I did. With some Dramamine in tow and my road trip-loving husband behind the driver’s seat, the entire fam left early in the AM for the spectacular journey to Hana. As my dad kept saying “it’s about the journey, not the destination” because the various stops along the way are just awesome. My favorite stop was the black sand beach at Wai’anapanapa National Park – we even brought home a lava rock for our home 🙂 Nature is so freaking cool, especially in Hawaii.

Salted caramel coconut ice cream from Coco Glen, the cutest little stand on the Road to Hana. So delicious and necessary after the winding roads.

Feelin’ victorious after reaching the black sand beach!

Sunrise at Haleakala Crater: This was actually a little disappointing for us, because the morning we decided to make the one hour drive up to Haleakala Crater was a foggy one and we didn’t see the full sunrise that most tourists rave about. BUT, the experience is still one that I’ll fondly look back on – we all woke up at 2:30 am, bundled up in sweaters and blankets (it’s 40 degrees up there, especially in the early morning!) and drove up to the crater in eager anticipation of sunrise. The atmosphere was really cool and we felt like we were floating in the cloud with other freezing cold tourists. If we could do it again, I’d go for sunset or check it out during the day so you can actually see the crater. Oh, well.

…Ahi Poke: Is it weird that one of my top five moments is food-related? If you know me at all, then no. One of our first meals on the island was at Maui Fish Market, after snorkeling on Kaanapali Beach. The food options in Maui and Kauai (especially in Kuauai) are limited–at least compared to big cities in the mainland–but the seafood is incredible. We feasted on baja fish tacos, shrimp, and AHI POKE. Maui Fish Market is where we first tried ahi poke, and it became our standard go-to meal for pretty much the rest of the trip. You just can’t beat that fresh island taste. Nom nom.

So. fresh.

Mahi-mahi sandwich. Drooling again.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and stay tuned for my Kauai post, coming next!

24Aug2015

Smoky Mezcal Cocktails

Posted in Cocktails by mrsgcg

While I’m the self-proclaimed chef of our little two-person household, my husband is the “mixologist.” He loves experimenting with different homemade cocktail recipes, and they’re always so delicious! He makes a mean Old Fashioned and a Sazerac, but this past Saturday evening, he whipped up a Tobacco Road, a smokey mezcal cocktail with a powerful tobacco taste. I didn’t think I would enjoy it so much (I prefer lighter, fruitier cocktails), but I downed my entire drink like a champ!

Check out the recipe from Serious Eats and pictures from our bar-tending fun below. I’d say go easy on the Cynar–don’t use the full amount the recipe suggests–and add in a little simple syrup to sweeten the drink. It’s definitely a STRONG drink, so take it slowly 🙂

The ingredients: sherry, Cynar, Vida mezcal, and Peychaud’s bitters. Not pictured: a drop of simple syrup to balance out the strong tobacco flavor.

The end product – so Mad Men, no?

Is it Saturday night yet?

20Aug2015

Brunching Out: North Pond

Posted in Restaurants by mrsgcg

Brunch is easily one of my favorite meals of the day, and when it’s done at a Michelin-star rated restaurant, even better!

My husband and I had an amazing weekend recently celebrating 365 days of marriage (AHH!). We both love eating–foodventuring is obviously the best type of adventuring–so our anniversary weekend was pretty much centered around good meals. On Saturday, we packed a picnic with sandwiches, a cheese plate and vino, and drove up to Evanston for a picnic at Northwestern University’s beautiful lakefill area. We’re both alums, and it’s where he proposed, so the campus is a very special place for us both. Picnicking was followed by a light al fresco Spanish meal at Salero and drinks at Kaiser Tiger, a really cool brewery with an awesome outdoor patio (and the prettiest fairy lights ever) in the West Loop.

Our favorite part of the entire weekend though was our Sunday Brunch at North Pond, the most beautiful, charming little restaurant with the most glorious view of Chicago’s skyline. We live in the Lakeview neighborhood, steps away from the restaurant, and have always been dying to make reservations there. We figured our anniversary weekend would be the perfect excuse to check out North Pond’s three course brunch. The menu changes based on seasonal ingredients and every dish is truly a work of art. I love meals where you can actually see the ingredients and feel the different textures and flavors. We had an incredible experience from start to finish and can’t wait to go back ASAP with out-of-towners. Make sure to request a table by the window if it’s a special occasion – the view of the pond is stuuuunning.

Personalized menu for our anniversary! +15 points (I’ll excuse the minor misspelling of my name)

Warm crab crumb tomato, gulf shrimp, green and wax beans, cherry tomatoes, peach, almond

Great Lakes whitefish, herbed rice, nectarine preserves, broccoli, peanut sauce, carrots

My husband’s entree: Sauteed soft shell crab, corn pudding, charred kernels, watermelon, chorizo, pepper-tomatillo, mole

DESSERT! Fresh peaches, blackberries, lemon verbena panna cotta, hazelnut biscotti, peaches

19Aug2015

Sunday Dinners: Sweet & Salty Vietnamese Stir Fry

Posted in Cooking by mrsgcg

Sunday dinners are my favorite. There’s something so relaxing about spending a lazy Sunday bringing an entire meal to life – finding the perfect recipe, getting groceries, and then just chopping, stirring, and cooking away in the kitchen with a good playlist in the background. Sometimes my husband and I will cook together, but he’s been spending most of his weekends this summer at work (he’s a medical resident), so Sunday evenings are just my time to be alone and unwind in the kitchen. And I love it.

This past Sunday, I was inspired by a recipe from My Healthy Dish. If you haven’t checked out My Nguyen’s blog yet, do it! She was a panelist at the Create + Cultivate conference that I attended this past weekend, and I just fell in love with her sassy sense of humour and no BS attitude. Her recipes are super easy and healthy, perfect for a quick weeknight meal. She’s a mother of two, so she’s completely mastered the art of whipping up a quick meal without compromising on nutrition.

I followed her recipe for Vietnamese Caramelized Shrimp, but added some extra veggies (asparagus, zucchini, and green bell peppers) and cooked the shrimp and vegetables all at once with the fish sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and maple sugar. Yum! Paired with a light egg fried rice and I’m all ready for the work week 🙂

Mrs. GCG

Food, Travel & Indian Stuff

Burmese Fall Feast: Khao Soi

Indian Bridal Inspiration: Sabysachi Mukherjee

Bengali Salmon Curry (Macher Jhol)

Creamy Handmade Fettuccine with Pancetta, Leeks, Mushrooms & Caramelized Onions

Why Ukrainian Village Is My New Chicago Food Haven

Travel Diaries: Kauai

Travel Diaries: Maui, Hawaii

Smoky Mezcal Cocktails

Brunching Out: North Pond

Sunday Dinners: Sweet & Salty Vietnamese Stir Fry