chicago

A blast from the past, Benihana is back

in Eats & Drinks • October 3, 2017

Benihana returned to the Chicago market last month with a new restaurant fit for a hibachi king! Located in the distinguished John Hancock Center, the restaurant features 22 teppanyaki tables, a sushi bar, and an outdoor patio. The Japanese-inspired restaurant is best known for pioneering the communal dining model where guests are seated around a teppanyaki grill while chefs prepare meals and provide entertainment. As a fan of this type of dining, I grabbed my girl Ada and we headed to the grand opening. Upon entering, I was instantly flooded with memories of life’s 3 F’s: family, friends, and food. As a young adult... Share this: Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

A Day in the Life of ChicagoFoodGirl – McDonald’s Style

in Eats & Drinks • August 22, 2016

Disclosure: I received a complimentary trip to McDonald’s to facilitate this post. Review and opinions are my own. My very first meal in America was a Happy Meal. I can still picture the toys that accompanied our dinners so many years ago. From that first day in America, to summer family road trips and late night college cram sessions, McDonald’s has been a focal point to many fond memories. 25 years later, I remain a fan of the food, and today a proud partner of the world’s foremost fast food chain. As a satisfied customer (more times than I can... Share this: Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Crispy Lobster Tails-STK-chicagofoodgirl

STK Chicago Steakhouse

in Eats & Drinks • March 1, 2016

Pictured: Crispy Lobster Tails with green chile aioli, pickled chiles, papaya slaw Pictured: A5-grade Wagyu If you’re looking for a restaurant with a sexy atmosphere, STK Chicago is a perfect choice. Located in the heart of the River North neighborhood, this modern steakhouse decor strikes a playful balance between sophisticated and modern, and the dining area is anything but ordinary. From the luminescent white fiberglass fins fixtures on the ceilings to... Share this: Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Renaissance Rejuvenates Chicago Downtown Hotel

in Eats & Drinks • January 19, 2016

It was Business Unusual last week at the newly transformed Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel. To celebrate the multi-million dollar renovation, Renaissance released a short-film to highlight our wonderful City. Business Unusual pays tribute to the brand’s focus on discovery, encouraging guests to step outside their comfort-zone and explore everything Chicago has to offer. frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen> From live music and gourmet food to local arts and culture, this lifestyle hotel is designed to provide today’s business travelers with a unique experience. Here’s an inside look at the downtown property.

Chi-Town Rising – Chicago’s New Years Eve Celebration

in Eats & Drinks, Events, Festivals • December 28, 2015

Move over NYC, Chicago will ring in 2016 with its inaugural New Year’s Eve bash—Chi-Town Rising. This epic celebration will include fireworks, musical entertainment and Chicago’s own version of the ball-drop; a giant star rising into the night sky, symbolizing the City’s reemergence following the Great Fire of 1871 This event will take place in the heart of Michigan Ave., with additional celebrations along the Magnificent Mile catering to a wide variety of party-goers and age groups. If you love music and want to be part... Share this: Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Holiday Event at The Container Store

in Beauty, Eats & Drinks, Events, Festivals • December 22, 2015

I’m proud to announce that my holiday craft party at The Container Store was an absolute success. I did an in-store demonstration on December 5th at the North Avenue Store where I shared some DIY gift ideas. And if you didn’t already know, The Container Store is craft heaven! It was my first time presenting in front of... Share this: Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Leave the Cooking to the Pros! Thanksgiving Offerings from Chicago Restaurants

in Eating Out, Eats & Drinks • November 11, 2015

This Thanksgiving, leave the hassles of cooking and cleaning to someone else and celebrate with one of the many holiday feasts happening at Chicago’s finest restaurants. Highlights from around the city include: Acadia 1639 S. Wabash Avenue (312) 360-9500 In celebration of Thanksgiving, Chef/Owner Ryan McCaskey installs a special Thanksgiving menu at Acadia on Thursday, November 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the recently named two-star Michelin restaurant in the South Loop, Thanksgiving diners enjoy a holiday five-course meal for... Share this: Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Meli Café – a Greek mashup of clean juices, hearty omelets and almost everything in between

in Eating Out, Eats & Drinks • August 12, 2015

Despite staying out late the night before with Bachelorette Party Night 1 (and in due part to our strong Cocktail Courier pre-game), we somehow found the strength to rise and shine for a 9:30 a.m. breakfast. I’d heard of a new Meli Café location opening on Dearborn, so was psyched to take the girls here to try it out. I had a good feeling as we were promptly greeted and seated, given my deliciously positive experiences at Meli’s other locations.

Cocktails Courier and bridesmaids and bachelorettes, oh my!

in Eating In, Eating Out, Eats & Drinks, Events • August 7, 2015

This weekend, I was tasked with hosting a bachelorette party in the city for one of my closest college girlfriends. It was quite delightful being at the epicenter of her worlds colliding – I had the pleasure of meeting several magnificent ladies from different eras of my friend’s life, childhood to post-college. And what better way to foster new girl-friendships than over some icebreakers in liquid form? Special delivery! Enter Cocktail Courier, AKA classy in a box. It’s... Share this: Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr

Top 3 Tips to Become a Better Blogger

in Beauty, Outfit of the Day, Style • July 28, 2015

“I believed I could, so I did” – Kate Spade A little over a year ago, I decided to lock myself in my bedroom to launch my blog. 3 hours later, a domain and a hosting site was purchased and the rest is history, as they say. The truth is, blogging is more than just sitting down in front of your computer every week about your niche and topics. I don’t consider myself a blogging expert, but in the past year I’ve definitely learned quite a bit about it – enough to... Share this: Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr