Need a Skin Detox? Official Glowing Green Smoothie (R) Recipe

I’ve been trying to eat a bit healthier these days. This morning I woke up and began making the greenest smoothie I’ve ever had. I knew it would be good for me but what about the taste? That was my excuse for sitting on the recipe for, well…months.

My blender isn’t very big so I used about half what the recipe calls for in spinach and romaine but used all of the fruit and still had enough for two servings this morning and another two for tomorrow. I don’t need to tell you how healthy this is, one serving has about as many greens as most people have in a week, makes your skin glow, helps you lose weight, etc. What I need to tell you is this is good. Not just kind of good but, for real good. There is really no reason you shouldn’t make it. The fruit gives it a sweet taste, it is very filling and it is very easy to make. You can easily change up the greens (kale, arugula) and the fruit (strawberries, blueberries) to suit your taste.

Image via kimberlysnyder.net

The original recipe is at the link below but these are the proportions I used:

• 1 ½- 2 cups very cold, filtered water
• 2 cups spinach, chopped
• 1 cups organic romaine lettuce, chopped
• 2 stalks of organic celery
• 1 organic apple, cored and chopped
• 1 organic pear, cored and chopped
• 1 organic banana
• 2 Tbs. fresh organic lemon juice
• Ice cubes (the extra coldness can help newbies with the taste)

Check out Kimberly Snyder’s site for more recipes and information.

Kimberly Snyder’s Official Glowing Green Smoothie (R) Recipe.

The Rooftop Patio is Open @ Owen & Engine | Logan Square

Owen & Engine Front Door & Sign

The weather has been amazing in Chicago and it got me thinking of places that would be opening up their outdoor seating. My first visit last year to Owen & Engine was after they closed their rooftop but I have been patiently waiting for the weather to be warm enough to sit outside at Owen & Engine. This British pub has three floors of food and drink goodness.  The food is authentically British “elevated” pub food, well-designed interior but with a neighborhood tavern feel. A wide selection of beer and spirits along with a nice selection of Pimm’s Cups.  They take their cocktails very seriously – think old timey mixologists but are very welcoming and relaxed. Decor is beautiful from the amazing bathroom wallpaper and tin ceilings to the fireplace on the second floor and the rooftop. It’s right across the street from a movie theater so you can do dinner and a movie quite easily.

I started with the beet salad. Generous portions of fried goat cheese and beets. It hit the spot.

Then onto the Gunthorp Farm Chicken Wings with Piment d’Espelette, sherry vinegar and chive créme fraiche. Deeelicious, not your typical small, overcooked wings. You can immediately taste the quality of the meat and the crisp was just right and flavor was spot on (don’t the British say that?). Bit of spice from the Piment’Espeltette and extra flavor from the creamy crème fraiche. Also happen to be half off on Wednesdays. These are second to my favorite wings in the city…but that is for another post.

Charcuterie: Housemade sausages and cured meats, stout mustard, sweet pickles and brown bread. On this particular night they served smoked head cheese, lamb coppa, duck pate wrapped in bacon (because pate isn’t pate unless it’s wrapped in bacon) and duck confit. I didn’t partake of this dish but was assured by a seasoned meat-eater every piece had great flavor and was up to their high standards.

Owen & Engine Charcuterie

I have been back to Owen & Engine two other times but unfortunately did not have a camera with me. However, if you are a burger fan, and really who isn’t, then you will not be disappointed with the burger O&E serves. The chips are amazing too.

The Slagle Farm beef burger with caramelized onion, house potato bap and chips. This burger is worth its reputation. Very juicy and very rich. In fact I ate half and was satisfied (I mean, I did eat all of my chips) and had the rest for lunch the next day. I think there are versions that come with an egg as well. Hey, why not?

On a cold night winter night I ordered the pot of hot chocolate served with cinnamon toast. Really ridiculous to get by yourself because the chocolate is so rich and you can’t possibly drink the whole pot. But it was everything you want hot chocolate to be. Strong, rich and smooth. Ideal for 3 people to share and good for breakfast/brunch or when you want a non-alcoholic drink to warm you up.

The drinks are worthy of an entire post to themselves. But with names like, Nook & Cranny, Tempest and Wounded Swede you get the picture of the thought and creativity put into their beverage menu.

Owen & Engine 2700 N. Western Ave. Chicago, IL

Thirsty? Chicago’s Tastiest Cocktail Roundup

Just in time for the weekend. Hope this gives you some ideas if you are looking for some new cocktails.  I tend toward the sweet but at every one of these restaurants/bar they offer a savory selection as well.

As we all know, Chicago has its fair share of bars so I am sure I am missing tons of places, it’s just that I haven’t been there yet. So give me a good excuse to venture out and let me know your favorite cocktail(s) in Chicago. On my wish list is The Aviary.

Cocktails that I do not have photos for but on the list:

Big Star: San Antonio Sling – Herradura Plata, St Germain, grapefruit

Twisted Spoke: Bloody Mary – Road Rash Mary & Beer Back. Top secret special spices, meat garnish, and a beer back, it’s practically a meal

The Violet Hour: Pretty much anything on the menu.

Sunda: Peared Sake: Grey Goose La Poire, Zipang sparkling sake, pineapple juice, ginger syrup, cinnamon rim

The Bristol: Poire & Elderflower: Grey Goose Le Poire, St. Germain, white grape juice, lemon sour.

The Bristol Poire & Elderflower

Mercadito: Little Market – Olmeca resposado, fresh pineapple, chile guajillo, cilantro, pico piquín

Arami: Nigata River - Funaguchi Kikusui Sake, cucumber

Arami Nigata River

Roka Akor: Blood Orange Margarita – Espolón Reposado Tequila, freshly squeezed lime juice, Stirrings blood orange bitter syrup and Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur. Shaken and served up or on the rocks, with our chili salt rim. Finished with orange essence.

Roka Akor Blood Orange Margarita

Pump Room: Vodka Thyme Lemonade -  Absolute Citron, homemade lemon thyme syrup

Union Sushi + Barbeque Bar – The Sparrow Bee: El Dorado 5 Year Rum, lemon, honey syrup, mint, Bittercube Jamaican #2 Bitters

Union Sushi & BBQ The Sparrow Bee

Trump Rebar – Red Dragon (on the left): Spicy blend of Belvedere jalapeño infused vodka & fresh raspberry puree, accented with fresh lime.

Trump Rebar Red Dragon

Zocalo: Novo Fogo Guava Margarita – Novo Fogo Cachaca, fresh lime juice and guava nectar

Wakamono: The Geisha: Passionfruit vodka, tropical nectars, fresh lime.

Wakamono - The Geisha

Do You Like the Taste of Delicious?

I discovered this great sangria at the grocery store and have been enjoying it all summer long. The white sangria is sweet (but not too sweet) and fresh. The red sangria is bolder, the way a Merlot is, and rich. Both are seriously delicious. Do yourself a flavor and get some.

Found this at Whole Food and is on sale this week – Savida Sangría

The Bite of Oregon – August 12-14 – Benefiting Special Olympics Oregon

My first trip to Portland was in July. It’s such a beautiful city with amazing food. The view of Mt.Hood alone is worth it.

It was a short trip and with Portland ranking either first, second or third (depending on whom you ask) as having the most restaurants and bars per capita, I was only able to get to a few places. Here are the highlights:

Tasty coffee at Stumptown. Worth the wait in line.

Breakfast at Besaws in the Alphabet District which feels like a cross between a diner and cafe. Hearty and interesting food at a good price.

Touring the city via the “Hop-on hop-off trolly.”

I’ve never been to Bite of Oregon but if money were no object I’d hop on a plane and go this weekend. Hopefully there will be some Chicagoans able to go. They will not be disappointed.

Bite of Oregon – August 12th – 14th at Tom McCall Waterfront Park

The Bite of Oregon – food, music, wine, beer festival, summer festival, portland oregon, benefiting Special Olympics Oregon.

Stumptown Menu

The Terrace at Trump – Chicago

I’ve always wondered if the view was worth it at The Terrace at Trump. Well, I guess that depends on who is paying. Located on the 16th floor the patio provides a unique view of downtown buildings as well as the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. The vibe is cool and relaxed and provided the weather cooperates it would be hard to leave once you get a table.

That brings me to why you would leave. For me it would because for an entire evening out dropping $20 per drink is a bit much. Although the drink I had was very delicious with light and dark rums mixed with papaya, mango and guava juices. I had the spicy tuna which was average, price was not. Also the ginger macadamia nut float which had macadamia caramel ice cream and goose island ginger soda. Very good but debating whether it was worth the $13.

I would recommend The Terrace at Trump for special occasions, a nice date, birthday celebrations etc. Also for a stop to have one drink and take in the view before you move on to your main destination for the evening.

Thirsty?

I had the good fortune to try the Little Market drink at Mercadito the other day. It hit the spot to say the least. It was refreshing with fresh pineapple and a little bite with chile guajillo around the rim. Good alternative to the standard margarita. Yum! Go now.