It seems like it's been a while since I've done a dinner an a movie. The truth is that I have seen Iron Man since Baby Mama came out...and all I have to say is that it is hands down one of the best movies I have ever seen. Not much more to say than that. Then more recently, on July 12, 2008, I went with a pal to have dinner at Osteria di Tramonto and then join more pals to see Hancock.
First, the food... Osteria di Tramonto has been recommended to me more than once by various circle of friends. So, it was about time we gave it a go. Decor is nice, upscale, but not stuffy. Very open and comfortable. After you are seated, the floor manager comes by and welcomes you with an amuse bouche comprised of cheese, greens and walnuts. No idea what it was called, but it was delicious. I appreciated this little perk because it allowed me to use my Top Chef knowledge where I had originally heard of an "amuse bouche." They also brought out complimentary warm crusty bread with fresh basil olive oil that they mix in front of you.
For appetizers, we ordered the Beef Carpaccio with olive tapenade, garlic aioli, and sea salt, and the Spinach Fondue from the farmer's market menu. The Beef Carpaccio was hands down the best I have ever had. The portion was much larger than I expected and the flavors combined to make a melt-in-your mouth sensation. The dish came topped with arugula, which I did find a tad over powering to the delicate nature of the beef, so I just brushed it off. We were less impressed with the Spinach Fondue. While it had good flavor and large leaves of spinach, it was more like a creamy spinach soup because it was so runny.
For the main entrees, my friend ordered the Beef Tenderloin Medallions which were Gorgonzola-crusted, on a bed of sauteed spinach, topped with crispy shallots. She did not like the gorgonzola at all, and it did permeate through each of the mini-filets. If you are a blue cheese fan, I think this dish would have been excellent because she had no other complaints other than the overpowering cheese flavor. I ordered the Rainbow Trout from the specials menu. I was not impressed. It came with a ginormous shredded asparagus and other veggie salad on top of the fish, I had trouble finding the trout. It wouldn't be such a bad thing if the salad was good, but it was not. It was a bad combination of sour and bland. Then the trout itself was pan-fried, but it was overcooked. The delicate fish came out dry.
While we were under-impressed with the entrees, the appetizers, bread, and service was good enough for us to think about trying again.
Then onto Hancock - despite bad reviews, my friends and I still wanted to see this unconventional superhero movie amidst a bunch of conventional superhero movies out this summer. Hancock was a surprising charmer. Perhaps it was due to our low expectations, but it did wow us with the character development, injections of humor, and the twists in the plot. While it might not be one of the best movies ever made, this one certainly was entertaining and we all enjoyed it.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Baby Mama and the Cheesecake Factory...
So I went to my first movie on the big screen since Mr. & Mrs. Smith. (Whoa...it was that long ago???) I really wanted to see Baby Mama or Iron Man. Since it was more of a girls' night, we chose Baby Mama. While it wasn't a bad movie by any means, it just wasn't as funny or witty as I expected it to be, especially with Tina Fey. (Probably because Mean Girls was so awesome, everything else now will be a let down.) If nothing else, Greg Kinnear is a cutie, so that works.
Now onto the Cheesecake Factory. I haven't been here in a while. We ordered a couple appetizers to split:
Avocado Eggrolls
Chunks of Fresh Avocado, Sun-Dried Tomato, Red Onion and Cilantro Deep Fried in a Crisp Chinese Wrapper.Served with a Tamarind-Cashew Dipping Sauce
and
Spicy Ahi Tempura Roll
Fresh Raw Ahi Tuna Seasoned with Green Onions, Spicy Soy Sauce, Ginger & Garlic Wrapped in Nori and Flash Fried Tempura Style.
I have had the Avocado Eggrolls on many occasions and they never disappoint. Always very consistently yummy, but I think they keep raising the price at nearly $10 now for 6 half pieces. However, when the Spicy Ahi Tempura Roll came out, it was HOT all the way through. It was literally like eating tuna salad from a can because it was cooked. They did end up making us another one and it was MUCH better. Probably not worth the $12, but at least it was tasty.
For an entree, I ordered the Chicken Madeira (Our Most Popular Chicken Dish! Sauteed Chicken Breast Topped with Fresh Asparagus and Melted Mozzarella Cheese, Covered with Fresh Mushroom Madeira Sauce. Served with Mashed Potatoes) which was a steal for about $15 considering the appetizers were almost as much. Again, I have ordered this many times and it is also consistently brilliant. I actually had to bring half of my chicken home, so no dessert. I know, I know...it was pretty much sacrilegious at the Cheesecake Factory of all places.
But I did order a White Chocolate Raspberry Latte (Double Espresso, Ghirardelli White Chocolate, French Raspberry Syrup and Steamed Milk) which was so good, it could have been a dessert.
All in all, it was good easy breezy girls' night with a funny movie and good food. What more can a girl ask for? :D
Now onto the Cheesecake Factory. I haven't been here in a while. We ordered a couple appetizers to split:
Avocado Eggrolls
Chunks of Fresh Avocado, Sun-Dried Tomato, Red Onion and Cilantro Deep Fried in a Crisp Chinese Wrapper.Served with a Tamarind-Cashew Dipping Sauce
and
Spicy Ahi Tempura Roll
Fresh Raw Ahi Tuna Seasoned with Green Onions, Spicy Soy Sauce, Ginger & Garlic Wrapped in Nori and Flash Fried Tempura Style.
I have had the Avocado Eggrolls on many occasions and they never disappoint. Always very consistently yummy, but I think they keep raising the price at nearly $10 now for 6 half pieces. However, when the Spicy Ahi Tempura Roll came out, it was HOT all the way through. It was literally like eating tuna salad from a can because it was cooked. They did end up making us another one and it was MUCH better. Probably not worth the $12, but at least it was tasty.
For an entree, I ordered the Chicken Madeira (Our Most Popular Chicken Dish! Sauteed Chicken Breast Topped with Fresh Asparagus and Melted Mozzarella Cheese, Covered with Fresh Mushroom Madeira Sauce. Served with Mashed Potatoes) which was a steal for about $15 considering the appetizers were almost as much. Again, I have ordered this many times and it is also consistently brilliant. I actually had to bring half of my chicken home, so no dessert. I know, I know...it was pretty much sacrilegious at the Cheesecake Factory of all places.
But I did order a White Chocolate Raspberry Latte (Double Espresso, Ghirardelli White Chocolate, French Raspberry Syrup and Steamed Milk) which was so good, it could have been a dessert.
All in all, it was good easy breezy girls' night with a funny movie and good food. What more can a girl ask for? :D
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
40-hour Performance-based Mediation Skills Training
It appears that I am going through a semi-rut right now, so I am taking steps to add more positive things in my life. Before I started working seven years ago, I was very active in community service and volunteering because it really is a great way for one person to make a small difference in the world. In addition to a few other things that I am doing in my life, I decided to go back into volunteering...but now the question is doing what???
There are so many options out there, and when I was younger, I was caught spreading myself a tad thin trying to do as many activities as I could physically do. I have more responsibilities now, and I need to manage my time more wisely...so through a suggestion from a friend, I decided to do something using my professional skills. The rationale is that I have a somewhat specialized skill, and it makes more sense to contribute in a way that is a tiny bit more unique and personal to me. When looking at public interest / pro bono volunteer opportunities, I came across a listing for a volunteer mediator for the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) in Chicago:
"Once trained and certified, CCR volunteers mediate a wide array of cases. As a mediator gains experience, the volunteer can move to other programs to handle different types of cases. For example, CCR volunteers mediate a variety of cases including:
There are so many options out there, and when I was younger, I was caught spreading myself a tad thin trying to do as many activities as I could physically do. I have more responsibilities now, and I need to manage my time more wisely...so through a suggestion from a friend, I decided to do something using my professional skills. The rationale is that I have a somewhat specialized skill, and it makes more sense to contribute in a way that is a tiny bit more unique and personal to me. When looking at public interest / pro bono volunteer opportunities, I came across a listing for a volunteer mediator for the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) in Chicago:
"Once trained and certified, CCR volunteers mediate a wide array of cases. As a mediator gains experience, the volunteer can move to other programs to handle different types of cases. For example, CCR volunteers mediate a variety of cases including:
- Adult Criminal Misdemeanor matters
- Juvenile Criminal Misdemeanor matters
- Landlord/Tenant disputes both in and outside of court
- Neighbor disputes
- Small Claims Civil matters in the Cook County Court
- Cases pending in Chancery and Law Divisions of Cook County Court
- Sexual Harassment claims for the City of Chicago
- Matrimonial-Fee disputes
- Parenting Agreements
- Community disputes"
The volunteers would participate a couple times a month, and it seems like a good way to spend my free time, and it would be a little bit of a departure from all the research and writing that I do on a daily basis at my work. But then here's the catch...you have to do the 40-hour Performance-based Mediation Skills Training at the CCR and pass a test to qualify as a volunteer...and it costs $1300!!! Yikes. Luckily (or unluckily - depending on how you view things), I currently make peanuts, so I did qualify for a scholarship after writing an essay, which reduced my cost to $650. Okay, still a bit steep since I was only doing this for volunteering, but then I found out that I can get Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits for this! 33 hours, 4 of which are ethics/professionalism, I just have to pay an additional $33. Okay, so now the $$$ didn't seem too horrible since my part of the alphabet is coming due in June 2008.
I actually have a couple friends that have done this exact training while they were either in law school or just after they graduated. Both of them have said that it is a very intense and immersive program, so I should be prepared for that. I like intense and immersive, so hopefully the 40 hours will be a good experience for me. The training is May 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10 from 8:30 am to 5 pm each day. They also have a session coming up in June. If you are interested, their info is below. I will report back later with an update on my actual experience.
Center for Conflict Resolution
11 E. Adams, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Phone: 312-922-6464
Fax: 312-922-6463
Website: http://www.ccrchicago.org/
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Haagen-Dazs Limited Edition Green Tea Ice Cream - It doesn't get better than this!
I love green tea ice cream of all kinds, purchased in containers at stores, served in a dish at a restaurant, inside mochi balls and other Asian desserts, etc. However, in normal chain grocery stores, it is a rare sight to see green tea ice cream at all. I had come across the Dreyer's Grand Green Tea ice cream in Orange County, CA a couple years ago and it did the trick when satisfying a craving for green tea ice cream, but the tea flavor was very overpowering...to the point that it didn't even taste much like green tea, which tends to have a milder subtle fresh tea taste. After coming back to the Chicagoland area in IL, I had yet to find green tea in regular grocery stores and had resorting to buying them from Chinatown. These are usually decent in flavor, but the quality is typically comparable to cheaper ice creams...i.e. more air, less dense.
Fast forward to yesterday, March 1, 2008. I go into my neighborhood Dominick's (part of the Safeway brand - Vons, Pavilions, etc.) and saw a Limited Edition Haagen-Dazs Green Tea ice cream. There were only two left, so I got them both. OMG, it was hands down the BEST green tea ice cream I have ever tasted. Made as a super-premium ice cream, it was very smooth, dense, and creamy. The green tea flavor was mild, but definitely present. I am in LOVE! Since it is a Limited Edition, I hope that my local grocery store will get restocked with this soon because I will be truly sadden if I wasn't able to buy more when I finish my two containers.
Fast forward to yesterday, March 1, 2008. I go into my neighborhood Dominick's (part of the Safeway brand - Vons, Pavilions, etc.) and saw a Limited Edition Haagen-Dazs Green Tea ice cream. There were only two left, so I got them both. OMG, it was hands down the BEST green tea ice cream I have ever tasted. Made as a super-premium ice cream, it was very smooth, dense, and creamy. The green tea flavor was mild, but definitely present. I am in LOVE! Since it is a Limited Edition, I hope that my local grocery store will get restocked with this soon because I will be truly sadden if I wasn't able to buy more when I finish my two containers.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Happy 30th Birthday to Me... Thanks for an awesome dinner, Texas de Brazil in Schaumburg!
Texas De Brazil Churrascuria - Schaumburg
5 Woodfield Mall, Suite D312, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Website: www.texasdebrazil.com
Phone: (847) 413-1600
Okay, I realize that I might be the only person alive who hadn't experienced dining at a Brazilian steakhouse. However, I decided that I was going to try it out for my 30th birthday and invite my family and friends along. Not wanting to trek downtown, I decided on Texas de Brazil in Schaumburg, IL (in Woodfield Mall). All I can say is that I am a believer.
The restaurant itself is decorated really well. I felt very "at home" in an upscale and fancy sort of way. I could feel that it was a nice establishment, but definitely not stuffy. We had early evening reservations and arrived on time, but still had to wait about 10-15 minutes to get seated. I think they were just setting up our table because we had a larger party. Let me just say now that it was definitely worth the wait.
First, the salad bar is not an ordinary salad bar...50+ items of yummy goodness. Yes, there was a small selection of actual salad items, but the rest of it were stocked with grilled asparagus, artichoke bottoms, fried provolone, manchego cheese, goat cheese, hearts of palm, seared ahi tuna, shrimp salad, crusty rustic breads, etc. I could have stuffed myself on the cold selections alone. For the hot stuff, there was sauteed mushrooms, potatoes au gratin, black beans, and lobster bisque. Everything was delicious and I kept wanting to go back for more.
Second, the side dishes that they serve on your table are these cheesy bread popovers, garlic mashed potatoes, and cinnamon-sprinkled fried bananas. These three items are so addicting!!! It was hard to not just eat these things all night long! But alas, we were here for something much greater to come.
We also ordered beverages (for an extra cost) and the frozen lemonades are amazing. Great flavor, but not too sweet and not too tart. Others ordered the iced tea and house red wine and I heard they were fine.
Thirdly, onto the meat...on the table in front of each person is a color-coded disc with green meaning "feed me" and red means "omg, I need to take a breathing break." But when your disc is green, you get served an endless array of lamb chops, leg of lamb, filet mignon, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, top-top sirloin, Parmesan chicken, pork, etc, etc. I can't even remember all the selections available. My favorites were the bacon-wrapped filet mignon and the top-top sirloin. Make sure you get cuts from the middle because the outside or edges tended to be very salty. I learned this early on and asked for slices from middle/exposed areas of the meat and everyone was happy to accommodate. Also, don't be afraid to ask for specific doneness of meats. I got some filet mignon that was more medium to medium-well, but I prefer medium-rare. So to my delightful surprise, they told me they would be right back with a medium-rare option! Yea!
I literally ate until I could no longer move. It was an actual struggle to get out of my chair after I was done. I am definitely keeping Texas de Brazil in Schaumburg, IL on my list of places to return. And to the restaurant, I just want to say great job all around - amazing food, great service, fun atmosphere - you guys really know how to do things right!
5 Woodfield Mall, Suite D312, Schaumburg, IL 60173
Website: www.texasdebrazil.com
Phone: (847) 413-1600
Okay, I realize that I might be the only person alive who hadn't experienced dining at a Brazilian steakhouse. However, I decided that I was going to try it out for my 30th birthday and invite my family and friends along. Not wanting to trek downtown, I decided on Texas de Brazil in Schaumburg, IL (in Woodfield Mall). All I can say is that I am a believer.
The restaurant itself is decorated really well. I felt very "at home" in an upscale and fancy sort of way. I could feel that it was a nice establishment, but definitely not stuffy. We had early evening reservations and arrived on time, but still had to wait about 10-15 minutes to get seated. I think they were just setting up our table because we had a larger party. Let me just say now that it was definitely worth the wait.
First, the salad bar is not an ordinary salad bar...50+ items of yummy goodness. Yes, there was a small selection of actual salad items, but the rest of it were stocked with grilled asparagus, artichoke bottoms, fried provolone, manchego cheese, goat cheese, hearts of palm, seared ahi tuna, shrimp salad, crusty rustic breads, etc. I could have stuffed myself on the cold selections alone. For the hot stuff, there was sauteed mushrooms, potatoes au gratin, black beans, and lobster bisque. Everything was delicious and I kept wanting to go back for more.
Second, the side dishes that they serve on your table are these cheesy bread popovers, garlic mashed potatoes, and cinnamon-sprinkled fried bananas. These three items are so addicting!!! It was hard to not just eat these things all night long! But alas, we were here for something much greater to come.
We also ordered beverages (for an extra cost) and the frozen lemonades are amazing. Great flavor, but not too sweet and not too tart. Others ordered the iced tea and house red wine and I heard they were fine.
Thirdly, onto the meat...on the table in front of each person is a color-coded disc with green meaning "feed me" and red means "omg, I need to take a breathing break." But when your disc is green, you get served an endless array of lamb chops, leg of lamb, filet mignon, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, top-top sirloin, Parmesan chicken, pork, etc, etc. I can't even remember all the selections available. My favorites were the bacon-wrapped filet mignon and the top-top sirloin. Make sure you get cuts from the middle because the outside or edges tended to be very salty. I learned this early on and asked for slices from middle/exposed areas of the meat and everyone was happy to accommodate. Also, don't be afraid to ask for specific doneness of meats. I got some filet mignon that was more medium to medium-well, but I prefer medium-rare. So to my delightful surprise, they told me they would be right back with a medium-rare option! Yea!
I literally ate until I could no longer move. It was an actual struggle to get out of my chair after I was done. I am definitely keeping Texas de Brazil in Schaumburg, IL on my list of places to return. And to the restaurant, I just want to say great job all around - amazing food, great service, fun atmosphere - you guys really know how to do things right!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Chicago Restaurant Week 2008 - Ruth's Chris Experience
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
431 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Website: http://www.ruthschris.com/
Phone: (312) 321-2725
Yea! Chicago finally got its own Restaurant Week! Seeing that Chicago has some of the best restaurants in the country, it's about gosh darn time! Basically, for $21.95 at lunch or $31.95 at dinner, you get a 3-course prix fixe menu at some of the best dining spots in Chicago. The only catch is that most of them don't have their menus posted, so it's a gamble to what's being offered. Ruths Chris was able to disclose their special menu to me over the phone, so I was able to make a decision to book them that way. The key is to avoid places that offer things that they would normally serve for cheap anyway.
Here is the Ruths Chris 3-course prix fixe menu:
First Course (Appetizer):
The restaurant itself was VERY busy. Even though we made reservations, we had to wait about 15-20 minutes. We were taken to a room upstairs, a bit away from the commotion, but still a bit loud. It was hard to hear our waiter and our waiter had a hard time hearing us. But I guess that's expected from a restaurant that was completely full.
For the starter course, everyone in the party got Louisiana Seafood Gumbo. It was nicely seasoned, great flavor, perfect temperature and consistency. The sausage had a little bit of a kick, but not too much. Overall, it was a great way to start the meal.
For entree course, I chose the 12 oz. Ribeye and the rest of the party was split between the ribeye and the filet. In all instances, the steaks were seasoned exactly right, served on a hot dish with melted butter, and cooked just how you ordered it. My only "ding" is that my steak was a very bad cut. Out of the 12 oz of steak, at least 4 oz of it was a chunk of fat. No, I'm not talking about marbling...I love ribeyes and get it often, but I have rarely seen this much fat on a ribeye that I was able to separate out just by cutting off the top 1/3 of the steak.
Everyone at the table ordered a different side dish and everyone liked theirs. I ordered the Sautéed Mushrooms, but there was not much flavor...just cooked in butter. However, you get whole mushrooms, not slices. So that was a bit odd. I was expecting sliced mushrooms that you can mound on top of your steak.
Most everyone, including me, got the Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake for dessert, but one person got the Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. Everyone enjoyed their dessert. The cheesecake was very light and fluffy, with a mousse texture. I would classify this more as a mousse with a hint of cheesecake flavoring.
Overall, everyone did enjoy their meal and I think I'll put it on my list of restaurants to revisit. And at the Restaurant Week prices, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
-------------------
If you are curious about some of the other restaurant menu offerings, visit: http://www.timeout.com/chicago/blog/out-and-about/?p=3698
431 N. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60610
Website: http://www.ruthschris.com/
Phone: (312) 321-2725
Yea! Chicago finally got its own Restaurant Week! Seeing that Chicago has some of the best restaurants in the country, it's about gosh darn time! Basically, for $21.95 at lunch or $31.95 at dinner, you get a 3-course prix fixe menu at some of the best dining spots in Chicago. The only catch is that most of them don't have their menus posted, so it's a gamble to what's being offered. Ruths Chris was able to disclose their special menu to me over the phone, so I was able to make a decision to book them that way. The key is to avoid places that offer things that they would normally serve for cheap anyway.
Here is the Ruths Chris 3-course prix fixe menu:
First Course (Appetizer):
- Louisiana Seafood Gumbo
- Steak House Salad
Second Course (Entrée):
- 8 oz. Petite Filet
- 12 oz. Ribeye
- North Atlantic Salmon Fillet
- Stuffed Chicken Breast
Side Dish with Second Course:
- Mashed Potatoes
- Sautéed Mushrooms
- Creamed Spinach
Third Course (Dessert):
- Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce
- Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
The restaurant itself was VERY busy. Even though we made reservations, we had to wait about 15-20 minutes. We were taken to a room upstairs, a bit away from the commotion, but still a bit loud. It was hard to hear our waiter and our waiter had a hard time hearing us. But I guess that's expected from a restaurant that was completely full.
For the starter course, everyone in the party got Louisiana Seafood Gumbo. It was nicely seasoned, great flavor, perfect temperature and consistency. The sausage had a little bit of a kick, but not too much. Overall, it was a great way to start the meal.
For entree course, I chose the 12 oz. Ribeye and the rest of the party was split between the ribeye and the filet. In all instances, the steaks were seasoned exactly right, served on a hot dish with melted butter, and cooked just how you ordered it. My only "ding" is that my steak was a very bad cut. Out of the 12 oz of steak, at least 4 oz of it was a chunk of fat. No, I'm not talking about marbling...I love ribeyes and get it often, but I have rarely seen this much fat on a ribeye that I was able to separate out just by cutting off the top 1/3 of the steak.
Everyone at the table ordered a different side dish and everyone liked theirs. I ordered the Sautéed Mushrooms, but there was not much flavor...just cooked in butter. However, you get whole mushrooms, not slices. So that was a bit odd. I was expecting sliced mushrooms that you can mound on top of your steak.
Most everyone, including me, got the Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake for dessert, but one person got the Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce. Everyone enjoyed their dessert. The cheesecake was very light and fluffy, with a mousse texture. I would classify this more as a mousse with a hint of cheesecake flavoring.
Overall, everyone did enjoy their meal and I think I'll put it on my list of restaurants to revisit. And at the Restaurant Week prices, I wouldn't hesitate to go back.
-------------------
If you are curious about some of the other restaurant menu offerings, visit: http://www.timeout.com/chicago/blog/out-and-about/?p=3698
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