Chi City Love ❤

Chicago Chef Week

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:36:43 -0500

Chicago Chef Week is coming up! March 17th - 22nd over 50 restaurants will be offering 3 course meals at lunch ($22) and dinner ($44). It is a great opportunity to check out some amazing restaurants at a fraction of the price you would normally pay!

My tops picks for Chicago Chef Week:

Balena - offering dinner only

GT Fish & Oyster - offering lunch only

Avec - offering dinner only

Baume & Brix - offering dinner only

Embeya

Tortoise Club

Publican

There are so many more amazing restaurants participating in Chicago Chef Week! The rest of the list can be viewed at Chicago Chef Week.

Xoxo ChiCityLove

Pesto Pasta Perfection

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 13:56:00 -0500

As I mentioned before, I’m trying to spend more time doing the things I enjoy. It’s so easy to get caught in a routine and forget what truly makes YOU happy. Cooking is something that I have always really loved to do. Besides, who doesn’t love great food? The Barefoot Contessa cookbooks are my go tos for great recipes. Every recipe is more delicious than the first! Some of my favorites are the Blueberry Muffins, Lasagna with Turkey Sausage, Chicken Stew with Biscuits, and Linguini with Shrimp Scampi.

The other night I decided to make a Pesto Pasta with Shrimp, Zucchini, and Red Pepper (pictured above). As you can see, it turned out beautifully! I used the Barefoot Contessa recipe for pesto and improvised with the rest. It turned out very light, yet filling. I will definitely be making this again! You can make the pesto ahead of time and freeze it or store it in the refrigerator with olive oil on top! Make sure to serve the pasta with fresh bread because the pesto is INCREDIBLE for dipping french bread in!!

Barefoot Contessa’s Pesto Recipe:

(Makes 4 cups)

1/4 cup walnuts

1/4 cup pignoli (pine nuts)

3 Tablespoons chopped garlic (9 cloves)

5 cups fresh basil leaves

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cups good olive oil

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Place the walnuts, pignoli, and garlic in food processor. Process for 15 seconds. Add the basil leaves, salt, and pepper. With the processor running, slowly pour the olive oil into the bowl through the feed tube and process until the pesto is thoroughly pureed. Add the parmesan and puree for a minute. Use right away or store in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.

Notes: Air is the enemy of pesto. For freezing, pack in containers with a film of oil or plastic wrap directly on top with the air pressed out.

Pasta Recipe:

1/2 lb shrimp, peeled (I used pre-cooked, frozen shrimp from Trader Joe’s)

4 oz angel hair

1 zucchini, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Pesto Sauce

Prepare pasta according to package. Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil to medium-high heat in skillet and cook shrimp until brown (or heated if using pre-cooked shrimp). Remove shrimp from pan and set aside. Cook pepper and zucchini in remaining olive oil until tender. Toss all together in a bowl with pesto and serve!

Xoxo ChiCityLove

Getting back to the basics. It’s about time I get back to...

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:39:00 -0500

Getting back to the basics.

It’s about time I get back to doing things that I’ve really enjoyed. That starts here with Chi City Love! As promised, I will definitely posting more about things that inspire me and sparked the inception of this blog: Fashion, Food, and of course all things Chicago!

I’ve been living in Old Town for a few months and ABSOLUTELY love it. (Old Town was recently named the #1 neighborhood in the ENTIRE country by Huffington Post!) I cannot wait to start sharing more of my experiences relating to the city I love! This summer is going to be incredible and I plan on sharing my experiences with all of you!

Things I love about summer in Chicago:

❤ The Beach

❤ Riding the beach cruiser around

❤ Street Fests

❤ Green City Market & Lincoln Park Zoo

❤ Boating on Lake Michigan

❤ Lollapalooza of course!

I’ve been day dreaming about:

Eating brunch outside on a gorgeous summer morning, sipping on a vodka smoothie from Feast, with my sunglasses on.

Going for bike rides along the lake.

Running on the beach in the early morning.

The intoxicating scent of Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil.

Tacos and killer margaritas at Big Star!

Basically, I simply miss being outside & am COMPLETELY ready for winter to be over!! Who’s with me?

xoxo

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Before I explain what I purchased (due to those shoes!) Did you...

Thu, 17 May 2012 08:59:30 -0400

Before I explain what I purchased (due to those shoes!)
Did you notice how every store came out with high waisted denim shorts at once? From light washed to embellished to cotton candy colored?Do you ever think about who decided this was the next big trend?! Put it this way all these designers & retailers that are competing against each other decided that this was the next big thing that fashionistas like you & I would be into right at this very moment.. I honestly never would’ve seen myself wearing those kind of shorts! How do you feel about the high-waisted denim shorts trend right now?

As I already hinted at..I gave in! The weather isn’t even consistently warm yet & I’ve seen these shorts all over the place. They’ve definitely grown on me! Since the pattern on the pockets matched the shoes I chose these shorts by Joe’s!

Which led me to try on a shirt by Splendid that I also fell in love with & bought….oops!

Photo

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:43:56 -0400

These are super cute!

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:35:12 -0400

These are super cute!

Took myself on a bit of a shopping spree today..I cringe at the...

Thu, 17 May 2012 02:10:42 -0400

Took myself on a bit of a shopping spree today..I cringe at the amount of money I spent but I know every piece I purchased was worth it!

I went in a store just to look & ended up walking out with these..which I LOVE!! Best part they were already on sale! However, once I saw these I knew exactly what I needed to purchase next…

Keep dreaming always

Thu, 10 May 2012 03:16:40 -0400

Keep dreaming always

pinkandleopard: That day is today Wait for change or give up...

Thu, 10 May 2012 03:14:25 -0400

pinkandleopard:

That day is today

Wait for change or give up on someone you love?

Loving bright colors this season!

Thu, 10 May 2012 03:13:23 -0400

Loving bright colors this season!

Cutest puppy!

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:28:01 -0500

Cutest puppy!

The Iconic Blue Box...

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:15:34 -0400

Watching Breakfast At Tiffany’s before getting ready for the evening..a Birthday tradition that I started for myself years ago. It just wouldn’t be a Birthday without Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

I love the glamour that is Holly Golightly.

“It’s like Tiffany’s..I’m crazy about Tiffany’s. You know those days when you get the mean reds?..You mean like the blues?..No, the blues are because you’ve been getting fat or it’s been raining too long. You’re just sad that’s all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly, you’re afraid and you don’t know what you’re afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?..Sure. Well when I get that feeling the only thing that does any good is to jump into a cab and go to Tiffany’s! Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it. Nothing bad could ever happen to you there. If I could find a real life place that made me feel like Tiffany’s then I’d buy some furniture and give the cat a name.”

The perfect Birthday gift..the latest addition to my Tiffany’s collection! :)

Love these bracelets!

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:54:07 -0400

Love these bracelets!

BIRKIN!

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:52:36 -0400

BIRKIN!

Photo

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:50:59 -0400

Photo

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:10:27 -0400

This looks amazing! I am dying to make this..nothing better than...

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:09:26 -0400

This looks amazing! I am dying to make this..nothing better than chocolate & strawberries..accompanied by a flute of champagne of course!

Am I right?

bakeddd:

chocolate mousse and strawberry trifle

click here for recipe

Elizabeth and James Must Platform Boots. Sexier take on the...

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:55:14 -0400

Elizabeth and James Must Platform Boots. Sexier take on the equestrian trend! Perfection!!

Equestrian Trend..

The sleak, elite, brown leather boots. The fitted, tan colored equestrian pant. The crisp white shirt. So sophisticated, classy, and sexy all at the same time.

I miss horseback riding more than words. It was always an escape for me. A strong love for animals is woven into the fiber of my being. I wish I had time to volunteer at a local animal shelter or the means to plan an elegant charity event to benefit animals in need. The vibrant leaves falling from the trees and crunching beneath my bare feet as I walked up the driveway early this morning made me smile. appreciation. inspiration. and a desperate longing to ride rushes over me.

xoChi Cityy Love

Love this Vince Camuto Faux Fur Vest..would look great with an...

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:52:20 -0400

Love this Vince Camuto Faux Fur Vest..would look great with an all winter white outfit!

Diane von Furstenberg Zarita Lace Dress I am in LOVE with...

Fri, 07 Oct 2011 23:48:50 -0400

Diane von Furstenberg Zarita Lace Dress

I am in LOVE with Winter White this season. I love the idea of pairing an all white outfit with some sort of faux fur (save the animals!)..

Also LOVING..

the anticipation of the first snowfall..pristine. snowflakes. christmas lights. hot chocolate. Curled up by a roaring fire. Comfy voluminous sweaters with leggings and boots.

The red jean leggings I just purchased. Paired with a basic white shirt and an oversized patterned sweater. Accessorized with a skinny red belt. I am dreaming of wearing this outfit.

xoChi Cityy Love