Wow, so I’m sure you’ve noticed dear reader, we’ve been MIA, hibernating for the winter, or on a covert mission abroad (choose your own conspiracy theory). Nah, life just caught up to us. Monica is in grad school and Kate’s … Continue reading
We are about to plan the perfect summer date or ladies’ night out for you in Chicago. Ya ready?
First, you head to 720 South Bar & Grill for cocktails and the most beautiful cheese plate you’ve ever seen in your life. Then, after having an amazing dinner, you head to SummerDance at Grant Park right across the street and learn a new dance style (think Swing, Bollywood, Samba, Zydeco, and more!) surrounded by the gorgeous backdrop of Chicago’s skyline.
After you’ve made room, come back to 720 South Bar & Grill for more libations. Eat, sweat, repeat!
We had an absolute blast being treated to a meal at 720 South Bar & Grill recently for Negroni Week. We didn’t even know this sweet spot existed and usually aren’t too impressed with hotel vittles. Nestled in the Hilton Hotel, 720 South Bar & Grill, has an intimate quiet vibe with marble tables and impeccable service. The Hilton is a historic and beautiful hotel situated right in the heart of our city. You can read more about it here (including some 1920’s scandal and maybe ghosts?).
Once we arrived, we were whisked away to our private table beside the sunny windows that face Michigan Avenue. We started with a Negroni with rum and the Hilton Chicago’s 90th Anniversary Cocktail, the Boulevardier. This bottled cocktail was poured for us tableside. It’s a twist on the classic Negroni with templeton rye instead of gin, mixed with sweet vermouth and zesty orange campari. 720 South Bar & Grill is actually a haven for bourbon and whiskey lovers. Al Capone, one of our most notorious Chicagoans, swigged an iteration of this cocktail during prohibition times. We found it to be more balanced and delightful than the super bitter rum Negroni.
Other summer drink suggestions to wow your guests, especially if you prefer less tang than a Negroni: The refreshing Gold Rush with old forester classic, 86pf bourbon, acacia honey syrup, and squeezed lemon juice or the Sunshine Daydream with local FEW bourbon, giffard abricot du roussillon liqueur, mango purée, splashed with tart lemon juice.
Our appetizer was the favorite, a gorgeous and fulfilling cheese plate, with sweet cherries swimming in a martini glass, surrounded by craft cheeses, nuts, and dried apricots, delicately laid out on a slice of wood. This dish is made to impress AND share!
It was followed by our entrees: a hearty house made black bean chipotle burger, chili soy glazed wings, and rich cheesy truffle fries. We were so full from gorging on cheese, it was hard to indulge! We championed through it though (with to go boxes in tow) and were satisfied. Kate doesn’t usually like meat on the bone but found the wings to be juicy and peppery. The truffle fries were crispy and garlicky and could rightfully serve 4-5 people. The black bean burger was packed with fresh veggies on a buttery bun-great for vegetarians and meat lovers alike.
During our dinner, we were introduced to the humble and friendly Chef Erica McGhee and learned about the Hilton’s secret rooftop garden. Chef Erica McGhee centers the menu around fresh local produce from the garden as well as other Midwestern elements. Chef Erica learned to cook from her grandmother and dreams of owning her own restaurant someday, named after her culinary inspiration. We look forward to following her future endeavors!
As if that weren’t enough, the amazing hospitality team treated us with pistachio raspberry pana cotta cheesecake with white chocolate lychee panna cotta garnished with fresh berries and chocolate sorbet.
See, now that you’ve indulged and your inhibitions are swayed, dancing under the stars will put the perfect hum to your evening! Check out the SummerDance schedule here and when you visit the 720 South Bar & Grill, don’t hold back!
You’ll love the ambiance and selection of this joint. We are so grateful for the team at 720 South Bar & Grill and hope to come back to tour the rooftop garden. Our opinions are our own but we were treated to a free meal and drinks! What’s your go to spot in the loop for dinner before summer time events? Let us know in the comments!!
Is your sweetie a sexy chef, fanatic foodie or Diners, Dive Ins and Dives darling? Chop the boring old predictable Valentine’s Day and take your boo to find the best thing they’ve ever eaten with Culinary Fight Club’s “The Savory Chocolate” event.
What: At Culinary Fight Club, you and your sweetheart will be treated to 4 chefs (amateur AND professional) competing for the hearts and mouths of the audience in this Iron Chef style competition. The main ingredient this month is our preferred aphrodisiac, CHOCOLATE!! Chocolate is the food of love and we could all use a lil’ more love now!
How it Works: (Description from Culinary Fight Club) Contestants or Teams have (60) minutes to impress (3) judges, using (1) 10k BTU Burner and (15) supplied raw ingredients & (3) surprise ingredients, all to be judged on that one perfect bite! Hungry? Don’t worry there is also a Taster’s Choice Award too! So attendees are encouraged to grab a tasting spoon, dig in and vote for their favorite bite!
Charity Partner: Fill your heart with the knowledge that you’re helping more than just yourself! 20% of all Culinary Fight Club Chicago events go to feeding hungry people in Chicago through Fight2Feed, a charitable Organization on a mission to “KO” hunger One Block at a Time.
When: Monday, February 13th 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: Lucky Strike, 322 E. Illinois, Chicago, IL 60611
Includes: 2 hours of beer or wine and snacks from Lucky Strike including savory chocolate bites for you and you doll-faced dear.
Think of all the kisses your culinary cutie will bestow upon you when you get your tickets here!
Don’t live in Chicago? Don’t feel salty! You can find Culinary Fight Club in Kansas City, Atlanta and Montgomery in February and 6 cities in March.
Stop scrolling on Facebook and put the power of positive back in your life! Come join us at LUNAFEST next Wednesday for a laugh, a cry and an inspiring night supporting women artists and storytelling. LUNAFEST is a national traveling festival of short films that connects women, their stories and their causes through 90 minutes of short films.
We attended LUNAFEST 2 years ago and didn’t have to ask where the love was because the room was filled with it. Break the normal happy hour routine for more meaningful happiness. Your $20=bonding time with your pals, 9 short films, light bites and drink. Bonus! All your cash actually goes to Chicago nonprofits so bring extra friends!
Recovery on Water (ROW), Brave Initiatives, and Mission Propelle will snag 100 percent of all net proceeds are donated to charity. LUNAFEST stats are amazing too :). Since 2000, 136 filmmakers have been featured and nearly $3.6 million dollars have been raised.
Serves four people for $8 a serving
Can’t wait for the next Taste of a Nation? You can help No Kid Hungry in November by hosting your own friendsgiving and donating! 10 bucks gets 100 meals for kids :).
We have to thank LG from the bottom of our hearts and stomachs for hosting us AND sponsoring such an awesome event and cause! Check out their new appliances to simplify and classy up your life.
LG Electronics is sizzling Wednesday October 5th with famous Chicago chefs and mixologists for Chicago’s Taste of the Nation benefitting No Kid Hungry. This annual fundraiser sizzles with the city’s top chefs, mixologists and tastemakers.
Chicago’s Taste of the Nation® for No Kid Hungry 2016 will be held on October 5, 2016 at Revel Fulton Market
VIP Admisison: $200 | 6:00pm
General Admission: $125 | 7:00pm
LG Electronics turns up the heat by partnering with Jason Vincent, chef and partner of the trending Logan Square restaurant, Giant. Jason will create and serve up a special dish while you fawn over the function and look of LG’s new Black Stainless Steel Series of refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers and microwaves.
A premier national partner of No Kid Hungry, LG is the official home appliance partner of the Taste of the Nation culinary fundraising series.
In 2016, through its partnership with No Kid Hungry, LG already has provided more than 1.5 million meals for children facing hunger.
* Participating Sears stores include the Chicago Ridge, Schaumburg and Oakbrook locations.
*Pictures are courtesy of LG and content is modified from LG Press Releases*
Summa Summa Summa timeeee…time to sweat! Have you ever ran in 90 degree heat because you threw caution into the lack of wind? You definitely need to replace those lost electrolytes to avoid muscle cramps and quick fatigue.
With 9 flavors, Propel Electrolyte Water wants to keep your summer humming with a prize pack! Take the “What’s Your Flavor?” Quiz to see if you’re more of a bubbly blueberry pomegranate or competitive cranberry lime.
Get thirsty for these prizes:
Here’s our fit flavor (no wonder, we are a 2 girl fitness blog!):
Once you’re all quizzed up, comment on our blog on what your flavor is to win this balanced bounty!! Winner will be picked at random and announced by 8/15.
3 day tickets only $75 with CHIORGANIC (good until 11:59 July 7th, 2016). That’s $35 dollars off!
As a local Chicagoan, sometimes the best of our city is hiding right beneath our noses (or way way way above our heads)! Our normal views of the city include looking at monstrous traffic on the Dan Ryan expressway off our back porch or driving up Lake Shore drive to catch the waves out our window. We are on Cloud 9 now that we visited 360 Chicago. Formerly known as the John Hancock, 360 Chicago lives up to its name with spectacular 360 views of our pretty city and a newly renovated space.
Now, us 606-zip code Chicago residents can score a sweet discount of half off admission. 360 Chicago features the ONLY tilting attraction in the world, aptly named…Tilt! Giggle and gasp as you extend out and over the city in double pane glass at 1,000 feet above. 8 people at a time can Tilt!, so grab your best buds for moral support.
Local tip: There’s a bar and snack area, the Architect’s Bar, where you can gain some liquid courage if you need it!
How do you decide when to go? 360 Chicago has themed events, called the Sunset Series, to elevate your interests. All events are from 6-9 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Mondays (Encourage your Inner Artist): Photography Night
On Mondays ONLY, photographers can bring in tripods to heighten their insta-fame and catch gorgeous skyline scenery. Professional photographer, Nick Ulivieri, will be on hand with contests and learning segments throughout the year.
Tuesdays (Friends and Family Friendly): Chicago Architecture Foundation Night
Chicago Architecture Foundation volunteers are available to give you the deep dish on Chicago’s rich architecture scene and the buildings that star in our skyline.
Thursdays (Perfect for You and Your Boo): DJ and Dancin’
Mode Events makes sure your night is “on fleek” with live DJs and a sunset toast.
Get ready for summer too because 360 Chicago has the scenes to fit your light show dreams. During Wednesdays and Saturdays, beat the heat and rest your feet on 360 Chicago’s cozy furnishings, as you gaze at the Navy Pier seasonal fireworks.
What are you waiting for? Get your superman on and impress visiting friends, fam and your Air B and B guests (ha) with 360 Chicago.
Where: 360 Chicago 875 N. Michigan Avenue, 94th Floor in Chicago, IL.
For more info, weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., call 312-751-3681. All other times, please call 312-654-2892 or visit www.360chicago.com.
This past weekend we went to the Good Food Festival for the third year in a row. Click here to read one of our first blog posts about our first Good Food Festival three years ago. Yesss, we are celebrating the three year … Continue reading
