Falling for Cheetah all over Again

My recent style has been based on: ‘how easy it is to throw on?’ & ‘how quick can I do this?’ . No, not lazy, easy! That’s when I fell in love with cheetah print all over again. Let’s be honest, cheetah was a little out of style after the whole Snooki era. Since the show (you know the one) has fizzled out, cheetah has popped back onto my radar!

Prints are the ‘go to’ in my closet when I’m pressed for time and want a look that requires little accouterments to complete the outfit. This Phillip Lim for Target sweater has made it’s way to one of my favorite pieces in my closet this season. Easy to style, I pair it with jeans or a leather skirt.

 

Top : 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target Pullover / Skirt : Topshop Faux Leather Skirt / Necklace : H&M / Handbag: Vintage Dooney & Bourke / Watch: Michael Kors / Shoes : Top Shop, similar 

Choose to See the Good Stuff

Lobster Roll, anyone?

A shout out to all my seafood lovers and pescatarians, here’s a dish you need to try: New England Seafood Company’s Lobster Roll.

This delicious, meat filled sandwich, is the perfect answer for a laid back brunch this season.  I had always imagined having a lobster roll while perhaps on a rock overlooking the sea and a light house in Maine. The latter part didn’t happen (unfortunately), but the first part did on Lincoln Avenue in Lake View. New England Seafood Company is bringing a little taste of the lobster roll to Chi-town.

With options of crab and lobster to oysters and scallops, the options seem endless. Depending on your mood, you can pick from a variety of seafood to be tucked inside of bread with butter and lemon and a side of homemade chips.  (You can only imagine how long it took me to decide.) We settled on the lobster and crab roll with the chips, and the clam chowder looked too good to pass up —so we tried that too.

Let’s just say this roll was a perfect start to my Sunday. Make sure to swing by and taste the Lobster Roll at New England Seafood Company on Lincoln Avenue. 😉

Cheers,

College Grad?

 

 RED ALERT: Graduating has completely fogged my train of thought. Occasionally my thought process holts for an explosion of creativity due to caffeine or a sudden urge to run from from my apartment to the lake. Other than that, it’s been school, working, & career searchin’ only. Hence the lack of blog posts (My apologies!!) !

My brain is constantly on the prowl for new content to write about, usually pointing me in the direction of fashion or the newest place to eat–but today I took a detour with this post. I decided to dedicate this entry to letting you into the world of Sabrina-ville. From interviews to events, my life seems to be pressing forward at 500 miles per hour. My passions have quickly funneled into a few categories, and people’s advise along the way has begun to shape my future path. HOWEVER, my inspiration-o-meter has been down due to the soon to be life changes that are about to take place, so I did what I do best—-I MADE A LIST. This is my list I’ve created in order to relieve my anxiety and remember how exciting this time is….

Here’s my ROUGH guide to being a college grad that I’ve devised in my head: 

1. Have hobbies & do something with them  

My last few classes at DePaul have turned into pure graphic design & photography mania. Turns out, I love this stuff. Adobe programs clutter my computer screen (and at times make my computer slow) and keep me hungry for more challenges. I don’t think anyone can claim to be a “master” at any of the programs with endless options of creation.

2. Find Inspiration 

Inspiration comes from anything or anyone, and it sparks your thirst for creativity. People who do what they love and love what they do inspire me to find the same nitch.

3. Find Outlets  

Find what filters out that built up energy in a positive way. I come from a family who LOVES to cook, so in turn I have began to really enjoy trying new recipes. Workouts such as spin or running help me relieve energy (how ironic!).

4. Always Finish

All you need to remember is that it doesn’t matter how you got there, you just need to get there! The excuses don’t matter! Whether it’s a job application or the ‘Thank You’ note after the interview, finish strong.

5. BALANCE, BALANCE, BALANCE    

I laughed when I saw this picture, and decided to share it. I’ve began to realize  that sometimes it is hard to keep everything in balance but I believe this is the key to bringing yourself the most satisfaction.

Here’s to graduation being right around the corner, and exploring the unknown 🙂

Chicago from above & 3 Floyd’s Brewery

Chicago, arguably the best city in the world, (not a bias statement LOL) is even more beautiful from above! A long awaited Christmas gift that could finally be put to good use this Spring, paired with a great Brewery made for the perfect afternoon.We flew out of Lansing Airport and took a spin around the city in a helicopter. Neighborhoods looked like toy cities, and the architecture was so intricately woven into the city I call home.

 

 

Three Floyds in Munster, Indiana is a hot spot for everyone from Indiana to Chicago. The environment is a step down from Kuma’s Corner as far as heavy metal goes, and the menu is filled with yummy plates that pair well with the beers.  Hidden unless a friend has told you where it’s at, you could easily miss the road that leads to the mystical land of micro-brewed 3 Floyd’s. The beer list is so extensive, that we ordered the flight of beer to taste test some of their favorites. Incase your a lunatic and don’t want to drink one of their beers, they have tons of other hard to find brews. One of my favorite places on the (almost) south side of Chicago!

 

 

 

Alpha King, Pride & Joy, Robert the Bruce, Dreadnaught IPA flight

 

House sausage plate: Jalapeño cheddar sausage,  pork a l’orange, mortadella, sand pebbles mustard with smoked grapes

16 hour smoked brisket , grilled broccolini, maple bbp sauce, bacon & cheddar cornbread

I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves, but the food and beer was a great ending to the day. I would highly recommend checking this place out and treating yourself to a tasty original beer.

A breakfast spot you NEED to check out this AM in Chicago

Austrian Bakery & Deli on Clark is one of my favorite nooks in Chicago for breakfast. This gem, located on Clark in Lakeview, has  every choice to tickle your breakfast or lunch fancy. The extensive menu includes your typical breakfast skillets, healthy breakfast cheese and fruit plates, deli sandwiches made with daily homemade bread, authentic austrian dishes such as chicken or pork schnitzel , sweets galore—and of course daily made strudel. If you have a sweet or a savory tooth, theres something here for ya’.

Usually my pick off the menu is a croissant sandwich with bacon, feta, spinach, onions, and mushrooms, but the pastries persuaded me otherwise when I walked in! Belgium waffles with homemade whip-cream and fresh berries with a fresh cup of orange juice literally put me on cloud nine. I have gotten into the habit of sharing food as if it were small plates, so that I can enjoy double the experience. Not only was I able to indulge in the heavenly Belgium waffles, I took nibbles from the croissant sandwich I usually get.

This is a great spot to grab coffee and a pastry with a friend or to have breakfast/lunch. So snag a friend and go try it out– I know that I’ll definitely be back for lunch!

Enjoy!

Curating San Diego through Cuisine

Hey everyone! I am freezing, so that means only one thing : I’M BACK IN THE WINDY CITY. Coming from palm trees, sandy beaches, and bare feet, California is where I left my body heat (LOL). Working to live has never been the idea I had in mind for myself. It is obvious through my curiosity for adventure that I will most certainly work to curate life through food, fashion, and culture. My trip was short in reality, but sparked an itch that I know won’t stop : the travel bug.

The best way to fully submerge yourself into a culture is food, locals, and more food. I was blessed with a tour guide who lived in San Diego for many years ( Thanks, DAVE! ), and friends to kindly take us around to have a good time. Here are my food highlights:

Landing in San Diego with just about the whole day to spare, we rushed over to what I was told was “the best fish taco joint” in San Diego: Oscars in North Pacific Beach. The hole in the wall place that reminded me of the Violet Hour in Chicago from the outside (mural painted on the outside & no sign), told  me I was far from Chicago. There were two men inside, one taking orders and the other cutting a huge octopus for tacos. I went with the red snapper and butterfly grilled fish tacos….which were to die for. With a melody of three sauces to try from (chipotle,  red, and spicy tarter) I was in heaven.

 

Saturday began the excursion to three different parts of San Diego (seen in my next blog post) starting with brunch at the O’Bistro Cafe in Ocean Beach. A raspberry mimosa and a smoked salmon salad did the trick at the outdoor cafe.

Smoked Salmon Salad

Chicken and Pesto Penne

Old Town is the oldest part of San Diego, and a bit on the touristy side mixed with delicious authentic Mexican food. I had one of the best bowls of Caldo de Res I’ve ever had unexpectedly, and a famous San Diego burrito. Caldo de Res is a soup with veggies such as corn and carrots soaked in a beef broth, with chunks of beef  and lime squeezed on top. Through the windows in many of the restaurants, you could see women making fresh tortillas and chickens roasting on spits. 

Burrito in Old Town

 

Some of the BEST Caldo de Res I’ve ever had

My trip couldn’t have ended without trying carne asada fries…I know it sounds like a heart attack waiting to happen, but I tried them anyways.

 I just about slept the whole way home after eating that whole plate! A great trip filled with delicious food. My tour guide was correct, Chicago Mexican food does not even compare to San Diego Mexican food.

Happy Eating,

This post was purely on the food I enjoyed, expect an adventure post soon 🙂 

Chronicles of a Sushi Addict

Where are my sushi lovers at?!? Admit it, you have a sushi addiction that can’t be satisfied by all the sushi in the world. It’s a problem many people suffer with, and it happens to be the main cause of my empty wallet at times. Sushi bar’s cover the city like white on rice, to satisfy the cravings of delicious flavors wrapped into a roll. I admit that raw fish and my wallet have a hate love relationships, but I can’t stop!

This neighborhood sushi restaurant (two locations: Lincoln Park & Wicker Park) , Nori, is one of my favorites for a lunch or dinner spot. The first time I ate there, I purchased a groupon and grabbed a bottle of wine. It was perfect as a date spot, and memorable enough to return. On the occasion that I returned, I was able to catch the lunch special of half off all rolls, which made my day. We ordered a special roll that was created in house for Valentines day, but had such great feed back, they decided to add it to the menu. Five rolls and spicy Japanese wings with jasmine rice, and I can’t forget the heaven apricot tea–hit the spot!

My first visit to Nori for dinner

My cravings were satisfied for that day, but even posting these pictures makes me hungry!

Happy Saturday!

XOXO,

Sabrina 

Valentines Day at Sunda

Valentines day is the day that everyone loves to hate or hates to love , am I right? In my book, it’s a night to perhaps snuggle up a bit closer to your significant other, and ALSO a time to savor all the goodies on valentine’s day menus across the city. V-day landed on a Thursday this year, so reservations were tough to book– no doubt. I was a lucky girl, my valentine took me to feast at Chicago’s favorite asian restaurant : Sunda owned by the Rockit Ranch Production.

Before heading to our 10pm dinner reservations, we stopped over at Zed 451 for a cocktail. Zed 451 is known for their outdoor patio in the spring and summer, but never having ventured inside during the winter, I was curious to check out the atmosphere. Cozy, warm, and inviting we sat at the bar near the lounge area with a fire place. The bar tender made my clementine mint martini right in front of us, using all the pulp from a clementine and shook to perfection with dry ice. I was pleasantly surprised by the pairing of mint and clementine, and would definitely head back for another.

 

Sunda seated us in the middle of the bustling and dimly lit restaurant, where it seemed to be busier than ever. Having eaten here before, I immediately knew the miso crusted lamb rack with truffle rice was a must. Our meal started off with a lychee martini and tiger beer for the sir. The best way to eat out I’ve realized is to eat tapas style, where everyone shares plates–that way everyone can share, engage, and taste everything. We ordered Sunda’s Signature Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna and Jalapeño, Malay Style Chilean Seabass, Miso Crusted Lamb Rack with Truffle Rice and shared everything. My favorite pick? Didn’t have one–everything was exquisite, by far the best meal of 2013 ( thus far 😉 ).

Lychee Martini and Lamb Rack

Miso Crusted Lamb Rack with Truffle Rice

Chilean Seabass

       The way to this girl’s heart? Good food!

XOXO,

Sabrina

Food Cravings–Seafood Paella

Anyone else feel like all they can cook correctly is boiling tea water? I try to cook as much as possible, but on days I work, all I have time for is a quick salad or sandwich. One of my goals this year is to begin trying out all of my family recipes that dance like sugar plums in my head during the day, tempting me to eat out!

Coming from a background of cooks in my family, when I’m hungry, I don’t crave the typical grilled cheese. I think about foods my grandmother and father have been making since I was a child. Taco’s made with fresh tortilla’s, lamb chops, prime roast, seared scallops with prosciutto, mole and chicken, SEAFOOD PAELLA. Rated one of the top toughest meals to cook, I have never attempted to cook seafood paella myself but I think it is almost time I shall.  Hopefully my dad will hand over the secret recipe if I ask for it!

My dad’s seafood paella

Happy Fat Tuesday!

XOXO,

Sabrina