December 2006 Archives

The big tree at the Walnut Room is a holiday must.

It’s no secret that I was disgruntled when Marshall Field’s suddenly became Macy’s. But the Walnut Room and the big tree? That’s a holiday tradition. It’s just not Christmas in Chicago until you go see the big tree! And Tammy and I couldn’t help but wonder… is there a major difference between the Walnut Room’s food and service under the Macy’s guard? So in the name of research, we made our way to the Walnut Room and sat under the tree sipping holiday drinks… a tradition not to be missed no matter who is in charge.

A very happy holidays and New Year to you, and stayed tuned for more dining adventures in 2007.

(4.9 M)

00:00 - 01:06 Intro
01:41 - 08:23 Walnut Room Review
08:24 - 10:36 Sign-Off

Walnut Room
111 N. State on the 7th floor of Marshall Fields or Macy's or whatever

Bridget rates this restaurant 3/10
Tammy rates this restaurant 5/10

We both agree as a holiday tradition, the Walnut Room is a must do even if the food is average.

Frango Mint Pie! Need I say more?

The coffee at the Pick Me Up Cafe gives novelists the jolt needed to keep writing.

Tammy and I have been M.I.A. for a while. That’s because, in addition to all of the holiday madness that descends this time of year, we both participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Let me tell you, it was no small feat. But we both emerged victorious with our pens brandished high.

And NaNoWriMo also gave us the perfect excuse to lug our laptops to coffee shops throughout the city to sip the brew, sample the food, and Write In Public (WIP). From Starbucks, to eclectic neighborhood places complete with overstuffed couches, we toured the gamut. Listen in to learn which places are most accommodating to aspiring novelists.

(8.7 M)

00:00 - 02:15 Intro- Our NaNoWriMo Quest
02:18 - 05:20 The Starbucks Baseline and What to Look For When WIPing
05:21 - 07:07 Uncommon Ground Review
07:08 - 09:04 Comments on Laptop Abandonment
09:05 - 11:45 Pick Me Up Cafe Review
11:46 - 13:51 Gourmand Review
13:52 - 16:31 Other Places we WIPed
16:32 - 18:49 Wrap-Up and Sign-Off

Starbucks
106-108 W. Germania Pl.

Uncommon Ground
3800 N. Clark

Pick Me Up Cafe
3408 N. Clark

Gourmand
728 S. Dearborn

Michael's
101 W. North Ave.

Third Coast
1260 N. Dearborn

The Grind
4613 N. Lincoln Ave.

Bridget would most likely write at Gourmand or the Pick Me Up Cafe
Tammy would most likely write at The Grind or Gourmand

They like butter at Michael's. Seriously.

Tammy and I agree on the granola at Uncommon Ground. It's super tasty and healthy too!

Is it lamb?

In this podcast, our good friend George (with some lovely Greek pastries in tow) joins us to help out with tricky Greek pronunciations because we really wanted to get it right.

Venus may be little off the beaten tack in Greektown, located on Jackson instead of Halstead, but it's worth the trip. The menu is peppered with a variety of Cypress-influenced dishes that punch traditional Greek fare up a notch, and there are also several vegetarian and healthy eating options available. Be sure to save room for fantastic desserts too!

It's also worth mentioning that Venus is where Tammy and I attended our very first media dinner. Apparently we are "official" members of the media, a prospect that is very exciting. Want to hear more about what it was like chatting with local food critics? Check out this discussion on Tammy's blog.

(15.4 M)

00:00 - 01:40 Intro
01:41 - 03:47 Greek Pastries
03:38 - 16:24 Venus Review
16:25 - 16:50 Sign-Off

Venus Greek-Cypriot Cuisine
820 W. Jackson

Bridget rates this restaurant 10/10
Tammy rates this restaurant 7/10

Serving up Greek goodies