This past weekend, I took a trip to Chicago, the windy city of the midwest, to see John David. We both took a break from our grueling jobs (or just his, rather...mine is quite pleasant on the time commitment) and had a great weekend, full of fabulous foods and adventuring. Saturday we kicked the day off with brunch at Orange with a couple of John David's friends before walking about the city and tending to a few things on the day's agenda. A good walk through the city is really all you need in Chicago, as you can catch great views of the city from almost any point within it. Architecturally, it is the greatest city in the United States. Hands down. Plus you have Lake Michigan to the East that provides a wonderful contrast to the complexity of the nearby streets.
Saturday night was a biggie. A bit earlier in time, John David and I won a gift certificate to this fancy restaurant company in Chicago, and it just so happened to encompass one particularly famous institution, Tru. We made reservations about a month ago, and while we could only get a spot at 10 at night, we were pretty excited about the promised dining experience. So, we held out on eats, watched a movie, Ratatouille to pump up our culinary experience, got gussied up and then headed downtown to Tru. What followed was madness, ridiculous culinary madness: 12-14 courses of bite-sized delicacies, all prepared and served beautifully, to be savored with every taste.
And we tried to do so! It was easy from the beginning. We were hungry and bright-eyed. Each dish brought surprise, articulate assessment. But by course 8 or 9, our stomachs got a bit tight; and by midnight, when we were still eating, our eyes got a bit tired. Nevertheless, we made it to the last course with a bit of caffeine, and were even sent home with more food for the morning after! The whole experience was incredibly fun and unearthly. Needless to say, it was a truly special occasion. (:
And the next morning, we immediately went for a long run. All that food got me craving a good work out! The rest of the day was spent exploring the outskirts of the city, making sushi, and more walks. We also visited John David's brother-in-law's culinary colleague, at her own bakery, called Sweetcakes. It was a great little coffee/pastry shop and reminded me a lot of Austin kitschyness. Plus the walls were a great seafoam green. See photos above and below...
Oh! And here are the beautiful snapdragons that greeted me when I first arrived in Chi-town!
