I love summer. I have seriously been having a blast and I just don’t want this beautiful weather to ever end. I can’t remember a more perfect summer (weather-wise at least)! Here are some great things I did in the month of July:

Upton’s Breakroom

Upton’s Breakroom– I was so excited to be invited to Upton’s Breakroom (the all vegan cafe), not only to try out the awesome array of vegan options they serve, but mostly because I was finally going to try the popular and trendy vegan meat substitute, jackfruit. Jackfruit has been gaining quite the popularity since it is plant-based and all-natural. I tried all kinds of great dishes and absolutely loved the al pastor jackfruit tacos; jackfruit marinated in adobo and pineapple, served with chopped cilantro and fresh onion on corn tortillas. It was unexpectedly spicy and flavorful. I also absolutely LOVED the nacho plate; chorizo seitan, navy beans, salsa verde, cheese sauce, chopped tomatoes, pickled jalapenos, crema and cilantro with corn tortilla chips. Also, make note that everything in this cafe is nut-free as well. If you know of anyone looking for vegan AND nut-free options, this is going to be your new best friend. Lastly, you can find Upton’s Natural seitan and jackfruit products at your local Whole Foods if you’d like to make these dishes at home on your own. I’m definitely going to try to recreate the jackfruit tacos at home, but let’s be real, they probably won’t come close to the ones at Upton’s Breakroom.

Umami Burger West Loop

Umami Burger West Loop– I feel like for every one restaurant I cross off my list of places I want to eat at in Chicago, 10 new restaurants are added and this list just gets longer than shorter. Umami Burger had been on my list for well over a year and I just never had the chance to make it there. That is until just a few weeks ago. I was so lucky to be invited to check out the new West Loop location before it opened to the public. And, wow, did the staff go all out to give me the best veggie experience ever! I got to try pretty much every vegetarian offering on the menu (and a few that normally have meat but were made vegetarian for me). While there were so many amazing options, I’d have to say that hands-down my favorites were the falafel burger (falafel patty, beet infused couscous, crushed avocado, romaine, tomato, tzatziki and pickled red onion) and the smothered truffle fries. I also absolutely fell in love with the cocktail called the Garden Party; Brooklyn Handcrafted Gin, Giffard Pamplemousse, rose lavender rosemary syrup and fresh fruit. Such a light, refreshing, perfect summer drink. If you haven’t been to Umami Burger yet, you are definitely missing out.

The Drake Hotel Afternoon Tea

Historic Hotels of America– I had the chance to attend a luncheon to learn more about the Historic Hotels of America, which are comprised of more than 30 of the world’s finest hospitality brands, chains and collections. To be nominated and selected for membership into this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, have been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark, listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places and recognized as having historic significance. Quite the feat! Our luncheon was at The Drake in downtown Chicago and it was great to learn more about the beautiful hotel and some fun facts (like where all the celebrities like to be seated when dining at the restaurant Cape Cod). Our lunch concluded with the famous afternoon tea in the Palm Court. What a fun, educational and delicious way to learn more about some of the greatest hotels across the nation.

The Blanchard

The Blanchard– It can be near impossible to stay on top of the sheer volume of restaurants that are in Chicago. The Blanchard is one of those fabulous restaurants that just slipped under the radar for me, but I’m so glad that I’ve recently been to this wonderful and elegant French restaurant twice now. Tucked away in Lincoln Park, I had the chance to enjoy a great brunch on their outdoor patio as well as celebrate Bastille Day with some rosé. While the menu is limited from a vegetarian perspective, there were definitely great options and I did not leave hungry. One of my favorite brunch items were the classic crepes; house-made nutella, caramelized bananas and banana marshmallow brulée. I just couldn’t get enough! Also, we tried the lavender creme brulée which was to die for. The flavor was subtle and perfect and I literally couldn’t stop eating it. Definitely worth getting so make sure you save room for dessert.

Taste of Chicago

Taste Of Chicago– This popular, annual event is one of Chicago’s best known festivals. Bringing together food, music and summertime in Chicago, what’s not to love? One of the main sponsors, Humana, is committed to making sure there are healthier options at the fest, which is really nice to see. The Humana Healthier Choices Rewards Program allows attendees to clearly see what menu items are listed as “healthy” by a green mark next to the item on the menu. These Humana Healthier Choices are a physician-reviewed listing of appetizers, entrees and desserts, which are all under 500 calories. I tried out several delicious items ranging from avocado toast to chili-lime watermelon and a veggie burger. It was so great to eat healthy at a food festival that is best known for items like deep-dish pizza and cheesecake. Keep your eyes peeled at next year’s Taste of Chicago because now you know you don’t have to derail your healthy eating habits while being at a fun food festival.

Please Note: While I was invited to these events, all opinions are my own.