What a fun month for me, I tried an exciting list of places I had never been before. Not all of these places are new, but most of them are, so it was awesome to go to some new hot spots. Either way, I consider this #winning. Read on:

True Food Kitchen

True Food Kitchen– I have been anxiously awaiting the opening of this restaurant focused on healthy eating with many vegetarian and vegan options. My friend Mamta told me about this place when it was announced it would be opening in Chicago and I couldn’t wait to check it out. I was fortunate to attend an opening party one night and go to dinner a separate night, all before the restaurant even opened to the public on November 22nd. And, let me tell you, this place is AMAZING! If you are vegetarian, vegan and/or gluten-free (or even if you are none of those), I promise you will be just as addicted to this place as I was. Literally, every single item I have tried has been a winner. I don’t come across many restaurants that I feel this way about, but I can honestly say that True Food Kitchen is going to be my second home. For reals. Just you wait and see. Now, let me get back to the unbelievable tofu lettuce wraps. Yum!

Max & Leo’s Pizza

Max & Leo’s Pizza– Located in the entrance of the awesome King’s Bowl is the famous Boston pizza joint, Max & Leo’s. Baking artisan coal-fired pizzas in a special oven that gets up to 900 degrees, this pizza is truly delicious. I had the chance to try several veggie pizzas and each was delicious in its own way. But, it always came back to that amazing crust! You can definitely taste the freshness and difference in these pizzas. One of my favorites of the evening was the L’Umina (made vegetarian without prosciutto) that had olive oil, sliced pears, caramelized onions, ricotta cheese and basil, drizzled with organic wildflower honey. And since you know I’m obsessed with pears, it’s kind of obvious that this would be a favorite. I loved the addition of the ricotta and honey, which you don’t normally see on menus, so it was nice to find something unique and so tasty. Trust me on this one, if you are craving pizza, get to Max & Leo’s ASAP. I promise you won’t be sorry.

The Little Beet Table

The Little Beet Table– This new restaurant is pretty much any dietary restriction person’s paradise. Not only is this gem also “vegetable forward,” it’s also 100% gluten-free. And, more than any of that, it is absolutely delicious. What I truly appreciated about this great spot is that I tried vegetarian items I’ve never tried before like sweet pea guacamole and cauliflower hummus. I truly appreciated having vegetables prepared in unique but yummy ways. I also need to acknowledge their great drink menu and I totally fell in love with the spicy grapefruit margarita. I always get my spicy drinks made extra spicy, and the bartender totally delivered on it. It was such a hit, that 5 out of 8 diners at our table ordered the same drink on our second round. I like having that kind of influence! ha ha. Definitely try The Little Beet Table and don’t forget to get that margarita!

Studio Three Cafe

Studio Three Cafe– Aside from my actual home and my workplace, my “other” home I would declare is Studio Three. This beautiful, new-ish (just one year old), fitness studio located in River North offers cycling, interval and yoga classes. It is hands-down the best fitness studio I have been to and I absolutely love it. A new cafe recently opened on the first floor offering everything from wraps, bowls, juices, smoothies and so much more. After an awesome Saturday morning sweat session in the Peloton cycling studio, I stopped by the cafe to try some of their delicious offerings and I was really impressed. My absolute favorite was the tofu burrito which had seasoned tofu, black beans and cilantro. So simple, yet so tasty and perfect to fuel up after an intense workout. I also really enjoyed their new line of fresh, cold-pressed juices. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with any of the options to help you refuel in a healthy way after a great workout. Now, who is ready to join me for a class?

Floriole

Floriole– Sometimes there are places that you have heard great things about, but just never had the chance to make it to. Floriole was one of those places for me. Luckily, I finally got to cross it off my list. One awesome event this Lincoln Park bakery offers is called the ‘Sunday Supper Series’, where a three-course dinner is offered one Sunday out of the month. I was super lucky to get to try out “Friendsgiving” for the month of November and was seriously blown away. We started off with a delicious squash soup, followed by a winter root vegetable gratin, mushroom cornbread muffin and fresh Brussels sprout salad (turkey was offered up for the meat-eaters) and finished up with a choice of gingerbread pumpkin tart or pecan pie cake. I mean, doesn’t that all sound unbelievable? It was. I can’t wait to see the menu for the December supper as I’m sure I will be going back.

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

I was out-of-town on a 10-day trip to Nashville and DC this month, yet I still had the chance to try out some awesome places and attend cool events. Read on:

Kings Bowl Lincoln Park

Kings Bowl– Ok guys, this place is awesome and a must-visit!  What I thought was probably just a standard, run-of-the-mill bowling alley, turned out to be an ultra-hip, fun, foodie destination. Most bowling alleys I’ve been to serve seemingly regular bar food, but Kings Bowl offers an elevated, delicious and long menu of options that were outstanding. Even for this veggie girl, there were so many choices, which was so unexpected. I was really impressed with the variety and uniqueness with options like the kung pao fried cauliflower appetizer to the Mediterranean sampler platter to the mac ‘n cheese bites, all of which were vegetarian. And, make sure to save room for dessert like the ridiculously huge Peanut Butter Cup Sundae which has vanilla ice cream topped with warm peanut butter sauce, chocolate sauce and mini peanut butter cups.  We jokingly asked if we could spend the night because we were too full to move. Ok, maybe we weren’t joking. All I know is that next time I visit Kings Bowl, I will bowl first and then eat because I’m 100% sure I will be indulging in all of their amazing culinary options and will probably be too full to move again.

Taco In A Bag

A Taste For Change– I was honored to be asked to join the host committee to help promote the Shriver Center’s benefit, A Taste For Change. This wonderful organization aids in advancing justice and opportunity for people living in poverty and I was happy to help support such a great cause. The evening was held at an awesome space called Salvage One, which is a very unique event space in Fulton Market District. There were over 20 local restaurants serving up some unbelievable bites ranging from Piece Pizza to Heaven on Seven to Bang Bang Pie. One of my favorites of the night was Taco in a Bag which served a little different spin on their Reverse Coney option. This one had tortilla chips topped with three bean coney sauce, pepper jack cheese, yellow mustard cream sauce, green onions and oyster crackers. So yummy and I definitely need to go check out Taco In a Bag’s storefront in Lincoln Square.

Patisserie Coralie Evanston

Evanston Food Tour– Being the foodie that I am, you probably won’t believe me when I tell you that I’ve actually never been on a food tour before. I know, shocking, right?! Thank goodness that has finally changed. Thanks to my friend Soo of Fab Food Chicago, I got to join several other foodie friends for an awesome evening in Evanston trying out local establishments. We visited Cupitol Coffee & Eatery, Taco Diablo, Patisserie Coralie, Found and Whiskey Thief Tavern. Soo mentioned to all of us at the beginning of the food tour to pace ourselves at each place since we were going to be sampling a lot. Of course I did not listen and was pretty much stuffed after the stop #2 at Taco Diablo, and we still had three more places to go! And then we got to Patisserie Coralie and I discovered probably the BEST pain au chocolat I’ve ever had in the Chicagoland area and everything was a blur after that. I literally could not stop eating that amazing chocolate croissant in all of its flaky, buttery goodness. It was so good that I brought one home to eat the next morning for breakfast and I safeguarded that pastry the rest of the evening like it was my child or something. I was admittedly a little ridiculous, but seriously, once you try one of these croissants, you’ll fully understand my crazy that came out. Don’t underestimate Evanston, there are some unbelievable eats to be found. Now go get that chocolate croissant ASAP.

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba– One of the first restaurants I ever went to in Chicago was Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba. In addition to it’s absolutely delicious Spanish tapas and sangria, this place will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m a little embarrassed to say that I didn’t even know they offered brunch. But, now that I know, I’ll be back, and often at that. Thanks to Anna de Codorniu sparkling wine, I had the chance to experience a yummy brunch paired with cava. I mean really, does it get better than that? I think not! And, I just have to give a special shout out to Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba’s short stack of pancakes. First of all, they are the cutest little silver dollar pancakes ever. Secondly, they were warm, fluffy and already doused in maple syrup. Thirdly, the mini stack is only $2.  That’s less than a cup of coffee anywhere these days! I actually can not disclose how many orders of these amazing pancakes we had, but let’s just say, it was A LOT. And every time the waitress walked by, we put in another order. Maybe you can ballpark the number now.

Malice In Wonderland At Vertigo

‘Malice In Wonderland’ at the dana hotel– Every since I was a kid, I have loved Halloween. It’s actually very nostalgic for me because my parents would switch off each year on who took me out trick-or-treating and then to my school Halloween party, and who stayed at home to hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters. Now as an adult, I carry on my Halloween tradition, but in a very different way (ha ha)! This year I had the privilege of attending an unbelievable party at Vertigo at the dana hotel. From the second you walked into the first floor entrance of Vertigo, you were transformed into the world of Alice in Wonderland, being greeted by Alice herself with a welcome drink, traveling down the rabbit hole and encountering other characters from the story, even the Mad Hatter himself. I was beyond impressed with the decorations, all the dressed up characters and more so, the unbelievable tea party that awaited us. Mini sandwiches cut into the shapes of a suit of cards, pastries made into actual cards, beautifully decorated cake pops and so much more. Not to mention the pristine tea sets with perfect tea cups. Let’s just say, #mindblown! Vertigo always knows how to throw some great parties, but I’m not sure how they will top this one (although I’m sure they will figure out a way)! Maybe next year I’ll pay back my parents for all those years they took me out on Halloween and I’ll take them to the amazing party that awaits at Vertigo. I feel like I owe them for their commitment to making all of my Halloweens so memorable.

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

We’ve all been there. Traipsing around the world, wanting to look fashionable and hip, you pop on those adorable new pair of heels for a day of city exploring. Completely ignoring that little voice in your head telling you this is a bad idea. Very bad idea. Ah, no worries, I’ll break these shoes in and it will all be fine. They are comfortable anyways and I’m a warrior!

One hour later, you’re trying to find the nearest drug store to buy yet another box of band-aids for the newly formed blisters. Now, you are totally regretting not having gone for the “tourist look” and worn your tennis shoes and given up on trying to look cute and trendy all together.

Ahem, clearly I’m not speaking from experience. I’ve *never* had to do that.

That is, until now. I recently discovered a great shoe brand called Jambu where style and comfort are the name of the game and perfect for us travelers who don’t want to wear tennis shoes while we are out exploring (not that there is anything wrong with that!).

JBU by Jambu

The newly released JBU (Just Be You) Fall collection by Jambu has some great options for whatever type of travel or weather needs you might have. And, get this, the shoes in this collection are vegan too (meaning no animal products were used to make the shoes). You know this veggie girl is totally on board with that!

I happened to be heading on a trip to San Francisco and wore my new Mary Jane inspired flats for my travels (style called Berta). Let me tell you….they were so awesome and comfortable and fun! There is a memory foam lining that totally cushions your foot and there is great traction on the bottom, so you aren’t slipping around on those slick airport floors.

Comfy Shoes At The Airport

I personally thought they were really cute too and went well with a casual look or even with a charming little dress. Honestly, it was perfect for my travels and I know these will be coming along with me on many more jaunts around the world.

Traveling With JBU Shoes by Jambu

So, who’s with me on only wearing comfortable shoes and not ever having to buy band-aids for blisters while exploring the globe?!?!?

En Route To SF

Please Note: While I was provided with this product, all opinions are my own.

Check out some of the fun things I’ve been up to lately! Seriously, even when I try to slow down a bit, there is just too much going on in the amazing city of Chicago.

Salero

Salero– Each month this fantastic West Loop Spanish restaurant does a happy hour special called “Pintxos and Porrons”. The team collaborates with a different chef, sommelier, winemaker and/or mixologist to put a fresh spin on the pintxos menu and newly featured porrons of new wines/ciders. The week I went could not have been any better because Chef de Cuisine David Chapman and Sous Chef Bill Walker from the awesome vegetarian restaurant Green Zebra were creating the pintxos that evening. Some of the delicious dishes we tried ranged from vegetable fried rice with butternut squash and apples to fried squash blossoms with jalapeno cream cheese and a spicy sauce to roasted red peppers with herbed cheese. It was all so well created and perfect for this veggie girl. Definitely check out Salero for Pintxos and Porrons for the perfect after work snack and drink, or just make a dinner out of it like we did!

Identita Golose

Identita Golose– Identita Golose is a culinary organization whose mission is to highlight the best of contemporary Italian cuisine, showcase the culinary excellence of each Italian region and honor top Italian chefs who blend traditional techniques with modern methods. Identita Golose was recently at Eataly and I had the honor of attending a master class in which Chef Carlo Cracco from Milan and Chef Michael Tusk from San Francisco shared their favorite new culinary techniques as they each created an innovative dish. I always love watching chefs in action and learning new concepts and skills, even if I am just watching and eating (and drinking wine). Chef Carlo Cracco (who is also a judge on Masterchef Italy) developed an unbelievable dish of pasta with smoked butter and black bread crumbs. I am not usually a fan of anything smoked, but this dish was truly remarkable and unlike anything I’ve ever had. Identita Golose hosts different events around the globe so keep your eyes peeled if they are in a city near you.

West Town Bakery

West Town Bakery– Have you tried West Town Bakery? Not only do they have delicious baked goods, but an awesome menu of food (with lots of great vegetarian options). When I was invited to a cake decorating class it was a no-brainer to say yes. Taught by head cake decorator Sam Turner, our group of six was able to fill, frost and decorate our own cakes in whatever way we wanted. It was quite the hilarious and entertaining time watching all of us try to create our cakes, especially when Sam made it look so simple and easy. I truly have a new-found appreciation for all cake creators and decorators. What could have turned out pretty ugly and disastrous, I was quite proud of the cake I created. More so, my co-workers who were the lucky recipients of the cake the next day, were even more impressed with it. I think they were only complimenting me because the pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting was insanely delicious! Several have asked if I am taking regular cake decorating classes at West Town Bakery; let’s be real, it’s not to see how creative I am with decorating, it’s just so they can have more cake. I work with some smart and sassy folks!

The Peninsula Chicago

The Peninsula– The Lobby at The Peninsula is now offering an awesome deal on Wednesdays called “Burgers & Bubbles.” Every Wednesday evening you can get the burger special for the month paired with a glass of champagne for $25. I had the chance to check out a special event on a beautiful night on the terrace where the executive chef of The Peninsula, Jose Fernandez, did a demo for us. What was even better was that he created a special vegan burger for me made of chickpeas, quinoa and jalapenos (he used flax seeds to bind the burger, rather than using egg, to make it vegan). Honestly, one of the best veggie burgers I’ve had in a long time. I was actually trying to convince him to add this to their daily menu because it was just that good! If you stop in to The Lobby at The Peninsula, don’t leave without trying this veggie burger. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

UberEATS

UberEATS– Well, I think most of us are all familiar Uber, but did you know that Uber also delivers food from some of your favorite restaurants? Yeah, I didn’t either. So, I downloaded the app and tried it out and it’s pretty freakin awesome. Just like how you can see where your ride is at and how long it will take to arrive to you, you can do the exact same thing with your food. You get status updates on when your order has been received, when your food is being prepared and when the food is on the way to you. My parents were recently visiting so we tried out UberEATS for a chill evening at home with some pizza, bread sticks and salad from Jet’s pizza. I loved keeping track of where our food was and knowing exactly when it was going to arrive. How convenient. If you’d like to try it out, download the UberEATS app and use code eats-ip2bf to get $15 off your first order. You’re welcome!

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