Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Eating Our Way Through Chicago

I tried to get a post together for yesterday but my stomach was too large to hold my laptop.  Don’t worry.  I’m not preggo.  I just ate my way through Chicago this past week-end. I was telling one of my co-workers about our trip and she asked if we did anything besides eat. The answer was “not really.”

Nate and I headed to the Windy City with one of my best friends from childhood and her husband. 

We’ll call them Mr. and Mrs. A to protect their identities.   Mr. A had never been to Chicago and it had been awhile for Mrs. A.  Nate and I go about once a year but we usually strike out on food.  You all’s recommendations came in very handy and you most definitely didn’t let us down.

Two warnings:  1. Don’t read this if you’re hungry.  2. Our food photography is atrocious.

We arrived in Chicago around lunchtime on Friday.  Our first food destination was Portillo’s.  Nate did a much better job of photographing the food he consumed.  I did not.  Neither of us used the DSLR that I lugged around.  Blogger fail.

Portillo’s was delicious.  I had a chili cheese dog and Nate had Italian beef.  So very good.

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After walking off Portillo’s, we headed for some Chicago style pizza.  Giordano’s is Nate and I’s Chicago style place of choice.  We love the buttery crust and massive amount of cheese.

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Mrs. A and I were doing our part to keep Chicago classy.  Those pieces are deceiving.  We were all disgustingly full after two pieces.  I swore I would never eat food ever again after this stop.

And then Saturday morning rolled around and our first stop was Yolk.  I am thinking about selling my 2800 square foot home and using that money to buy a 300 square foot studio in downtown Chicago just so I can eat at Yolk every morning.  I could write and entire post on my love of Yolk.

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I had the Cinnamon Roll French toast.  Life changing.  I am still having dreams about this French toast.  I am thinking about framing this photo and hanging it on the wall just for the happy memories.

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We then waddled our way around the city.  I’ll share the waddling stops tomorrow.

For supper on Saturday night we stopped at Rock Bottom Brewery.  We left miserable once again.  Such good food.  Nate and Mrs. A were big fans of the fish tacos.  My Hickory Bacon BBQ burger was also quite delicious.  Like you know you should stop eating but you can’t delicious. (All of you on bump watch, please note my Lemon Drop Martini.)

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Beings that we are gluttons for punishment, we headed to Ghirardelli’s Ice Cream.  I can’t go to Chicago without a stop at Ghirardelli’s…and we were running out of time.

You can see my pores leaking grease and sugar.

Nate swears that the hot fudge sundae was the best he’s ever eaten.  I still don’t think I can pass up my chocolate ice cream in a chocolate dipped waffle cone.

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Who’s hungry?  Any fans of the above places?  Do you want to frame that Cinnamon Roll French toast also? 

23 comments:

  1. I'm pretty sure I just went into diabetic shock reading your post :oP

    Did you know they have cinnamon roll french toast at the Machine Shed? They make it with their giant delicious leftover cinnamon rolls. Awesome. I also have a really good cinnamon french toast casserole recipe I found on pinterest that was amazing. Remind me and I will send it to you!

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  2. Thanks, now I want ice cream for breakfast. Everything looks so good. Growing up, it was always a tradition to eat at Giordano's when we were in the city. We have two Rock Bottom Brewery's in Indy. The one downtown is eh, so I'm happy to hear that the Chicago one is good. Smart idea wearing maxi skirts-- the classy equivalent to sweatpants for women.

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  3. Food overload! I shouldn't of looked at this until AFTER I have my breakfast. Looks like a delicious time.

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  4. Oo that looks like a fun (and delicious!) trip! Joe and I have yet to visit Chicago but one day we will. And on that day (or the next) I will go to Yolk and have that cinnamon roll french toast. It will be awesome.

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  5. I knew you would love yolk!! I am now crabby that I am having oatmeal for breakfast.

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  6. OMG, is that a fish taco with a crispy shell AND a soft shell? Be still my heart! : )

    Love the bump watch comment...

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  7. Ah Portillo's. I used to live right down the street from one, and now we're like, ten minutes away. It's awful! LOL - we went there Saturday for dinner, actually. I absolutely LOVE their chili!
    Giordano's? Tsk! Tsk! Lou Malnati's is where it's at! We have a Rock Bottom out here in the burbs, but I've never been a fan. Glad you enjoyed your food-cation! That's my #1 priority wherever we go, too!

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  8. portillos & giordanos are 2 of our MUST STOP places when we go to chicago!! our july trip can't come soon enough!!

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  9. I loved following your Instagram photos. You hit ALL the hot spots! Way to go :)

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  10. Ooh, what a delicious trip! That pizza looked fantastic, but the cinnamon roll French toast looked to die for!!! Yup, I'm hungry now.

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  11. Wait, are there things you're suppose to do on vacation besides gain weight?

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  12. I have been to all of those places save Yolk, which your post makes me want to try. I live in the Chicago suburbs, so the other places are all around us. Maybe Yolk is too, I will have to check.
    Thanks for making me hungry!

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  13. Oh man! All that food looks absolutely wonderful and delicious! The food is usually the thing we rave about most from vacations too! ;)

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  14. I loved Giordano's when we went there! I like eating out on vacation, but my system rebels because I usually don't get as much fruit/veggies/fiber as I do at home. (TMI?) We're heading to NYC next week and here's hoping I don't need Dr. Michelle to recommend any medicine when I return. ;)

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  15. I'm very glad I read this post AFTER I ate lunch, I saved on the calories I would have consumed if I'd read it before.

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  16. I want that pizza. NOW. I also want your hairstylist. I can't seem to find someone close to me to cut short hair. It is annoying. Your hair is insanely cute ALL THE TIME.

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  17. Wow. YUM WOW. I've always wanted to go to Chicago but that pizza is making me think i should skip Haven and just go to Chicago instead (but on teh other hand, i will be eating at the Cheesecake Factory tomorrow night, so that's pretty fabulous). These places look amazing!

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  18. It looks like you had TONS of yummy and delicious food! The hubs and I went to Chicago for our mini-moon and we went to Giordano's and they have some really delish pizza!! Glad to see you guys had a blast!!

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  19. Yay girl! My brother lives in Chicago, it is food city!! Portellos rocks! Did you have a Chicago dog??

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  20. OMG. Everything looks so good. I want to eat the pictures in this post.

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  21. Yum! I work in downtown Chicago...no wonder why I keep gaining weight, lol. Now I want Portillos for lunch ;)
    Looks like you guys had a great trip!

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  22. So glad you went to Portillo's and Yolk. How I miss those two places and the deliciousness they give me. Eating is like the #1 thing to do in Chicago. Good job. Lol

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