Geja's Cafe

Type: Fondue
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 4/5
Price: $38-55 for 4-courses
Quality for Price: 3/5
Ambiance: Intimate, romantic
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Other: No children under 10

Normally I am not a big fan of going out to eat and then having to assemble my meals or cook for myself. I love fajitas, but there is something daunting about the idea of sitting down at a restaurant, having them bring you ingredients, and constructing the entree yourself. Fondue is one step less. They don't even cook the food for you. That being said, just as I will occasionally order fajitas at a Mexican restaurant, I will make an exception for fondue. Or, at least, for Geja's Cafe.

Geja's is probably one of the more 'fancy' or 'romantic' restaurants we've been to since we started the FoodLovers blog. When I say 'romantic,' I mean it in the traditional, carriage-ride-through-the-park, candlelit-dinner type of way. We had a Groupon and it was my birthday, so it seemed like an appropriate place to celebrate. Geja's caters to people that want a sure-fire romantic experience. It's not the type of place you bring a friend for dinner just to catch up or a group of people for dinner before going out on the town. Let's put it this way: if you bring someone to Geja's, you probably like them as more than just a friend. Because of this, it might not be the best place for a first date. I would say a first date to Geja's might be a little overboard, akin to taking someone on a twilight riverboat ride the first time you go out or showing up at their door with a dozen roses. Granted, some people might be into that, but I tend to think that style of courting isn't as popular as it once was. Just be warned: you might come off as a little over-zealous.

The ordering process is fairly simple. Essentially, you pick the meats you would like and they bring you out a salad and a cheese fondue course with bread and fruit. They also bring out another pot of oil and set it over a fire at the table to prep for the main course. The 'meal' shows up on a large tray with the raw chicken, filet mignon, and lobster meat (in our case), eight dipping sauces and an assortment of raw vegetables. We had color-coded fondue forks so we knew which ones we had placed in the sizzling pot of oil and could retrieve them when we figured they were probably done cooking. Since we had, in a sense, become the cooks, we received training in how to cook our meat. It went like this: "Chicken is three minutes, filet is two minutes, and lobster is one minute. Enjoy!" It was probably the most nervous I've seen Kristen with food since our first sushi experience. It's been a few days, though, and so far no salmonella symptoms.

Perhaps the best part of the meal came at the end when we were almost too full to enjoy it. When our server brought out the pot of melted chocolate, we somehow managed to stretch our stomachs a little more for dipped marshmallows, pound cake, and fruits, which we finished off with some espresso.

Overall, eating at Geja's is an experience and that is one of the biggest selling points. It's one of only a few restaurants in Chicago like it and the atmosphere and novelty is something that you pay for. However, for special occasions or a romantic night out, it is hard to match or beat. Just about the only thing more romantic than feeding each other bites across the table is the spaghetti scene in Lady and the Tramp. So this just may be the closest to "perfect date restaurant" that we've come! But something tells me that we'll keep on searching anyway...

Elly's Pancake House

Type: Brunch (Contemporary American)
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 1.5/5
Price: $8-$15
Quality for Price: 3/5
Ambiance: Contemporary, Casual
Other: Open 24 hours
Neighborhood: Old Town

Who doesn't love brunch? We do. We especially love brunch after waking up at 4 am to drive to a suburb over an hour away, swim 750 meters, bike 15.5 miles, and run 4 more miles before driving back to the city by 10 am on a Sunday morning. After competing in the Lake in the Hills Triathlon last weekend, we decided a huge feast was in order. We waited in line for Elly's Pancake House, despite our rumbling stomachs, for almost 40 minutes mainly because we wanted to use our YouSwoop coupon. Nothing feels better after serious exercise than serious savings!

We were led through the huge dining room, which felt a bit like a cross between a warehouse and a school cafeteria with its sparse, white walls and tall ceiling, to a table in the far back corner right under a vent blowing frigid air. Had this been minutes after our race, we might have welcomed being sat in the refrigerated section of the dining room, but after our commute and wait time for the table, this was not the case. Far too hungry to care too much, however, we quickly ordered a couple of hot chocolates and focused on the menu.

Despite the name of the restaurant and the fact that pancakes, crepes, waffles, and the like comprised half the menu, we both chose omelettes. And after tasting the pancakes we necessarily ordered as a side, we were pleased with our decisions. Dan's Hawaii Five-O appealed to the pig-lover in him, consisting of both bacon and ham, along with pineapple and monterey jack cheese. It was lucky for me that he was in a pig-loving mood, since I acted like one with my own menu selections. Since my spinach and feta omelette with hash browns and toast didn't contain any meat, I also ordered a side of sausage patties each equivalent in size to 1/2 pound burgers. I tried to call it quits twice but Dan's looks of disappointment urged me on.

Compared to the filling, yummy omelettes, the pancakes just didn't stand out. To be fair, Elly's does have a section of Oven-Baked Pancakes where you can choose Apple or German Pancakes but since it said to allow 30 to 40 minutes of cook time, we skipped over them. Perhaps these would have been better than the ordinary pancakes we ordered, which we ate every last bite of, by the way.

As far as date-appropriate restaurants go, there are better brunch selections in this lovely city. While the price was good for the quantity (we spent less than our $35 coupon) and service was decent (save for the waiter telling Dan if he didn't decide what he wanted by the time he came back, he would get raw chicken livers), the restaurant itself didn't have a lot of personality. It was loud and bustly and the cafeteria feel instilled instant discomfort as the high school panic of finding friends to sit with during lunch came rushing back. But get past the painful childhood memories and the long wait time, and Elly's might be a good place for a casual brunch with friends. Not so much for a date--unless, of course, you just completed a triathlon and don't really care what you eat or where you eat it!

Karyn's Cooked

738 N. Wells
Chicago, IL
312.587.1050

Type: Vegan
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 3.5/5
Price: Entrees range from $9 to $15
Quality for Price: 3.5/5 (you know, for vegan food)
Ambiance: Upscale casual, small, intimate
Other: Vegan friendly, many gluten-free options
Neighborhood: Near North

I got ribs! Well, not exactly. But at Karyn's Cooked, it's about as close as you can get. Being a couple of hardcore carnivores, we were not quite sure what to expect from this strictly vegan establishment. Kristen's friend Michelle was in town for her birthday and, being educated and enlightened about what she consumes, is a strict vegan. For those of us that choose to remain blissfully ignorant about where that medium-rare steak comes from or that fried chicken and bacon sandwich's origins, entering a vegan restaurant almost seems like stepping into another world. In this other world, animals are revered and not eaten; bean curds are a staple cooking ingredient; one can order a side of 'enzymes' and somewhat ironically, the closer you can get to something tasting like meat, the better. It's true, in an attempt to win over skeptical meat lovers, most items on the menu are actually attempts at re-creating meat-inspired dishes. You can start off with an appetizer of 'buffalo wings', order a 'meatball' sandwich to go or, in my case, go right for the BBQ 'slab of ribs' for dinner on a Thursday night out on the town. When the meals came, we all had to try each others selections and it became almost a pass-and-serve family style dining experience. Kristen's taco salad with grilled seitan was outstanding, Michelle's 'stuffed chicken' special was great, BJ's 'meatloaf' made you forget you were at a vegan restaurant, Haylee's 'sloppy jo' was spicy and satisfying and finally, my 'slab of ribs' was a pleasant surprise. The portion was almost too much, but that could be because I wasn't exactly sure what I was consuming. The side of corn on the cob was fairly dry and bland, but the BBQ sauce was spicy and tasted better than I'd expected. For dessert, Michelle got a surprise piece of vegan chocolate cake with, of course, a birthday candle. The cake was...interesting. Everyone decided it smelled like something different: from dirty feet to other things that I won't get into. I have to say, overall I was very impressed by the food and while I'm not about to give up real BBQ ribs, Karyn's is a great place to have a vegan-friendly substitute once in a while.

As far as a date restaurant goes, Karyn's has an atmosphere that is inviting, comfortable, warm and modernly classic. They have a small selection of organic wine, mead, beer and cocktails. It's reasonably priced and close to several clubs and bars downtown that you can head to and dance off that slice of vegan cheesecake. If you happen to find out that your date is a vegan, then obviously this place is a no-brainer. He or she will be impressed for being so open and if you really want to get in good, mention that you have been there before, but didn't even realize it was vegan! "Wow, I had no idea. I just suggested it because they have great food..." If neither of you are vegan, but maybe want to try something other than that new bar down the street or the latest Asian/Hawaiian/African/Latin/Antarctic Fusion place, Karyn's is a surprising treat and something you might not expect from a group of people that wouldn't ask a chicken to lay an egg for an omelet or milk a cow for ice cream.

Flatwater Grill

321 N. Clark
Chicago, IL 60610
312.644.0283

Type: Contemporary American
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 4/5
Price: Entrees $26-32, Pasta $16-19
Quality for Price: 3.5/5
Ambiance: Romantic in dining room, More Casual on river front patio
Other: Brunch and lunch menus as well
Neighborhood: River North

Like most members of the 9-5 working population, we look forward to our weekends to relax and let loose a bit. Recently, however, we have been spending our precious days off traveling out of town, entertaining visitors (whom we adore, don't get us wrong!), and babysitting. So when we finally found ourselves with no plans or commitments this weekend, we decided a date night was in order.

We started our night attending a free Johnnie Walker tasting presentation at Carmichael's Steak House. Actually, no, that's not quite right. It actually took place in a giant garage right next door to the steak house. Despite the humble location, however, it was decorated beautifully and proved to be quite the swanky affair. We were served whiskey cocktails and hor d'oeuvres such as mini Monte Cristos and Blue cheese and fig tarts before being ushered into an open area with long rows of white seating and tasting supplies. In the next hour or so, we learned the entire history of the Johnnie Walker label and tasted all five of the label's whiskeys. A great start to our night, this free event significantly cut down on our bar bill when we went to dinner later on. Johnnie Walker has events like this one all over and quite often so we highly recommend you take advantage of this opportunity. Bring a date or go alone and flirt with the beautiful "Johnnie Walker Girls" who work the event.

When the tasting was over, we still had time before our 9 o'clock dinner reservation, so we headed to Sullivan's to see if our friend, Reena, was working. Turns out she was and we enjoyed specialty martinis while Reena told us about her recent trip to Israel (which she had just returned from the night before!) until it was time for dinner.

This was our third trip to Flatwater Grill, though previously we have only been for brunch. When we purchased a groupon for Flatwater in the fall, we decided it was the perfect opportunity to try their dinner menu. Due to a temporary closing of the restaurant for repairs, it has taken us until now to check it out and the experience was quite a bit different from the brunch experience we enjoy so much. To get to Flatwater Grill, you have to go down from the street level to the River front entrance of the restaurant. The small, chic dining room is comfortable and romantic but if the weather is right, we recommend sitting on the river front patio.

Accustomed to ordering coffee or Mimosas when we brunch at Flatwater, we each had a glass of white wine with our dinners instead. We opted not to order a bottle as we normally might have since we had just been to the tasting and for drinks after. Typically, we would also order an appetizer, but since we weren't exceptionally hungry, we opted out of that as well. This turned out to be a good thing since the dinner menu (as you might expect) was quite a bit more expensive than the brunch menu. When complimentary jalapeno-cornbread muffins were delivered to our table, Dan's face lit up. They weren't on the menu but they were so delicous that we got jealous and a bit upset when the table for two next to us received four muffins in comparison to the two we were given. But, alas, beggars can't be choosers so we bit our tongues.

Until our dinners came, that is, and then we put our tongues to use tasting those instead. It's hard to say who ate what, since halfway through the meal, we literally traded plates across the table and finished each other's meals. The standout dish for us was the medium-rare rack of lamb with goat cheese, crisp-tender green beans, and creamy mashed rosemary potatoes. Equally delicious and more generously-portioned was the Caprese fettucini pasta. Both being anti-tomato foodies, we left those off, but between the light, oil-based sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil, and drizzle of balsamic vinegar, it didn't seem to be lacking anything.

The meal was delicous, the ambience pleasant, and the service respectable but still, we can't seem to get those Huevos Rancheros and Brioche French Toast breakfast dishes out of our minds! Perhaps it was the fact that our dinner bill was pretty hefty, or that it was too chilly to enjoy the fresh air out on the river, but we think we'll stick to brunch at Flatwater from now on. If you like the fun, relaxed vibe of the patio like us, check them out for brunch, but if you are looking for a more fancy, romantic dining experience, dinner may be more for you. But be sure to make a reservation; the small dining room books up fast, especially when the patio is closed!

Demera

4801 N Broadway

Chicago, IL

773.334.8787

(Parking available at 1130 W Lawrence for $1/hr)

Type: Ethiopian

Fancy Shmancy Factor: 3.5/5

Price: Entrees range from $10-$20

Quality for price: 3.5/5

Ambiance: Bright, casual, live traditional music

Other: Family style options

Neighborhood: Uptown

So to celebrate our first blog in a while, we were lucky enough to have a special guest join us for our latest culinary excursion. Mr. Ken Ellison of Holly, Michigan was in town for a short weekend to visit his daughter and that guy that always seems to be hanging around his daughter. We had quite a packed day of sightseeing that started off at Millennium Park for the Celtic Festival, moved to the Plaza at Park Grill to have some drinks and watch the Cubs lose, then a walk to the Hancock building which was interrupted by a van selling cupcakes parked on Michigan Avenue (really, who can resist cupcakes?) and finally up to the 95th floor of the Hancock building to the Signature Lounge for expensive drinks and amazing views. After all of that, we were ready for some food. Kristen was performing in the Green Mill Poetry Slam at 7:00 so we headed up that way. We had planned on going to Fat Cat, but decided to try something a little different in honor of our guest.

Across from Green Mill is an Ethiopian restaurant called Demera that we've been wanting to try, so the three of us decided to give it a shot. We walked in and as it turns out, the manager was a guy I used to work with a couple of years back so after a brief reunion, he sat us at a table. The dining room was fairly empty, but it was a Sunday at 5:30 on Mother's Day after the brunch rush so it wasn't too surprising. It started to fill up closer to 7:00. The decor was bright and kind of earthy with white tablecloths and...hmm...no silverware on the tables. They had a small selection of Ethiopian beers and wines, including a house-made honey wine and even Ethiopian coffee. The wines were a bit sweet, sort of like a honey-flavored Riesling, and the beer was good, but different. My friend, Ralph, brought us out a complimentary Sambussa sampler, which are like Ethiopian Empanadas and they were a great start to the meal. One note if you end up at Demera: Like many traditional ethnic restaurants, there are a lot of words on the menu that you've never seen. There is literally a glossary on the menu. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, we had Ralph pick out our messob-the traditional Ethiopian dining experience. When it came out we felt overwhelmed in a whole different way. There were at least five different meats, lentils, a salad, fish, shrimp, collard greens, and beets. And, oh yeah, still no silverware. Instead, they bring out baskets of a flavorless, sponge-like bread that is almost a crepe, but not quite. So we had a giant plate of food and we all took turns tearing off pieces of bread and scooping up various meats and veggies. I loved it. I thought almost every dish was unique and delicious. I will tell you this wasn't exactly the consensus, but I really enjoyed the food and the experience. As far as a good date spot...maybe skip Demera if it's a first date. Or, as Kristen pointed out, take your date here if you want to find out right away if they're adventurous and laidback. Either way, a trip to Demera promises to be an experience. Good food, warm atmosphere, and a unique (if messy) dining style.

Bar Louie

47 W. Polk St.

Chicago, IL 60605

312.347.0000

Type: American, Bar Food

Fancy Shmancy Factor: 2/5

Price: $6-15

Quality for price: 3.5/5

Ambiance: Casual

Other: Crazy good happy hour specials

Neighborhood: South Loop, but locations all over

[Kristen:]

Bar Louie cures the blues. When Dan and I met after work on Tuesday for a burger at this South Loop restaurant located in historic Dearborn Station, I could tell right away that he was in a lousy mood. He didn't have a very good day at work and it was the first beautiful day so it was a double whammy that he was stuck inside at all. Yet, an hour later, when we parted ways--he to go home and get some cleaning done and myself to tap dance class--he was in a good mood.

Now, perhaps it was the aforementioned beautiful weather that did it, but since the patio seating was full and we had to sit inside, I doubt that was it. Perhaps it was the witty interchanges with his charming dining companion or the energy of the happy hour crowd in the packed bar, but more likely it was the food and drink. In case anyone is somehow unaware of this little nugget: Bar Louie has dollar burgers on Tuesdays! And not tiny little things, either. It's extra to add cheese and sauces but at reasonable prices between 25 and 50 cents, it's still a deal! Dan ordered blue cheese, bacon, and barbecue sauce and I got cheddar and bacon on mine. (Have we ever mentioned we love bacon?) We split a huge side order of tater tots and while Dan had a Shocktop (classic warm-weather beer), I had a soda using the excuse that I shouldn't drink beer before going to dance class, as if a greasy burger, salty tater tots, and sugary soda is so much better.

We understand that Bar Louie can be found all over the place and isn't purely a Chicago spot but we figured since most of our followers live in Michigan, why not include this chain in our blog? The daily specials are definitely worth checking out, from the dollar burgers to daily half-price appetizers from 4-7 pm. The music was a little too loud for 5:30 pm and was reminiscent of a dance club, but most of the other customers seemed pleased as they awkwardly danced in their seats between bites of nachos and shrimp cocktail. This, combined with low prices, filling food, a good drink selection, and casual service, makes this an ideal place for an after-work date, in our opinion. It's a safe bet for getting to know someone you've just started seeing, or for meeting someone tried and true for a little pick-me-up after a rough day. If a burger and a beer for under ten bucks doesn't cure the blues, I don't know what will.

La Ciudad

4515 N. Sheridan Rd.

Chicago, IL 60640

773.728.2887

Type: Mexican

Fancy Shmancy Factor: 3/5
Price: Entrees range from $10-$16
Quality for price: 3.5/5
Ambiance: Minimalistic, casual
Other: BYOB (corking fee)
Neighborhood: Uptown

[Dan]
Rick Bayless ain't got nothin' on La Ciudad!

Okay, so Rick Bayless may boast some of the best Mexican/Latin restaurants in Chicago, but La Ciudad proves he doesn't own them all. It may not be as trendy or located in the best neighborhood, but this little Uptown gem could probably give Frontera a run for it's money. We have been wanting to try this place pretty much since it opened because it's incredibly close to my apartment-my kitchen window looks into the back of the place. So we decided to give it a try last Monday. After a successful trip to Trader Joe's the day before, we were stocked on good wines for cheap...and not just the "Two Buck Chuck" stuff (which is actually three bucks now). We had tried one wine in particular when we brought a bottle to a dinner hosted by our friends Matt and Chris at their house last year and loved it, so we got a few more bottles. And definitely plan on getting a few more. I'm predicting this will be our wine of the summer. It's called Vinho Verde and it's a really light, semi-sparkling white wine from Portugal. It's crisp, not too sweet, and best of all, it's $3.99 at Trader Joe's. On a side note, their vanilla granola is pretty darn good, too. But I wasn't very impressed with their sweet potato chips. That's a whole different blog, though...

Anyway, it's a Monday night, so we're not expecting much. I'm hoping it's going to be good because I could literally yell my order to them from my living room. While this is a major convenience for me, it's probably not the ideal location for La Ciudad (Spanish for "The City"). Don't get me wrong, I love Uptown and have been in this neighborhood for going on three years, but it's kind of 'sketchy' as some of my friends would say. It's definitely a 'storefront' restaurant with large windows in the front and very little privacy. So, probably not the place if you don't want to be noticed. Still, it works as a date place because it's relaxed and casual without feeling like a fast-food joint and they obviously take their food very seriously. Our server (and we're pretty sure the server for the whole restaurant) was Hugo and he was very knowledgeable and pleasant. They brought us chips and homemade salsas which were good and slightly above par for a Mexican restaurant in this city. Speed is definitely not their forte and we ended up waiting quite a while for our meals as we polished off another basket of chips we said we weren't going to eat. We weren't too bothered by this, mostlybecause we didn't have a whole lot else to do, the conversation was good, and when the food came, it was definitely worth the wait. I had the 'Carne Tampiquena' which was marinated skirt steak served with an enchilada, rice, and beans. Kristen had tacos, which came with three tacos and she ordered a different meat with each one (I'm glad to see I'm not the only indecisive one). It was all outstanding and although I think the skirt steak at El Mariachi on Sheridan and Broadway is the best I've ever had, this was a close second. Definitely worth a trip to Uptown if you're in the mood for a casual, delicious Mexican meal. And if you do find yourself having a meal at La Ciudad, give me a shout. Literally. If my window is open I'll invite you in for tea and strumpets...

Correction

It has come to our attention that National Hug Day was actually January 21st, not Tuesday of this week as mentioned in our last blog entry. Apparently, that old woman just wanted to give Dan a hug. And can you blame her?!

On a completely unrelated note (yet food-related and therefore relevant to this blog), we had a late-night bite at Hotel Felix downtown on Clark and Huron (the sign is enormous-you can't miss it). It's a hotel bar and restaurant so it's a little hoity toity but the menu is impressive. We met our friend, Andrea, there last night after dance class (Kristen) and Voiceover class (Dan) and split a burger. But this was no ordinary burger. Besides bacon (which we happen to think makes all food better), it was also topped with creamed leeks. It sounded strange to us but it tasted great. In fact, we took some convincing that there was no actual cheese on the burger because the leeks were so flavorful. Andrea ordered the $30 chef's week tasting menu but had such slow service that we had to leave before she finished. She's pretty sure it's because her name was on the ticket and the kitchen staff knows her since she works there as a bartender at Elate. But the food was good, and as long as you don't work there, the service is good, so it's definitely worth a shot for a date night. Or, better yet, go WITHOUT a date on a Monday night (industry deals for those who work at restaurants/bars) and hit on Andrea instead!

Tutto Italiano

501 S. Wells

Chicago, IL 60607

312.939.4824

Type: Italian
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 3.5/5
Price: Entrees range from $15-$20 for the most part

Quality for price: 2.5/5

Ambiance: Casual/romantic depending on dining room
Other: Closed on Sundays, outdoor sidewalk se

ating

Kristen: Everyone likes free stuff. And we are no exception. On Monday, Dan informed me that the next day was one of his favorite days of the year and told me to guess why. Now, I happen to know that Dan's

favorite day of the year is St. Patty's day hands-down and since that was a few weeks ago, I was stumped. "It's not Paczki day..." I began. "No, but you're on the right track." He finally informed me that Starbucks was giving away free pastries with the purchase of a coffee. Okay, so kinda free. But it didn't stop there! My best friend, Claire, who works at Navy Pier emailed to tell me that Ben and Jerry's was having a free ice cream day. Now we're talking. I hastily texted Dan to let him know the good news and he wrote back to ask if any place was giving away free insulin. Funny guy. Now, turns out it was also National Hug Day (who knew?!) so Dan also got stopped by and old woman on his way to work and received a free hug!

So we couldn't let the free stop there of course. We used a buy-one, get one coupon from a book my parents had given us to dine at Tutto Italiano in the South Loop.

When we first entered the restaurant, the interior was dark wood and loud music that made the place seem like a typical venue for after work drinks or pub fare. However, we were led through this bar area, past a cozy lounge area with leather chairs, into a train car with intimate seating for 2 and authentic Italian music playing. It was as if we walked through one restaurant to get to a completely different restaurant but we were pleasantly surprised. When the couple next to us commented on the locamotive dining room, the server told them that it actually moved as well. Fascinated, they asked how. "It depends on how drunk is the conductor" replied the server, using a joke he'd clearly used about 800 times before.

The servers "charm" was endless. When Dan tried to order a salad without tomatoes and onions, he shook his head sadly and said, "You know what they would do to you if you tried to order like that in Italy? Too big guys would come and grab you and they throw you outside but keep the chair. And that's in the north where they are polite. South, near Sicily, they shoot you."

Dan decided to go with the Penne Bolognese instead.

By the end of the meal, I thought that if he "pulled my leg" one more time, it was going to come off. He moved from telling us several times that if we don't finish, we will be charged double to insisting that they don't accept credit cards as we tried to pay with one (turns out they do accept them; this was just another one of his silly "jokes"). He did all of this with a completely straight face and hint of a smirk to clue us in that he was joking and this made it especially difficult to politely laugh at his unwelcome (and unfuny) jesting.
Oh yeah, there was food, too. Before the meal we were provided with the requisite bread and olive oil. When it came to entrees, as I mentioned, Dan had the Penne Bolognese, which was decent. It was a heavy dish and didn't have a lot going on besides the noodles and meat sauce but the flavor was fine. The lasagne I ordered left something to be desired. The layer of ricotta was too thick and overpowered the rest of the dish. The sauce was strangely sweet and some bites had a distinct "fishy" taste. Needless to say, we weren't very impressed.

The verdict: since the best part of our dining experience was the ambiance of the place itself, we don't suggest spending a ton of dough having a multi-course meal here. This would be a great place to meet for after-work drinks, wine, or maybe share some appetizers. To be fair, we found out later that the restaurant is known for their risotto and veal, of which we had none, so perhaps those menu choices would have changed our experience entirely. But to be safe, stick to a nice Italian wine and see if you and your date can get the train car moving.

Pars Cove

435 W. Diversey
Chicago, IL 60614
773.549.1515

Type: Mediterranean/Persian
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 3.5/5
Price: Entrees range from $10-$18
Quality for price: 4/5
Ambiance: Cozy and romantic
Other: Weekly specials, check website

We thought the sign in front of Pars Cove reading "Causal Dining" was merely a misspelling but now we're not so sure. For one, the dimly lit, intimate dining room wasn't quite what we would describe as a casual, jeans-and-a-tshirt type place. When we went for dinner last night, the place was hardly busy, especially for a Friday night, and we were ushered to a table for two in the corner. The small, below-street level dining room might have made us feel claustrophobic if it weren't for the fact that we were seated under large skylight windows. The authentic decor and music was as calm and unimposing as our server, who told us in barely more than a whisper that she would arrange for us to use a coupon we had on the Dinner for Two special we were considering.

This is where we got more than we bargained for. Emphasis on bargain. For $50, we ordered the Kabob Dinner for Two. That's 50 dollars total. The deal includes any two drinks but we opted to pay the 7 extra dollars to get a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, though the specialty martinis did sound delicious. After eating our two appetizer selections of hummus with naan and Persian potato salad, and then our course of Lentil soup and salad with Feta, we didn't know how we'd have room for the main course. However, we somehow managed to eat every bite of the perfectly tender chicken, lamb, and tenderloin kabobs as well as the dessert of baklava and ice cream. Since it turns out that their current Friday special is free after dinner drinks with a Dinner for Two, we ended the meal on a sweet note with a bit of Bailey's. And in case our desserts and cordials weren't sweet enough, our server delivered a single fresh rose when she dropped off the check, a sweet deal at about 50 total after our $9 coupon.

Though we didn't ask the owner of Pars (who frequently checked on us and helped serve us during our meal) if the spelling on the sign was intentional, we're now inclined to believe "causal dining" is exactly what he meant. The effect: Full stomachs AND full wallets.

Marigold

4832 North Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640-3604
(773) 293-4653

Type: Indian Restaurant
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 3.5/5
Price: Entrees range from $12-$30
Quality for price: 3.5/5
Ambiance: Intimate and warm, on the verge of elegant
Other: Named after a flower

Here is something that restaurant patrons always love: being rushed. There is a fine line between getting people in and out of a restaurant in a timely manner and making them feel like they are welcome to stay as long as they want. It's a very delicate ballet between the server and guest at every stage of the meal. Last Thursday we decided to use one of our Groupons to Marigold in Uptown. We called around 8:00 to see if we needed reservations, but the woman on the phone assured me we would not. We told her we would be there in an hour and confirmed they closed at 10:00. Usually this would mean that a restaurant would take their last seating at 9:45 or 10:00, but not close the kitchen right at 10:00. However, we showed up a few minutes before 9:00 and by the time we could say, "Table for two" a gentleman at the door informed us the kitchen would be closing soon. He wasn't rude about it, just very matter-of-fact. So at this point, as conscientious restaurant patrons, we felt rushed. We sat down, trying not to let this initial contact get to us. We got water from the busser (who was awesome, by the way) and our server came over to greet us. And, what luck, it's the guy who greeted us! Oh goodie. We asked about the appetizer and drink special they had listed on their website and at first he acted like he had never heard of such a thing. I told him I saw it on the website an hour ago and he admitted that they used to do that, but had discontinued it. The next part is our favorite:

"Okay, well, what would you recommend for a cocktail?"

"That's really hard for me to say, since I created most of them. That would be like asking me to pick between my children."

"Okay, well we won't tell the other cocktails you didn't pick them."

"I'll give you guys some more time."

That was almost verbatim the exchange. So it went "What do you recommend?" to "Pretentious comment" back to "No, really, what do you recommend?" and ended with "I'm leaving and not answering your question." We were really not fans of this guy. But did we mention the busser was awesome? We ended up trying a couple of cocktails and then a couple more with our meals. Trying to win us over with his mixology skills and charm he asked, "Okay pop quiz: Out of the four cocktails you've had, three were created by me. Can you guess which one was not?" So now we get to play Quiz Show with this guy? We guessed it correctly and he was interested to know how we came to our conclusion. If we weren't so nice we would have said what we were thinking: "Well, that one was our favorite..."

If it seems like we were dissatisfied with our experience at Marigold, we must assert that it is only because of the awful taste left in our mouths from our interactions with this server, and not at all connected to the quality of the food. In fact, we were both very impressed with our meals, the classic Tandoori Chicken and spicier Lamb Shank Vindaloo. The portions were generous and both came with sides of basmati rice and we ordered a side of naan as well. We also enjoyed the Chicken Tikka we ordered as an appetizer but didn't much care for the kachoomber salad alongside (likely because neither of us like raw tomatoes and onions, which happened to be two of the three ingredients). Unfortunately, we didn't leave talking about the food, but could barely wait until we got out the door before we both exploded with the gripes we'd had to communicate non verbally in the quiet restaurant. Sadly, the most fun we had on this date was entertaining each other with impressions and reenactments of our pretentious waiter as we walked home.

So would we recommend Marigold as a date restaurant? The ambiance is nice, the food is tasty, the cost is reasonable. But to be honest, it's not worth the risk of having this guy (we really wish we caught his name) as your server, so as for our recommendation: order carryout.

Devon Seafood Grill

Devon Seafood Grill

39 E. Chicago Ave.

Chicago, IL 60611

312.440.8660

Type: Upscale Seafood

Fancy Shmancy Factor: 4/5

Price: Entrees $19-55
Quality for price: 4/5

Ambiance: Romantic
Other: Happy Hour Specials, Rotating Four Course Tasting Menu with optional wine pairings

[Dan] Okay, we're bad bloggers. Admitted. We've been seriously slacking and there is no excuse. But we're going to come up with some anyway: The holidays, as always, were crazy; We're both in various stages of job transitioning; Being on opposite schedules has taken its toll on our ability to go out; We can be just plain lazy. But it's a new year and a chance to start fresh. This past weekend we decided to go to Devon Seafood Grill on Chicago and Wabash for a celebratory dinner because, as hinted above, we both are starting new jobs. As some of you reading this blog may know, I've worked on and off at Devon for over three years now. That being said, this probably isn't going to be the most fair and unbiased blog entry we've done. We considered not reviewing it, but what the heck? It is a great restaurant and one of the reasons I've been there so long is because there are really good people who work there, too.

[Kristen] Contrary to what Dan wrote above, at least a portion of this review should be unbiased. In the time we have been dating, we have somehow managed not to have dinner at Devon until this past weekend and so, while Dan has probably tasted everything on the menu and can provide more of a comprehensive review, I can offer the first timer perspective most diners would experience. Admittedly, I wasn't a complete virgin to the Devon experience. I had met up with friends before for Happy Hour specials (great deals on apps and drinks) in the upstairs bar but this was my first time dining in the swanky dining room on the lower level.

When we made our reservation, Dan requested an alcove, which allowed us a semi-private table with a half wall separating us from the rest of the dining room. We were informed that the last couple sitting there had gotten engaged and considered it a good luck sign. So just to be sure to harness some of that luck, we ordered oysters as an appetizer. ;) Dan was kind enough to wait until I'd finished eating to tell me that the little buggers were actually alive, a fact I had somehow missed. We also had tuna tartare and ordered a bottle of Kendall Jackson's Summation (half price bottles on Sunday nights!).

Eventually, after much deliberation, we ordered our entrees. As Dan has mentioned in previous entries, I'm not a big seafood eater. But I may have to change my ways because the simply prepared Mahi Mahi I ate was so delicious that Dan didn't have any of my leftovers to eat as is usually the case. I chose Lobster mac n'cheese and grilled asparagus for my side dishes and these didn't disappoint either. Of course, I also had to try Dan's meal, which wasn't on the menu but he ordered it anyway. He got a medium-rare filet with Alaskan King Crab legs and chose asparagus and yukon gold whipped potatoes. Reasonable diners may have called it a night at this point. But not us! We continued our gluttonous affair by ordering a warm Ghirardelli Chocolate Lava Cake, some espresso, and Dan had a port to finish off the meal.

Truth be told, one of the reasons we decided to come to Devon last Sunday was because Dan had won a gift certificate through work and so we got a pretty good deal on our food. We're not made of money and the menu is on the pricier side so it is definitely a place for special occasions as far as we're concerned, whether proposing marriage, celebrating an anniversary, or toasting to a new job. Or bring a first date to enjoy some of the weeknight specials or happy hour deals to save some money without sacrificing the romantic vibe. I can honestly say that I would come to eat at Devon again, even if Dan didn't work there, even having to pay full price, even though I've never been much of a seafood gal. It was just. that. good.

Miss Asia

Type: BYOB Asian restaurant
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 2.5/5
Price: Entrees range from $6-$13
Quality for price: 3.5/5
Ambiance: Casual, warm and friendly
Other: got nothin' here...

This city is definitely not lacking in Asian BYOB places, but we both agreed that Miss Asia has a little something on most of them. While some places might be big on value or ambiance or variety, Miss Asia has it in all these categories. From the outside it might look a little cheesy (and the name sounds like it belongs in the food court of a mall), but inside it has a simplistic and warm-feeling charm. This might be because it is situated a bit below the street or because the lighting and color scheme are reds and oranges, but we felt comfortable as soon as we walked in. There was only one other table in the restaurant, so we had our choice of where to sit. We brought a bottle of Evolution, which is a really nice white wine from Oregon that is a blend of nine different grapes, and they took the bottle and opened it for us, which is always a nice touch in a BYOB place (a lot nicer than plopping a wine key in front of you, or worse- informing you they don't have anything to open wine, which has actually happened). The menu is very extensive and it took us a while to go through the entire thing. We ended up getting Panang Curry and one of their signature dishes, the Charcoaled Chicken which was a half of a chicken with sticky rice and a spicy dipping sauce for under $7. The Panang Curry was good, pretty standard as far as other thai and asian places. Our only complaint with the food was that the Edamame we ordered as an appetizer was really salty. I mean, really salty. Other than that, the food was excellent, especially for the price. This would be a perfect place to bring a first date or if you've been dating for a while and want to try something other than Joy's Noodles for a BYOB asian place. Grab your bottle of wine and walk a few blocks south on Broadway towards Diversey to experience this cozy little restaurant with a lot to offer any couple on a casual date.

Ah, The Cheesecake Factory...

Type: Big Ol' Chain Restaurant, serving an eclectic mix of Italian, American and Mexican fare
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 2.5/5
Price: Entrees generally range from $10-$20
Quality for price: 3.5/5
Ambiance: Their website describes it as 'upscale', but we're going to lean more towards 'family'
Other: They also have cheesecake...

We've had this giftcard for Cheesecake Factory burning a hole in our pockets for quite some time. The trouble is, in this city locals don't usually make this place a destination. We steer clear of it and leave their huge portions and familiar menu items for tourists walking around Michigan Ave and shopping at Water Tower Place. It's not that we're 'too good' for Cheesecake Factory. In fact, whenever I've been there with people from out of town I've enjoyed the food and the experience. First of all, there is almost always a wait. We went there last Saturday around 3:00pm-well after lunch time and well before dinner-and still had to wait over 30 minutes for a table. Second of all, with almost 150 locations across the US, why wouldn't we go somewhere that you can't get in the suburbs? Anyway, we had a giftcard, we were downtown and we were hungry. The wait time they gave us was 30 minutes, which ended being a tad over that, but nothing unacceptable. This place is always packed and there usually isn't room to sit and wait anywhere. The ambiance is nice, not quite 'fine dining' as their website suggests, but it's a lot nicer than some other family restaurant chains.

Our server, Shannon, was great and told us about a delicious special they were serving at the Chicago location for the first time. Kristen ended up ordering it and Shannon was not kidding: this was pretty darn good. It was an angel hair pasta with breaded chicken breasts, shaved prosciutto and a cheesey cream sauce. I got the skirt steak which was also really good. We topped it off with a piece of a layered red velvet cheesecake for dessert, which was also outstanding. This place is tried and tested. Their food is good. Their portions are big. Is it a little overpriced? Yeah, you're sitting under the John Hancock building in one of the country's top shopping destinations. Should you bring a date here? If she's from a farm in Nebraska and just moved to the city, maybe. Better yet, bring her parents when they're in town and you've been dating for a few months. The four of you can talk about your 'plans for their daughter' over some giant plates of pasta and decadent cheesecake...

Quartino

Quartino

626 N State St.

Chicago, IL‎ 60610

(312) 698-5000‎

Type: Italian/Wine Bar

Fancy Shmancy Factor: 3.5/5

Price: small plates $7-10, pastas $9-10, pizzas $10-12, specialty dishes $14-21, wine (1/4 bottle) $4-20

Quality for Price: 3/5

Ambiance: Old World Italian, lively, romantic, versatile

Other: Restaurant industry employees discount (25%)

We haven't actually eaten at Quartino yet. Unfortunately, when we met another couple here for late night drinks on a Thursday night, we had already had dinner and had barely enough room in our bellies for cocktails. But after watching a friend's husband eat Beef Carpaccio and Grilled Organic Veal Skirt Steak, we decided we would be back. Soon. Yet we were so impressed with the menu and ambiance of this Italian wine bar that we had to review it now.

When we walked into Quartino, it was bustling with noise and movement but we managed to find a hightop table in the back of the bar and inexplicably, did not struggle to hear or understand each other over the music and other customers. The entire restaurant had a feeling of being "alive" and we picked up on this excitement immediately, especially when we checked out the wine list. The wine selection is extensive and accomodating to all price ranges. In fact, we brought home a Quartino postcard which reads: "Where wine is cheaper than water." But between the wine selection and the other cocktails (try the refreshing Aperol Spritz), why would you even consider ordering water?

Besides the wine list, the menu contains an impressive selection of pizzas, pastas, and small plates. There is even an entirely separate Salumeria menu to choose from. Don't know what Salumeria means? That's okay, neither did we! Basically, the Salumeria menu allows you to step away from fancy prepared dishes toward cured meats and cheeses without losing an ounce of class. Whether you choose to eat like you're in a fancy restaurant or a deli, you'll be blown away with the ambiance and character of the place. The dim lighting and beautiful plate preparation makes this an ideal place for just about any date. First dates, double dates, anniversary dates...you'll find the perfect amount of Italian romance vibe you're looking for.

We'll be sure to update again once we've actually consumed the food at Quartino. Warning: it will probably be pretty horrific since we'll likely split at least two small plates, a soup or salad (or both), a couple entrees (perhaps a pasta and a specialty dish), and a couple wine carafes. Disgustingly, we'll excuse our gorging by saying that we've both had long weeks or we are doing our part to help boost the economy and we'll decide that if we can still button our pants, clearly we should keep going and get gelato or pastries (again, or both).

We'll post all the details of our gluttonous adventure once we awake from our inevitable food comas.

Couture Cafe

Couture Café
2568 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614
773-857-2638

Type: Crepe/Sandwiches/Coffee Shop
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 1/5 trying to be a 3/5
Price: $7-9 per panini or crepe, breakfasts $5-7, desserts $5-8, specialty drinks $4-5

Quality for price: 2/5
Ambiance: Casual, Modern
Other: BYOB, “Stimulus Plan” specials, free wi-fi

[Dan] Last Saturday we decided to take advantage of a rainy fall day (because who doesn't feel like going for a walk when it is cold and misty out?) and check out World Market. After some shopping, we were both famished. However, we happened to walk by Border's Books on Clark and Diversey at the exact moment that David Cross was doing a book signing. Being huge fans (although apparently not huge enough to know he was in town to do a book signing) we couldn't pass up the opportunity to check it out. After burning quite a few calories laughing during his Q&A and waiting in line to get a book signed, we grew even hungrier. Kristen had been to Couture for crepes before and wanted to try their lunch fare (with the proviso that we also get sweet crepes for dessert).

Upon walking into Couture Cafe, it's hard not to be struck by the lack of anything resembling ambiance or character. A small casual cafe located on Clark street in Lincoln Park, Couture's focus seems to be entirely about their crepes, which they do very well. As far as a good spot to bring a date for lunch or, heaven forbid, dinner, may we humbly suggest any other spot on Clark Street. And then maybe stop by Couture for Intelligentsia coffee and a delicious sweet crepe...

The cafe is set up pretty standard, although it's not quite sure if it wants to be a full-service restaurant or a counter-service cafe. We walked up to the counter to order, but other patrons just sat down at a table and one of the employees brought them water and menus and took their orders at the table. In any case, the place is mostly white walls with some very large 'pop art' paintings. Sure, the furniture is pretty 'hip' and modern, but otherwise it is reminiscent of an apartment that someone just moved into and hasn't had time to decorate or make it feel like a home yet. There is something vaguely temporary-feeling about the decor. However, there is one huge plus if you're bringing a date there and you've either just met or have been dating for a long time and have just completely run out of things to talk about: Magazines. Lots of magazines inside the actual tables. Aside from the dessert crepes, it's probably one of the biggest selling points of Couture. The tables are glass tops with about eight inches of space for magazines underneath. So if you're sitting across from your date and the conversation starts to slow or become awkward you can look down and point out, "Hey, Jude Law is pregnant!" Or "What do you know, according to 'Vogue' men are three times more likely to want to sleep with you if show any interest in them whatsoever." On second thought, better not mention that headline if it's a first date...

But if you're not in the mood for "couture," and are looking for higher culture reading material, turn away from the fashion magazines and you'll find assorted books to choose from on a shelf behind a couple of cozy couches. Or just bring David Cross' new book, like we did, and read it aloud together. Let us offer a tip, though, especially if a mom and her two daughters sit down right next to you at the clearly-only-meant-to-sit-two-customers table: monitor your volume at the particularly lewd or crass parts. They probably want to eat their Snickers Wannabe crepe or Pear and Brie Salad sans Cross' scathing (but hilarious) critique of politics, the media, and society in general.

[Kristen] The fact that so much of this review has focused on reading material proves that we were clearly not blown away by our meals. In fact, I ordered a Grilled Chicken and Hummus crepe, but when our food arrived, it was a Chicken and Avocado panini I received. In partial defense of the wait staff, they did offer to correct the mistake, but having already waited too long for a couple of sandwiches in the nearly empty and not-at-all busy cafe, I decided to eat the panini. Dan's panini had pesto, which I find usually improves any food it accompanies, yet neither of us were particularly impressed with our lunches. One upside is that all sandwiches and crepes include a spring salad tossed in a light house vinaigrette. But light was definitely how we felt after finishing our meals and we craved something heavier to fill us up so we turned to the sweet crepes for dessert.

We deliberated between the Nutella crepes (and decided against them since we consume it almost daily already), the Fresh Berries and Cream, and The Smores and finally settled on the French Pear Crepes. These were so delicious that they almost made up for our previous disappointments and were the closest we came to actually feeling like we were in France (which we loved, as we are both francophiles). The crepes were filled with pastry cream and served under slices of pears poached in two different kinds of wine (Chardonnay and Merlot), and finished with a red-wine reduction syrup and french vanilla ice cream.

Thanks to the sweet crepe, we left satisfied, but we won't be rushing back any time soon. We've decided that this would be a good place to bring a date you are still trying to get a feel for or don't know very well but again, stick to the sweet crepes and coffees (or smoothies and fresh squeezed juices, if that's your thing). The couches and reading material would make Couture Cafe an excellent location for a study date. Bring a laptop and enjoy the perk of free wi-fi Internet. Another plus, since the employees don't seem to be in a rush to do anything, you will not feel any pressure to give up your table to new customers and can stay and eat until you finish your work, or until you get a stomach ache, whichever comes first. Come during lunch or on weekday evenings to take advantage of their "Stimulus Plan" specials so that even though your tummy may suffer, at least your bank account won't.

The most memorable part of our trip to Couture Cafe was reading Cross' book, I Drink for a Reason. And since our experience at Couture gave us plenty of reason to drink, we can't help but wonder if everything might have seemed a tad less mediocre had we known it was BYOB and brought along a bottle of wine or framboise. Ahh, well, next time we'll know.....to go to La Creperie instead.

Jai Yen Review

Jai Yen
3736 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL 60613-4105
(773) 404-0555

Type: Sushi/Asian
Fancy Shmancy Factor: 1/5
Price: $5 per roll, $3-5 per piece for sushi, $7-12 for Specialty Rolls
Quality for price: 4/5
Ambiance: Casual

Since our first official date was going out for sushi, it only seemed appropriate to choose a sushi restaurant for our first review. A few Sundays ago was one of our first days off together in quite some time. After spending Saturday night at the Windy City Wine Festival consuming the equivalent of about six bottles of wine between the two of us and then heading to Lincoln Square to meet friends at the German Fest, we woke up Sunday morning (earlier than we should have, as is our custom) craving what all reasonable hangover victims crave: IHOP breakfast. Before you stop reading, NO, this review is not about the International House of Pancakes. Because, really, what negative thing could you ever say about IHOP? Four kinds of syrup right on the table and your own personal fake metallic coffee pot! And, in addition to the promised pancakes in the restaurant name, you can get BELGIAN waffles or FRENCH toast, lending the chain its "International" billing. And as for the "house" part, doesn’t that grease-stained handprint on the pleather booth make the restaurant feel curiously like home? Okay, this really is turning into a review of IHOP, so let’s get back to the present.

It’s Sunday at 5:30. We have tickets to see a friend in Taming of the Shrew at No Exit Theatre (great show, by the way). We’re looking for something elegant to match our feeling of sophistication (two tickets to Shakespeare and we get delusions of refinement). Unfortunately, our wallets don’t share our delusions and can’t support anything in the way of fine dining tonight. Compromise: Sushi at Jai Yen.

[Dan's Take]: I’m always a bit nervous taking Kristen to sushi places (see the food profile on her in the previous post), but I’m also trying to groom her to be a sushi connoisseur as I frequently crave the raw little buggers and it’s nice to share it with someone. We brought a bottle of Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, which is a great wine for the price if you get it on sale at Jewel. With sushi, I usually like my wines to be on the sweeter side, but hey, it’s all that was in my fridge.

When we arrived, there were about three other tables between the dining room and the modest outdoor seating. Apparently, we were there before the dinner rush. We decided to sit inside and were seated promptly just off the main part of the dining room in an area that would have been perfect for a larger party, but was also nice since we were the only two people there. About halfway through the meal, they did seat a three-person birthday party in the same room, which was unfortunate. Not so much for us, but more for the girl who only had two people show up for her birthday party.

[Kristen's Take]: The thoughtful staff at Jai Yen must have felt sorry for her, too, and decided to help liven up the party because the relaxing, subtle house music we enjoyed with our wine and appetizer were replaced with classics such as The Macarena and no less than two songs by Shaggy. For the sake of keeping this entry only moderately long instead of intolerably so, I will choose not to comment on the fact that Shaggy has managed to have more than one hit song and that the Macarena has achieved such transcendent status.

Are we the only ones that get the feeling at some of the smaller-operation ethnic restaurants that there isn’t a clear person who is ‘the server’? There was someone who sat us, someone who filled our water glasses, and someone who graciously opened our wine for us. We ordered the Crab Rangoon from a couple of different people hoping that one of them was the designated person to put in the order to the kitchen. We were relieved when it came out to the table and only once. Crab Rangoon is a hard one to mess up, but this one stood out even from a very standard appetizer. The four pieces were hot and crunchy with just the right amount of filling and made us forget about the initial confusion. One of the great things about Jai Yen is that it's very reasonable and the sushi is quality. We ordered Spicy Tuna and Philly Maki rolls as well as one of their specialty rolls and four pieces of Sushi. With tax and tip our bill was still under $50 (not including the wine we brought). We both agree that Jai Yen is a good place to bring a date for a casual, good sushi meal if you're not looking to break the bank. Maybe not for a first date if you're really looking to impress someone with ambiance, but if you've been together for a while and aren't looking for the white glove treatment it's a great place for reasonably-priced sushi (and a bizzare music scene).

Our Food Profiles (as written by the other person)

Kristen's Take on Dan:

At the grocery store (one of our favorite places), Dan can usually be found in one of two sections: 1.) cheese or 2.) wine. (To take care of the obvious pun, my mister is hardly ever whiny but more often than not, incredibly cheesy.) If he buys either of these two items, I know I have a happy camper on my hands, especially if they are on sale. Because good food is one thing. But good food at a great price is nirvana for this one! Really. He keeps his receipts to brag about his savings and once left me a four minute voicemail message detailing the cost breakdown of his purchases and the amazing deals he scored.
And speaking of "scoring," it took Dan and I quite some time to 'score' each other. The romantic cliche' of "love at first sight" doesn't really apply to us. But like a fine wine or carefully-aged cheese, sometimes it takes a little while longer to develop delicious and complex flavors. Such was the case with us, but once we discovered our mutual adoration of all things edible, we began heading down a path that would lead us to creating this blog. So, I suppose, something more like "love at first bite" might apply...
Our food compatibility is quite phenomenal really. We both tend to avoid olives, mushrooms, raw onions, and tomatoes (yes, I realize those are all vegetables) and love just about any kind of meat. Dan is better at handling spicy foods than I and likes curry, which I avoid when possible. Besides wine, cheese, any kind of meat, whatever is on sale, and somewhat-spicy foods, Dan likes to eat ice cream (the latest is vanilla with Framboise poured over it--so good), bacon, sushi, falafel, and pretty much anything I leave on my plate when I'm full. He is also a fan of the delicious Chocolate hazelnut spread I always have in stock. I tend to eat it on bread with blackberries, whereas Dan eats it on anything with anything.
What I admire most about Dan's tastebuds is his enjoyment of seafood. I've been rather sheltered when it comes to eating aquatic animals and he is gradually helping me to open my eyes to the world of gilled, scaled, and shelled dinners. In fact, our first date was also my first time eating sushi. But then, I think he'll want to tell that story himself....

Dan's Take on Kristen:

What I really like about Kristen's taste in food essentially comes down to this: She'll try almost anything (as long as it doesn't have ham in it. It's not a religious thing, she just can't stand ham...I know, I can't figure it out either...). Having lived in Chicago longer (and just lived longer in general) I've probably been exposed to more different types of food, but Kristen has never shied away from trying something new. The first restaurant I took her to in the city was Agami, a nicer sushi place in my neighborhood. I asked her if she had eaten sushi before and she assured me that she had and liked it, so I didn't think this would be a big deal. Once we got to the restaurant I asked her what kind of sushi she liked and she told me the only things she's really had were cucumber and avocado rolls... "Um...that's not really sushi..." I tried to explain. "See, sushi is traditionally fish-based. So..." Yeah, she'd never had sushi. So I decided to order. Now, this just happened to be the weekend that Kristen's doctor made her wear a heart monitor for reasons I won't get into here. So let me set the scene: First date. We're at a table for two with a bottle of sparkling wine. Low-lighting. Talking, laughing. We finish our appetizer and the food starts to arrive. They set the sushi down first, a few pieces of super white tuna, some snapper and a couple of others. Then they bring over the maki rolls. Nothing fancy, just a couple of basic rolls (that actually had fish inside). Our server asked if there was anything else we needed. "No, this looks great, thank you." There was a moment of silence while we both looked at the plates and then all of the sudden this loud beeping starts out of no where and it's coming from Kristen's side of the table. A bit confused at first, she quickly became embarrassed when she realized her heart monitor was going off because her heart rate was too high. She excused herself to the bathroom and I haven't let her live it down since...

One thing I should mention about Kristen's food taste is her love of ranch dressing. I've known people who love ranch dressing before, but not to this extent. At least she has the self control to swear it off for months at a time, only to binge on it again when the time frame expires...

She's a much better cook than myself. She can come up with some amazing dishes with whatever happens to be in her refrigerator at the time. She hardly ever uses a recipe, which is also pretty amazing. She loves making paninis (a lot of them with avocado) and crepes with lots of delicious fillings.

I also think I could take a little bit of credit for her newly found appreciation for wine...but I don't like to brag... :)