City Girl Review:: Farmhouse

check out the vintage Bevador

the trout was good, but the chicken was better

devilish fried cheese curds

It was a blustery Friday night when the husband and I jumped on the El and headed over to Farmhouse. Where a rundown Bar Louie used to stand, Farmhouse brings new life to Chicago Ave, and a new novel restaurant to Chicago altogether.

Farmhouse wanted their Midwestern roots to be obvious, and to accomplish this they've salvaged much of the restaurant from local Chicago homes, restaurants and the like. They also created a long menu of great Midwestern craft beer, and included some Michigan wine for good measure. While the owners are rumored to have anticipated more of a bar scene than restaurant for Farmhouse, they soon found out local ingredients fused into tasty dishes are also in high demand. 

With their daily and weekly specials displayed up on a chalkboard, and the menu sourcing high quality local purveyors, Farmhouse delivers on its mission. We started with the fried cheese curds because of the breathy words spoken about them, and they delivered in all their fried glory.

Next up for me was the trout, while the husband went with the doted upon Amish roasted chicken.  I was trying to balance the decadence of fried cheese curds with something a little bit kinder to my waistline, but come next time I think I will just embrace what Farmhouse does best:  comfort foods at their finest.  I was lucky to be able to snag a bite of the chicken, and found it to be just as insanely delicious and buttery as I’d heard it to be.  I wouldn’t normally go to a restaurant and order the chicken, but Farmhouse is my one exception.

We topped the evening off with the spiced fig and toffee bread pudding, and I was in dessert heaven.  Farmhouse makes for a great River North hangout spot, a tasty meal of comfort foods, and a great atmosphere to stay a while and try some of the different craft beers.

Check this one off the Dining List. :)

Cauliflower Curry Soup

I was in need of some homemade soup on Sunday, and stumbling upon this recipe thought I'd found just the ticket.  What was created however was far different than what I was expecting, and in a very good way ~ it's a very elegant soup, rich and velvety in taste without an ounce of cream, with each spoonful starting out subtle in flavor and then intensifying as the heat of the curry and cayenne run across your tongue.  It has interesting complexity and would be great for a dinner party, or with some small changes / adaptations, I could easily see this on a restaurant menu from a place that likes to surprise the tastebuds.

To print a pdf version of this recipe, click here.

Happy Tasty Tuesday!

Monday Meditation ~ Living Healthfully

[via]

For those of you just catching up here, Monday Meditation is my time on the blog to set a new intention for the week. Last Monday I wanted to focus on spending my time wisely, and I'm happy to report that last week was very productive, in large part due to the focused attention on how I was spending my time. The flip side of this however was that my week was so productive, that come Friday evening I just about melted onto my couch with a big glass of wine and, perhaps a tear or two, because I felt overworked and completely overwhelmed.  It inevitability seems the more things you check off your to-do list, the more room you make for new items to be added.  And if you take no breaks and have no chance to take a step back and just think, your to-do list can seemingly swallow you up.  (Or at least, these were my thoughts as I nestled into my couch cushions Friday night.)  Which brings me to this week's Meditation.

This week, my goal is to live life healthfully. What does this mean? To me it means with balance and thoughtfulness.  Balance between work, relaxation, and exercise. Thoughtfulness about how I treat my body ~ healthy foods, enough sleep, and water.  I'd like to take a step back from the crazy hamster wheel we call life, to regain a sense of health and balance.

What things do you incorporate in your life to maintain your balance and composure? How do you live life healthfully?  I'd love to hear.

Tasty Tuesday ~ Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Roasted Red Peppers, Olives and Spinach

This is one of the recipes I learned in the meat butchery class I recently took, and when we sat down to eat it for dinner, I was thrilled how tender and juicy it came out.  This is a great recipe to host a party with, as you can prepare it ahead of time and simply put it in the oven when your guests arrive.  It also makes for elegant tableside presentation, and paired with a nice glass of wine and some couscous, is an effortless, elegant meal.

To print a pdf version of this recipe, click here.

Happy Tasty Tuesday!

Monday Meditation ~ Spending Time Wisely

[via]

Last week I started a series coined Monday Meditation.  The point is to bring a different idea to reflect on each week, with an associated action to take to live the meditation out, and ultimately start simplifying my life.  I hope this will become a journey we can take together, as each week we can share our experiences with last week's meditation, and open the week with a new meditation in mind.

Last week I wanted to begin by thinking about my wants and desires vs. what I truly value.  I lived the meditation out by not buying anything discretionary. Some of the ways I took action on this?  By automatically deleting any "deal of the day" emails (Joss & Main, One King's Lane, Groupon, you name it), by not spending time perusing the catalogs received in the mail, by not succumbing to my itch to drop by the drugstore to pick up a new nail polish.  And you know what?  This was extremely liberating, and thus is the launching pad for this week's meditation.

You see, I discovered the more I found ways to limit my time spent perusing things I want, the more time I freed up to spend on things worthwhile.  I also found it was almost an instant de-cluttering of the mind.  Rather than thinking about things I'd like to add to my wish list, I had "mind space" freed up to think about anything else.  And this payoff was greater than the punishment.  While at first I felt I was sacrificing, I soon discovered it was just the opposite.  And that got me thinking... what other things could I cut out of my daily routine to free up space in my mind (and calendar) to focus on other things more worthwhile?

And that is the topic for this Monday Meditation.  What do you do nearly every day (or every week) that when you stop and think about it, it really isn't that important to who you want to be, and how you want to live your life? Maybe it's surfing facebook, or watching a bad reality TV show, or catalog surfing and finding items for your lust list, or recipe surfing and being too picky about weekly meal planning (eh-hem, this is totally me).

I plan to limit my time on social media (unless it is strategic use for blogging) and apply this time to activities like reading and yoga.  Give it a shot with me.  Every time you reach for that remote, or mouse, or catalog, put it down and do a replacement activity you find more worthwhile.  Or collect the time saved throughout the week and do a replacement activity that adds up to this total time.  I'll report back next week, with a new meditation in hand.

I'd love to hear:  What is one item you spend time on which isn't worthwhile to you, and what could you replace it with?

The Day I Lived My Dream Day

Tre Latti cake ~ just one of the sweet spots of the day

OK, so let me preface this by saying I know right now what I'm about to describe is not everyone's dream day.  I could sashay off to Paris and kiss under the Eiffel Tower and I have a feeling I'd have a lot more of your votes for what you might consider a dream day to be.  But this recent day was so close to perfect in my eyes, I had to share.

You see, it started with a 10AM meat butchery class.  That's right ~ my dream day includes close to 5 hours of learning how to hack meat.  What, yours doesn't?  I've always wanted to know how to break down a chicken with finesse, or how to fillet a fish with confidence, and when a class popped up on the Chopping Block calendar that had just these very objectives, I was sold.

Chef Ed demonstrates how to break down a chicken

Trying my hand at the skill

The finished product of the chicken I broke down

So yes, for the next five hours I listened to Chef Ed instruct the class on how to properly do these tasks, and then we each practiced on our own poultry, fish and meat.  It was strangely exhausting, and ultimately exhilarating.  We then sat down to enjoy the meal we'd just made, and I found a new appreciation (and pride) for finding no bones in my fish.

But oh no, the fun wasn't over yet.  With just 20 minutes to spare, we hopped in a cab and bustled over to Terzo Piano  at the Modern Wing for the second cooking class of the day.  The environment and experience couldn't be more opposite from the first, which is exactly what made the day perfection.  After 5 hours of meat hacking, it's nice to have a break.  And that's what a demonstration class at Terzo Piano is, a leisurely meal with excellent drink and fare, royal treatment and fun foodie wisdom dispelled.

Chef Tony Mantuano adds color commentary to the class at Terzo Piano

This mushroom risotto was heavenly

And one of the best parts of this day?  I came home with a baker's dozen of new recipes in my arsenal.  Of which, the mushroom risotto will be the first to make its debut in my kitchen ~ to. die. for.

I then came home and watched Midnight in Paris.  Just for all you romantics out there, to get in a dose of Paris. :)

So I ask, what does your dream day entail?

Warm Pasta Salad with Spinach, Tuna, and Capers

Around the time New Year's resolutions were being established, I wanted to whip up something light, refreshing, and healthy to balance out all the decadence I had indulged in the week before.  It was then that I discovered this pasta salad, and it's been in the rotation ever since.

You can eat this salad warm as an entree, or cold as a side.  The lemon and garlic dressing is tangy and fresh, and honestly makes me feel a little bit more summery as I look out the window on this cold January day.  I also really like the leftovers cold the next day for lunch! 

To print a pdf version of this recipe, click here.

Happy Tasty Tuesday!

Monday Meditation

[via]

I am thinking of starting up a new weekly series called Monday Meditation.  It stems from the fact I've been feeling a pull as of late to streamline my life a bit.  I thought if I set a weekly idea I'd like to focus on, and put it out here, I would hold myself accountable to it, and would start to chip away at the lofty idea of simplifying my life.

Please join me if you'd like and take on each week's meditation and goal, or use the opportunity to reflect on it and evaluate if it's something you would want to incorporate in your life in some way.  Leave me a comment here and this can become our little forum and weekly community.  Deal?

Chances are if you're reading my blog, you're reading several others, and may even be a blogger yourself.  Do you ever stop to think about what impact reading these blogs has on your life, your habits?  Most all blogs I read are incredibly inspirational, and that's what keeps me coming back.  I like to follow "tastemakers" in different areas to stay up on the trends around home interiors, fashion, food, etc.  But on the flip side of all this inspiration, is the risk of letting your mind slip to a feeling of deficiency.  I would be lying if I said I've never read a blog about a great shoe, purse, home accessory, and added the item to my ever-growing wish list, even though it wasn't even on my radar before. By consolidating all the wants and desires you discover from several sources, all of a sudden you can feel like your wish list is a little overwhelming.  Don't get me wrong, it's fun to discover new things to aspire to do or have, it's just a matter of maintaining balance, and keeping things in perspective.

This week, I'll live out this Monday Meditation by neither posting about any consumer products nor will I buy anything discretionary.  It's really for myself, to reflect on what is necessary vs. nice-to-have, and put my ever-growing wish list in perspective.

Anyone want to join me?  Can anyone relate?  And, do you like the idea of this being a weekly series, with a new "meditation" each Monday?

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

In all my efforts to do somewhat of a life overhaul this year (or so I've coined it, though I'm sure it won't be nearly as dramatic), I promise I won't turn this into a sap story of a journal where I torment you with my trials and tribulations.  Onto more fun topics.  Cauliflower pizza crust.

I first heard of this wondrous recipe from Dr. Oz, then later saw it pop up in my Google reader from Beth, and as I'm known for not keeping carbs in my house (I'm still teased over this point by my foodie friend who at one point was looking through my cabinets practically screaming "WHERE ARE YOUR CARBS?!"), I thought it only apropos I make a low-carb pizza crust right?

And the results were so tasty I had to share.  It's definitely different from your standard pizza crust, but it fulfilled my pizza craving just the same.   And the crust itself is really flavorful, as the mozzarella and herbs really shine through. The cauliflower doesn't distract from all the other familiar flavors of pizza, and the bonus is it won't weigh you down either.  I found the recipe below was perfect for two to share for dinner.

I topped ours with thinly sliced chicken sausage, caramelized onions, and spinach.  YUM!

To print a pdf version of this recipe, click here.

Happy Foodie Friday!

{an honest post} Part 2 ~ Your Turn

turning the tables ~ get it? ;-)

So in my fevor to overhaul my life, I thought one good place to start would be to reach out to others.  Today is your turn.  In addition to internally contemplating what it is I should be focusing on here, I think it'd be really helpful to hear what you think I should be focusing on.  What do you like reading here?  Why do you come back?  Who do you think of me as?  What do you wish you heard more about from me? 

I think it's an interesting exercise, because who you know me as and who I think of myself as could potentially be different.  In fact, I'm willing to bet they are.  Point in case, I recently attended an {ever-so-fun} blogger event in which I was asked if I cook fairly often.  This made me scratch my head for a moment, as I cook almost every single night!  In my mind, cooking and food is such a huge important part of my life.  But I realize I don't always write about what I'm cooking up in the kitchen.  And maybe I should be... or maybe not.

I promise you can be honest ~ I will not take offense to any constructive criticism!  I so value your readership and my end goal is to take your input and fuse it with my own.  Please leave a comment, email me, tweet me, etc. with your input!  I'm determined to make this year of 2012 really count!

And then after this, we can go back to the regular scheduled program {at least while I sift through it all!} :)