Chicago Artropolis 2011 Preview ~ Photo Gallery

Em and I attended the Artropolis Preview Party last night and were as giddy as schoolgirls over the galleries' exhibits. Em has her BFA and was the perfect person to accompany me on this exploration.  How fantastic are these pieces?

The Mart was bustling with artists, gallery owners, collectors and art enthusiasts ~ weaving in and out through the aisles of the world's largest commercial building to soak in the Art Chicago and Next shows.  Artropolis officially opens today and run through Monday ~ and I can't wait to get back this weekend.  Not only is the conglomeration of art seriously impressive, the people watching might be just as good.  (Note to self: though quite the fashion scene, I think I'll opt for comfortable shoes when I return. My aching feet will thank me.)

For event and ticket information visit the Artropolis website.

Gift Ideas for the Modern Mama

With Mother's Day right around the corner, I find myself with more "mamas" on the list than ever this year.  My mom, mom-in-law, and new mommy friends, to name just a few.  So I started shopping.  And aren't these options just delightful?

amethyst with air plant ~ a great conversation piece
[via]

These cashmere wraps are so soft and versatile, she'll ask for another color next year
[via]

colorful knives for the foodie to have fun in the kitchen
[via]

A spa kit to allow her to pamper herself
[via]

A beautiful lucite flower brooch
[via]

A glass bird feeder to add a bit of whimsy to her garden
[via]

A one-of-a-kind teapot to relax and unwind (and impress her friends)
[via]

organic silver earrings give her understated elegance
[via]

A pre-planted window box lets her sit back and admire
[via]

an hor-d'oeuvre set which clearly states she's the "hostess with the mostest"
[via]

And sometimes, the best gift to give is something she can pick the details of herself ~ a Netflix subscription, a Grubhub certificate (for dinner in or breakfast in bed), or a gift card to her favorite spa.

Is it just me, or is shopping for moms more fun than ever?

Another Tally Mark for Terzo Piano

Scratch another tally mark on the board for Terzo Piano – this Chicago gem has done it again.

You may have heard me toot the Terzo Piano horn before (and if not, try here and here) ~ it’s no secret I’m a fan. And last week I had the good fortune to attend their dinner event with Jonathan Waxman and Tony Mantuano, both Top Chef Masters and lauded New York City and Chicago chefs respectively. As Waxman promoted his new cookbook (which btw is pretty darn great itself), the Terzo Piano kitchen cooked up a selection of his recipes and served them family-style to guests who couldn’t stop smiling ear-to-ear. Why were we all smiling? Because Terzo Piano and team know how to do it right, and Jonathan Waxman has some mighty fine recipes.

Thanks to fun and interesting dinner guests (thank you for those I sat by for the great dinner chatter!), the superb food, and the special chef attendees, this dinner went down as one memorable meal.

 Allow me to describe the dinner as we did around our table:

“This cauliflower is the best I’ve ever had! Who says that about cauliflower??”

“OMG this polenta’s texture… it has a crisp on the outside, and perfect texture on the inside… how do they do this?”

“This duck… can I have some more? This duck is sooooo good! I’m marking this page in the cookbook for this duck!”

At one point, we all raised a glass and cheered for the work that went on in the kitchen, toasting, “Here’s to the kitchen! The whisking in the kitchen!” Because for anyone who’s ever cooked polenta at home, you’ll know it takes a darn lot of whisking, stirring, and attention to get it just right.

Not only was the food fantastic, it was so cool to see Tony Mantuano and Jonathan’s brotherly love as they kicked off and concluded the evening together. Two Italian-style chefs, two very different styles. I asked them point blank how they’d compare their styles of cooking, to which Jonathan replied, “Tony is more serious, studious about his Italian cooking” and Tony sarcastically quipped, “That’s all a nice way of saying I’m snobby…” I think you get the point ~ after all, one’s last name is Waxman, the other, Mantuano.

I came away with two signed cookbooks in hand (both Mantuano’s and Waxman’s), an Italian red wine to seek out and drink at home, and a memorable meal that is going down in my book as one of the best of the year. The whisking in kitchen sums up the night ~ the attention put into each element ~ magnifico.

For more information on Terzo Piano events, visit their Event Calendar.

A tribute to Davanti Enoteca

On Taylor and Loomis a new(ish) restaurant stands

And dining there last week I can say it commands

Some high praise for food and a hearty cheer for the wine

Davanti Enoteca is seriously divine

They have unique Italian small plates

A menu to be perused

Don’t miss the sweet beets

Or the pate that had me amused

Rustic fare with rich flavors

Crisp pork belly to savor

A bottle of vino and two more main plates

And I was ready to spend the day here.

A lingering meal, complete with dessert

The pudding, dates, and fresh organic yogurt

All of this together put me in a state of elation

I wanted to sing from the mountain tops of this restaurant's creation.

And if you’re reading this I hope you know me by now - - 

I don’t write a post unless I have something good to say

And Davanti Enoteca, well, this is it for me today.