SHAVED RIBEYE ON CHARRED GARLIC BREAD FROM 3 ARTS CLUB CAFE
I went to Restoration Hardware for lunch one day, and this was unexpectedly AMAZING. I was blown away by how much I loved this sandwich!
PRO TIP: order fries, too. The fries at 3 Arts Club Cafe are so, so, so good.
DONUTS FROM VOODOO DOUGHNUT
After admiring these donuts from afar (read: on social media) for YEARS, I finally got to try them on my trip to Denver last April! We ended up ordering the “Voodoo Dozen” and tried 13 donuts. WORTH IT.
AVOCADO TOAST FROM BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE
I went to work from Blue Bottle Coffee one day, and I treated myself to this avocado toast on Publican Quality Bread. WOW! It was a power move to order a soft-boiled egg, too. I don’t even care that this toast put a grenade in my bank account. I could not make it this well myself and I do love making myself avocado toast!
SPICY PEPPERONI YELLOW PIZZE FROM PICCOLO BUCO BY CH
I will go as far as saying this meal at Piccolo Buco was the best meal I ate all year. Every single dish was spectacular, but this pepperoni pizze was the star of the meal.
It is definitely worth the trip to Oak Brook for this amazing food!
CARLA HALL'S BANANA PUDDING FROM ESQUIRE BY CH
I’ve had my fair share of banana puddings in life, and this was the best banana pudding EV-ER. From the presentation to the taste itself, Carla Hall was not messing around when she mastered the art of this dessert. This menu item was on Chef Carla’s pop-up menu at Esquire by CH, and now I will wait a lifetime to try it again.
GREEK FRIES FROM KALA MODERN GREEK
I love french fries as much as the next person, and I order them at more meals than I am willing to admit. The Greek fries at Kala Modern Greek were some of the best fries I have ever had. They are meant to be shared but I’m perfectly fine eating these by myself! Ha
WHIPPED RICOTTA FROM JOE'S IMPORTS
PRO TIP: this whipped ricotta spread pairs perfectly with rosé on the patio during summer!
Joe’s Imports did not miss with this appetizer!
FRIED COOKIE DOUGH FROM MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
I tell basically everyone with ears how much I love the Minnesota State Fair, and I am always looking forward to attending.
There are a few options for fried cookie Dough at the fair, but this fried cookie dough on a stick was the winner. It was cooked in pancake batter (or some batter that is VERY similar to pancake batter), and I could not get over how much I loved this.
BURRATA FROM RIVER ROAST
Of all the burrata dishes I have tried, this one was definitely the best. This was a special during fall at River Roast, and the flavors were PERFECT together.
FIRE-ROASTED SEAFOOD TOWER FROM MAPLE & ASH
This seafood tower is out of this world, and the pasta back is worth every penny of the $7/person upcharge. During “Tower Hour” at Maple & Ash, the seafood towers are $30 for a small. Honestly, I think three people can split a double tower. Not too bad, right!?
