143.8…Wins & Losses

The food in Chicago is simply incredible. One of our favorite places to go is Giordano’s for stuffed pizza. We were so fortunate to go there for lunch on Saturday with one of my husband’s friends, Eytan.

We all shared a stuffed pizza with peppers and onions. Always a winner.

It really doesn’t get any better than this.

After lunch, we shopped a bit before going back to the hotel to get ready for dinner at Davanti Enoteca with Eytan and his wife, Rebecca.

Davanti Enoteca serves food family style. The restaurant was full of people and was very lively. We shared several dishes throughout the evening.

Roasted Cherry Tomato Burrata with Basil Pesto:

One word: unbelievable.

Hamachi with Castrelvetrano Olive, Orange and Capers:

Also incredible!

D.O.C pizza (tomato, fresh mozzarella & basil):

Bucatini Amatriciana (bucatini, red onion, guanciale, cherry tomatoes, chili flakes, grana padano):

Really delicious…all their pasta is homemade!

Risotto:

Also amazing!

Butternut Squash with Goat Cheese:

While this was good, it was my least favorite. A bit too sweet for me.

Bistecca Davanti (grilled hanger steak, saba marinated oyster mushrooms, braised cippolini, salsa verde):

Amazeballs. 

As if things couldn’t get any better…they did.

Apple pie in a jar, chocolate mousse and vanilla gelati:

 

And one more: S’mores!

Another winning meal at Davanti Entoteca.  I would go back in a heartbeat!

After dinner, we said our goodbyes and then met my brother and sister in law (who had just arrived in Chicago) for drinks at their hotel. I went out of the box a bit (for me) and ordered not wine, but a cocktail! This drink was called “Til Midnight” and was pumpkin flavored. I loved it!

Afterwards we called it a night. We had big day ahead of us….

Eytan’s family makes the most amazing smoked Scottish salmon. He had brought some to our hotel room for us to try, along with bagels and cream cheese.

If you ever get a chance, try H. Forman & Son Smoked Scottish Salmon. You won’t be disappointed!!

We rented a car and hit the road for South Bend, Indiana. It was game day…USC (our school) vs. Notre Dame (my brother’s school). Going to this game has been a family tradition for the past several years. My brother was staying in South Bend, so we met him at his rental house. They loaded the car and drove to the stadium for our all-day tailgate.

Ready to go!

As you can see, we had plenty of food. :)

My husband and I:

It was COLD!!

My husband and my brother:

My brother and I:

My brother, me and our friend, Ryan.

My husband, my brother and Ryan:

Eventually, the sun disappeared and it started to rain a bit. It was time to make our way into the stadium.

The game wasn’t the most exciting game. And it was freezing and it started to rain. Being from Southern California, we were not used to that, at all. We toughed it out for awhile but by the end of the 3rd quarter, we had had it. It was time to walk back to our car which was at my brother’s rental house. It was about a mile away but felt like 10. :)

We didn’t miss anything…USC lost. :( We finally made it back to our hotel in Chicago.

Breakfast this morning was half a bagel (the other half went to my husband) with cream cheese and the rest of the smoked salmon.

We got packed up and headed to the airport. Just like that, our trip was over.

At the airport, I got a steak burrito for lunch.

It was terrible. The greasiest burrito ever. I only ate half. Blech. 

I’m actually blogging from the plane. :) No wifi here though…will have to wait until I get home to post.

I had a fabulous time in Chicago. The food was amazing, it was great seeing friends and family. The weather could have been nicer though. Guess I have to wait another two years before I get to go back.  :(

What’s the best pizza you’ve ever had?

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