Oh the windy city… how I love thee! Chicago is my favorite city in the United States by far. When you think of big cities you think dirty, unsafe, busy, and bums everywhere. Chicago is quite the opposite. Its clean, very upscale, no bumbs, and the best food you’ve ever had.  They have the most amazing shopping you’ve ever seen and great cafes. Another thing that I love about it is Chicago is a very “green” city. If you ever go there and get to go to the Museum of Science and Industry they have a “Smart Home” and its seriously the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.

The first night we were in Chicago we went here for dinner:

Carnivale!!!!!!!!!!!! Its the best Nuevo Latino restaurant I’ve ever been to. Every time we go to Chicago we always make sure we go here. They have a great menu and bar and the food is so inventive. The restaurant use to be a nightclub so it is 2 stories and they use crazy colors!! Awesome atmosphere! For a pre-appetizer ( I know, how fat of us!!!!!) we got a cheese platter. They have amazing cheeses and if you get cheese platters you get almonds, seasonal jam (this time it was blueberry),  and homemade crackers. We got Hook’s Cheddar which is my favorite, Rosemary Manchego which is a nutty sheep milk from Spain, and Mount Enebro which is a creamy blue goat milk from Spain. All were spectacular and the presentation was so gorgeous and simple… easy appetizer for entertaining!

Then for our real appetizer we got the Ropa Vieja. Now, its not your typical Ropa Vieja… its wayyyy better. They start out with sweet plantains, braised beef, spicy mayo, queso fresco cheese, and chopped onions. It’s by far the best appetizer I’ve ever had. Its a party in your mouth. You have sweet and soft from the plantain, savory from the beef, spicy from the mayo, and crunchy from the onion. It makes me want to cry its so good! For dinner we all got the same thing… the Arrachera. Its just a grilled skirt steak, rice and beans, and topped with chimichurri sauce and sweet red onion. Then to wash it down, Mojitos. Of course!! There’s so much food we always order we have yet to try a dessert. Sorry if I’m ranting about this place but its deeeelish!

The next morning I woke up.. hungry and ready for a good breakfast. The place I recommend : Tiempo cafe. AWESOME breakfast. Its just a little hole in the wall but they feed you.. real good. The have fresh squeezed OJ which is one of my favorite things ever being from Florida. They have the biggest pancakes and omelets you’ve ever seen! I got an omelet with spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and cheddar cheese. Other people at my table got chocolate chip pancakes, waffles, and eggs benedict. All were awesome! Definitely recommend this place as well!

Later that night we went to Wrigly Field to see a Cubs Astros game.  Wrigly Field really is one of the coolest places I’ve been. The fact that you’re sitting in the same stands that people were almost a 100 years is really a cool feeling. While we were there my favorite actor was sitting next to the Astros dugout. Can anyone guess?? Vince Vaughn!!!!!!! He’s my favorite actor. I was so excited.. and so were about 1,000 other fans. He stood up to stretch and you see a million cameras come out. Pretty funny!! Well, there’s a lot more about Chicago but I don’t want to ramble. Tuesday we are going to Key West again for LOBSTER SEASON!!!!! SOOOO excited. My favorite times of the year are as follows: 1) Christmas 2) Lobster season 3) Thanksgiving 4) everything else Will be writing soon!!