birthday debauchery

Hi there,

It definitely has been a while and a lot has happened in terms of my culinary exploits. To leave off where we left off, Marly called into Perennial and told them we were coming to review it, so basically we got a ton of free shit. We started with the butternut squash soup with creme fraiche perennial trail mix on top and an arugula and grapefruit salad. Those apps were good. then they brought us out foie gras encrusted jumbo scallops very nice. For our dinner we split the house made tofu with sides of butternut squash noodle kugel and mac and cheese. Both of those were very good. And then for dessert he brought us out these little apple and ice cream lollipops with caramel. Overall, I'd say the seasonal menu of Perennial is nice and intriguing. I would definitely go back, but not before I try a bunch of other places. So that was Wednesday.

Thursday, I started my job at Signature Room! I like it so far. Aside from the unfortunate fact that I have to wear a ridiculous suit, albeit slimming, the job is challenging and it's a very busy restaurant, like 500 people for lunch busy. I totally lied on all my apps and said that I knew how to work open table--well that is plainly not true. I never have done computerized hostessing and it was a lot to learn in such a short time. But after I got the hang of it, it's been pretty much smooth sailing. After work on Thursday we went out for Marissa's birthday to Luxbar. The food was standard, but the company was great and I'm really happy that I got to meet a few fellow gold coast girls that are now my going out partners in crime.

Friday I worked again and then Abby and I went to RJ Grunts for dinner!!! Salad bar was so good, we also got a side of fries which were delicious. I honestly don't think that I had had french fries the entire time I have been in Chi so it was a great accompaniment to my overloaded plates of lettuce, pineapple, and tuna noodle. Then we went to say hello to Alinea (passing by in the cab) and to our friend's friends' house on Halsted. We went to Old Town social and then McFadden's which was soooo fun and then we went home for some pizza rolls and I'm sorry to say that's no euphemism. Saturday I woke up hungover and went to work. Got out of work and went out with Marissa and my new friends to Hub 51 and I was WASTED. Way too much hub punch which is so delicious and I was dying. I left early by myself standard in a taxi at 2am.

After being so retarded, I obviously needed to get some brunch on Sunday morning. Abby and her friends from school were out the door at like 430 am to volunteer at the marathon so I met them afterwards for brunch at Nookies on wells. It was really solid I got a vegetarian omellette, which had broccoli, mushroom, spinach, cauliflower, zuchini, and tomatoes. Then we went home to relax and made chili with no "carne in m'pocket are you mad?" and cornbread. It was fine but we made way too much and its grossing me out now. Monday I also had off from work and I met Marly for lunch at Specialty's. I got a sub-standard greek salad but it came with amazing focaccia bread that was really salty and i want some right about now. Then, I went to an interview at RL restaurant just to keep my options open and it went so well. I have a second interview in about an hour I'm bugging out about it. Ok, so then Tuesday I worked nothing special and then yesterday was my birthday!!!! We went to Mercadito which was really good and so buzzy I loved it. We waited a while for our table and Marly and Jamie got a spicy margarita which was cool. For dinner, we ordered the trio of guacs--mango chipotle, traditional, and pineapple. Duo of salsas- verde and this roasted tomato spicy one. Fried plantains, mahi mahi ceviche, this salad with chipotle balsamic dressing that was sooo spicy and amazing. Then we got tilapia tacos which were so good sliced avocado on top spicy sauce inside and the fish was cooked perfectly--grilled with a crunchy crust on outside but not dry at all. Jamie and Abby got shrimp tacos which looked awesome, too. They brought me out caramel flan for my bday but we all know that I don't swing that way. We got in the taxi to go home and the driver told us that he knows Hema, which may have been the highlight of the year. Now I'm off to Ralph Lauren and then to MADISON!!!!

hopefully I make it out of wisconsin alive

----hhh----

kitchen nightmares....

To quote the great words of my most favorite writer ke$ha (no offense to Toni Morrison of course) but.... "I've got a sick obsession!!!" And the name of my new obsession is Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares on BBCAmerica. As a former London dweller, I have always been aware of the quality programming of the BBC. I used to only think that this applied to Gavin and Stacey, my most favorite sitcom written by a sassy fat woman, but seriously Kitchen Nightmares is so good and strange I cannot stop watching it. Who gon check me boo? Right now the one I'm watching involves Ramsey redoing a restaurant in Scottland and he makes them all go get kilts to wear while they cook and then they end up taking photos up each other's skirts. muy interesante. and because it is on BBC, they don't have to censor it and they just curse up a storm. I can't take it, I'm loling like I do when I watch the osbournes. I guess I just have this thing for screaming British people. Short post--I just had to get that off my chest. Back with more later after Perennial cocktail partaaaay tonight!

oh weekends

Hi there!

This weekend was really fun...after my Friday night all alone, that is. I'm randomly not feeling well right now, but I just ate some Totino's so I think that I'll have enough energy to complete this post. Anyway, Saturday morning my alarm went off at 8am for yoga and I shut that shit down like the DOH. After I woke up at 11, I met Jamie who was being hipster and studying at Starbucks, we then got gingerfoodie, and went to State to watch the game. We got cheese curds, tuna tartar, and I got the greek salad with avocado that I've been dreaming about. Speaking of dreaming, the other night I had a dream that I was on Captain Hook's boat I wish I was kidding. He was sending people to walk the plank and the way to get out of it was to jump off the boat onto this like wooden board, everyone was going and they were making the jump, but then obv it was my turn and I fell and I was sent to my watery end. All I can say about that is WHAT THE FUCK?! So back to the state, all of our food was good and the greek was as good as I had hoped.

After State, in an incident that can only be described as abroad behavior, Marly and I went to see the social network. However, nothing is ever simple and I know that it was my fault, but we ended up on the wrong side of Illinois and we were wayyy far from the theatre. I hailed a cab as we would have on spring break in shitaly (hipster Batali reference right there) and we made it to the movie, which I thought was as amazing as everyone said. In a similar mode to my obsession with the fool of King Lear, I couldn't stop talking about the movie all night and I proceeded to tell everyone in the bar that they should go see it. standarddd. But seriously, Jesse Eisenberg was so good, like Adventureland good. So after the film, we went home and got dressed, I discovered that I had nothing to wear, and then in a similar shitaly fashion, Marly misnavigated us to BabaReeba and we took the bus two stops and then we had to get in a taxi anyway....and it was pouring pouring rain. After the misadventure, we had a greatttt dinner. Let me give you a rundown of all the tapas Marly, Jessie, Rachel, Jessica, and I ordered:

mixed greens, beets, oranges & goat cheese

ensalada mixta

local tomato salad with arugula & migas

ensalada de tomate con rucula y migas

roast eggplant salad with goat cheese

berenjena asada con queso de cabra

warm potato & onion omelette

tortilla española

goat cheese baked in tomato sauce

queso de cabra al horno

mushroom empanada with porcini alioli

empanada de championes

ahi tuna, shaved vegetable salad

atún y ensalada de verduras

seared salmon, heirloom potatoes, chimichurri

salmón asado con alcachofas y salsa verde

seared scallops, raisins, couscous & pine nuts

vieras salteadas

roast dates with bacon & apple vinaigrette

dátiles con tocino

meatballs with sherry tomato sauce

albondigas al jerez

sdfdpfg, yes....we were full. My favorites were the eggplant salad, heirloom tomato salad, and ahi tuna what a surprise. And we cannot forget my obsession was present--red sangria!!! Marly thinks that I'm obsessed with sangria and I have decided to go with it...I'm not ashamed!

After babareeba, we came home and drank...a lot. Then we went to Benchmark for David's bday and it was really fun and then we went to the bar next door to Benchmark and I met a boy that told me he was 42, 34, and 25. I pray he was 25 because he was a hot tall. While you may think the discovery of a hot tall would be the highlight of the night for me, please have more faith. When we left the bar at 2, we definitely did not go home....instead we went to Tempo Cafe which is 25 (typo, keeping it) hours and genius. I got the morning glory waffle--strawberries, blueberries, bananas solid. So we left tempo at like 330, went home I fell asleep in my clothes standard.

That brings me to today. I woke up, went to hot yoga at 12 during which I sweat out that entire waffle, then I came home and showered, planning on going to forever 21, but instead I fell asleep on the couch for about 3 hours. Let me just assure you that this is easier said than done seeing that our couch is made for a midget. I woke up and went to dinner with David at Riccardo Trattoria which was sooo delicious. Very authentic Italian, they make everything there, etc. Only complaint was small portions, but I think that's good sometimes. I got ahi tuna with an arugula salad and canellini beans. Very up my alley. David got orechiette pesto and then we had panna cotta for his birthday. And that brings me back to the couch, where I am currently sitting.

Goodnight and good eating,

hungry hungry hipster

the many definitions of hungry

hi there everyone,

so maybe I did this subconsciously when I named this site, but the double of hungry perhaps lends itself to the many meanings of hungry in my life. lately, the hungry hungry of "hungry hungry hipster" has taken on a new meaning than the original one intended to reference my gluttonous appetite...hungry hungry for a job. its starting to get really boring all of this doing nothing, and even though i have been keeping busy, i don't think that going to forever 21 every single day qualifies as a rewarding activity when it is done so often.

i've had some interviews at some cool restaurants, though. I went to meet with the manager at DMK Burger Bar which seriously sounds soo delicious. They have veggie burgers, salmon burgers, tuna burgers, and obv hamburgers, best part everything comes with free fries from 5-7...kind of like JD's cart comes with free fries whenever kate's boobs are around. DMK is very alternative and cool in there and i really hope i get the job...but i should hear by tomorrow and i haven't heard yet so who knows what will happen. Being a server would be really fun and easy there oh well. But today, even cooler, I had an interview at Signature Room at the 95th..which is a very high volume fine dining restaurant on the 95th floor of the Hancock building. Sickest views I've ever seen it's like you are floating in there. My ears popped majorly in the elevator going up and I got a little nervous, but after the el it was smooth sailing. The interview went well it was with two girls they said they are only interviewing a few other girls so maybe this will be it? I hope to god it is! The restaurant is verrry old school and in need of renovation but the windows and the view totally distract from that. The bar is on the 96th floor and the restaurant is pretty big, very touristy as you can imagine, but in the end..it would be a very cool place to work. So busy and we're about to go into fourth quarter so holidays will make it even busier, wow it would be perfect.

I've literally sent out a million resumes EVERYWHERE and I need to find something soon because then the hungry hungry is fast ecoming hungry like starving because I have no money. In other news, Abby and I got five faces for late night last night. so ghetto, so quesadilla, so solid. we went to mcfaddens and then just took a little detour into the shack..it was well deserved after immersive yoga of the day. for dinner tonight i had my absolute fave cranberry tuna from whole foods on seeduction loaf. tomorrow we go back to state for wiscoooo game then benchmark to partayy. until then, I'm watching a few good men...YOU CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

-h.h.h