tried this new place called cucina urbana on my last trip to san diego. i first read rave reviews on a couple of blogs, and it did not disappoint! make sure you make a trip out there if you’re in san diego. :)

on a wednesday night it was packed with people, so make sure you make reservations–but if you wander in, they’ll probably seat you at one of the cool communal tables below.

i LOVED their chandeliers.

polenta + ragu, short rib pappardelle. two dishes worth going back for. :)

afterwards, i was tempted to make my usual stop at extraordinary desserts, but we opted to try something new since we were only a couple blocks from chocolat. dark chocolate + hazelnut gelato sundae? HELLO. (p.s. why doesn’t LA have good dessert spots? anyone have suggestions?)

sunday brunch at the publican in chicago. honestly one of the best meals i’ve had. ever. enough of an excuse in itself to go back to chicago. :)

everything was charmingly mismatched and instantly nostalgic — embroidered linens, french toile plates, pewter silverware…

beer mimosas and spicy pork rinds

best dish: red-wine poached eggs with AMAZING prosciutto. that bearnaise sauce single-handedly turned me into a fan of white wine vinegar. pastrami short rib was delicious too.

i loved the feel of being in a communal farmhouse kitchen.

it was so good that our party decided on the spot to make dinner reservations for the same night. we didn’t end up keeping them, but all the more reason to come back :)

a few weeks ago a bunch of college friends and i headed to chicago to visit our friend dan at northwestern. despite having been to 49 states, chicago has always eluded me so i was super excited for this trip. :) and the windy city did not disappoint! i loved every minute of it, from the ornate skyscrapers to the tree-lined avenues to the midwestern hospitality. and the food. THE FOOD! four days was entirely too short, and i’m looking forward to another visit. thank you dan :)

chicago deep dish! yes, please. although to tell the truth… it’s just as good, if not better, at tony’s little italy around the corner from my house. :)

the incredible view from our 53rd floor mag mile apartment. absolutely. beautiful.

bleeding heart bakery

it rained for most of our weekend in the city, but i feel like it made chicago all the more beautiful. there’s something about the way the street looks when it’s just rained…

frontera grill! home of top chef master rick bayless.

hot doug‘s foie gras hot dog + duck fat fries. decadent and heavenly. at the same time. and worth the 45 minute wait.

i loved the art institute. could have stayed there the whole day if it weren’t for my aching feet by the end of our trip…

and of course, the millennium bean!

(i’m saving photos of the publican for the next post because it’s just that good.)

crab cakes with cucumber salad, lemon-pepper pappardelle with sausage, red pepper, and peas in a pesto cream sauce, tj’s $2.99 riesling (corkscrew fail…)

and i call this one: why the heck am i still single?!

p.s. thank you maggie. :) you know how to cure the ailments of the heart.

going to try to post a photo a day from seattle :)