Blue Lollipop Road

May 18, 2011 In De-lish, Food, Illinois, People

‘it’s sweet, it’s fresh, and it’s gonna send you to sugar heaven.”

A friend called last minute on Friday, was in town for work for the day, and said he wanted pizza. Of course! I’m in Chicago, so deep dish was a must.

We met at Gino’s East of course:

Leftovers...mmm

We had quite the lunch experience. First lets start with my pizza; Deep dish cheese with tomatoes. My own perfect little pie:

Gino's East Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

Perfect thick crust:

Gino's East Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

…and oh that cheese:

Gino's East Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

You all know me by now. You know I am a foodie, and that I think there is nothing more important than time with people you love, feasting and laughing. I’ve lunched with this particular friend bunches of times over the past 14 years, but this particular time was one of my all-time favorites because our waiter added the perfect entertainment value. He was sweet, polite, thorough and just an all around happy chatty guy. Meet Demi:

Demi, our Bulgarian waiter and I

Demi is from Bulgaria. We chatted about his time in Chicago, how much he loved his job and the people he works with at Gino’s. When I asked him if I could take a picture of him, he replied “Only if you are with me!”

I often wish when I write, you all could’ve been there, because words on a computer screen can’t capture moments as well as if you were in person when scenes unfold. After we paid our bill, Demi cooly breezed by our table out of nowhere, dropped a bag in front of me with an enormous cookie in it and simply said “It’s sweet, it’s fresh, and it’s gonna send you to sugar heaven” with his fantastic accent as he waved and went back to work.

We all rolled with laughter, and left stuffed and smiling. A delicious lunch with friends and a quote I’m sure we will use for lots of years to come.

Thanks Demi, you totally made our day. How did you know I love hot, fresh chocolate chip cookies anyway?

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May 17, 2011 In Funny signs, Illinois, Photos

the good ol’ lodge

Table at the Lodge, Chicago

Apparently they have been looking for help for a very long time. I’m thinking since they opened in 1957:

Sign in bathroom at the Lodge

This place is the epitome of a dive; dark walls and low ceilings, floor is covered in peanut shells, always packed, and it’s fantastically fun. If you are in Chicago, this is a must check out spot for a late night drink. Challenge if you go: See if it’s possible to actually fit 2 people in the 2 person stall bathroom.

The Lodge. I love it.

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May 14, 2011 In Feedback

what are your top 3 favorite foods?

I’ve been studying a lot about food lately. You know, reading a ton, obsessing about my dream kitchen, often wishing I was nearer to my brother’s farm in Vermont to be able to have all that organic goodness regularly, and trying to get creative because not only do I not eat any fish/seafood, but I’ve been back on the vegetarian train (unless I feel safe/inspired to have a bit of something meaty on occasion) so it’s been a challenge for me to find interesting new eats to try that fit within my rules.

I love to hear about what other people eat. Those comfort foods, the nostalgic ones, or that one thing you eat over and over that never gets old.

Anyone care to share? Please post a comment here, send me a link to your favorite restaurant, food truck, or farm, or shoot me a note through the contact page here.

Here’s to delicious meals and new food finds. Thanks for sharing your favorites!

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May 11, 2011 In Live the life you want to live

what’s that nike says?

Some of my favorite conversation is the “What I really want to do.” You know, the:

*Well I couldn’t possibly do that

*Everyone will think I am crazy

*I’d feel awful moving so far away from my friends

*My parents would be so upset if I did that

*I shouldn’t be so selfish

*Why can’t I just “grow up” and be Ok, with where I am and what I’m doing now?

….oh how I could go on.

I had yet another one of these conversations last night with a friend who has a legitimate itch she wants and needs to scratch. She’s got a goal, a dream, the total drive, ambition, personality and experience to make it like a rock star and then some, but she’s stuck in herself right now. You know, that place where we all get to before we either:

A.) Push, push and end up going for it.

B.) Give up and  live in complacency.

When are we going to stop feeling the guilt, convincing ourselves we are crazy, or listening to other people who tell us we “shouldn’t” want certain things our souls ache to be/do? I am guilty of falling into the “gosh I shouldn’t” at times too, but thankfully I have kept those cheerleaders around me who only have to look at me in that way they do, and I get back on my horse and ride again.

Watch out people; I am “crazy” Auntie, friend, sister, daughter, co-worker, coach, neighbor, (insert whatever other title here)- that will always tell you to go for it, and live the life you want to live. (Have you seen the new Blue Lollipop Road tagline?:)

Gasp! I am encouraging throwing caution to the wind and actually living the live you want to. That is doing work that works for each of us, being around people we can learn from, feeding our mind, body, soul in whatever ways we need and allowing ourselves to change things when it’s the right time to change.

If you are someone out there who wants to go, be, try, do something and an actual or phantom person in your head is telling you that you’re crazy or wrong, just remember the only thing that will ever be crazy or wrong is living inside a life you don’t want at all.

Go for it S.B.

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May 9, 2011 In De-lish, Food, Illinois, Photos

chicago sunday brunch #2

Yesterdays brunch was at Nookies Too in Lincoln Park. I confess, this was my 3rd visit. Last time I was at Nookies it was my 31st birthday and that’s where I chose to have breakfast complete with a friend and mimosas. All three times I have been I’ve gotten the same thing; Crunchy French Toast:

Nookies Too: Crunchy French Toast

My sister and I have even stolen the concept and made this at home, except I use Frosted Flakes instead of regular corn flakes. You can use Captain Crunch too- just crush it up and roll the egg soaked bread…voila! A sweet treat for a funky brunch.

I feasted yesterday and couldn’t resist taking lots of photos to capture in full the golden brown, crunchy, sweet, perfection:

Nookies Too: Crunchy French Toast

Nookies Too: Crunchy French Toast

What did I do after I finished on this sunny Sunday after my food coma set in? I walked it off course! About 10 miles to be exact; All through Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Roscoe Village and more. Nothing like a feast and earning it.

Stay tuned for next weeks brunch post #3…

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May 8, 2011 In Argentina, India, Maine, North Carolina, People, Photos, Vermont, Virginia

thanks mom

Dear Mom,

Thank you for raising me in a beautiful, safe place where I could run and play:

Front yard in Hidden Valley

Thank you for encouraging me to travel and explore:

Me at the Taj Mahal: November, 2008

Thank you for giving me 3 of the best siblings, who have turned into my best friends:

The Kid and I, Wilmington, NC: March, 2009

Brad and I on bus in Argentina

…so one of those siblings could give me a great nephew:

With DJ and Mason: June 2009

Thank you for telling me to go for it, and always follow my dreams:

I made it! At Alaska border 8/8/1: State #50

Thank you for sharing doughnuts with me on our special breakfast dates:

Blue Benn Diner breakfast with Mom

Thank you for being my friend, and the one person who I know will love me with all of her heart forever:

Mom and I at Seadog Brewing Company, Maine

You are the definition of what a mother should be. You are the reason I will always believe anything is possible. I am so, so, very lucky to be your daughter. I love you Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.

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May 6, 2011 In People, Photos, Vermont

thanks grandma and grandpa

I’ve been thinking about my Mom all week this week. I think of her everyday, but as I put my card in the mail on this Mother’s Day week I realized this is the first one since all 4 of us Peacock kids were born, that just 1 of us would be home to spend time with her this year on the day devoted to Mom’s. In an effort to make up for my absence to spoil her, I’ve decided to devote a long weekend of posts and photos to help illustrate what she means to me.

First I will start by thanking my Grandparents, after all- they did make her. Thankfully I have never had to question for one second in my life whether I am loved or not, but if I ever did it would take just walking into the room with my Grandma and Grandpa to know I am:

Gramp, Gramp and I: May, 2009

Gram, Gramp and I: January 2011

Obviously they taught my Mother the power to love wholly and unconditionally. There is an art form to this. Let’s just just say Picasso and van Gogh have nothing on my Mom. When the world has felt like it’s collapsing around each of us kids at times, the one thing that has always remained in concrete is that this one woman is always there; our biggest and most loyal, unwavering fan. Her super human strength continues to support us through anything we could possibly dream up.

Thank you for making my Mom Grandma and Grandpa; By making your daughter, you have made me the luckiest daughter in the world. I love you.

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May 5, 2011 In North Carolina, Photos

a beach mood on cinco de mayo

As I freeze my tail off here in the Chicago spring still wearing winter coats and scarves everyday, I fantasize about sitting on the beach all day until sunset, with an icy cold corona in my hand. Naturally I had to go back into my photo archives to find something to fit my mood on this day observed in the U.S to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. I took these in the Outer Banks, North Carolina last July, arriving just as the sun was going down:

OBX at sunset, July 2010

…and sitting through a magnificent sunset:

OBX at sunset, July, 2010

Cheers to celebrating Cinco de Mayo and being lucky enough to sit on the beach during a sunset like this!

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