I spent a day in Philadelphia last summer with a friend and one of the things to do on our list was to have lunch at the Reading Terminal Market. It has so many options much like the Milwaukee Public Market that I told you all about last week. I like going to places like these because there are tons of options for you to choose from all in one place. The only negative about it is that there’s too many that you get confused! However, I did know that we obviously had to have a Philly Cheesesteak! We decided to get it from Carmen’s Famous Italian Hoagies and Cheesesteaks. There was another place we wanted to try them from but they ran out of hoagies! So, while my friend waited in line for the cheesesteaks, I, of course had to go to another restaurant too. I went to Valley Shepherd Creamery and Meltkraft Grilled Cheese and got a grilled cheese…
Milwaukee Public Market – Milwaukee, WI
While in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last summer, I went to the Milwaukee Public Market. On my internet search, it came up as one of the top places to visit there. It’s basically a foodie’s heaven because there are multiple food vendors in one building and so you have all these options to pick from to have your meal. We arrived at lunch time so it was a bit crowded and we had to wait some time to get food. But let me tell you, the wait was well worth it! As excited as I was, I was also freaking out because I wanted to try everything but obviously my stomach wouldn’t allow that. Which reminds me of the time when one of my friends asked me if I could have any super power what would it be? She’s actually asked me this a few times on different occasions. And my usual answer was to be…
Valpo Velvet – Valparaiso, IN
Continuing with the exploring Indiana theme, it’s time to tell you about Valpo Velvet. When I was looking up things to see, do and eat in Valparaiso, Indiana, I kept coming across Valpo Velvet. It’s an ice cream shoppe! And such a historic one as well. They’ve been making ice cream in this location since 1947. And what’s great is that they continue to make all their products from scratch! The picture of the ice cream featured above may not look as exciting but the flavor definitely was. There are about 50 different flavors of ice creams, sherbet, frozen yogurt, etc. to choose from and I got Salted Caramel. It’s one of my all time favorite flavors of ice cream along with cookies and cream. It was delicious! I really liked the inside of this shoppe as well, it was really cute. In particular, I enjoyed all the colorful chairs, almost each…
Mindy’s Hot Chocolate – Chicago, IL
In my last post I was remembering the warmth. However, since I have no control over the weather, I embrace winter by drinking lots and lots of hot chocolate. And lucky for me, there are several places in Chicago dedicated to just that much like Mindy’s Hot Chocolate. One of my friend’s had been wanting to try this place after reading so many great reviews. So a couple of weeks ago we finally got the chance! It’s located in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood in the middle of shops and restaurants. As soon as I walked in, I loved the interior. And the very first thing that I noticed when I walked in was a beautiful brick wall that was painted white and embellished with wall planters made from glass bottles. So simple, yet so eye catching too. I was happy when they seated us right by it. We both ordered the Medium Hot Chocolate made…
The Millworks – Harrisburg, PA
I am so excited to share this post with you! The last time I went to Harrisburg was in November, on the birth of my niece. That is when I discovered The Millworks. Well, technically I didn’t discover it on my own. My friend suggested we go here (I love it when my friends know exactly the kinds of things I would like and appreciate). So basically this place is for anyone who enjoys art and food. As you walk in, you are immediately greeted by artwork on the walls. Inside, there is a shop which features prints, jewelry, pottery etc. from local artists. They have several art studios on the main floor as well as the upstairs. I fell in love with the architecture and the interior design immediately. The lumber utilized inside was re purposed from whatever was left inside when the building was originally purchased. The design up…
Inspiration Kitchen, Garfield Park, Chicago
I went to this restaurant after visiting the Garfield Park Conservatory which I wrote about in my previous post. When we were done, it was lunch time so when looking up places to eat around this area, Inspiration Kitchen showed up with really good reviews. We got fried chicken and biscuits from here and I just have to say that this was probably some of the best friend chicken and biscuits I have had! The chicken was perfectly crisp and seasoned really well. The biscuits had cheddar cheese in them and were so delicious! The side of Macaroni and Cheese was just okay (I’m not the biggest Mac-n-Cheese fan in general though). The menu changes seasonally and I think that if a restaurant does this, most likely it means that they get the most fresh local ingredients. In addition, they also have a great story on how they help with the poverty stricken areas in Chicago.…
Blackberry Market, Glen Ellyn, IL
One thing that I’ve liked about the Chicago suburbs is that they all have downtown areas that are unique. And Glen Ellyn is no exception. I really enjoy walking through it and going to all the small boutiques, restaurants and cafes. A place that I go to often is Blackberry Market. They make things fresh in house and try to get most of their ingredients locally. I come here and do my work, drink hot chocolate and occasionally have lunch. I love the colors used in the interior as well as the art all over the walls. I’ve tried three of their sandwiches (Grilled Cheese, Grilled Gouda and Caramelized Onions and Braised Beef Brisket). Everything has been delicious so far. There is a tomato chutney that is inside the grilled cheese which is phenomenal! In addition, you can find a variety of fresh salads that are changing throughout the year. My favorites are the Southwest Salad and the…
Southern California – More Food Adventures
More food! This is going to be another quick and short post about some delicious places I dined at. Mediterranean Cafe – Pasadena, CA Who doesn’t love Mediterranean food? When I went to school in Norhridge, Pasadena was halfway between my house and school so I often stopped here. This is one of my favorite cities to go to when I am back in California, especially Old Town. Anyway, a friend of mine who lived here introduced me to this cafe and I love her for it! I like getting their beef kebab plate. SO GOOD! You will not be disappointed here. Everything is tasty and fresh! Tom’s Farms, Cheese and Wine Shoppe – Corona, CA This was such a cute and fun place to walk around at. There were a few outdoor pop up shops that were selling jewelry and other types of art. Anyway more about the food! We had a vegetarian pizza full of…
Fish Tacos in Southern California
This week it’s all about food! Brace yourself because you might end up feeling hungry by the end of this post and I would like to apologize in advance for it. While in Cali, food wise, my intentions were to have as many fish tacos as I possibly could have! I’m going to name some places in order of my preference. 1. Oscar’s – San Diego, CA Although I did not get to go to Oscar’s this time around, I have to mention it because it’s my all time favorite fish taco place so far. And I would like to tell you that if you are ever in this area, you HAVE to stop by here! The tacos are a perfect size and the perfect crunch with the perfect amount of flavor in every bite. You just can’t stop eating them! A friend of mine says there is another place…