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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Chicago Eats: Oyster Bah, The Hampton Social and Firecakes Donuts

It’s been too long since I shared some of the delicious meals I’ve had lately in Chicago. My friend’s visit for the Lady Gaga concert at Wrigley Field gave me the opportunity to try a couple of new (to me) places, and I recently met up with Jessie (of Just Jessie blog) to catch up at another great place.

Oyster Bah, Lincoln Park

I was drawn to Oyster Bah by an Instagram photo. Yep. While the restaurant is known for oysters, hence the name, I chose the Maryland crab cake sandwich (blue crab, romaine, roma tomato, avocado, old bay mayonnaise) with one tweak: I asked for chipotle mayo instead of the old bay mayonnaise. (It came with fries.) Amazing! I ate every single bite. I was completely satisfied and I have craved it several times since then. We sipped Rosé with our entrees.

 

The Hampton Social, River North

Hampton Social is one of the most Instagrammed restaurants in Chicago. The Hamptons/East Coast-themed restaurant is adorable, often known for its “Rosé all day” sign in one of the dining rooms. It featured a live band that was actually pretty decent when we visited for an afternoon brunch recently. While the restaurant was packed, it was easy to get a reservation for the same day (for two people). We, of course, tried the Frosé, which had a peachy flavor. Peach isn’t my favorite so I thought it was just OK. I drank it all, though! My friend enjoyed the mojito as well, while I also had a mimosa. For my entree I almost picked the lobster roll, but for some reason the fish tacos were calling my name (again that weekend). I went with the beer batter fish vs. the grilled, and they had chipotle mayo. Can you see a pattern here? I will order anything with chipotle mayo/aioli on it. The fish tacos don’t come with a side, but I found them to be filling on their own.

 

 

 

 

 

Firecakes Donuts, River North

We stumbled across Firecakes while walking to brunch, so we picked up a couple of doughnuts to try as appetizers. haha Firecakes is home to the giant birthday cake doughnut that I’m dying to purchase for someone’s birthday. I tried the peanut butter cup doughnut, which I loved, and my friend chose another (that I can’t remember now). I really want to go back and try more!

 

 

 

What awesome restaurants have you tried recently? Have you been to any of these?

 

A Few Hours in Savannah, Georgia

I recently had a chance to either have lunch in Atlanta or Savannah during a road trip, and I jumped at the chance to see the latter, even if only for a little while. I knew we didn’t have much time, so I wanted to explore whatever we could.

We headed toward what seemed to be a cluster of restaurants listed on Yelp. That took us to East Bay Street. We parked next to Emmet Park for $4 and then walked toward the uneven, historic steps of River Street, which lies alongside the Savannah River. I instantly fell in love with the Spanish moss and cobblestone streets.

 

 

 

 

After checking out a few of the souvenir shops and being jealous of the people embarking on the history-tour buses, we stumbled upon a restaurant called Huey’s. When I saw a crab cake sandwich on the menu I was sold, so we walked in.
The restaurant ended up being more New Orleans style, but I am so glad we went there. I ordered the crab cake sandwich, which came with red beans and rice. Amazing and filling! I scraped my plate clean and wanted seconds. I left room for beignets to go instead, and the server was nice enough to give them to us for free!

 

The beignets were not nearly as good as those at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, but they were still tasty.
Huey’s windows face River Street and the Savannah River, offering a view of passers-by and the water. It was a lovely restaurant for lunch and I imagine dinner is more of the same. The server was professional, friendly and attentive.
I wished I had time to explore the Historic District and many more of the restaurants I passed by in Savannah, but just a little taste made me want to return in the future.
Have you been to Savannah? What are your favorite things to do there?

Road trip footage:

Pescatarian Diet on Florida Vacation

When you don’t eat meat, it can be tricky to find foods to eat on vacation. I do eat fish, so that expands my options. The tricky thing is being somewhere like at an amusement park where you are unfamiliar with the food selection. I did the best I could when choosing food options. Are you pescatarian? Here are ideas on what you can expect to find at various Florida locations:

Orlando:

  • Ceasar Salad ($9.99): What you would expect from a salad. I was able to share this with V and we were both satisfied.
  • Veggie burger and fries (about $10): The worst veggie burger I’ve ever had. Fries were good.
  • Veggie omelet and small orange juice ($13.08): Decent, filling. Shared the omelet with my daughter, who seemed to like it.
Magic Kingdom
  • Zucchini burrito with beans and rice ($10.49): Delicious and filling. Could have used some salsa.
  • Mac and cheese ($8.19): Large, creamy portion. We could have shared one bowl instead of buying two.
Animal Kingdom
  • Hummus with veggies and falafel ($11 total): The falafel was great. Hummus was just OK. The portion was a lot more than necessary for amount of veggies and pita you get. Great veggie option.

  • Mickey Mouse pretzel with cheese sauce (about $6?): What you would expect from a pretzel. A filling snack while walking around the park.

Islamorada, Florida Keys

  • Ceviche (I think $15): Yum! Not as great as my mother’s but decent.
  • Veggie enchiladas ($9.99): I ate every bite of the green-sauce enchiladas. Delicious, filling.
  • Fried ice cream ($4.75): Just OK. Not as crunchy or flavorful as I would have liked.

  • Crab cakes ($8): Yummy. Would order again.
  • Lobster tacos (about $14): Just OK. They were filling and I liked the avocado. 

  • Large Greek salad ($11) and baked potato (about $2.50): Basic, not that impressive, but filling. Lots of feta. I wasn’t really in the mood for anything else. The views from the oceanfront restaurant are serene.
  • Breakfast bullet ($13): I made myself a bagel with cream cheese and salmon, onion and capers. I also had eggs with spinach and feta and breakfast potatoes. I loved it all.

Chicago Eats: Green Zebra, Twisted Tapas, Mercadito

In my third installment of What I’ve Been Eating, I am sharing what I ate at three Chicago restaurants: Green Zebra in West Town, Twisted Tapas in Rogers Park and Mercadito in River North. My favorite of the three is Mercadito,  Mexican food restaurant.

Green Zebra, West Town

Green Zebra is a vegetarian, tapas-style restaurant. I loved every dish that we chose, and my friends and I sampled almost every dish on the seasonal menu Our favorites were housemade gnocchi, the buckwheat pasta and the corn cake. All three were absolutely incredible. I wished the corn and potatoes had more flavor. We also had an artisan cheese plate (I only liked one of the cheeses) and squash blossoms (good).

For three people and a baby the bill was around $140 with drinks.

Buckwheat pasta

Corn and potatoes
Squash blossoms

Twisted Tapas, Rogers Park

Graham and I went to Twisted Tapas for date night recently when we wanted to branch out from our usual sushi place. We had bruschetta, crab cakes, fish tacos, and spicy potatoes with aioli sauce. I liked the crab cakes and spicy potatoes the most. The bruschetta was nothing special and the fish taco was OK.

Spicy potatoes

Bruschetta

We didn’t order a lot and drank water so the bill was about $36.

Mercadito, River North

I met Jessie (from Just Jessie blog) at Mercadito for tacos one night and I could not believe how good they were. I mean really good. I had the espada tacos (blackened swordfish with spicy aioli and cabbage-jalapeño slaw) and my mouth is watering just thinking about them now. I paired that with a watermelon margarita (Mi Amiga Sandia on the menu) that I also could use at this moment. I want to go back!

Espada tacos

Mi Amiga Sandia margarita

We also ordered a trio of salsas with chips. The bill was about $40 each.


What great restaurants have you been to lately?


Previous restaurant posts:



Summer Send-off: Lake Michigan Sunset Cruise

I’m not really sure why people are so eager to wish summer away. I’m in no hurry to get into cold temperatures. Labor Day may be the unofficial end of summer, but it very much still feels like summer in Chicago. Nonetheless, we said goodbye to the season with a sunset cruise on Lake Michigan after a day of exploring Garfield Park Conservatory.

I bought our tickets to the cruise on the Anita Dee II on Groupon for less than $24 after I used a promo code. If you’re wondering what a lake cruise on one of these yachts is like, it’s basically a nightclub on a boat. Before we boarded we were offered a drink special of 3 for $20 if you paid with cash while waiting in line. Graham and I, of course, never have cash, so we paid $8 per drink on board. I chose a rum punch (that tasted like summer) to drink while we cruised away from DuSable Harbor.

View as you pull away from the harbor, which is just south of Navy Pier.

If you take one of the 90-minute cruises next summer, I recommend getting in line early so you can find a good spot on the yacht. The seats and tables will fill up quickly, especially on the upper deck. Also, a line immediately forms at the bar, which takes cash and credit cards. One complaint: No food is served on the boat. Who doesn’t get hungry when they drink? Graham and I spent the first part of the cruise on the top deck before heading down to the bottom for a different view. We found a quiet spot on the back of the yacht where we could relax and take photos. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the view of sunset silhouetting the Chicago skyline can’t be beat. I didn’t want the night to end.

We spent the last portion of the cruise indoors people watching. By the end of the cruise people have the liquid courage to dance. It was entertaining and fun to watch adults of all ages dance to the same inappropriate, unedited lyrics. Graham kept trying to get me to dance but I was too embarrassed, or something. I definitely didn’t want to go to the dance floor. I was happy hanging out on the sidelines. (Introvert quirks!) Plus, some 50-year-olds were really showing me up!


Have you been on a cruise on Lake Michigan? What did you think? Check out my video below and subscribe to my channel to see more of our adventures.

* Note about parking: We found a spot near the harbor on SpotHero. Use my referral link to get a discount on your first spot.

Related posts:

What I’ve Been Eating: Clarke’s, Taverna 750 and Growling Rabbit

Welcome to my second edition of what I’ve been eating in Chicago. The first post covered Happy Camper, Toast and Asahi Roll. This time I dined in the Chicago neighborhoods of Rogers Park and Lakeview. I recommend any of these options if you’re in town, though Taverna 750 was a bit pricey.

Clarke’s, Rogers Park

Clarke’s recently opened by Loyola University’s Lakeshore campus on Sheridan. I noticed its outdoor dining tables and flowers recently during a run and persuaded Graham to take me there when I was in a hangry mood. I had just finished running 14 miles, so I was ready to eat! We each ordered a burger. I got the Mexicana burger with a veggie patty that came with cole slaw, a pickle and fries. You also get sour cream, guacamole and salsa. The fries were not as crispy as I like. It might not blow you away but the food was just what I needed that day.

Taverna 750, Lakeview

I heard that Taverna 750 would be leaving its Lakeview location to move to another neighborhood so I wanted to visit the restaurant again while it’s still convenient. My friend and I shared lobster deviled eggs, black-bean empanadas and a pesto flatbread. We also each enjoyed a signature drink. I loved the Strawberry Fields cocktail in particular. Meals here can really add up.

Growling Rabbit, Rogers Park

I have been frequenting Growling Rabbit a lot recently because I often crave its iced Chai. I also recently went back for a full-on brunch. Service was a lot slower than usual because, as I heard the server say, they were short-staffed. I did enjoy the food, however. I ordered the vegan burrito: spicy tofu, sweet potatoes, guacamole, spinach, salsa and black beans. It is incredible, and quite large!
I also ordered potatoes on the side, because you can never have too much potatoes. My friend ordered the vegan skillet, which doesn’t actually come in a skillet but looks amazing!

As you can see, I’ve been eating some delicious food in Chicago this month. I would expect nothing less from this city. Share your recent culinary experiences with me in the comments!

What I’ve Been Eating: Asahi Roll, Toast, Happy Camper

I’ve been having some tasty meals in Chicago lately, y’all. If you live in Chicago or plan to visit soon, let me know if you try any of these and what you ate. I loved all three of these restaurants, and they are all located in different neighborhoods of the city.

Asahi Roll, Rogers Park

This is our favorite sushi place. It’s not much to look at: It’s a small space and you can miss it easily from the street, but who cares? The sushi is amazing. We eat at this restaurant once a week (almost) and we’ve tried most of the specialty rolls now. Our favorites are the Avocado Torch, Wonderful Roll, Loyola Roll, Arizona Summer and the May Flower. We still have many more rolls to try, but if you start off with the Avocado Torch (Spicy tuna, masago, tempura crunch, scallions, topped with torched avocado and tempura crunch with eel sauce and wasabi mayo) you can’t go wrong. The ramen isn’t bad either. 

Toast, Lincoln Park

I had brunch at Toast recently and I loved that they have a mimosa flight. My favorite mimosa was the Pomegranate. I ordered a Tijuana scramble (jalapeños, onion, tomato, Chihuahua cheese and cilantro) but later wished I had added soyrizo like my friends did. It was filling and tasty but perhaps I was missing some more protein. Of course, the meal comes with toast. There was a bit of a wait to eat here. The decor is adorable. There’s also a location in Bucktown.

Toast Mimosa Flight

Happy Camper, Old Town

I loved, loved, loved the Green Eggs and Pie pizza (pesto, cracked eggs, potatoes, salsa, buttermilk ranch). It normally comes with ham but I ordered mine without. My friends really loved the French toast, which is topped with ice cream and comes with a generous portion. Another friend ordered the pulled pork hash, which she loved. Order the Trailer Park Queen drink with your brunch. You’ll love it. My friend ordered the Hangover Coffee, another great drink. I am not a Bloody Mary person but I saw one with a pizza slice on it, so there you go.

Happy Camper Pulled Pork Hash

Happy Camper French Toast
Happer Camper, Trailer Park Queen, Hangover Coffee

Taste of Chicago

I finally made it to (one of my Chicago summer bucket list items) over the weekend. I was dying to go last year but I had no one to go with. Womp, womp. Normally that doesn’t stop me, but it’s a huge festival that can be kind of intimidating to do alone. I was determined to try Taste after the on Saturday, and I made it happen!

I took the train to Grant Park after the last session and met up with Graham and two of our friends.

We started off with 24 tickets each (12 tickets cost $8.50). We were walking around and mulling over our options when I saw Lou Malnati’s. I had yet to try it, so I rushed over immediately to grab myself a cheese and Graham a sausage pizza. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

We next headed to Dia de Los Tamales to grab tamales. I tried the black bean and corn while Graham chose pork. Again, yum! I loved the salsa on top. I also tried my friend’s veggie burger before moving on to Chicago-style fries from Gold Coast Dogs.

It was then time for desserts. We chose watermelon Italian ice from Franco’s Ristorante, then headed to get the Mexican paletas at La Mexicana. I immediately gravitated toward the lemon lime. AMAZING! I wanted another, but instead we tried sea salt and caramel gelato from Franco’s. (We ended up buying another 12 tickets for the last two desserts.)
We probably could have tried more food, but it was time to head home after an exhausting yet fun day.

Have you been to Taste of Chicago?

Phoenix Eats: Reyes de la Torta, Flower Child, Stock & Stable

Besides seeing my friends and family, the best part about being back in Phoenix for a few days was eating at places I love. I wasn’t able to visit all of my favorites, but I did have some excellent meals last weekend.

Here’s what I ate at three great local Phoenix restaurants:

Reyes de la Torta: It’s a no-frills mom-and-pop Mexican food location. Most (if not all) the servers speak Spanish and often music or television is playing in Spanish. The food comes in large portions and it’s simply delicious. It’s not about the decor, it’s about the food here.

I ordered the veggie torta, which mainly composed of cheese plus lettuce, beans, jalapeno and tomato. I also had rice on the side. I thought the torta would have more beans than it did, so next time I would add some as a side.
The Del Rey torta.

Flower Child: The Late Riser (cage-free eggs, beans, quinoa, roasted chile,salsa, avocado,corn, Greek yogurt and queso blanco) is delicious and guilt-free. I wished I could order a free refill! Also, if you show up for breakfast, which ends at 11, you can have free refills of the cold brew. This restaurant is adorable and I love the details like yoga mat parking, an infused water station outside and wall art.

Stock & Stable: This new restaurant opened in my old Phoenix neighborhood. Its dishes focus on meat (hence the name) but I found several pescatarian-friendly options. The squid ink cavatelli is tasty, but it kind of looked like bugs. You will see when you order it. Just don’t look at it; eat it!
The potted crab (a dip) is amazing. Do yourself a favor and order one (or two) and be sure to get extra bread.
We ordered the Eastern Promises and Black Hatchet drinks from their cocktail menu as well. I liked both, but I preferred the Black Hatchet.
This would be a great place to eat on a patio when the weather is nice.

Eastern Promises and Black Hatchet

If you try any of these places let me know what you think! What are your favorite places to eat?

Brunch at Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba, Chicago

Choosing where to brunch is an extremely difficult decision. Chicago has countless options, and there’s pressure (I put on myself) not to pick the wrong spot. Luckily my friends and I made the right choice this weekend by going to Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba in Lincoln Park.

The tapas (small plates) are meant to be shared, so order a bunch of everything and try it all!

What we ordered:

  • Waffles with marcona almond nutella: Amazing.
  • Two orders of spicy potatoes with aioli sauce: I could not get enough. I pretty much ate one order by myself.
  • Brussels sprout salad: Looked like cole slaw to me, but was great.
  • Eggs Benedict: I may not be an eggs benedict person, so I don’t know.
  • Calamari: Good, but seemed like aioli would be a better sauce for it. In fact, that’s what I used.
  • Goat cheese baked in tomato sauce with toasted bread: Yum.
  • Deviled egg: Also yum, but tiny.
  • Chicken and ham croquetas: Didn’t try them. Comes with ham that I didn’t eat. 
  • Beef empanadas: Didn’t try them.
I didn’t try all of the items, but my friends seemed to like everything. We also loved the blackberry-raspberry sangria (We ordered two pitchers.). I was so full that it felt like I had a bowling ball in my stomach afterward, but I was happy. I should also mention that the waiter was nice enough to bring us dessert without us asking. It was a caramelized banana, butterscotch custard and a marcona almond caramel bar. 
Would I go back to Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba? Absolutely. You’ll probably see me there again this summer.
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