september in the prairie
Posted: August 31, 2015 Filed under: Chicago, cycling, travel | Tags: cycling, Naperville, prairie, Springbrook Park 11 CommentsWhen I moved from Ohio, I missed the trees and hills. Yet, I’ve grown to find the prairie pure, abundant and ever changing. This section of Springbrook park was burned completely down last fall, once the lightning storms and the Indians renewed the prairie this way. In one spring and summer the prairie returns verdant and full of life.
renewed and full of life
As we cycle this path, every day its newness is a gift.
the art of Sushi – food
Posted: May 25, 2014 Filed under: Chicago, food, naperville, travel | Tags: food, Naperville, sushi 29 CommentsWe live about as far from the coast as one can get ( Chicagoland ) but Naperville has some excellent sushi restaurants. There are three, that form the Sushi-trinity near by and we try to alternate between them when heading out for lunch. This week it was Sushi House in Warrensville. It’s a small place but really provides excellent food.
We started out with a tempura roll, which includes battered shrimp in the center. It’s crunchy and tasty.
Tempura in sushi – isn’t that cheating
Next we had smoked salmon and Unagi ( barbequed eel ) – I have to admit the eel is my favorite of all time, one of those “last meal” type of flavors.
Smoked salmon and bbq eel
Being hockey season, we had to try their special “Black Hawk Roll” which featured the team colors in roe on top.
in the team colors with roe on top
In celebration of spring we tried the “winter/spring” roll – artistically my favorite, it was almost sad to devour it, but we did, with gusto. Squid on the outside, spicy tuna and avacado on the inside, and roe providing the spring buds on top.
my favorite in presentation
For the finale, a bit of ice cream, two mochi balls with a touch of chocolate sauce.
Mochi – little ice cream balls wrapped in a sweet rice dough.
white chocolate – food
Posted: January 22, 2014 Filed under: Chicago, food, travel | Tags: chicagoland, food, lunch, Naperville, white chocolate 20 CommentsExpense accounts are Sirens, urging us to abandon restraint and indulge the senses…. Oh the calories…. On the other hand I suppose we must help out the economy…. This has been a week of lunching out as the merger rolls on and local vendors stop by for one last visit.
When you dine at White Chocolate in Naperville if you can eat on the patio ( not feasible when the temperature is 8 degrees ) or in the small room the experience is the best. The big room is too loud for my taste as it makes conversation difficult. But when it comes to the table, only good words come to mind.
Start with the Ahi tuna sushi
sushi always makes a fine starter
Then move to the soup, a tomato gin soup with mushrooms and a hint of bacon. It’s a bit salty but rich and creamy. It was perfect for dipping the pretzel bread which came with honeyed butter.
perfect for dipping the pretzel bread
Their French Dip sandwich and fresh roasted beet salad. The prime-rib is thinly sliced and so tender that it really does melt in your mouth. Their home made creamy horse radish makes the perfect compliment to this wonderful sandwich.
french-cut with home made and creme horse-radish
For dessert, a desert with one extra “S” we tried the banana creme pie. It has a thick crumbly graham cracker crust, filling and white chocolate swirls. It is very good. A little espresso to try to keep me awake in the afternoon.
notice the white chocolate swirls…
I always enjoy visits here, too bad with the merger this might be the last one…
Eddie Merlot’s – food
Posted: December 9, 2013 Filed under: food | Tags: chicagoland restaurant, eddie merlot's, food, Naperville 13 CommentsIt seems that vendors always want to go to lunch in the holidays – it really does spur the economy and it’s a chance for me to try new places. The other day we stopped at Eddie Merlot’s in Warrensville, just outside of Naperville and lunched exquisitely.
I started out with their cabernet house wine, it was fruity and very drinkable and complimented the main fillet mignon nicely. The first appetizer, shrimp, was fun, but when it’s served over dry ice it has a special flair.
shrimp cocktail over dry ice – totally cool
The sesame calamari was perfectly cooked – soft and tender, one of the best I have had.
perfectly cooked and with three fine sauces
Then it was the ahi tuna on wonton chips sashimi ( raw ) but nicely seasoned
delicious tuna with a crunch
By now, we were on our second glass of wine, it was a Friday late lunch when the main course arrived, and it was very tender and tasty.
the combination worked very well, Filet Mignon, grilled shrimp, Andouille sausage, Andouille gravy, garlic mashed potatoes
Then for dessert, they bill their carrot cake as “the world’s best” and it was very good. The piece was the size of a brick and we had one for the table that we all shared. This is absolutely a visit again restautant, but priced for special occassions.
cheap and good – food
Posted: June 23, 2013 Filed under: cycling, food, naperville, travel | Tags: baklava, food, hummus, kebab, middle-eastern, naf-naf, Naperville, restaurant, schwarma 41 CommentsOne more day with my daughter, then she’s off to work and it’s just me, veggies and the juicer… Read the rest of this entry »
zapatista mexican restaurant – food
Posted: April 17, 2013 Filed under: Chicago, food, travel | Tags: Chicago, food, habenero salsa, mexican, Naperville, restaurant 11 CommentsSo Monster ( his cycling club nickname ) and I decided to try Mexican for lunch. Read the rest of this entry »
it’s a beautiful day for a ride – cycling
Posted: January 26, 2013 Filed under: Chicago, cycling, travel | Tags: cycling, muskrats, Naperville, praire, winter cycling 40 Comments21 degrees F, with a dusting of snow and blue sky and sun. The perfect day to ride. Read the rest of this entry »
second breakfast
Posted: January 17, 2013 Filed under: cancer, Chicago, food, travel | Tags: breakfast, cancer, Chicago, corn beef hash, delicious, egg harbor, eggs benedict, food, hobbits, Naperville, travel, victories 61 CommentsHobbits, those imaginary fellows invented by Tolkien, used to enjoy breakfast, and then second breakfast. Read the rest of this entry »
breakfast reward
Posted: January 16, 2013 Filed under: Chicago, food, travel | Tags: breakfast, comfort food, crepes, food, Naperville, omelet, pancake cafe, sloppy joe, travel 20 CommentsWhen I was growing up, sloppy joes were a special treat. Read the rest of this entry »
a knock in the night
Posted: November 1, 2012 Filed under: history | Tags: children, deranged, fear, growing up, knock on the door, murder, Naperville, pain, police, sad, tragic 28 CommentsThe knock came first, then the doorbell. It was 2:00 AM. Angry, it echoed two notes again and again as whoever it was pounded on the door. Two AM, better put on pants. Read the rest of this entry »
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