Chicago

Oh, how I loved Chicago! I traveled to the Windy City back in November to attend a wedding, and was able to take in some of the sights while there. The weekend went by quickly, but my fiance and I definitely made the most of it.

We stayed with a friend for the 2 nights before the weekend’s wedding, so were lucky enough to have a “tour guide” of sorts – as well as an awesome hostess for our stay.

The only one place that my fiance just HAD to make it to was Piece Brewery & Pizzeria (http://www.piecechicago.com/flash/index.html) in Wicker Park. He’d heard great things about their pizza (and the beer too), and neither disappointed. They have a quite non-Chicagoan style of pizza – thin, crispy, and loaded with unique topping combinations. Delicious to say the least! They offer traditional red sauce pizzas, white pizza (olive oil, garlic & cheese), and you can even get a BBQ sauce substitution. It sounds odd, but is SO good. They also have a wide range of beers for any taste – but you won’t find a Miller Lite here. They brew all their own, including American-style Pale Ale, German-style Hefeweizen, and Bock.

Photo Credit: Tammy Green (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zesmerelda/)

The night before the wedding, we were able to attend a Welcome Cocktail gathering at Gibson’s Steakhouse (http://www.gibsonssteakhouse.com/) in the Gold Coast section of town. (If you watch The League, that’s the pseudo-setting of the bar they frequent!) The passed appetizers we had were AMAZING – gourmet sliders on buttery buns, mini-quesadillas, and many more. We liked it so much that we made it our last meal in the city before heading back to the airport. We sat downstairs at the bar and enjoyed a few beers while splitting (yet another) burger. It was a great atmosphere in the bar there — you saw everyone from the casual guy catching the game, to more dressed-up patrons taking a break from the exclusive shopping the area offers. Would definitely go back!

Photo Credit: jimmy_karlsson (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmy_karlsson/)

The other restaurant we visited that really stands out in my mind is Hot Chocolate, (http://www.hotchocolatechicago.com/) back again in Wicker Park. If you are in Chicago, you NEED to go here! The atmosphere is fairly casual, yet with a definite hint at upscale, with a unique modern decor. When you walk in you’re greeted by a dessert counter of sorts, featuring some of their homemade brownies & hot chocolate mixes for purchase. (I really wish we had bought some…luckily you can find it online!)

I feel like all I’ve talked about in this post is burgers, but all of them that we had were amazing! Our friend ended up getting a great combo of creamy soup & a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. The two of us ended up with their famous burger, featuring house-ground beef, organic bacon, Widmer 4-year aged cheddar, and house-made pickles on a garlic-toasted bun. My fiance got his with a fried egg on top – genius! And if you do find yourself at Hot Chocolate, please try a dessert. Any dessert. They are all beautifully plated and sure to please.

Photo Credit: mpieracci (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mpieracci/)

Luckily, before heading back to Boston, we had a bit of time for sightseeing. On an unseasonably warm Sunday, we took the Architectural River Cruise. (http://www.shorelinesightseeing.com/rivercruise.php) So much fun! You got a view unlike any other, coasting down the Chicago River and looking up at the massive buildings. You also learn a bit of history along the way from quirky & quite knowledgeable tour guides.

Photo Credits: Amie Fedora (http://www.amiefedoradesign.com)

Thanks, Amie from Amie Fedora Design for this guest post! I have not been to Chicago since before I started blogging, but it is a beautiful city with a lot of great food to be found!

If you get a chance and want to see more beautiful photography, make sure to check out Amie’s link above! She does weddings!