Macarons...the new cupcake?

French macarons seem to be everywhere these days. They have been heating up the food scene in Chicago and around the US, though up until a few months ago it was pretty hard to find them here in the states. No, no I'm not talking about the coconut macaroon cookies but the petite little hamburger-like cookies in bright pastel colors that are made with almond flour. These divine Parisian treats have blown up in popularity recently yet this little cookie can trace its roots back to a convent in central France in 791. It was popularized for modern delights by macaron powerhouse Ladurée. When I visited Paris I had the opportunity to take a fabulous pastry tour there and got to taste several of these sugar gems when I visited Pierre Herme.

I love macarons and my good friend Lesley does too. We have baking and cooking dates and one day a few months ago decided to tackle the macaron. Though they tasted great, our cookies lacked some finesse. We told our friends at the Elysian Hotel about our baking debacle and pastry chef, Alissa Wallers, graciously offered to help demonstrate the fine points of creating macarons herself. Alissa learned from French-cooking great Francois Payard himself and let us in on a few of the macaron cooking "secrets" if you will.

I don't know that I'll be attempting to make these myself again (or without my trusty pastry friend Lesley - she's the one with the steady hand and the pastry bag) but it was a truly memorable experience and the macarons were melt in your mouth delicious!

Coffee Break

My friend Janna and I are both studying for big exams (she is studying for the GRE and I am studying for the GMAT), so it was serendipitous that we took a break together to go on a coffee tour. I LOVE Intelligentsia coffee. I even created a list of my favorite places to drink Intelligentsia on my Yelp profile. I love the incredibly strong roast and its intense ability to give me a little extra boost even on those days when I don't think anything will help. There is some magical quality to the coffee for me whether I am brewing a cup for myself at home or heading to the Green City Market for a $1 cup of their organic brew. Frankly folks I love the stuff.

Imagine my excitement when several months back I was searching the Intelligentsia website and saw they offered tours of the roasting plant for $10. Great deal AND you get a half pound of fresh roasted coffee? Yes please! Of course I waited too long to buy tickets and missed out on the January tour date (it is only offered the first Saturday of the month) but luckily made the February cut. Who knew so many people would go ga ga for a coffee tour? Well, as luck would have it I purchased the tickets before the price went up to $15 a pop AND before it was featured in Time Out Chicago.

The main Intelligentsia plant is not as big as you might think. Yes, they supply coffee around the city to many of our favorite restaurants (see my Yelp profile for that lovely list again) and sell it at a variety of locations, but it is down right small even! The plant is located in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor (home to other such faves as Goose Island Brewery, Ashland Addison florist, and Diana's Bananas) and the sign on the door is so small my friends dropping me off there drove past it several times. Of course there were tastings of different types of coffees I think there were 6+ different brews for the participants enjoyment. The downside of this tour? Too many people! There were something like 40 over-caffeinated coffee crazed fiends.

Despite the crowds, I felt like I did learn a lot about coffee (as I'm no expert) from the beans growing, to the selection of beans from Rwanda to Peru (Intelligentsia is no longer fair trade because they feel like it was more beneficial for them to be involved in direct trade), to the roasting, to the blends and tasting. It is quite the process all to get a great cup of joe. Impressive.

Study Break for Food Girl

I need a study break. You read that right...this little lady is going back to school. Well OK I certainly hope I'll be heading back to school some time in the near future. Right now I am concentrating on studying for the GMAT and frankly there is only so much I can take before I need a little break. I trick myself into studying longer with mental promises of little treats and you know what? It works. I convinced myself I could study just a wee bit longer for 2 squares of a Vosges Barcelona bar.

Why am I going back to school? Good question. Someday (ideally in the next few years) I'd like to have my own doughnut shop. I'm not giving away too much information here because things are really in the initial stages but let's just say its sort of a Hot Doug's meets Voodoo Doughnuts. I also don't want to share all my fabulous ideas and then be left high and dry. Needless to say the idea is fun. It's sassy and of course there will be tasty treats.

Speaking of tasty treats, I have been meaning to write about my holiday visit to Cleveland's beloved West Side Market. I hadn't been there since I was in grade school, and being the Chow Hound that I am (technically I am not a foodie as there are many delicious items I will enjoy, not just haute, Michelin star cuisine) I have been wanting to make a pilgrimage there again.

I got the chance to do so over my Winter Break and I was not let down! There is only so many fruits and veggies a girl can buy on a short trip to visit the parents but it was a true site for anyone who enjoys food. My friends in Cleveland I urge you to visit the Market at least once before preparing a good meal and I assure you that you won't be disappointed! If you're looking for a good (and cheap) meal to boot check out the West Side Market Cafe. I had a really fresh fish sandwich with a Great Lakes Brewery beer.

Too busy eating and cooking to blog!

Is it possible to be so busy that you don't even have time to jot down a few paragraphs about what's been going on in your life? Sure I can make excuses but for not having written anything for a good several months I really don't have any other excuses than the obvious "I've been busy".

I have to give a shout out for perhaps the greatest internet invention since Opentable (for those of you who are living in the dark ages, Opentable allows you to see a restaurants availability online and make a selection from fabulous options across your city). Groupon rivals Opentable for its fabulousness. Groupons was started online a mere year ago and has now grown to include 45 cities across the US. You sign-up for to receive Groupon e-mails and on a dailly basis they offer a different coupon to a restaurant, store or service in your area. You click on the button that says you're in and if enough people join you then you get the coupon. Yes, it might seem a little odd "buying" coupons but really is fabulous (and addicting). I have had to restrain myself because I get insanely giddy with the opportunity to visit fanastic restuarants that I normally wouldn't be able to afford - Lockwood in the Palmer House Hilton, Otom, Bonsoiree and Shawn McClain's Spring just to name a few. All of these dining options further propel me towards my restaurant obsessions. So many restaurants...so little time!

I've been doing a good amount of traveling this fall/winter too which has been fun. I am the Queen of the 3-day weekend :) In October I took a Girls Weekend with the Ladies to Leesburg, Virginia. We visited VA and nearby West Virginia at the ideal time when all the leaves were changing colors. Of course we ate well. If you're planning a vacation next Fall, I'd highly recommend renting a car if you're in the DC area and visiting the great wineries in the area as well as dining at some of the fun restaurants in charming downtown Leesburg! Cheers to my high school ladies and our fabulous food (and wine) filled weekends!


On another weekend this Fall I voyaged to Disney World with my dear friend Annie. We had a wonderful time running from park to park in 3 days but it was one of those that I left thinking "geez, I need a vacation from my vacation!" The Epcot Food & Wine Festival was winding up when we were there and we enjoyed some delicious treats at the different countries booths from gulab jamun (my favorite Indian dessert) to jambalaya (regional US cuisine). I did try a turkey leg there (because really I can't resist) but was severly disappointed. It was overly priced the meat was gross. I don't recommend getting one!

I've had a few visits home the most recent of which to celebrate my Mom's birthday. My adorable nephew Sam was also in town. He is the first wee one in our family and therefore gets a lot of (much deserved) attention. We cannot seem to take enough pictures of him eating. He is a HUGE dessert fan and will usually opt for the chocolate desserts at that. Things can get pretty messy, but really don't those make for the best pictures?

More Mac & Cheese Please!

Who doesn't love mac & cheese? Yes, there is that stuff in the blue box that we grew up with, but then there is the gourmet, rich, insanely decadent stuff that dreams are made of. This is the ultimate comfort food folks...pasta, cheese all wrapped up into warm gooey goodness. I love the stuff. If I see it on a restaurant's menu I HAVE to order it - this obsession has sometimes steered me in the right direction (Rockit Bar & Grill has an awesome baked delight) but often it has not (Carnivale is a fabulous Jerry Kleiner restaurant, but sadly mac & cheese is not a Latin fave and has no business on their menu). If you through in some fancy cheeses (Emmentel swiss anyone?) and some over the top mix-ins (truffles or bacon usually makes everything better) then I'm sure to be a happy camper.

I have to say that I make pretty good mac and cheese. I crave it all summer, but really its the ideal food for fall and those cold winter nights. It fills the cockles of your soul with its gooey goodness and I love to share it with friends. If you haven't received an invitation to join me yet for dinner (and I deeply apologize for that) then you can use my recipe for yourself. Please note all ingredients listed are full fat. This is for optimal enjoyment. My friend Erin loves mac and cheese so I made a big batch for her (and baby Connor) recently.

Robyn's Gooey Mac & Cheese

Note: If you are watching your waist line, cholesterol or fat content then you can certainly opt for whole grain pasta and fat free cheeses and milk.

1 lb. pasta (I like to use fusilli)

1 lb. of shredded sharp white cheddar

2 cups of heavy cream

2 slices of whole wheat bread

1 tbsp. butter

1/8 tsp. Dried mustard (the spice - not the stuff in the jar)

Sliced mushrooms and Pancetta or ham (depending on your preference)

Preheat oven to 350

1. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain.

2. If you're opting for the mix-ins (which I recommend) heat a pan with the butter and add chopped ham and mushrooms. Sautee until mushrooms are cooked and ham has caramelized a bit.

3. Meanwhile toast your bread. Pulse the toast in a food processor so that chunks of the bread still remain.

4. Toss drained pasta in a large bowl (you'll need a HUGE one) with heavy cream, dried mustard, salt and pepper (to taste) and the shredded cheese. If the pasta is still warm it should melt the cheese. You may need to put the gooey pasta back into the pot and melt the cheesy mixture a bit more. Add in the mushroom/ham mixture now too.

5. Pasta/Cheese mix should be transferred to an ovenproof container. Spread breadcrumbs evenly on top. Bake for 10 minutes until crust forms on top.

ENJOY. The great thing about this dish is that it reheats easily and you CAN make this as healthy (or not) as you wish. Mmm, mmm good.

Quinoa and her grainy cousin Kasha

It seems like every magazine article I read these days extols the "secret" virtues of grains like quinoa. Some of you may agree and others might ask "what in the world is quinoa, I've never heard of it". Well, for you folks that asked the later, let me help you out with a little background info on this wheat and gluten free wonder is all about.

Pronounced keen-wah this grain-like crop is actually a relative to such superpower foods as beets and spinach, though it more closely resembles rice. Quinoa has been a staple in the South American culture for roughly 6,000 years now and dates back to the ancient Incas who gave it the moniker "mother of all grains". So what did they know then and revere that is only coming into popularity in the US now? For starters, quinoa is ridiculously healthy - I'm talking high protein, low in fat and an excellent source of fiber (3 grams per 1/4 cup serving). Plus this is a fairly easy and delicious dish to make!

Quinoa's flavor is really subtle and lends itself well to taking on other ingredients, so if you're going to give it a whirl in the kitchen (which I highly recommend you do) then cook it with chicken (or veggie) stock for a savory dish and add in veggies (broccoli doesn't seem to favor well sitting through 15 minutes of stock absorption though - next time I'll cook it and add it in at the end for flavor). I am hoping to have some leftovers one of these days (trouble is I never do because I end up eating my whole portion with the dinner) and to make a "healthy" fried rice...if I do that I'll let you know how I fare with that! Here is the interesting thing though...you think quinoa...you think savory...salmon...veggies...but what about sweet quinoa? I saw a recent article in Men's Health (my brother gets it and they surprisingly have great recipes) that was for a quinoa "oatmeal". Instead of water or stock use apple juice and add fruit and nuts. Delicious and so filling! Be sure to rinse your quinoa well because you need that liquid absorption, and it ain't happening if you don't rinse before use!

Another healthy rice alternative I "discovered" is Kasha, 100% roasted whole grain buckwheat. What you think it sounds gross? Trust me its nutty flavor is savory and delicious. This dish has Eastern European roots (just like me!) and is apparently a common filling for knish (dough or potato filled dish that is fried -- similar to an Indian samosa or an English pastie). Though I don't remember eating kasha when I was little (we opted towards farfal in my house but I couldn't find it at TJs or Jewel this weekend) I have known about kasha for sometime thoughI didn't realize its great health benefits.

Last night I gave it a whirl and served it at my little Yom Kippur dinner (little meaning - me & my brother with too much food). I took a picture of my table and the dinner for you here. I didn't have to rinse the kasha (yeah, one less step to worry about!) but did sautee 1/2 cup of chopped onions in butter before adding it to the boiling chicken stock. Wow! It was so good and I can't wait to eat the leftovers.

So my question of the day to you all is...kasha? quinoa? other miracle grain? Let me know how you cook your groats!

What's a girl to do about fried food?

It's been a few weeks...I know and I apologize. What in the world have I been so busy doing you ask? I had been oh so diligent about posting at least once a week and then Wham. Nothing. You missed me you say? Oh that is really sweet. Well, I was busy eating of course and yes, that does take up more time than you would think (OK, I confess I wasn't just eating, but may also have been busy at work, entertaining my folks, traveling home to OH and running a bit too...but there was a lot of eating in between!)

So the good news is that in my absence I had some wonderfully delicious food stories I've been meaning to share. Most important is my visit last weekend to the Geauga County Fair back home in the great state of Ohio. This is one of the biggest county fairs in the state with all sorts of fun rides (sadly adults can not go in the bouncy castle) and of course foods. I don't think its possible to eat anything healthy at a fair so instead I turned my attentions to the fried fair delights. Surprisingly there were many. Who would have guessed that you could snack on a fried pickle, get some fried veggies, a corn dog, french fries, a fried twinkie, candy bar and of course a fried Oreo.

You'd probably guess that broccoli would be the healthiest possible thing you could eat fried. I had it and let me tell you there's a pound of grease and once you're taking that little green giant for a dip in a vat of ranch dressing there is nothing healthy about it. Tasty? Yes. Healthy? Not so much.

I think these were some pretty interesting fried options but I'm sure there are others out there! What sort of fried foods have you seen/tried? I do admit that I shared (yes, shared ladies & gentlemen I did NOT eat it all myself) a deep-fried Snickers once. Ooh it was so sinfully tasty. There's even a place in Geneva, OH that has deep-fried foot long hot dogs. I admit I've had one of those too. Frying...so bad but such a good guilty pleasure!