What I'm Eating... Dinner at Pho 888

Pho 888 is awesome, that's all there is to it.  I went it to get an avocado smoothie, with bubbles, to go, but then we couldn't resist the spring rolls (beef, and shrimp), and once I saw the hot bowl of steaming pho going to another table, I just had to order some for us.  I left positively stuffed, and holding my belly and moaning with all the fullness, but it was just SO good!

If my Momma or my friend Marika are reading this -- this place is a definite for when you visit this year!  It's best in the Winter, anyway, when you just need a bowl of delicious pho to warm you up.

Mmm, bubbles!

Beef Spring Rolls

Shrimp Spring Rolls (w/ plum sauce, and crushed peanuts)

One of my favorite things in the world -- a hot bowl of Pho (this time with meatballs)

What I'm Eating... Thai dinner @ Siam Noodle & Rice

I love this place!  Its only two blocks from my apartment, its affordable, and its yummy -- win!

Restaurant:

Siam Noodle & Rice

We had:

Crab Rangoon

Spring Rolls

Basil Duck (family style), with Sticky Rice

Crab Rangoon (my 'fella's favorite appetizer)

Spring Rolls
These jalapeños were the hottest we've ever had!  I could hardly be convinced that they were really only jalapeños, I thought for sure that they were some kind of secret super-hot pepper developed as a weapon of war.

Basil Duck w/ Sticky Rice

Basil Duck
(Family style, more than enough for two!)

What I'm Celebrating... Valentine's Day

Like many girls and women that I know, Valentine's Day wasn't always my favorite holiday.  Well, its still far from my favorite, but I don't hate it completely anymore.

When I was in high school, my friends and I celebrated "Anarchy Day", which was really just me handing out cupcakes with black icing, and the anarchy "A" on top in red icing.  I'm sure it sounds silly to you, but I still have friends who wish me a "Happy Anarchy Day!" every February 14th!

I'm not into the saccharine sweet, but it was nice to celebrate my second Valentine's Day with my 'fella.  I believe we have a bit of a tradition going... skip the fancy-schmancy dinner, with its frustrating reservation-making, overprice prix fixe menus, and skirts that don't work with Chicago Winter weather.  Instead, we go to our favorite taqueria, and eat Mexican food slathered in sour cream.

We shared the chips with salsa roja (the best I've found in Chicago!) and salsa verde, as well as the surprisingly good jalapeño poppers.  I had the chiles rellenos dinner (I judge Mexican restaurants by their chiles rellenos, and Taqueria El Ranchito has the best I've found in Chicago, so far).  My 'fella had a burrito suizo (burrito smothered in cheese), or as he called it, "a burrito as big as my head".  Add in a lime Jarritos and cake for dessert, and its a winner!

Taqueria El Ranchito, Uptown Chicago

Chiles Rellenos dinner

Chips w/ salsa roja & salsa verde

Chiles Rellenos dinner

Burrito Suizo

Burrito Suizo

Jalapeño Poppers (Which were, to my surprise and delight, actually handmade, and delicious!)

Chiles Rellenos dinner

Mmm dessert... oreo cake for my 'fella, and chocolate mousse for me.

What I'm Eating... Basil Duck (Siam Noodle & Rice)

I've been wanting to order this for almost a year now, but for whatever reason, never did.  Finally!  It was worth the wait.  This dish was also surprisingly good re-heated the next morning.  :)

Dish:

Basil Duck

Restaurant:

Siam Noodle and Rice

(Clicking the above link will take you to their website.)