April's Dinner

April’s Girls Dinner

For April, Liz picked the Bin Wine Café on Milwaukee because she had heard that the famous Chef Antonio worked there.

Chef Antonio came out to meet us and provided us with complimentary appetizers. He knows a hot group of women when he sees them.


Oh cheese, how I love you.


Adriana and Stephanie enjoyed the cheese.



After Chef Antonio gave us free food, I obviously felt like a rock star as shown here.


I had the pizza.


Susan had the chicken.



Liz had the trout with the tail attached.


Adriana also had fish.


Steph had the duck.



Liz even drank wine at this dinner. I think the Chef Antonio had an influence over her.


For dessert we shared a tart and a chocolate thingy. Can you tell that I’m a real ‘foodie’?



As always, a lovely evening with lovely women. For May, we are going to rely on Susan writing the blog entry as I have a prior commitment.

Cheers!

NYE 2008

NYE 2008

Our New Year’s Eve plans were perfect....a multiple course dinner with great friends, and a champagne toast at midnight  Simple, yet delightful.

New Year’s Eve was a food fest.  I wish I had the menu to scan.  We had something like 10 courses of food.  Aimee had the great idea to hire chefs to cook this year (after last year’s efforts, it seemed much easier to have someone else do the cooking).  Monica and her husband cooked a delicious 33 course meal.  Not really, but it sure felt that way.    Jodee landed in a food coma.  I think she was ‘out’ on Aimee’s couch for 3 days.

On our trip to Italy a few years ago, Ignacio and I learned that they had food feasts in Pompeii (I believe), and that they actually had a vomitorium so that people could eat and eat, go throw up in the special room, and then come back for more.  If Aimee and Scott do any remodeling, maybe they should consider a vomitorium.  

It was a beautiful New Year’s Eve.  And as always, I consider myself lucky to have such wonderful people in my life.

Showers

Showers

Aimee had her baby shower on January 31.  I really am not a fan of showers of any type.  However, this was my favorite shower to date.  Our favorite chefs Monica (and I forget his name) made yummy food, and I am all about stuffing my face.  That makes me happy.  The drinks were delicious too.  Yummy treats and alcohol...no wonder I had a good time.  Actually, I think I really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere.  The shower was at Aimee’s house, and I could relax on the couch rather than sitting at a table.  

After the food and gifts part were done, we played the ring game.  Heather went around using people’s rings on a chain.  She would hang the ring above the person’s palm and if the ring swung back and forth, that meant a baby boy.  If the ring went in a circular motion, that meant a girl.  I do believe Aimee’s ring said she was having a boy.  I guess Ella didn’t like the ring test.

we got ourselves a new SUMMER SISTER

Ella Genevieve Kish was born Friday, March 20, 2009 at 7:37 p.m. She weighed in at 8lbs 3 oz and is 21.5 inches long.

Welcome Ella, and congratulations Aimee and Scott, she's perfect.

a 40th birthday celebration that ends at the tattoo parlor

A big group gathered for Jodee's 40th birthday celebration.

I suggested we order 5 orders of guacamole and was laughed at. After we finished 4 bowls, my suggestion didn't seem so silly anymore.

The meal was delicious, the company- delightful. I do believe I saw a lot of plate-lickers. You'll never guess what I had: goat cheese tamales, OH YEAH!

After dinner, we headed down Division Avenue to Moonshine for more libations. I think I had about 15 mojitos. (pronounced MOE-JEE-TOES)

There was some talk of this blog and I think the boys might start a blog of their own: "Bromance".

At Moonshine, there was a great idea thrown out: let's all get tattoos!! Jodee's been wanting one, so what a better 40th birthday gift to herself than to get that Cubbies tattoo that she's always wanted.

So...4 of us traveled across the city to Jade Dragon tattoo parlor to check out the tattoos at around midnight. Ignacio, me, Steve, and Jodee all got "Summer Sisters" emblazoned across our backs. Yes, we're a bit sore, but damn, they are so boss.

It was a fun night with great friends as always, and I feel lucky to be part of such a great group of people. I want to wish Jodee a very happy 40th. It's the new 20, after all. Have an amazing day, year and decade!

the power of kindness

So, I have had a rough patch as of late, and it was mentioned briefly at dinner last night.
It was also mentioned that Susan and her handsome boys would be coming by Navy Pier today. Well, you see those flowers up there? Susan and her boys brought them to my dungeon, errr, I mean office. When I asked what the occasion was, Susan just said, "I hope you have a better day today."

I cry as I write this because 1) I am a sap and 2) I am just so touched.

Merci, Susan.

March's Madcap Dinner

yup, that's Radhika in the middle!

Jodee picked the Between-Boutique Cafe & Lounge at 1324 N. Milwaukee for our March dinner.

Susan, Jodee, Heather, and I thoroughly enjoyed our time there. The tilapia with sweet potato puree was a hit along the wild mushroom flatbread (we ordered 2 of them) (it had goat cheese on it, need I say more?). The mantou burgers were 'meh' it seemed to me. I enjoyed the manchego crepes although there were spicy and required a carafe of water to be delivered to the table. The free bottle of wine went down nicely as did the complementary glasses of sparkling wine at the end of the dinner.

For those of you Top Chef fans, this is Radhika Desai's restaurant. And, oh yeah, we MET HER. And yeah, that is a picture of us with HER. OMG!!!

We had a great time with a lot of laughs. We were all checking our phones for any updates of the Kish baby's arrival, but alas, we are still waiting......

I am a lucky woman to have such juicy women in my life.