Big Sweet Tooth

Strawberry Daiquiri's Are the Drink of the Moment

There ain't much finer in the world than a perfectly made, super strong, beautifully frosted strawberry daiquiri.  I've been choosing that as my drink of choice lately.  There's something iconic in that first slurp when it hits the back of my mouth--between the intense strawberry flavor and the caramel hint in the rum, it's a soul-satisfying taste that instantly transports me to the islands and more low-key times.  A perfect one in Chicago is at La Finca (3361 N. Elston), while a truly classic one (picture right) in LA is at Tia Juana (11785 W. Olympic), a little Mexican joint in Santa Monica.  Me and my pal Chez slammed a few of them last week while I was out there and then headed over to another one of our fave places, Chez Jay, a dark and ancient bar right near The Ocean Lodge (oh, the nights I've spent there) and the Santa Monica Pier.  LA is what you make it and with a couple of daq's, some killer homemade tortillas smothered in butter, and a follow up cuba libre at the Jay, it becomes a city fit for a king.  But, until the next time I'm out there, I've always got La Finca~

Kilimanjaro Beer on the Beach in Zanzibar

I haven't been a beer drinker since my early 20's...I find it to be one of the most horrifying drinks in the world to be honest with you.  But, sometimes and I mean sometimes...I have a major craving for it.  It usually comes whirling out of nowhere--like on the beach in Mexico after frying all day in the sun or when I think about the Carolina coast and have a hankering for oysters on the half shell (what better to wash it down with than an icy cold one?).  While I was in Z'bar I went sailing one day out to this tiny little island (there was a pitstop on the way there at this speck of a pure white sandbank where the snorkeling was intense) and the happy-go-lucky sailing crew had grilled up all these fat prawns and giant lobsters on the beach and in their handy coolers, loaded down with ice, were these HUGE Kilimanjaro beers.  Now, come on...I've gotta crack into one of those, right? Meanwhile, they were so gigantic and it was so sweltering, I couldn't get 3 -4 slugs down before it was piss warm...so, I'd turn them over to the non-English speaking boat crew and demand (to their sheer delight) another one.  They were excited that I was blowing through so many...the more for them to slam down whilst tucked away behind a swaying palm tree munching on a fistful of lifted octopus ringlets.  I still despise beer, but when in such lovely tropical locations, one must do as the locals do.  No doubt about it~~p.s. I 've also been known to toss back a Bohemia here and there (thanks to Lisa).
*Oh and FYI--the local currency in Zanzibar is the SHILLING; you need a yellow fever shot to get into and out of the country (which you can get at the clinic in the J'bg airport for about $50); and you can buy a visa on arrival at the tiny airport on Zanzibar island...just in case you're thinkin' of hitting the road soon (man, it's easy)...

Drinking Black Water in Spain--

I've tried giving them up, I really have.  But, when in Spain, do as they Spaniards do.  Actually, if I drank as much coffee as they seem to, I'd be flying to the moon by 10 a.m. This tiny cortado (small espresso cut in half with hot milk) is enough to fuel me for an entire afternoon and if I have two of them, holy moly!  Watch out~ and there is nothing like a chocolate stuffed croissant to go right along with it.  I've gotten into the daily routine of having one at around 9 am and then I'm usually good, unless things at work get wildly hectic...then I just run downstairs and slam another one.  I've been trying to eat/drink at different cafes every single day, but I've broken that self-imposed rule a few times--especially when I located the perfect veggie sandwich with homemade french fries right across the sreet from the production office.  But, every meal here is better than the next and the more Spanish I learn, the more the world of food seems to open up~

Minty Moroccan Green Tea~

Today I discovered the most sublime mint green tea. I was wandering through a funky side of town when I happened across a tiny market full of creative artists.  They were all hawking homemade bits and pieces and plopped just at the end of the sun-splashed set-up was a Moroccan family with their whole shindig splayed out on the plaza.  They were selling veggie samosas and honey-drenched pastries galore and for just about a dollar, you could wash it all done with this super-sugary tea.  They poured heavy from silver teapot that was about a foot up in the air and  when I had my first sip, I was done.  It was already laden with many teaspoons of sugar and tons of fresh mint and made me realize how much I've been missing tea (thanks, cafe con leche addiction~).  I bought some of the tea (a Chinese gunpowder blend) and can't wait to get back home to whip it up Moroccan-style!

Cortado, Cortado, Cortado

Right now, I'm overseas working for the next month and a half and I've just discovered what will get me thru the shoots...a little drink called the cortado.  Usually I don't drink coffee at all, but when you work in production, sometimes, you need a bolt of mad energy at the 24th hour.  The cortado is very much like my favorite coffee drink--a cafe con leche (pictured, right).  EXCEPT that it is literally cut in half.  SO imagine a tiny shot galss full of espresso and then topped with just a splash of milk (cortado means "cut"-- as in cut in half).  It is so delicious and somehow, even though it is much smaller in size, I have been tossing in the same amount of sugar as I would with my cafe con leche.  Old habits never really die, I guess. 

Coconut Killer Cocktail from Casa Luna, in Ubud, Bali

My new favorite drink in the entire world hails from Casa Luna, a charming restaurant in the mountain village of Ubud, Bali.  Every day on my recent trip, I would head to their tiny bar and order up a Coconut Killer, and then another and then another.  In the sweltering heat, this drink was the perfect remedy---just when I'd be about to pass out from sun exposure, I'd sling a few down (and trust me, they go down quick).  I quickly became known as the Coconut Killer girl and when the friendly staff saw me coming, they knew to get the blender ready.  One afternoon, I situated myself near the bartender and watched her whip one up...Here's how it goes (super simple):
1 shot of Bacardi
1 shot of white rum
1 shot of midori (melon liqueur)
3 small scoops of coconut ice (I'm thinking sorbet would work, too)
A handful of ice
~Blend 'til frothy, garnish with pineapple and drink away
This is literally THE SUMMER DRINK (and spring, winter and fall)!!!!

Spanish Hot Chocolate @ Angel Food Bakery~Still Incredible

My very first Raving Dish ever was about Angel Food Bakeries mind-blowing drink called The Barthelona.  Their Spanish version of hot chocolate is like liquid gold capped off by an insanely thick dollop of homemade whipped cream with little specks on vanilla peppered throughout.  I first tasted it back in Nov. of 04 and literally, it prompted me to hop on a flight and spend weeks in Spain, just to make sure the hot chocolate was legitimate (it was).  I was daydreaming about this drink on Sat. (after a fascinating day spent at the Field Museum, $10, if you're a Chicago resident) and hauled up to Montrose to make sure she was still alive and kicking.  Yep!  She was right there and even though the drink is still expensive (almost $4), it is bar-none one of the best things I've ever put into my mouth.  So rich, so dense, so creamy, so Spanish.  You will never be able to have regular hot chocolate again after tasting this wildly delicious version.

Flor de Cana Rum--Nicaragua's Best Rum

They say the best rum in Central America comes from Nicaragua and I don't doubt "they." Who are "they"?  As my granny would say:  "They" are the people on TV.  If they say it, then we believe them, huh?  Anyway...my point is---Nicaragua makes the best rum ever and it's called Flor de Cana.  When I came back from Nicaragua last month, I hauled a giant bottle of the stuff in my tiny backpack (I jammed all my clothes in a itty-bitty backpack for an eight day trip and at the end of the trip, still managed to cram a huge bottle of Flor de Cana AND a bottle of homemade mojitos from Casa Iguana into it--basically never travel with things that you can't leave behind).  This rum is super caramelly and is perfect for mojitos, rum & cream sodas (which I was introduced to recently), rum and cokes, rum and everything....very smooth and not bitter at all.  My bottle is 1/3 of the way gone now, sadly and my poor bottle of mojitos was slammed down in a couple hours over the holiday season--all by me...even my family thought it was insanely strong---wha?  Rum--done right--is my new favorite drink.

Rooibos Caramel Red Tea...sooooo good~

There's nothing like new discoveries and my latest is South African Red Tea (thanks yet again to my friends at Whole Foods)!  I'm usually swilling mate (or my most recent favorite, Jasmine), but for some reason this little package of bright read tea caught my eye (re: the word caramel was screaming my name).  I was delighted to see little chunks of actual caramel mixed in with the tea...who knew?  Though it's caffeine free, it's still the perfect sipping tea, especially when I'm working my way through a major sugar craving (those come on about once every few hours).  Rooibos actually means "red bush" and is super rich in antioxidants.  In other words, every good for you--especially the caramel.  Yum~

Super-Fresh Minty Mojitos from Nicaragua

I was stunned to find that while I was in Nicaragua, not everyone served mojitos (why did I think that was the drink of choice there?) and finding them was a little tough at first.  After a week at Casa Iguana (awesome little hut-style hotel on the beach) on Little Corn Island, I discovered that they made the best on the island (sadly, though, they had a cocktail hour from only 5:30-6:30, so I had to find them elsewhere). But back in the village of Little Corn, the Cuban Place (owned by Twyla) made them Cuban-style all night long.  Both were awesome and they're so simple to make.  Definitely my favorite drink right now--even after drinking hundreds over the past week.  Plus, the limes there look like oranges on the inside.  That was cool...
~Here is the super simple recipe for mojitos:

Riproaring Cowboy Coffee @ Grazers Gourmet

This summer, I hit up a ton of farmers markets and one of my favorites was in Lincoln Square.  It was a super charming little get together, quaint, if you will.  Every week, there was a funny fella there who had a stand selling insanely potent coffee and delicious homemade granola.  He always had a little table out with samples of every coffee on display--I once saw a tiny Asian grandpa screaming at him because his coffee was TOO strong; how on earth could he be serving coffee that intense (go figure)?  Anyway, I just realized that this same fella (I cannot remember his name for the life of me) is the same guy who just opened Grazers Gourmet way up north on Lincoln.  I have to run up there for something else, so I am excited to check out this new shop.  I do know that his granola was pretty spot on (still has nothing on Bear Naked, though) and his coffee could stop time.  I'm interested to see what else he is whipping out~

Killer Margaritas, Random Bakeries and Pakistani Dives: What Memories Are Made Of~

Memories are such wonderful tools.  Sometimes,they fuel your every move and can sway an idea or a thought, just like that, without you even knowing.  That is what happens when I am away from Chicago...all my memories come flooding back.  And, it's never the bad stuff, just the glorious little tidbits that make up that big 'ole girl.  I remember how I love to walk to the bookstore everyday (it's called research) and take my camera with me knowing that I'm going to happen upon some tiny bakery with freshly baked cookies along the way; how I traipse up and down Roscoe Ave. checking out the new seasonal menus posted at my favorite restaurants; how I enjoy walking to my office, but taking a totally new route and discovering some off-the-beaten-path Pakistani dive just aching to be taste-tested; how I go nuts online and order hundreds of dollars worth of great adventure/food/travel books and they start showing up at my doorstep one by one, ready for me to devour; how I love twirling around the strawberries in Cesar's straight-up killer margaritas and slurping them down to the last drop (hi, hangover at 3 pm); how I love late night Italian sub runs from Mr. Sub (and, after shoving down a 6-incher with Cheetos, claiming that "I definitely DO NOT eat meat"); how I can lost in a brand new neighborhood every week and still feel like there is so much left to uncover.  Really the good times never end in Chicago and no matter where I'm at in the world, I'm always jonesing to get back home and blaze a new trail around every corner that I've not touched. As a side note: Heading home also means time to dive into a margarita and reacquaint my self with the city.  Right on~

Margaritas Rock All-Year-Round

Even though they are the perfect summer drink, I guess I love margaritas any time of the year...especially the frothy blended strawberry ones.  My new favorite Mexican restaurant, La Finca, has a superior version that I can't seem to stop thinking about.  Perfectly blended, made with fresh strawberries, not-too-sweet flavor and topped with fresh lime, it's really a joy to behold.  Really though, just so you know, when you are in the depths of the Mexican outback, you ain't finding this cocktail being whipped up anywhere....it's more of the half blended/half melted 'rita--and it's the lime kind.  Fine by me though!  Seems that here in Chi, I can down one strawberry marg and be loopy...but get me to Mexico, and I can down hundreds a day and still be ready to climbin' a mountain; monkey see, monkey do....

Sangria in a Bottle @ Maxwell St.

This past Sunday, I rolled down to Maxwell Street for the first time in my Chicago history.  Not only were there thousands of people flocking to buy a pair of socks and shove down a charred meat taco, there were these dandy little bottles of chilled Sangria for sale.  I'd never had sangria in a bottle and the fella sitting across from me mowing on his taco platter was delighted to let me have a sample of his refreshing drink.  It was slightly sweet and just a little carbonated, with a big hit of tart wine (it's really just a sangria flavored soda, but I guess it's all mental and I was lovin' the thought of two sips of bottled sangria and I'm feelin' woozy)...the perfect drink to chill with on a sweltering Sunday afternoon.  I can say that even though I've been a wine drinker (pinot, especially) for YEARS (since I was a mere sprout, it seems)...my tastebuds are flowing in the more exotic direction as of late. Hell yeah, sangria in a bottle is exotic (even if it's just trickin' you into believing its real vino); especially with a Mexican guitarist twanging in the background and a cheesy fried gordita in front of me.

Mojito Madness @ La Taberna Tapatia

Trust me, for extreme situations, I've got my usual drink of choice (pinot grigio) on stand-by at all times.  But, some days I just cannot fathom the idea of one more glass of wine and my 2nd runner up (the blended margarita) ain't cutting it either, so I move onto my 3rd place contender...the mojito.  After having the kickin' version at La Taberna, this is now my fave place in the city (well, at least the five-block radius around my office) to have this little monkey.  Not only is it super sweet, it's chock full of fresh mint and has tons of ice in the glass (this is crucial for proper slippage down the 'ole throatie throat).  This is just the perfect late summer drink for when I must bolt immediately from my computer screen (where I am constantly writing, researching food, editing shows, emailing out various "important updates," and tracking my not-so-slick stalker...) and have a refreshing, soul-inspiring (read: maybe-i-can-now-construct-a-sentence) drink asap.  Mojitos...they really do a body (and mind) good.

Argo Tea Shop: Addictive Mate Smoo Tea

So, I've now officially got a new addiction rollin'...and silly me, I knew it would happen.  I'm almost over my Red Bull phase (not quite, though) and today (I was dyin' for a blended pick me up), I remembered reading about Argo Tea (they make my favorite mate tea that I buy at Whole Foods) and how they've opened up some tea shops in town.  So, of course, I jammed over to the one on Armitage and promptly purchased a Sugar-Free (wow!) Mate Smoo Tea (much like a blended frapp from Starbucks) and holy moly; just the cleanest taste sensation I'd had in forever.  I was immediately wired and hence, addicted.

Sugar Free Red Bull: A Filmmakers Elixir

In swelteringly crazy times like these, there is really only one icy cold concoction that makes me totally wired and ready to roll at all times.  Good 'ole Red Bull.  And, it must be Sugar Free.  I know it's such a cliche, but since I gave up coffee and it's just too hot to drink my mate, I just toss a Bull in the freezer in my office, whip it out about an hour later and wham~ready to roll for hours and hours.  Ya gotta love the Bull.

Su Van's Hot Chocolate

I don't care how hot, humid and muggy it gets in Chicago, there is nothing like a steaming hot, homemade (none of that powdered baloney) hot chocolate doused in half melted whipped cream.  I happened into Su Van's (a cute little sandwich shop near my office) the other day and seriously almost had to smother myself not to indulge in the banana cream cake, the bowls of rice pudding and all of the cookies, cakes and brownies on display.  Instead, I went for the hot chocolate (100 degrees out, no less) and it was utterly sinful.  Still not as good as the one that Angel Food Bakery pours up (they make the pure cocoa Spanish version), but a winner nonetheless.