Wise Acre Eatery

I love Wise Acre Eatery. I first heard about it from a review in the Star Tribune (the local Minneapolis paper): they raved about the food. Wise Acre Eatery prides itself on using mostly using harvest from the Tanglewood Gardens’ farm in Plato, MN. All of their meat products come from that farm — animals that lived “stress-free, hormone-free lives with plenty of room to roam.” The food is delicious, and nearly everything is house-made.

Christmas Eve Dinner With the Family

Our ornament tree

For years, it’s been tradition in my family that we have my dad’s Swedish meatballs (and, generally, some kind of seafood, partly because I don’t care for Swedish meatballs) for Christmas Eve dinner. This year was no exception, and it was a delicious meal.

The festively set table

Weekend In My Favorite City

This weekend was my second trip back to Chicago since I moved away in April, and it’s been fantastic. I am exhausted; I needed to cancel my credit card this morning because a stranger has it; and I have to wake up at 4 AM tomorrow morning (and later work until at least 10 PM) — but it has been a phenomenal weekend. 

I Miss Erdman Brunch

Bryn Mawr has an epic brunch on the weekends. Before I even got to Bryn Mawr — while I was still at Tri-Co — I heard about Sunday brunch at Bryn Mawr and how people from all over the Tri-Co (Tri-College Consortium) would show up. And it was a great brunch, even worth getting up and moving by 1 (well, most/some weekends).  

Pumphouse Creamery

Pumphouse Creamery is, without a doubt, one of my favorite ice cream places ever. They’re located at 48th and Chicago, and they have amazing ice cream flavors and favor local ingredients. Their “house made waffle cones are made with local and organically grown whole grains and seeds from Whole Grain Milling Company in Welcome, MN.” 

Milk & Honey Cafe

I’ve gone to Milk & Honey Cafe several times — once with my roommate when we were looking for furniture, once with my cousin when she was visiting from Indiana, and once by myself, fairly recently before I left Chicago, because I was really craving a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese. Milk & Honey Cafe is located on Division, less than a mile away from where my apartment was in Chicago. The food was always excellent; if I’d had more money, I would have been there far more frequently. 

I Love S’mores

There is something special about the combination of graham crackers, Hershey’s chocolate bars, and roasted marshmallows. I don’t know what it is, but it makes me so dang happy. S’mores, to me, are always a sign that summer is here, and life is good.

S'More Goodness

I Miss Hope’s Cookies

Hope's Royale from Hope's Cookies

One of my favorite things in all of Bryn Mawr is the Hope’s Royale cookie at Hope’s Cookies. It has macadamia nuts, coconut, and chocolate chips — and it is wonderful. Hope’s Cookies was actually founded by a Bryn Mawr alum, Hope Spivak of the class of 1983, which makes going to Hope’s Cookies a little extra special.

Primehouse: A Burger Like No Other

After my trip to David Burke’s Primehouse in Chicago (which I chose because of this review) last March, I have learned two things. First of all, Primehouse has an unbelieveable burger. And secondly, when I go to restaurants by myself, I need to decide what I’m going to order before I enter the restaurant.

New Goal This Summer: Get In Shape

I realized this morning that I am really out of shape. I took this yoga-y “fitness fusion” class this morning, and oh my Athena, I had no idea that the downward dog position was so difficult! And it just got more difficult from there. I kept getting all wibbly-wobbly (and not in an interesting, timey-wimey sort of way). And my arms and shoulders are now really sore. So, my newest goal (actually, a lapsed resolution from New Year’s) is to work on getting in shape.