Lotta Food, Little Time

Firecakes is a super tiny, I'm talking 6 people can fit inside, donut and coffee shop in downtown Chicago. Chicago has a variety of gourmet donut shops like Donut Vault and Glazed and Infused, which I have yet to try. I was attracted here by their donut ice cream sandwich.... Healthy, right?

Mmm Tempo Bistro is a small eatery, with a few tables inside and a great back patio seating area where they grow a lot of their own plants. 

I'm always a fan of fresh, local ingredients and Tempo strives to use as many local ingredients as possible. They have a list on their chalkboard wall of local partners. 

Probably pretty overrated, Dragonfly is a well known establishment in the Gainesville area. I mean, Ryan Lochte hangs there. 

It's definitely worth mentioning though, it's certainly popular for a reason. The rolls are fresh, jam packed with goods, and there are some pretty wild rolls. 

This is my favorite restaurant. Of all time. There are no ovens in the entire restaurant; all food is raw and vegan and creative as can be. 

I ordered: Green lemonade, tomato and strawberry gaspacho, and these kelp noodle spaghetti, with fresh pine nut pesto sauce, and finally, an avocado key lime pie. 

Too good to be true, honestly. Everything on the menu was perfect. 

The restaurant was centered on gratitude (obviously). Each menu on the item was named something like, Extravagant, Loving, Radiant, etc. As you ordered, "I would like to order Radiant", the waiter/waitress would respond, "You are Radiant". It was kind of goofy, but a sweet concept. 

Technically Stokie, IL. 

This sushi restaurant was very nice and well-decorated.Their food presentation gets an A+ (check out that turtle sushi roll!)

We ordered a variety of sushi rolls, from veggie rolls to to crunchy shrimp tempura rolls. 

I was disappointed that they didn't have any cucumber rolls (sushi rolls made without rice and seaweed, instead wrapped in thinly sliced cucumber). But, they did offer to make your sushi wrapped however you preferred, rice inside or out. 

One of the first things I do when I get to a new place is Google search: juice bars near me. I'm not sure where my infatuation started, well... I do, but that's another story. 

Magic Mix Juicery is really your typical city juice shop: trendy, bright, clean, and expensive. 

1 Packet frozen acai (Wholefoods and Costco I know to have these)

1 Frozen Banana (other frozen berries will work well also)

1/4 Cup liquid (Almond milk, orange juice, water)

Blend these ingredients. I like to add in some greens like spinach or kale. The acai and other fruits are so sweet, they mask any veggie flavor.

My first chicken and waffles experience. I have gone to The Coop on multiple occasions. Rare, as I usually prefer to try new places, but this chicken....... 

I believe chicken is the only meat on the menu, I may be mistaken. I've gotten chicken and waffles, a chicken tender sub, parmesan & garlic chicken fingers, and a really amazing vanilla milkshake. 

The chicken is unbelievable. Made to order, served piping hot and crispy, with your choice of flavor and sauce. The flavoring is what they saturate the tenders in (parmesan, garlic, bbq, etc.). The waffle was fresh, warm, and fluffy. 

This was truly one of the most conflicting food decisions of my life. If you’ve ever been to Quincy Market in Faneuil Park, Boston, you can relate. Quincy Market is a long, indoor strip of small vendors selling delectable food stuffs varying from plump, juicy lobster rolls to ice cream sandwiches the size of your face (which I chose for dessert). Everything is made fresh, and there is truly an option for every one. 

It’s difficult not to wimp out and choose food from the first vendor you see, because everything looks so appetizing. I recommended walking once down the hall so you are able to see each vendor, then make a selection. 

I once read an article discussing the topic of selection. It claimed that a person walking into an ice cream store that had three simple flavors, i.e. vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, would be more pleased and satisfied than a person who had entered an extravagant ice cream shop with flavors like sea salted caramel and lavender milk chocolate. The second of the two ice cream consumers would have too many options to choose from and would therefore leave, not fully satisfied or confident with their selection. 

I deemed this restaurant acceptable to be the very first feature on my food blog. In case you can’t tell, or are somehow unfamiliar with this fast food chain (possibly living under a rock?), this is the infamous In-N-Out Burger. 

This simple, well-established diner was one of the many reasons I was so stoked to head to California. Although I am generally a health nut/veggie fanatic, I was not going to pass up a meal at In-N-Out.