A Love Letter To Chicago

Every summer I get a big old crush on Chicago and remember why it is I choose to live in a city that is basically intolerable for about five months out of the year. Especially this past winter you guys- it was so so hard.
But then summer happens and the city just comes alive.

And then there’s the food in this city. Oh the food. Chris and I may have gone a little overboard with our dietary choices this weekend. Judge us lightly.

On Saturday we jumped on our bikes and foolishly thought we’d get lunch at the infamous Hot Doug’s. The three hour line thought otherwise. Chicago people don’t screw around with their hot dogs.

And I suppose I should probably back up and show you the blue cheese fries we (shamefully, very shamefully) ordered at DMK Burger Bar on Friday night. Under all of that gross (delicious) white cheese stuff and bacon is a plate of fries… When we were finished we both agreed we’d never do that again. In fact, Chris didn’t even want me to post this photo he was so embarrassed we ate something so bad. But we did it so we have to own up to it. #neverforget

After we couldn’t get into Hot Doug’s on Saturday we went down the street to Honey Butter Fried Chicken instead. I’m not a huge fried chicken kind of person, but oh my gosh was this stuff good. That little bowl of honey butter didn’t go far enough.

We spent Sunday drinking beers and eating tacos on the patio at Big Star. And this is why I rarely wear my hair all the way back… Because I look like Stephanie Tanner.

This is Chris’s bitchy resting face. Isn’t he the cutest?

Cheese fundido. Ugh too. much. cheese. But so damn good.

And some sort of bean concoction. (Like I said, Chris and I went a little overboard.)

I know what you’re thinking. We’re gross. But I swear we don’t eat like this all of time so don’t start worrying about our arteries or cholesterol or whatever, during the week we eat pretty healthy… Usually.

I even bought Chris a new grill yesterday so we can eat even more grilled chicken/fish during the boring week days. You don’t know what love is until you’ve pushed a huge grill in a Home Depot cart down three busy Chicago blocks because it wouldn’t fit in your car… Yes, I did this. And I got a lot of stares. It didn’t help that I looked pretty dirty because we’d been biking all day, I’m pretty sure people just thought I was another crazy cart lady scavenging the dumpsters looking for things- like grills.

Just living the Chicago dream, someone’s gotta do it.

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27 Comments

  1. June 23, 2014 / 1:07 am

    Chicago looks awesome! I'm glad you document well so I can live vicariously through you 🙂

  2. June 23, 2014 / 1:48 am

    Haha, I just love you and your honesty! Here's a weird trait of mine: I don't like cheese. I now, wtf. So your fries were too much for me. But everything else? Gimme!!!
    And girl, you have some toned arms! All that grill-pushing to your home is def paying off. Don't worry about the cheesy fries!

  3. June 23, 2014 / 3:44 am

    i am so jealous of all of your food-scapades. i would totally eat all of that, even the cheese fries. 🙂

  4. June 23, 2014 / 3:46 am

    Haha that is true love right there. A day out in the sunshine with drinks and good food sounds amazing!

  5. June 23, 2014 / 5:12 am

    Oh wow! 3 hours queue for hot dog! And i thought only Singaporeans would go crazy and queue. The hot dog must be fantastic! And Chicago looks great!

  6. June 23, 2014 / 7:28 am

    This makes me want to see Chicago soon!
    What ya talking about? I eat like that all the time and don't even bike. Just kidding…not…kinda

  7. June 23, 2014 / 9:29 am

    Your arms are blowing my mind!

    Also, I've never been so not hungry that I could contemplate waiting an hour for food. I'm always like FEED ME NOW.

  8. June 23, 2014 / 9:30 am

    We visited in July a few years ago and it was insanely gorgeous weather. 90 degrees and over every day–which didn't do good for my legs chafing, but hey it happens.
    Also, do you have any posts about the Weiner Circle? We ventured there after a drunken night out & my eyes were forever changed. Someone ordered a milkshake.
    About 6 months later I also stumbled upon a reality show about the Weiner Circle on some odd channel…it's since been taken off the air..wonder why. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts about that place.

  9. June 23, 2014 / 10:08 am

    there is cheese in every picture and i love you for it. i ate like a fat person this weekend also and when i begged Eric to get ice cream with me last night ("We NEED parlor ice cream! the skinny cow bars in the freezer arent the same!") he basically called me a fat-ass. It was awesome.

    Salads all week .. no cheese.

  10. June 23, 2014 / 11:24 am

    Loved this! My husband and I are planning a weekend trip to Chicago for Labor Day! I'll have to check out the Big Star! Any other must do's on our trip? Where should we stay? I am overwhelmed by all the options the city offers!

  11. June 23, 2014 / 11:33 am

    LOVE LOVE this post. Isn't Chicago in the summer just amazing. I love the pictures!

  12. June 23, 2014 / 11:42 am

    do not ever feel bad about eating bad. first, you biked. second, yoeo. you only eat once. or something.

  13. June 23, 2014 / 1:50 pm

    Blue cheese fries… I can't even imagine how heavenly that would be. No regrets. You made food memories:)

  14. June 23, 2014 / 2:15 pm

    Those fries…oh my goodness. I would not judge you for eating like that every single day…not even a little bit.

  15. June 23, 2014 / 2:29 pm

    I really need to get to Chicago! Honey butter sounds amazing.

  16. June 23, 2014 / 3:15 pm

    We have the best food ever – so don't ever feel bad for eating all of the time. Also, I had to drive into downtown for Motown the musical on Saturday (SO AMAZING OMG) in the middle of that big thunderstorm we had… and I still loved the city. Seriously! How the fog and clouds wrap around the buildings is incredible.

  17. June 23, 2014 / 7:05 pm

    Never regret the cheese. I just think of it as being patriotic or whatever, no where else in the world can you find such heart attack-inducing foods.

  18. June 23, 2014 / 10:07 pm

    Oh what a great post I love cheese as does Tim we will have a lot of cheese on a lot of different foods

  19. June 24, 2014 / 9:42 am

    Chicago looks beautiful! I need to go there as soon as possible!

  20. June 25, 2014 / 9:02 am

    This basically sounds like our weekend, except up in Madison, where I'm pretty sure it is illegal to sale anything that is not cheese, sausage or deep fried in some manner. Bonus points if it's all 3. But they do make damn good old fashions and New Glarus fruit ales are how I always want my Saturday's in summer to start.

  21. June 28, 2014 / 1:27 pm

    I have asked before, and I will ask again… how are you & Chris not 350+lbs?! lol
    I guess all that walking… I am jealous of your food intake and the fact that you do not look like a walrus. Keep living right!

  22. July 6, 2014 / 4:30 pm

    My boyfriend is moving to Chicago in a few weeks and a blog friend recommended your blog 🙂 I'm glad to know that when I go visit him, we will eat really well! Not looking forward to the visits in the winter besides the fact that I'll get to see him 😛

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