Sightseeing in Chicago

When you live in a city, you don't usually do the sightseeing thing, but since I was visiting I wanted to do some of the touristy things. One of the first things we did was go to the John Hancock Observatory. This building boasts the fastest elevator in North America, getting you to the 94th floor in a mere 40 seconds. With breathtaking views over The Magnificent Mile, you can experience Chicago from a unique perspective. The audio tour is informative and entertaining. One of the things that was highlighted was Navy Pier, which will be on my list to visit when I go back in the warmer months so I can enjoy the rides and outdoor restaurants. Art is huge in Chicago and Millennium Park is home to one of the most famous Chicago landmarks...The Cloud Gate. Most commonly referred to as the Bean, it was installed in 2004 and is a must see when you visit Chicago. It's a perfect place for some fun photos too! Apparently, Millennium Park is also home to these very odd LED face fountains, but sine it was winter the fountains weren't on. I was honestly a little creeped out, but it's art so anything goes. Whether it's shopping on The Magnificent Mile, visiting museums, or just walking around, you never know what you will find, but I can promise there is something for everyone.

Horizon Cafe

During my short and sweet stay in Chicago, we managed to squeeze in a breakfast outing to Horizon Cafe. It was just a place where you felt at home. I love breakfast even though it is a constant struggle and seriously one of the hardest decisions I make, especially when I go out to eat. When I make breakfast at home, it's usually eggs and fruit. However, when I go out I have to decide between sweet and savory (a very tough choice). But sometimes you just need something simple and yummy. I used to eat cinnamon raisin toast all the time when I was little, so I decided to go old school and order a past time favorite. This cinnamon french toast was filling and there was plenty of it! The plump raisins and tender, but not soggy bread was the perfect blend of textures. I am not one of those people who drowns everything in syrup, but a light drizzle added just a touch of sweetness. Horizon Cafe is the go to breakfast for my Texans in Chicago, so it was fun to see their hangouts. This is a hopping place on the weekends and it was great to just sit around and enjoy a good meal.

Michael's Pizza

Going to Chicago and not having a deep dish pizza is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower...it's just something you don't do. So it was a given that that was on the list of things to eat before I left. Once you find a great restaurant, sometimes it's hard to branch out, but after visiting Michael's Pizza I am fairly certain I would not have much motivation to find some where else. Though it wasn't the birthplace of the deep dish pizza, it was pretty legit. (I think just for comparison's sake, next time I visit I might try it out though.) We opted for the simple pleasures of a stuffed cheese pizza. No, this was not a stuffed crust pizza. Stuffed means there was just cheese galore. I am not sure what I was expecting to come out of the kitchen, but what I saw was a masterpiece. At first, it just looked like sauce and crust, but don't let that fool you. Underneath the top layer of sauce was ooey gooey cheesiness. I am not usually a sauce or crust person, but there was a nice ratio of sauce to the cheese. The crust was crispy and quite necessary to hold all the toppings, but wasn't too bready. It was definitely very filling and one piece was more than enough for me (and it was not a small piece either.) Deep dish pizza is definitely the way to go, but unfortunately for me I will have to wait to get my fill until the next time I visit (Definitely motivation to schedule another trip soon!)

La Ciudad Chicago Style

Sometimes you just need a quick getaway amidst the craziness of life, so luckily for me I have friends I can go visit. This visit took me to the beautiful city of Chicago. It was fun getting to see all the sights and catching up...which we of course had to do over food. The thing about Texans is that no matter where they go, they seem to gravitate to some kind of Tex-Mex. Of course, that was one of the first stops, dinner at La Ciudad. (The first one was an AMAZING two-story Target!) I was feeling adventurous and decided to try something brand new. I opted for chile rellenos because anything with cheese is usually pretty delicious. However, I was totally surprised when I tasted it and was literally overwhelmed with spiciness. It made it really difficult to enjoy, which was kind of disappointing. After topping it with a healthy dollop of sour cream, I was finally able to really taste the flavor and found it to be really yummy. I am not sure if it is usually that super duper spicy, but maybe I will give it another try in the future. At least now I can say I have tried it.

As my friends are pretty big fans of their Tex-Mex, they have been to La Ciudad a few times and are almost on the verge of being regulars, which does have its perks. As a bonus, we got to try the mocha tres leches. It was heavenly. The cake has a silk texture, but wasn't overly sweet or soggy. The hint of chocolately coffee flavor added depth to the dessert and was a nice twist on the a classic. One of the interesting things about Chicago is that in addition to the random soda tax they have, most restaurants are "bring your own alcohol". Plus, they don't usually charge a corkage fee and you can take the leftovers home with you. It's kind of a pretty sweet deal. Overall, La Ciudad was a great first meal in Chicago!