• Tessa Maye Cocktail

    My friend Tessa always wanted a cocktail named after her.  It was on her bucket list of things to do.  She was bubbly and energetic and back then I had a crush on her. Life is tough sometimes, and she passed away from cancer at the young age of twenty-six a few years ago, but …

  • El Barco Mariscos

    El Barco Mariscos (1035 North Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622) is an awesome restaurant that Sparrow and I like to go to now and then.  It’s this ridiculous (in a good way) Mexican seafood restaurant.  I’ve had a lot of food on their menu, and it has been consistently good.  When Sparrow and I went …

  • Red Wine Spaghetti with Anchovies, Garlic, and Goat Cheese

    I’d seen pictures of this before, but spaghetti cooked in red wine looks amazing and alien all at the same time.  It takes on a rich hue from the wine, as well as wine’s innate characteristics — and even an ever-so-slight kick from the alcohol.  I’d never tried it in our little kitchen, but it …

  • Bluegrass

    I’d never heard of Bluegrass restaurant in Highland Park, IL, until Father’s Day.  My sister suggested we take him there for dinner — and it was awesome.  The place was packed at 5:30 PM on a Sunday, which is always promising.  As soon as we walked in, the head chef, Warren Jones, noticed I was …