A Foodie Staycation
With the unique and “interesting” times we are living in, quarantine life was starting to feel a bit mundane. I think we’ve all been there at one point or another these last 7+ months, right? So to shake things up, I decided to go on a little staycation in downtown Chicago with one of my sisters! It was a nice time to unplug from Zoom calls, spend quality time on self-care, and eat some delicious bites. Let’s go ahead an jump into the top eats from a few days in the city!
Disclaimer: While we were able to enjoy some time out and about, I strongly advocate wearing your mask, limiting exposure to persons you do not know / are not living with, and taking all the social distance living steps seriously. Okay phew! Let’s get started for real…
What We Ate
Maple & Ash - first up on the hit list is one of my Chicago favorites, M&A! Now if you’ve been around here awhile you’ve probably ready my review of their tasting menu experience (if not, check it out here). However, I have come to you today…almost 2 years later to say that the hype is real and a second visit locked in my position. Maple & Ash is an amazing spot that anyone who loves steak, seafood, and / or quality cocktails should visit. This time around we didn’t sit through a whole IDGAF tasting; instead, we jumped right into the seafood tower which is one of our favorites from the menu! I also recommend any and all of their desserts, but try to make a reservation on the earlier side for dinner cause if you wait to long, they do tend to sell out of some dessert items.
Machine: Engineered Dining & Drink - A new spot for me, but loved Chicago venue for the last 2+ years, Machine is such a fun experience! We went primarily for the drinks (which are as good, if not better than they look) but I also picked up an order of fries because they smelled amazing from two tables down. Not fully sure what seasoning they put on the fries because the taste was not overpowering…it smelt like rosemary and satisfied my cravings. 10/10 bar menu and I can’t wait to make my way back!!
Duck Duck Goat - Another revisited restaurant, DDG’s original Emi Eats review can be found here. After checking out the Womanish pop-up experience, we decided to grab dinner at Duck Duck Goat. One of Stephanie Izard’s many successful restaurants we were not disappointed by the Chongqing Chicken or the Slap Noodles. We also ordered a duck fried rice which I was very partial to. While I’m still sad to not see any bok choy on the menu, I must admit this is a strong dinner option if you’re looking for a restaurant in West Loop.
Starbucks Reserve - Y’all know that coffee is not my thing, but I do love a great chai latte and brioche alla crema (aka a cream stuffed croissant). On a chilly and rainy Chicago day, this simple breakfast really hit the spot! There is something unique about the ambiance on the 4th and 5th floors of the Starbucks Reserve. Check it out, if you have a chance.
Beatnik on the River - Okay…in the spirit of being 100p honest with you all. Beatnik was my least favorite spot that is featured in this post (we ate at worse that didn’t even make the list - fyi); HOWEVER, it is still on here for the 1) amazing service we experienced, 2) the aesthetic of dining out by the river in a bohemian setting with DJ in tow. I ordered the Shakshouka and it was tasty, but far from the best I’ve had. My sister ordered the Bulgogi Fried rice and described it as lack luster. Have you been to Beatnik? Let us know if it is worth a second chance…
Monteverde - An all time favorite of mine, Monteverde did not disappoint on our last night. To start, the burrata with ham was incredible. The dish comes served with freshly made rosemary tigelle (an Italian style of bread), basil, and housemade cherry mostarda. I was transported to another place with this one... For my main course, I settled on the Sweet Corn Tortellini which was delicious as well. All the fresh pasta dishes at Monteverde are mouth watering; I promise it is near impossible to go wrong. I also sampled the Linguine di Mare and the Cacio Whey Pepe.
Where We Stayed
Considering doing a staycation of your own? Wondering what the hotel experience was like?? We stayed at the Gwen Hotel and it was very nice…also super quiet / empty. As my second hotel during COVID times, what I’ve seen as consistent trends is that:
Your room will not be cleaned during the stay, in order to limit staffs exposure (and yours as well) to any unnecessary germs. For me, this is a plus as I typical prefer to avoid turn-down service
Most hotels it seems are not offering breakfast like they normally would; however, you can either get points (like we did in Boston) OR credit towards breakfast at a local spot (for the Gwen we received free coffee + 20% off breakfast at Goddess and the Baker)
Club lounges do not seem to have opened back up just yet. That said, the common room / space on the 5th floor lobby at the Gwen was open for socially distant seating
You might end up feeling like you are the only person at the hotel. Don’t be surprised! It’s actually a calm and relaxing experience 😊
I hope you’ve enjoyed this post! Whether you decide to take.a multi-day staycation in your hometown or do a day trip out to a nearby park, my wish for you is that you find ways to break-up any stale routines and treat yourself. Life is still good!!
