Dining Out: The French Connection

Analise Gregory January 14, 2020

“In France, we love food and we enjoy food; food is pleasure.” - Mireille Guiliano

During our European vacation, food was something that was very important for us to experience during our stay. We definitely wanted to eat at some amazing places. Before our trip we reviewed several places to dine in Paris, which made our restaurant experiences so fantastic.

Our waiters and waitresses were all so kind, and made it their duty to help us through any questions with the menu. Also, many restaurants had English versions of their menu - which was super helpful! Everything we ordered always came out hot and fresh.

Below, I’m sharing where, and what we enjoyed at each place our group visited in Paris, France!

O'Chateau

Remember our amazing Champagne tour? Well, our tour guide was from O’Chateau! This spot is rated as one of the best wine bars in Paris, and they have a equally wonderful restaurant. After, our all day tour to Champagne, my best friend Alisha, recommended we dine at O’Chateau upon our return. Per the usual, my bestie made an excellent choice, and our meal was really amazing! The menu is quite small - but they have great options, and the Croque Monsieur entree was my absolute favorite during our stay in France.

Mastino

This quaint little restaurant is in the Montmartre neighborhood, and down the street from where we stayed in Paris. I loved the vibe of this restaurant, and how you can watch the chef make pizzas from scratch. Also, if you are travelling with kids - this place was a super popular spot for families. Their wine list was really good, and there were amazing options - especially their house selection.

Pro Tip: Ask about the house wine selection, many restaurants have smaller local producers that have greats wines!

Angelina

The legendary Angelina Paris was such a treat to visit and dine in. Our four person group did have to wait 30-45 minutes in line to get in, but it was totally worth it. This spot is very very popular - it is well known for its desserts and warm beverages, such as teas, hot chocolate, and coffee, but their extensive food menu was so so good! Every dish was yummy from G’s burger, my salad, our friend’s chicken risotto, and breakfast croissant - the wait was worth it for sure.

Pro Tip: Visit during off peak times, traditional meal time slots are when the restaurants are crowded the most! Also, the larger your group - the longer the wait.

Smoked salmon caesar salad with avocado, grapefruit, ripe vine tomatoes, crositni, with garlic and herb spread

Burger with tomato, cheese and pickled red onions

A cup of the iconic Angelina hot chocolate to go - L 'African

Laudrée

This spot was always packed with guests wanting to try their delicious macarons! We loved their pastries, and their exterior and decor was beautiful. You’ll be able to find this boutique pastry shop in many locations throughout Paris - even the Louvre!

Pro Tip: This popular chain has amazing desserts, but make it your duty and visit some of the local bakeries around Paris to give them a try!

The entrance to Laudrée inside the Louvre

La Maison de l'Aubrac

This little spot stole my heart, and was probably one of my favorite meals in Paris. Their pan seared scallop entree was so delicious, and the caviar on top was the perfect addition to the dish. l'Aubrac specializes in dry aged steaks, and was one of the few spots that practiced the technique with their beef. The restaurant was nice and quaint. Also, our server was so kind in helping us make the perfect wine pairing with our meal as well.

Pro Tip: Ask the server the recommended wine pairing with your dish - you’ll be surprised and happy with their selection.

Dry aged steak entree, with roasted garlic, and housemade sauce

Pan seared scallops, lime, caviar, in a bath of creamy beurre blanc sauce

Boulangerie

This neighborhood bakery was so cute, and they were pumping out fresh pastries and bread all day long. Their freshly baked croissants were the best and I may or may not have had a few during our stay in Montmartre.

Pro Tip: Smaller bakeries typically only take credit cards when you purchase a minimum of anywhere between 5-10 euros. It was really essential for us to have some euros on us when visiting the local shops/bakeries.

The cutest little pastry shop near our hotel

Pink Mamma

Upon my arrival to Paris, Pink Mamma came highly recommended. Our group lucked up and got a table right away at the peak dinner time slot. The hostess was super kind, and seated us almost immediately. Needless to say this restaurant is super popular - a multi-level, three story restaurant, and every seat was filled in the dining and bar areas.

The vibe was eclectic and unique, our server was the sweetest. This restaurant was incredibly packed, we did have to wait quite a bit for service. Through a few hiccups with entree issues, our server worked through getting a member in our group a new dish pretty quickly. Aside, from the entree issue, the real star was the dessert - everyone loved their gelato!

Pro Tip: Book reservations to popular restaurants ahead of time, otherwise be prepared to wait or get turned away at the door.

The cutest napkins at each place setting

Cinco Jotas

The Galleries Lafayette is legendary, and the Home & Gourmet shop is so cool. There is an entire floor dedicated to the most diverse market. You’ll find pastries, desserts, ham, spices, pizza - you name it, they have it. My best friend and I dined at Cinco Jotas, a spot that specializes in carving ham, and also serves up seafood. I went with their calamari - it was so delicious, and the house made tartar sauce was so good.

The coolest restaurant setup at Galeries Lafayette

Calamari Rings + House Made Tartar Sauce

Ristorante al Caratello

Our first night in Paris, our hotel highly recommended this restaurant, and made reservations for us. Ristorante al Caratello was a quick walk from our hotel, and was so convenient. This spot is literally so small, and they crammed in as many tables as they possibly could in their establishment. Caratello was bursting at the seams with diners, and as soon as we got our food we saw why - it was amazing. Our server was so sweet, and walked us through their menu. Also, they provided great wine recommendations to pair with our dinner. It was really nice being an authentic French restaurant, and was the perfect place to start our week long Paris trip.

Pro Tip: Ask your hotel ambassador what the best local restaurants are in your neighborhood!

Rouge Bis

Rouge Bis was literally the coolest bar in our neighborhood - and it is right across the street from the iconic Moulin Rouge.. Our group made multiple visits to this bar during our stay. Also, our bartender and the entire staff were nothing short of amazing. The bar selection was great, and they had everything from champagne to beer. Also, the music was so good, and the bartender even played songs/artists that we loved and wanted to hear. This place was so much fun, and their staff truly made us feel right at home - major props to the manager/bartender who made our nights so much fun.

Peppermint shots on the house from our bartender

I hope you enjoyed my recap of all the places we dined and drank during our stay in Paris!

XO, Analise

Uncorked: Champagne, France

Analise Gregory January 7, 2020

"Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking it." - Madame de Pompadour

During the holiday season, G and I decided to go to Paris with my best friend Alisha, and her husband James. While planning our vacation, we all decided that visiting Champagne for a day would be an amazing opportunity! Who would’ve thought that during our week long stay in France, that going to Champagne would end up being our favorite activity, and highlight of the entire trip?!

We had the best 12 hours in Champagne - the countryside was absolutely stunning, and so relaxing. Also, the drive out to Champagne was not far at all from Paris, it was about 1 hour and 30 minutes via car. Alisha and I booked our tour through O’Chateau - the service, and our tour guide, Charlotte were nothing short of fabulous. To start our day, we met at the wine bar where we were served coffee and fresh croissants. Then our tour guide shuttled our small intimate group of 8, and drove us to Champagne for the day.

From there, we were on our way to spend the day in the city, visiting a total of three Champagne houses. Each Champagne house was unique, and had its own special quality. I cannot wait to share our day in the city with you all.

Taittinger

Taittanger is a legendary Champagne house, and is widely popular. The estate is stunning, and has so much history. At the beginning of the tour, the staff plays a short video explaining the history and brand of Taittanger which was really nice to review. Afterwards, the guide gives a tour of the Champagne cellar and cave which is absolutely breathtaking. The decorative doors, immense bottles of champagne, and the endless amounts of riddling racks make this cave so neat.

Our guide at Taittanger ushered a group of about 30+ individuals. The group in the cellar was very large, which really took away from the intimacy of the tour. It would have been nice to have a smaller group to really take our time in the cellar.

Once the tour was completed, we were taken to the tasting room on the main level. A standard ticket only includes one glass of their iconic Brut Reserve Champagne. If you would like to try additional champagnes, guests are required to purchase each sampling ticket separately. This was a huge bummer as other Champagne houses offer more than just one sample in their tastings.

In all, our visit to Taittanger was unique mainly in the lavish estate, fantastic cellar, and beautifully decorated tasting room.

Entering through the gates of Taittinger

The gorgeous line up of champagne in the wine tasting room.

Riddling racks for the champagne bottles

Our tour guide giving an amazing review of the champagne’s history at Taittinger

Champagne Vincent Brochet

Dare I say that Vincent Brochet was my absolute favorite house? This visit made my day! Our 8 person group were the only visitors during our stop, which really made the tour special and private. The current winemaker, Gaspard, Vincent’s son, gave us a personal tour in the cellar. We were able to get a sneak peek in his labelling process for his brand new champagne. Also, we were able to hear his family’s story on how they started their house. It was such a cool experience getting to see the authenticity and inside peek on how they produce and create their delicious champagnes.

Having this private experience, and being able to relax on the property was such a nice opportunity. Also, our tour guide, Charlotte, from O’Chateau has a wonderful relationship with the smaller champagne houses, specifically the Brochet family. She was able to give us a lot of historical knowledge and provide us some amazing information on the estate and champagnes.

Gaspard Brochet holding his new champagne, which we were able to try!

Perfectly sabred champagne bottle by our tour guide Charlotte

Our lunch setup for the day at Champagne Vincent Brochet

G and I enjoying the views and lunch at Champagne Vincent Brochet

During our stay on the estate, we were served a three course meal curated and prepared by Brochet’s private chef. The meal was absolutely delicious, and each dish was paired with a different glass of champagne. I was blown away with the food and champagne pairing for out meal - everything was perfect. Our food was spectacular, and easily one of the best meals I had during our stay in France - in short, our chef was amazing, and he perfectly capped off our stay at the estate.

Mushroom, ham, and sun-dried tomato quiche

Cast iron potatoes, wild mushrooms, and duck

Champagne style tiramisu with infused Ratafia

G and I with the winemaker Gaspard Brochet

G and I with the private chef at Champagne Vincent Brochet

Champagne Salmon

Like the Brochet house, Salmon is a small estate as well, and again our group was given a private tour. The original winemaker Michel greeted us, and gave us access to his cellar. We were able to tour at our leisure with our O’Chateau guide, Charlotte. Once we finished our tour, Michel and his grandson, Alexandre, the current winemaker greeted us in their tasting room.

We were given an overview of their history, legacy, and their beautify champagnes. They provided three champagnes for tasting, and all were absolutely delicious - the 100% Meunier Brut Reserve was a personal favorite of mine.

Salmon was our last stop, but it ended our day in Champagne beautifully. It was so nice to start out with a larger Champagne house, and to wrap it up with two smaller houses to cap off the tour.

The original wine marker Michel, his grandson Alexandre - the current wine maker, and our tour guide from O’Chateau Charlotte

The lineup of champagnes tasted during our stay at Salmon

Visiting Champagne was such a cool experience, and I would definitely go back in a heartbeat. I’m truly looking forward to visiting more wine countries in France in the future!

XO, Analise

Dining Out: Chicago Edition

Analise Gregory November 11, 2019

“Eventually, I think Chicago will be the most beautiful great city left in the world.” - Frank Lloyd Wright

This is my final recap of my Chicago trip, and I had to end this series with the post I’ve been asked about the most - Dining Out: Chicago Edition. Chicago had some pretty amazing places to eat, and out of all the places we dined, G and I only had one spot that was a little lackluster (that place is obviously not featured on this list, ha). To say that our food experience was wonderful is an understatement. Also, there is such a wide variety of food choices to choose from, this city is so diverse that you’ll be sure to find something that is beyond enjoyable.

If you have been reading along so far, I’ve recapped my experiences indulging on some of the best donuts and drinks the Windy City has to offer. Now, we are diving into some wonderful restaurants that we had the pleasure of enjoying during our trip in October.

RPM Steak

RPM Steak was so wonderful, and G and I totally splurged on this restaurant during our fancy date night out for his birthday. The space is stunning - from the bar to the dining room. This spot was super packed when we went on a weeknight, and having a reservation is an absolute must for RPM. Our waitress was amazing, and the in-house sommelier guided us through the wine list, which had spectacular options to choose from. We were super impressed with all of the options on their menu as well.

Take a peek at what we ordered below!

The sommelier assisted us and selected an amazing wine for us to enjoy during the evening.

An amuse-bouche provided by the chef, a potato cake with smoked tuna, and caviar on top.

Roasted Ora King Salmon + Tarragon Aioli

When it came to the dessert, I was dying to try the 14K gold chocolate cake. It was featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” on the Food Network, and ever since I saw it, I knew it was something I’d have to order at RPM. This decadent chocolate cake did not disappoint whatsoever, and it was totally worth the wait.

The cutest cotton candy setup for Carlton’s birthday surprise.

Portillo's Hot Dogs

Portillo’s Hot Dog is a relaxed spot, that serves up Chicago classics, like the city’s iconic hot dog. This place is very popular with the locals, and gets crowded super quickly. Also, we loved how casual this spot was, it was set up cafeteria-style, and once you place your order you’re able to grab any table you want in the restaurant. This place is casual, fun, and a great way to try some of Chicago’s popular dishes.

Nutella Cafe

Who isn’t in love with Nutella? This chocolate hazelnut spread is one of my favorite treats. The Nutella Cafe has a marvelous storefront right in the heart of Michigan Avenue. Visiting this spot was super easy for us, as it was right across from our hotel. The cafe gets very crowded during peak hours, but we arrived shortly after they opened for breakfast, and were able to get our order in very fast. We were given excellent recommendations by the staff and enjoyed some delicious treats during our visit.

Pound Cake “Panzanella” with fresh Berries

Nando's

Nando’s is a chain, but it was the first time G and I tried this spot. Also, it was super convenient, as this spot was also right by our hotel, and it was the first spot we tried when we arrived in the Windy City. I was actually super surprised at how delicious this place was, but I should have known this place was a hit with so many people flocking to the restaurant! Nando’s has excellent options on their menu and with such a wide variety. Now that I know there are some locations close to home I’ll be visiting them again for sure.

Getting ready to try the PERi-PERi Wings for the first time.

Giordano's

Giordano’s was so so good and absolutely worth the 45 minute wait it took for our deep dish pizza to get to our table. This restaurant rivaled another popular deep dish pizza restaurant - Lou Malnati’s. The only difference between the two places is: Giordano’s uses a traditional dough based crust, while Lou Malnati’s uses a cornmeal base mixture. If you visit Chicago you’ll see both of these places everywhere, but Giordano’s was my absolute number one pick. The best advice when getting a deep dish is to arrive early to the restaurant. There was a wait for patrons to be seated by the time we wrapped up our meal, and there was no empty seat in the place! G and I went to Giordano’s around 11AM, as it takes 45 minutes to 1 hour for your deep dish pizza to bake. Also, we skipped on ordering any appetizers so we could really enjoy our dish! We opted to order a small deep dish to share, which yields 6 slices, and was more than enough for the two of us. Also, our experience was so nice. The staff was super kind and really did their best to make our experience enjoyable.

Grabbing a slice of the delicious deep dish pizza - look at the ooey gooey mozzarella cheese!

XO, Analise

Uncorked: Chicago Edition

Analise Gregory November 5, 2019

“Too much of anything is bad. Too much Champagne is just right.” - Mark Twain

Our trip to Chicago during the last week of October was so much fun. The food was spectacular, but the cute wine bars and shops were just simply fantastic. Each person we met at each stop was just so helpful. They went above and beyond to make our experience really enjoyable.

I’m sharing my top three spots for wine and champagne in Chicago!

Pops for Champagne

Neighborhood: River North

Pops is legendary and has been open for more than 30 years. It is located in the River North neighborhood, and was a quick walk from our hotel at the St. Jane. One thing I love about Pops is that they focus on smaller production champagnes, which is really nice because you feel like you are getting something super special from this place. You are not able to pick up these champagnes in your local grocery store, which is what makes this place shine so much! Everything is super unique and new, so our experience was one of a kind. The service was fantastic, and our waitress recommended a wonderful selection for me to try. Also, they have wonderfully crafted cocktails, which G indulged in. This place is quaint, warm, and was the perfect way to wrap up our evening. If we ever visit Chicago again, we will definitely be making our way back to this spot, it was that wonderful.

What makes this place special?: Unique champagnes that you cannot find anywhere else.

Pops for Champagne in the River North neighborhood.

The Wine Bar at the Walnut Room

Neighborhood: The Loop

The legendary Walnut Room was the first restaurant ever opened in a department store. This place holds a special place in my heart, as the Walnut Room was a spot I’ve visited with my family in the past. I was so happy to share this experience with G and take him to a place I love. The restaurant and wine bar are located in Macy’s, which was formally known as Marshall Fields. This spot is tucked away in the theatre district, and the interior of this place is gorgeous with wood paneling all around. During our visit, the staff and interior decorators were actually transforming the restaurant to their breathtaking holiday theme. It was so cool to watch them flip the space and prepare for the upcoming Christmas season. The staff was so kind, attentive, and immediately sat us at their wine bar. They have a great variety of cocktails, champagnes, and even their own curated reserve wines.

What makes this place special?: It’s the first restaurant ever opened in a department store.

The Walnut Room’s reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Eataly

Neighborhood: The Magnificent Mile

Eataly came highly recommended by a coworker, and I was super happy to visit this market. What’s so cool about this spot is that you can enjoy Italian cuisine in the store. There are a few restaurants, various stands that sell coffee, pastries, chocolate, and so much more. Also, there is a lovely little wine bar on the second floor as well. Their wine selection is expansive, and there was so much to choose from! The wine options totally brought me back to my trip to Rome earlier this year, and I was so excited to pick a bottle to enjoy. Instead of enjoying the wine and food at the market, we opted to select a bottle of red to take back to the hotel. Also, I was super impressed with the price points for their wine at Eataly. The wine prices ranged from $15 all the way upwards of $75. The food that was being served looked so delicious, and if G and I weren’t so full from lunch earlier in the day we would have definitely stayed for a bite to eat. We will definitely return back to this spot in a future visit to Chicago.

What makes this place special?: There are 23 unique eateries, 6 private event spaces, a cooking school, and a market.

An amazing selection of fabulous Italian wine.

XO, Analise

The Battle of the Chicago Donuts: Stan's Donuts & Coffee vs. Firecakes

Analise Gregory October 31, 2019

“With a doughnut in each hand, anything is possible.” - Jameela Jamil

Before our wonderful trip to Chicago, one of the most suggested places G and I should visit were donut shops! I’ve visited Chicago many times growing up, but most recently this city has been boosting up some amazing donut and coffee shops! So, we did our homework on a few spots before traveling to the Windy City.

Firecakes has been featured on the Food Network, and received rave reviews from Chicago natives. Also, right outside out hotel, Stan’s Donuts was a hot place amongst locals and tourists.

My husband and I did the hard work for you guys, and visited two of the most popular spots for coffee and donuts - Stan’s Donuts & Coffee and Firecakes.

Stan's Donuts & Coffee

Stan’s has the cutest little location on Michigan Avenue, which was right by our hotel. This California based donut shop made its way to Chicago, and has made a huge impact on this city. When we arrived into town, this was one of the first places we popped into, and the line was so long - needless to say that Stan's was very popular. The service was quick, and they had an amazing variety of donuts! It was hard choosing just one donut, but G and I finally made some amazing selections. The donuts were a really good size, and were definitely filling, but most of all super delicious. Also, their coffee was amazing, my husband grabbed a cappuccino and was super impressed with it.

The most colorful and cutest donut and coffee shop.

The cutest little pink bag filled with goodies.

Enjoying the cinnamon sugar donut from Stan’s.

Firecakes

This quaint little shop is tucked away on W Hubbard Street, and away from all of the hustle and bustle. The shop is cozy and filled with some of the most unique donuts. Firecakes uses amazing ingredients in their baked goods, and you can taste the quality. The staff was super sweet, and patiently helped any customer that came in. This experience was much different than the popular Stan’s shop, and we were able to leisurely pick out donuts and chat with the staff. Also, there was no seating in this location, but a cute gazebo and patio was set up right outside the entryway for you to enjoy your baked goods.

All of the amazing selections for the day.

My favorite pick, as well as G’s was Stan’s Donuts & Coffee. G preferred the coffee and donut combination much more at Stan’s. I loved Stan’s because their selection was much more vast than Firecakes. While I enjoyed both during my visit to Chicago, Stan’s won in my book!

Also, another popular donut spot in Chicago is Do-Rite Donuts. We did pass by a Do-Rite’s in Chicago, and honestly were not super impressed with them, which was a bummer.

If you are heading to Chicago anytime soon definitely give these sweet spots a try!

XO, Analise