The best breakfast I have EVER eaten!

I don't say something was the best ever...ever but I am saying it today!

I had the absolute best french toast I have ever had in my life this Sunday. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it and am trying to duplicate the recipe so I can serve it here at home.

We tried a Chicago brunch staple this past Sunday a small local hang out called Orange. There are several in Chicago area...we had difficulty finding the one we were actually planning to try and ended up in Lincoln Park at the Orange there. After our meal it really didn't matter, we were just so glad we found it. Orange is a small, nothing fancy restaurant that specializes in brunch and they have mastered their speciality let me assure you.

When we arrived I noticed an item on the menu the peaked my interest...

Orange Rosemary French Toast

now for a minute the flavor combo seemed a bit odd for breakfast but I like all those flavors so I decided to give it a try. This french toast is made with Brioche that has been soaked in a citrus rosemary sweet cream infusion and then baked until crisp. The citrus rosemary sweet cream is then reduced and drizzled over the top. My first bite was so shocking...it was sweet and savory, smooth and creamy, buttery and rich. You didn't need to add anything...no butter or syrup necessary. This plate of deliciousness melted in your mouth with the perfect balance of flavors.

There were other menu items...cinnamon bun pancakes, mix your own fresh squeezed juices with a big contraption that fed whole oranges into it producing beautiful glasses of fresh squeezed juice in seconds. They offered several egg dishes that looked great as well and where else have you eaten breakfast that offers a flyte of pancakes? But for me I got lost in French Toast heaven....

Hot Chocolate - Wicker Park - Chicago

With a name like Hot Chocolate we had to at least try their desserts...A cocoa induced comma is not entirely out of the real of possibility here.

This warm cozy Wicker Park bistro with the many hues of chocolate on the walls and furniture was the perfect place to end our day's food adventure. We sampled several hot chocolate drinks that were a dessert in themselves. The medium hot Chocolate was anything but ordinary...deep and rich chocolate with that smooth silky texture you only get by mixing the very best of ingredients. I ordered a Black and Tan this chocolate cocktail consisted of rich hot chocolate resting on a layer of hot fudge in the bottom of the glass and a homemade marshmallow on the side. This should have been where I stopped but as long as you're in you may as well get all the way in...we ordered several desserts a Peppermint White Chocolate pudding that all agreed was the prize winner of the night. We tried several other choices as well...a dark chocolate cake with a salted caramel ice cream, and apple tart and creme brulee but hands down the Peppermint White Chocolate pudding was the winner.

Hot Chocolate is known for not just great dessert but for great food as well. Next time we are in Chicago we will catch their brunch which I am told by many is one of the best in town.

Carnivale - Chicago

Latin Vibe, fun and fab food what more could you ask for for a party?

It isn't often in a city like Chicago that we will return to a restaurant more than once with so many great places to eat but Carnivale is one we have been to several times. It never disappoints both for food and fun. You can't help but be in a party mood here, the bright colors, latin theme and carnivale atmosphere make you want to party.

Our food was outstanding as always and this time we discovered a new drink that I want to learn how to make here at home. It was called a Caipirinha a smooth mixture of Ypioca cachaca, limes and simple syrup that was so yummy and went down way to easy!

The Ropa Vieja a combo of sweet plantains, braised beef, spicy mayo and queso fresco and the Camarones al Ajillo, shrimp in a roasted garlic sauce were the perfect start.

Once again our table sampled several dishes from the extensive menu and none of them disappointed. The Pernil, a rum glazed pork shoulder was the perfect blend of savory and sweet served on a bed of Puerto Rican rice and beans. The Arrachera, a grilled skirt steak with a chimichurri sauce was knock your socks off flavor and a portion large enough for two to share.

The Grocery Bistro Chicago

Traveling to Chicago guarantees you're going to find some outstanding food, this past weekend didn't disappoint.

We started off our weekend of food with dinner at The Grocery Bistro on Washington just west of Halsted. This bistro that sports communal tables and a casual atmosphere makes some truly great food at very reasonable prices. It is however bring your own bottle, so if you want wine with dinner you'll need to bring it along conveniently there is a nice wine shop right next door that is accustomed to diners arriving just before their reservation searching for the perfect bottle of wine. We managed to sample a wide selection from the menu.

Each appetizer was not only beautiful to look at but flavorful, I had the homemade duck sausage with oven roasted parsnips and apples and it was delicious. We were not disappointed as our entrees arrived the Pork Cheeks were out of this world, perfectly seasoned and cooked. The Rabbit and Hanger Steak both were both equally tasty as well.

Dessert was fun from the spiced donuts to the

huckleberry apple crisp. My only complaint was that the music was too loud and really didn't seem to fit the environment, I asked several times if they could turn it down so we could

converse over our meal, each time they said they would but never did.