Late Summer Red

With summer's fast fading, the sunset creeping up earlier and earlier, hearing the whispers of fall's change, I just want to hang on to my sun dresses and savor the last few weeks of heat and staggering humidity to the fullest. To help us along and surprisingly, keep me on my budget is this medium bodied Coastal Peak 2002 California Cabernet Sauvignon.

Served slightly chilled, this wine is a great summer red. With bright red fruits like plums at the front and a pleasant cedar finish this can hold up against BBQ and compliments the citrus of summer grilled fish dishes.

The best thing about this wine, it can be had for a mere $4.99 at the place that has saved me from wine drudgery for the past few years, Wine and Liquor Warehouse (Broadway at 8th Street). The Warehouse has everything from amazingly great buys for my meager budget to high end collectors bottles. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They always have great suggestions for me to try and the liquors are all also sold at a discount. I have gotten limoncello at a great bargain before.

I would suggest picking up a bottle of this before the summer is over and savor a glass with some grilled eggplant salad.

Culinary Chi-town

While I was in Chicago for a gig I did get to have some nostalgic meals and some fresh ones courtesy the cities restaurants and our wonderful host.

The CTA was, as I remembered it, still in shambles. With the Blue Line only running to Western, burdened with all of our gear and tired from a trying flight on American Airlines, we took respite at Lazo's 2009 N. Western Ave. An old haunt of our Logan Square days and the closest all night food establishment, Lazo's has as many memories as it does tasty Mexican food.


We ordered a tasty array of appetizers and margaritas on the rocks. At $4.95 a pop, a substantial bargain. The Tosdada de Ceviche was the best dish. A crisp fried corn tortilla piled high with fresh shrimp ceviche and avocado, put the house salsa on top and it was great. The basic quesedilla was also good mostly because we miss good chihuahua cheese. The avocado torta was the only disappointment. But from past experiences here I can say that the tacos and green mole are out of this world.


Kelly relaxing after kicking back a few margaritas.

We also got to eat out at Butterfly 1156 W. Grand Ave. a Thai and Shushi joint that could be smack on Bedford Ave. Williamsburg giving Planet Thai a run for it's money. With a Euro-disco soundtrack and hip decor, this BYOB establishment delivered generously portioned rolls and some of the biggest hunks of fresh toro that melted right off the rice.


Our host was no chef to be trifled with either. Welcoming us with an amazing sunset drink of Cakebread Pinot Nior on the roof of his West Loop pad, I had forgotten how big the sky really is there. On the day of our show he whipped up a delicious Korean soup in a clam broth with glass noodles, baby bok choy and shrimp that was spicy enough to get our vocal chords in good shape. I will definitely try to replicate that soup. It was hearty but not over filling, the perfect meal to sate us before a performance.

Thanks, Chicago! The gig was a blast, the staff at the Empty Bottle was amazing and of course the food was good too!