two recent desserts

Another evening at home alone, and with the fog rolling in and an early dinner in my belly, I've decided to be all cozy and catch up on blogging. A glass of wine, some photos from recent dining, and here I go!

If I may, let me revisit the fun weekend with Allison - a week now since she arrived. We picked her up at Midway, and by the end of the evening, we three were over at Hearty for a late bite. Conrad and Allison were ambivalent about dessert, but the table behind us on the patio (ah, patio dining - it's been so cold since then) recommended an item, and I decided we should all share it. Very worth it, I have to say: a Nutella pop tart with salted caramel ice cream. Go on, ask Conrad and Allison how much they declined and how birdlike they picked at it sparingly. As if!

That was a delicious treat, undeniably. Better still was the dessert the next day. Allison and I went to Terzo Piano at the Art Institute for lunch. She opted for the little lunch special while I had the papparedelle with turkey confit. The room filled up, we moved on from wine to coffee (decaf for me), and I ordered dessert.

Every time I go to Terzo Piano, I find that every dessert has at least one super-intriguing or appealing ingredient. Same thing this time. Allison guessed my choice on the second try: ricotta and green pea fritters with carrot caramel and orange sorbet. Peas? Interesting. And think about it: they are sweet. The peas were in the filling to the fritters, and they really were fresh and sweet and fine. The caramel? Lovely. The sorbet? A bright, tart-sweet, fruity counterpoint. Another winner.



After a month of cleanse, it was a good start to an anti-cleanse weekend. Mmmmm... desserts...

cultural attractions

I think we can all relate: no matter where you live, if there are attractions that, well, attract tourists, we seldom go. Hancock? Can't recall what year was the last time I was up there. Museum of Science and Industry? Only been once, hated it. And so on. We become tourists in our own city only when out of town guests somehow provoke us to take them places. And then, predictably, we think, "We should come here more often."

Here's the secret to going more often: buy a membership.

No, really. We got in on a Groupon deal for the Art Institute a year back (well, 13 months), and found ourselves there, oh, three times. Not much, but given the deal (and the discount at Terzo Piano, the restaurant in the Modern Wing), it was worth it.

Conrad wanted to see a show today. He'd heard from a colleague about an exhibit of Henri Cartier-Bresson photography, and wanted to go back. Alas, the membership had expired. A few clicks and a $80 charge to the credit card later, and we're members again. And for sure, we'll go a few more times this year.

In any case, it was a lovely morning to get out of the apartment (even if it had cooled off and clouded over by the time we left the Art Institute). We admired the view from Millennium Park and the Nichols Bridge over to the Modern Wing,

headed in to Terzo Piano for a light lunch,


and happily took in the show. I promise, we will go back, with or without out-of-town visitors!