Meli Cafe & Juice Bar
Location: 301 S Halsted
This week ChiSoNe went to Meli Cafe and Juice bar. Situated right in the heart of Greek Town, this intimate cafe is a great spot for breakfast, lunch and even brunch. We are not food experts, but we love to eat and this small cafe definitely met our expectations and then some.
We walked into the cafe to find that it was packed with people, mostly adults in their 20's and 30's. We were seated promptly and our sever was thorough, helpful and kind. She knew everything about the menu and did not hesitate when we asked questions.
Chef Frank Georgacopoulos is a creative genius, unafraid to push the envelope with dishes like the Alligator gumbo omelet and his white cabbage & wheat grass juice blends.
Meli is only open for breakfast and lunch, however their menu is more extensive than some restaurants we have been to that are open all day. Meli cafe uses organic cage free eggs which make their already delicious egg dishes taste that much better. Chef Georgacopoulos omelets seem to have some French influences, simple designs but difficult to execute.
This cafe has their own juice bar with over fifteen freshly squeezed juices everyday.
We ordered:
Fruit Parfait
Chipotle Chicken Wrap
Andouille Omelet
Meli has rather large portion sizes, so it took us longer to finish these dishes than we thought. We suggest you come here on a very empty stomach and believe us you will leave completely satisfied.
Whether you like your breakfast sweet or savoury, we are pretty sure Meli Cafe & Juice bar has you covered.
Accessibility: 5
Price: 4
Food quality & taste: 5
Service: 4
Ambiance: 3
*Ratings are between 1 and 5. 1 = poor and 5 = excellent *
link: http://www.melicafe.com/
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Whats Up With That?
Just add bacon!!!
Just when we think the world could not get any more fascinating...
These days it seems as if you can't get away from the smell, touch and taste of bacon. In the past six months I have learnt that it comes in all different shapes sizes flavours and forms. Bacon is taking over the world, literally. Everything from turkey to vodka comes in bacon flavour. We did a little research and found that there are two very bacon-mbitious men from Seattle cashing in on the bacon craze.
After an appearance on The Oprah Show and several interviews with major television networks, self-proclaimed "bacontrepreneurs", Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow are slowly but surely building a Bacon empire. It all began with them creating bacon salt which sold out in the first week of sales. One year later, they had a business which was worth over $1.5 million. Bacon salt is not thier first and last product, they are in the works designing bacon scented soap, perfume, and pretty much everything else.
If you would like to try or are a bacon lover ChiSoNe found that the following bacon products actually exist: bacon strips, bacon cocktails, bacon vodka, bacon salt, bacon flavoured chocolate, baconnaise (bacon flavoured mayonnaise), chocolate with bacon bits, cupcakes with bacon toppings, a real "I heart Bacon" website, bacon flavoured beer and wait for it. . bacon business cards!
Question of the day: Should everything taste like Bacon?
Just when we think the world could not get any more fascinating...
These days it seems as if you can't get away from the smell, touch and taste of bacon. In the past six months I have learnt that it comes in all different shapes sizes flavours and forms. Bacon is taking over the world, literally. Everything from turkey to vodka comes in bacon flavour. We did a little research and found that there are two very bacon-mbitious men from Seattle cashing in on the bacon craze.
After an appearance on The Oprah Show and several interviews with major television networks, self-proclaimed "bacontrepreneurs", Justin Esch and Dave Lefkow are slowly but surely building a Bacon empire. It all began with them creating bacon salt which sold out in the first week of sales. One year later, they had a business which was worth over $1.5 million. Bacon salt is not thier first and last product, they are in the works designing bacon scented soap, perfume, and pretty much everything else.
If you would like to try or are a bacon lover ChiSoNe found that the following bacon products actually exist: bacon strips, bacon cocktails, bacon vodka, bacon salt, bacon flavoured chocolate, baconnaise (bacon flavoured mayonnaise), chocolate with bacon bits, cupcakes with bacon toppings, a real "I heart Bacon" website, bacon flavoured beer and wait for it. . bacon business cards!
Question of the day: Should everything taste like Bacon?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Incredible at every price
Girls and boys lets admit it. We have all seen those really tight dresses on the red carpet, on models, and all over magazines, but what else do we know besides they look amazing, shape your body, and are worn by every celebrity out there? Designer Herve Leger has made a name for himself dressing the most famous celebrities with his sexy, tight elastic bandage striped dresses.
The pictures shown above are examples of Herve Leger trademark. He makes a woman feel sexy, and show stopping. According to his website, his dresses are made from "bands of stretch fabrics, wool, or silk woven with Lycra or Elastic, wound around the body for a tight fit".
Now wait! What does a girl do, when a dress like this cost $1000 or more… don’t worry, ChiSoNe always has you covered. We can still look like a million dollars with a similar design by other stores. You can find a similar dress, with stripes and a tight fabric whatever your price range is. If you don’t want to spend a whole lot of $$$, forever21 offers you different types of dresses, as seen below.
Or if you are looking for something more colorful, French Connection offers you this incredible dress for only $200. 
The pictures shown above are examples of Herve Leger trademark. He makes a woman feel sexy, and show stopping. According to his website, his dresses are made from "bands of stretch fabrics, wool, or silk woven with Lycra or Elastic, wound around the body for a tight fit".
Now wait! What does a girl do, when a dress like this cost $1000 or more… don’t worry, ChiSoNe always has you covered. We can still look like a million dollars with a similar design by other stores. You can find a similar dress, with stripes and a tight fabric whatever your price range is. If you don’t want to spend a whole lot of $$$, forever21 offers you different types of dresses, as seen below.
Or if you are looking for something more colorful, French Connection offers you this incredible dress for only $200. 
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Restaurant of the Week
Hot Chocolate
Location: 1747 N. Damen Ave
The second restaurant on our list is Hot Chocolate. Its simple design and extended menu makes it perfect for lunch, dinner or brunch. Whatever you are looking for, Hot Chocolate will top your expectations. This urban café is great for a date or catching up with friends. You are able to have a good conversation as the music is at a perfect volume. The crowd is mostly young people in there 20's and late 30's.
When walking in the restaurant we felt like we were walking into a lounge. You have the option of sitting at the bar and ordering as you wish, you could also sit in small booths, or choose window seating. We were seated and served promptly. The menu changes significantly between lunch and dinner, so we would recommend that you check the menu online first before deciding when to go there.
We ordered:
Charred baby octopus
House ground Heartland beef
Organic bacon Hamburger
Roasted Gunthorp Farms chicken
Roasted rack of lamb
Desserts: A tasting of all our petite cookies
The truth of the matter is, the cuisine is what makes Hot Chocolate one of our favourite restaurants. We recommend that you save room for desserts, as they are the speciality of the restaurant. Hope you enjoy our pick.
Accessibility: 3
Price: 3
Quality &Taste: 5
Service: 4
Ambiance: 4
*Ratings are between 1 and 5. 5 being excellent and 1 being poor*
Location: 1747 N. Damen Ave
The second restaurant on our list is Hot Chocolate. Its simple design and extended menu makes it perfect for lunch, dinner or brunch. Whatever you are looking for, Hot Chocolate will top your expectations. This urban café is great for a date or catching up with friends. You are able to have a good conversation as the music is at a perfect volume. The crowd is mostly young people in there 20's and late 30's.
When walking in the restaurant we felt like we were walking into a lounge. You have the option of sitting at the bar and ordering as you wish, you could also sit in small booths, or choose window seating. We were seated and served promptly. The menu changes significantly between lunch and dinner, so we would recommend that you check the menu online first before deciding when to go there.
We ordered:
Charred baby octopus
House ground Heartland beef
Organic bacon Hamburger
Roasted Gunthorp Farms chicken
Roasted rack of lamb
Desserts: A tasting of all our petite cookies
The truth of the matter is, the cuisine is what makes Hot Chocolate one of our favourite restaurants. We recommend that you save room for desserts, as they are the speciality of the restaurant. Hope you enjoy our pick.
Accessibility: 3
Price: 3
Quality &Taste: 5
Service: 4
Ambiance: 4
*Ratings are between 1 and 5. 5 being excellent and 1 being poor*
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Recipe of the week
* a sideshow of the process can be found at the bottom of the page*
White wine shrimp and Pasta
10 ounces of angel hair pasta
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
20 - 25 Jumbo shrimp
1 1/2 cup of white wine
1/2 cup of green or red bell pepper
parsley
Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 6 to 8 minutes or until al dente; drain
2. heat oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Saute garlic and add mushrooms and pepper in oil until tender.
Remove mushrooms, peppers and shrimp from pan, and set aside.
3. Add wine in the pan and simmer until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup. Add shrimp, peppers and mushrooms to sauce, and heat through. Adjust seasoning to taste.
4. Toss hot, cooked pasta with shrimp and other ingredients. Add Parmesan cheese and pepper to garnish.
Enjoy!
White wine shrimp and Pasta
10 ounces of angel hair pasta
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
20 - 25 Jumbo shrimp
1 1/2 cup of white wine
1/2 cup of green or red bell pepper
parsley
Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water for 6 to 8 minutes or until al dente; drain
2. heat oil over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Saute garlic and add mushrooms and pepper in oil until tender.
Remove mushrooms, peppers and shrimp from pan, and set aside.
3. Add wine in the pan and simmer until liquid is reduced to 1/2 cup. Add shrimp, peppers and mushrooms to sauce, and heat through. Adjust seasoning to taste.
4. Toss hot, cooked pasta with shrimp and other ingredients. Add Parmesan cheese and pepper to garnish.
Enjoy!
Fall Trends
Fall trends: Layers & Hats
Sadly, the best of our bright and sunny days are behind us, we need to put down the SPF 50 lotion and pick up our umbrella's and coats. Time to stock up on your rain boots, scarf's, hats, tights, belts and just about everything you possibly can for this fall season.
Fall is our favourite time of year and this year its all about keeping warm while still looking fabulous. How do we achieve this? Layers, layers layers! If you think layers can make you look out of shape and make you feel uncomfortable . . .think again. ChiSoNe put together a look that everyone could use day or night time.
Day
Night
for night time just add hoop earrings and a belt
Bad hair day? No worries. We have got just the thing you need to make your hairs blues disappear . Hats are worn during every season in Chicago and we have picked out a few of our favourite styles for you all.
Sadly, the best of our bright and sunny days are behind us, we need to put down the SPF 50 lotion and pick up our umbrella's and coats. Time to stock up on your rain boots, scarf's, hats, tights, belts and just about everything you possibly can for this fall season.
Fall is our favourite time of year and this year its all about keeping warm while still looking fabulous. How do we achieve this? Layers, layers layers! If you think layers can make you look out of shape and make you feel uncomfortable . . .think again. ChiSoNe put together a look that everyone could use day or night time.
Day
Night
for night time just add hoop earrings and a belt
Bad hair day? No worries. We have got just the thing you need to make your hairs blues disappear . Hats are worn during every season in Chicago and we have picked out a few of our favourite styles for you all.
Whats up with that?
What's up with the space hotel?!
Okay millionaires listen up!
Have you always wanted to go into space but wondered where you might stay if you did? Fear not because Galatic Suite is here :)
We (mainly Russia and the USA) have been launching objects in to space on and off for about 50 years. At first we sent specialized machinery such as artificial satellites and space ships then the U.S.S.R (now known as Russia) launched a dog into space in 1957. Soon after that astronauts and now, whoever can afford it.
"Galactic Suite" will be the first ever hotel in space due to open in 2012.
We at ChiSoNe are not fans of this project because even if we did have the money ($4,000,000 for a three night stay) it seems like quite a lot of money to spend just to see the sun rise 15 times a day, wear Velcro suits and go to the bathroom in a zero gravity atmosphere, not to mention eight weeks of intense training. Sounds like less of a vacation and more of a pricey astronaut job.
It is estimated that only 40, 000 people in the world will be able to afford thisuncomfortable pricey vacation.
What happened to the good ol' days when all people wanted was to go visit an exotic beach or see the seven wonders of the world? Could space travel be the next big thing for the generations to follow?
On the other hand, It would probably a most exhilarating experience. Can we wrap our minds around the immensity of space? Imagine looking around and seeing stars brighter than you have ever seen them but an infinite space darker than the darkest night on earth.
So Spain wins the race for the first space hotel and the USA is making plans to colonize Mars. Yes that's right Mars!
Is the earth not big enough? Do we not have enough of our own natural wonders to keep people satisfied? Let us not forget that there is an anonymous investor spending $3billion on this project. One of the projects biggest criticisms is the cost of the project, just in case you forgot... its 3 BILLION DOLLARS! No wonder the investor wants to remain anonymous.
Question(s) of the day: Do you think that this money could be put to better use? Would you stay in this Galatic Suite if you had the opportunity?
Okay millionaires listen up!
Have you always wanted to go into space but wondered where you might stay if you did? Fear not because Galatic Suite is here :)
We (mainly Russia and the USA) have been launching objects in to space on and off for about 50 years. At first we sent specialized machinery such as artificial satellites and space ships then the U.S.S.R (now known as Russia) launched a dog into space in 1957. Soon after that astronauts and now, whoever can afford it.
"Galactic Suite" will be the first ever hotel in space due to open in 2012.
We at ChiSoNe are not fans of this project because even if we did have the money ($4,000,000 for a three night stay) it seems like quite a lot of money to spend just to see the sun rise 15 times a day, wear Velcro suits and go to the bathroom in a zero gravity atmosphere, not to mention eight weeks of intense training. Sounds like less of a vacation and more of a pricey astronaut job.
It is estimated that only 40, 000 people in the world will be able to afford this
What happened to the good ol' days when all people wanted was to go visit an exotic beach or see the seven wonders of the world? Could space travel be the next big thing for the generations to follow?
On the other hand, It would probably a most exhilarating experience. Can we wrap our minds around the immensity of space? Imagine looking around and seeing stars brighter than you have ever seen them but an infinite space darker than the darkest night on earth.
So Spain wins the race for the first space hotel and the USA is making plans to colonize Mars. Yes that's right Mars!
Is the earth not big enough? Do we not have enough of our own natural wonders to keep people satisfied? Let us not forget that there is an anonymous investor spending $3billion on this project. One of the projects biggest criticisms is the cost of the project, just in case you forgot... its 3 BILLION DOLLARS! No wonder the investor wants to remain anonymous.
Question(s) of the day: Do you think that this money could be put to better use? Would you stay in this Galatic Suite if you had the opportunity?
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