Fashion has gone to the dogs

images from Dosha Dog, Ella Dish, Bloomingtails Dog Boutique, Kwiggy-Bo, Muttropolis

Design Within Reach

Here are some pics of my recent trip to the DWR store in downtown Chicago. It is located at 1o E Ohio St (at State St) and is housed in one of Chicago's landmark buildings, designed by Hill and Woltersdorf in 1912. It was originally used as artists' residences, and was called the "Tree Studio". I can see why artists would be inspired here! The building has such great light and energy and would offer up such inspiration for creativity in my opinion! To think it was going to be demolished at one point! Thank goodness the city came to it's senses......

Anyway, walking through is almost like touring a museum...the floor plan is set up to have you walk through a maze of rooms, all the while feeling like you are in someone's home. And the modern decor and furnishings that DWR sells fit so perfectly in this backdrop! I wanted to buy everything! (of course that's not the case, unfortunately!) So when you find yourself in Chicago, be sure to check out this gem.

Functional and Stylish!

Nobis, Latin for “us” is a very cool company out of Canada that makes great funky headwear, outerwear and other "accessories" especially for cold weather. Well, they should know....ever been to Canada in the winter??? Brrrr! Below zero is status quo for the temps in the dead of winter there......

Think style meets function. And if you know me by now, I am a big fan of companies who incorporate environmentally-friendly elements like recycled PE materials and quality natural materials like alpaca wool and hemp fibers. One of my favorite little clothing boutiques, P+L, in Lakeview, has a great selection. Nobis does great hats for all seasons, but in the spirit of this current one we are in, I thought I would show you some of my favorites for now!

I think this is the one I am going to get! Brown and orange is my favorite combo!

Plummy Goodness

I know that my female counterparts will perk up when I mention the words "beauty products"....After all, isn't it in our genes to be magnetically attracted to anything that will give us the promise of softer skin, fewer wrinkles, eternal youth and the radiant glow of the healthy girl next door?? The amount of money we spend on products that make promises (that I really am skeptical they actually can keep), is staggering! There are lotions and creams with price tags that well exceed $200.00 an ounce. But, we are not all fortunate enough to have the paychecks of Gates or Buffett or for that matter, Martha!

I have found my extravagance and it's not going to break the bank by a long shot, and to add to it's appeal, the company is big into environmentally- conscious products. Korres is a company I discovered a few years back, quite by accident. A good friend of mine with a major penchant for all things cool in the beauty products world, turned me on to this shower gel. My favorite now is the Vanilla Plum which is rich and sweet, and leaves not only me smelling great but my bathroom turns into a day at the spa just by popping the cap! Ahh, the simple things in life! The packaging is so great too.....simple, clean and great graphics.



So, what does this post have to do with food you might be thinking?? Clearly I have gone off my path. But once you try this luxuriously sensual shower gel from Korres, you will hopefully agree with me, that the fine line between the senses is more than just about food, but equally about they way a scent can take you to a happy place as much as a meal can. Try the Lemon Basil too. Vanilla, plum, basil and lemon.....hmmm all derived from nature. So nurture your nature and get back to me......

Dinner for One: Pork Chops

pork chops with apples and sage

I really don't eat a lot of pork...but the truth is, I really like it! Don't get me started on bacon! Everything tastes better with bacon. But in this age of watching fat and calories, I feel a little guilty when I do enjoy this supposed indulgence! In French, it's called Cochon, which sounds way better than "pig" or "pork"......

Did you know that when you google "pork" there are over 32 million results?? I am not surprised! And a lot of that is for recipes.

I got some great looking boneless pork chops the other day and was in the market for making them with fall flavors....it's no accident that I went to one of my favorite chefs for a recipe. That adorable Brit, Jamie Oliver. I have been a big fan and follower of Jamie since first seeing him on the Food Network over 8 years ago.





He has a casual approach to cooking that I can really relate to. He has authored many cookbooks since and has been on and off the airwaves with different cooking shows. I really admire what he is doing with food in the U.K., especially his passion for educating young people on food and food preparation and the importance of having a relationship with where your food comes from. Where was he when I was a kid? Boy have we come a long way in the educating of people and food! I just found out that Martha Stewart is a big fan as well and has him on her show a lot....Darn that Martha, she is always copying my faves! Well, I saw him first Martha so don't you forget it!

Photo from Jamie Oliver's website

In his recipe, Jamie uses bone-in pork chops~I used boneless so either way, it's still amazingly tender and juicy! Find the recipe here. You can serve this with steamed spinach, or roasted potatoes or both!

The Art of Brooklyn

I recently found this great limited edition poster on this very cool website, Three Potato Four.

It's a collaboration between Three Potato Four and designer Jim Datz, this poster of Brooklyn combines several of their loves - Brooklyn, typography, color, 50's inspired illustrations, and urban signage. But because it was mentioned on Daily Candy, alas it is sold out. They only ran 200 prints! Imagine that...I am sure there are more than 200 of us that would be proud to hang this in our homes no matter if you are from the borough or not! Please note the shout out for Park Slope!! Yeah! They are hand screen-printed with six colors (including gold metallic) on thick 100% Recycled acid-free 100# soft white paper stock.

I put myself on the wait list and if anyone else feels the way I do, you'll hop on over to their website and do the same!

Not to forget they also did a Manhattan poster but guess what?? Sold out too! Here's what you are missing. Love the colors!

Rootstock Wine and Beer Bar

So when I invited a friend to go with me to check out this new-ish wine bar in the Humboldt Park section of Chicago, I really had to convince her! She was actually conjuring up visions of Woodstock and hippies just from the name! Guess she's not groovy enough to hang with hippies (hee-hee). Anyway, she finally gave in and met me there last evening.


It turns out that it's a very cool spot for sipping great wine, beer and munching on great noshes. The place is tiny (only 50 seats) and I really love that because for me, it reminded me of my hometown, Brooklyn, NY, where every space is tiny but cozy nonetheless. We decided to sit at the bar. This is where I like to sit so I can get a good look at the action!

They offer about 15-20 wines by the glass and a reserve list of around 65 bottles, which are global, affordable and from small producers. Some are bio-dynamic, some organic. Well you get the picture. There are craft beers as well (mostly of Belgian and American craft -Malheur, Great Lakes Grassroots Ale, Coney Island Albino Python, etc).

We were fortunate enough to have one of the owners tending the bar. He guided us with his expert knowledge to an excellent wine from Greece- 2005 Domaine Mercouri Refosco/Mavrodaphne Vin des Letinon Greece~it had a nice fully body and was oh- so-smooth (and very reasonably priced too!). I have had several wines from Greece lately that have been outstanding. He told us that it is very hard to find this wine so lucky for us, we were in the right place at the right time for once!

And now for my favorite part: the food! First, we sampled the Citrus and Garlic Marinated Olives. They are made in house and were yummy too! We ordered the Charcuterie and Cheese Plate that had a selection of 3 cheeses and 3 meats (above is a very fuzzy picture taken with my I Phone). There was House made chicken liver pate w/ pink peppercorns, La Quercia “green label” dry cured Proscuitto and La Quercia “Italian style” copa with paprika & cocoa rind. There were two goat cheeses and one sheep's milk cheese, and an assortment of housemade jams, (cherries in port wine for one) and grainy mustard. Have to have mustard for the pate which by the way, was amazing!! The couple that sat next to us, actually ordered the same thing we had! Guess we have good taste?? Food that is great for sharing is what I am all about!

We then decided to be bad and get what they call "Crusts" which are Naan Bread topped with either Braised fennel & buttered leeks, oven dried grape tomato, pesto cheddar & citronette mezclun greens, La Quercia Proscuitto, orange blossom honeyed melon, arugula, shiso & house ricotta, or Bourbon glazed market mushrooms, Vivace cheese, purple market beans. We settled on the braised fennel and buttered leek. A very generous portion and only $8.00. Can't beat it. Really can't.

I believe this will be my new favorite place to go for when I am in the mood for comforting food, good wine and great conversation! There is a lot more on the food list that I will have to try so I really do need to return again and again~ they are always changing the menu to reflect what is seasonal. Oh, and by the way....not a hippie in sight!


Rootstock Wine and Beer Bar
954 North California Avenue • Chicago, Illinois 60622
773.292.1616