The best thing I ate today - 12/18

The best thing I ate today was Cod en Papillote with Blood Orange and Grapefruit.  I was inspired to make this when I caught a segment of the Today Show where Bobby Flay prepared this with sea bass and tangerine. The dish was light and flavorful, and the fresh citrus relish gave the fish a deliciously sweet and tangy finish.  The cod worked perfectly (thank you Whole Foods fishmonger for the reco).  Healthy dinners like this make it very easy to keep New Year's resolutions indeed.

The best thing I ate today - 12/18

The best thing I ate today was the homemade dinner of butternut squash and pancetta risotto that my husband whipped up for dinner.  The combination of the bacon, squash and caramelized onions was sweet, smokey and flavorful.  But what really made this dish sing was the fact that it was finished with a sprinkle of love.  Thanks honeybee!

The best thing I ate today - 12/16

The best thing I ate today was at a Shabbat dinner hosted by our friend Merav.  The winner - her roast chicken.  Delicious, moist and perfectly seasoned, she gave Jonathan Waxman a run for his money.  Her recipe was very simple and included garlic, thyme, rosemary and lemon.  This is a must replicate for me this winter (aka roast chicken season).

The best thing I ate today - 12/10

The best thing I ate today was at a new little neighborhood joint the size of a postage stamp - Miko's Flipside.  This place sells homemade Italian ices in the summer and turns into a cozy little soup, sandwich and coffee spot in the winter.  Everything we had here was FABULOUS.  The win goes to my Black Bean soup which was outstanding.  Other honorable mentions go to the chicken chili and the grilled cheese on rosemary bread.  See you very soon Miko!

The Best Thing I Ate Today - 12/8

The best thing I ate today was my homemade French Onion soup.  I had never made this before and was delighted with the outcome.  I was able to achieve the rich, complex onion-beef flavor in just 2 hours of cooking.  I topped it with some french bread croutons and a REASONABLE amount (i.e. not enough to cover the top of a small state such as Rhode Island) of bubbly Gruyere cheese.  Overall, a much healthier way to get that French Onion it without sacrificing too much.

The Best Thing I Ate Today - 12/7

The best thing I ate today was the Stracciatella mousse at Ripasso.  This was the final course during a fun girlfriends' dinner with my friends Anita and Sindhu.  Bummed to hear that they were out of the Pistachio Mousse (http://bestthingiatetodaychicago.blogspot.com/2011/11/best-thing-i-ate-today-1112.html), we opted for Stracciatella instead and it did not disappoint.  It was like taking bites out of a pillowy, ribbony cloud of whipped vanilla and shaved chocolate.  We were in heaven.

The Best Thing I Ate Today - 12/6

The best thing I ate today was a delectable little morsel - Vanilla Caramel Marshmallow from Hammond's Candies.  I am a caramel junkie but this combination was unique to me.  The Fluffy marshmallow was robed in ooey, gooey caramel.  This made for one very delicious bite that you could really sink your teeth into (without your teeth getting stuck).