Underground Restaurants

If you've been following the news coverage about the recent outcropping of "underground restaurants," (i.e. restaurants in secret locations--sometimes because of what they serve and sometimes to cater to self-proclaimed foodies who want to be in the know) than you'll interested in the Bonsoiree Underground Dinner happening in Chicago this weekend, Saturday, June 2. It's $52 per person and includes a five-course dinner with a starter of pan fried frog legs & calvados with Granny Smith Apple concasse. Yum? E-mail shin@bon-soiree.com for reservations.

You could always save your underground restaurant money and go to Hot Doug's for some of their great duck fat fries which are served only on Fridays and Saturdays (see photo above). That would only cost you about $3 bucks.

And here's the link to the Chicago Tribune article about the underground restaurants.

Bon appetite!

The Longest 19 Hours of my Life

Over the past day I experienced the longest 19 hours of my life. No exaggeration.

With the thought looming a few weeks ago that our medical insurance might disappear (another story for another time), I began scheduling as many appointments as possible. Not fun when you hate any sort of needle or anticipated pain. One of the appointments I scheduled was with a dermatologist to have a mole on my stomach removed. This mole had been there for several years with no problems, but looked a bit suspect.

After a lengthy wait at the dermatologist's office, I was ushered into a small exam room. The doctor strode in hurriedly and in a clipped voice said, "Well, let's see what you've got." I offered him a glimpse of my mole and, after a rapid-fire barrage of questions, he ushered me into another room for "surgery." "Surgery?" I questioned. Well, yes, he replied, albeit minor surgery. And then, like an emphatic period on his prior sentence he said, "This does not look good at all."

Not good at all? Hmmm...what exactly does that mean? And then I began to pray.

During the next ten minutes, the doctor jabbed a needle in the offending piece of skin, cut it out, and tied up the wound with a stitch. Twice more during the procedure he mentioned (as if I needed more fuel for my anxiety), "This really does not look good." My heart pounded more loudly each time he mentioned how not-good things looked and, perhaps finally noting my anxiety, the doctor seemed to soften a bit.

"Well, if you've had this mole for as long as you say and it has not changed, it could be a keratosis. But it would be an ugly keratosis. History is more important than the way things look," he acquiesced. "But I'll try and rush the lab results for you so we can find out what's going on by Friday--Monday at the latest."

Rushed lab results. A grimace on the doctor's face. That couldn't be good. In shock, I drove home to get ready for my women's accountabililty group. I was really, really scared.

The long and short of the next 19 hours was this. I prayed with some amazing women, I talked to God, I talked to my wonderful and supportive husband, and I realized that nothing touches my life that doesn't first pass through His hands. Whatever the outcome, God promises to be with me always. Yes, I had a sleepless night, but I also had the opportunity to put my trust in God in a new way, not knowing what the outcome would be.

Fortunately, this story has a moral and a happy ending. At 10:45 this morning the doctor called to tell me it is good news. The lab results came in early (gee, how sick did he think I was??) and it turned out to be a benign keratosis. Now it's really benign because it's gone! I am relieved beyond words, and more than a little grateful. Thanks, God.

Memorial Day Weekend: Biking the Drive

Today is Memorial Day--a time to remember U.S. soldiers, past and present. Many of those soldiers are in my family, so I am grateful.

This weekend has been fun. Friday proved to be a non-work day since my phone wasn't ringing and my e-mail wasn't producing any urgent demands (hurray!), so I "played hooky" with my friend, Karen. We checked out a new burger joint in Evanston called Uber Burger, and it was very yummy, if not packed. Try the chipotle ketchup on whichever burger you order. Good stuff. We followed our burgers with ice cream from Homer's and a pleasant sit in the sun.

Saturday found me trudging through downtown Chicago in the rain, searching for the perfect bike shorts for Bike the Drive. Hmmm..."Do I really want my backside to look any bigger?" I kept asking myself. Bike the Drive is America's biggest car-free annual ride, and takes place on Lake Shore Drive. All car traffic is banished from the drive from 5 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. once a year for the express purpose of allowing bikers to ride along this beautiful road. Those of you who know me can probably barely contain a giggle or two trying to imagine me biking some 15 miles and getting up at 5:20 a.m. to do so. Yeah, I'm the girl that gets motivated to go to the gym by the dream of a cup of coffee at the end of my workout. Sad! But that is how I found myself buying bike shorts in the rain on Saturday.

After a long day of walking the city, Joe and I met up with Co and O for an early dinner at Feed. A fairly new restaurant, Feed is all about Southern cooking. The chicken and sides were good, and I'm sure that fried okra was good carbo-loading for the bike ride.

Here is where I have to admit I was a bit nervous about BTD. The thought of riding more than three or four miles seemed so daunting--especially since we planned a one-way ride home sans motor vehicles. But something wonderful happened. Once our group of four peddled onto Lake Shore Drive, I was filled with the wonderment of being able to ride at my own pace and visually explore the beautiful buildings that make Chicago great. It drizzzled lightly for a few minutes when we first joined the ride, but that kept the weather cool. By the time we rolled off the course at Bryn Mar, the sun was making a valiant attempt at a breakthrough.

So I did it. I rode my bike from the museum campus downtown, through Andersonville, and back to Evanston. I sure am glad I had those bike shorts.

Idols Full of Faith

So, did anyone else notice that the winner of the American Idol songwriting competition that was announced last night is CMA artist Scott Krippayne? Scott has written songs for a myriad of artists, so it was sort of surprising that a professional songwriter won the competition.

We're gearing up tonight for our annual AI end-of-the-season-critique with some fellow hardcore viewers. I can't tell you who they are or they would kill me. Afterall, all the cool kids are watching the season finale of "Lost" tonight. Seems that American Idol is everyone's dirty little secret...

I guess I'll go home and await a winner.

Unexpected Surprises

Relationships are good. Really, doesn't the quality of our relationships enhance (or not) the quality of our lives in a very significant way? So it was a wonderful surprise to receive not one, but two last-minute phone calls letting me know that two different friends are in town on business tonight. Since I already have plans to see the Chicago Children's Choir in action this evening (our friends, the Slaughters, have a daughter performing in the group), I will drive down the road a bit to meet up with former colleague Jennifer at Le Colonial afterward.

From our days working together, Jen trusts me to "find a cool place to eat." I hope I don't disappoint, but in my opinion you can't get much better than the French-Vietnamese food on offer at the restaurant on Oak/Rush/Walton in Chicago. Of course, I coerced my former co-workers into eating Thai food so often, that anything that smacks of Asia might not go down so well with Jen. See what happens when you put your food fate in my hands?

Living the Good Life in South Michigan

Living the good life in Michigan yesterday wasn't hard at all. We left Chicago in the morning, determined to take full advantage of the afternoon, despite the one-hour time change to EST. After a quick stop at the outlet mall in Michigan City to stock up on summer t-shirts for the guy (I also admit to buying just a couple of things...surprise), we drove ASAP to our favorite find from last summer: Froehlich's in Three Oaks. What can I say about Froelich's that would do it justice? Sigh. It's simply the most charming purveyor of the absolute best jam available--canned on the premises. I know "absolute best" is a broad statement, but when's the last time YOU spent $50 on jam? Good stuff, right?

After a snack of housemade hummus and deviled eggs, washed down with refreshing mint iced tea, Joe took a spin on an Electra "Rat Fink" at the bike shop next door while I shopped for Strawberry-Rhubarb and Black Cherry & Ginger jams. Oh, and also canned yellow & red tomatoes and a peach pastry. Joe didn't buy the bike (big thumbs down on the handle bars that were taller than my head), but I did buy a tiny chunk of liver sausage at famed butcher shop Drier's. Check this online mention--I think I found it on Chow Hound.

In tiny Three Oaks, Michigan, 75 miles east of Chicago, the 1875-vintage Drier’s Meat Market is a national historic site. Immortalized in poetry by patron Carl Sandburg, it makes a subtly spiced all-beef ring bologna worthy of the trek. The 100-year-old smokehouse has been run by the Drier family since 1913. Drier’s Meat Market, Three Oaks, (888) 521-3999, www.driers.com.

Last on our list for the day was what I described as "cheesy fun." A visit to a really yummy Italian restaurant (and I don't use the term "yummy" loosely) in Stevensville called Casa Tosi's. It's pure North Woods lodge meets Little Italy in this very large restaurant on the edge of Lake Michigan. The drive in is beautiful, cruising through wooded roads dotted with stately houses and beach cottages. The gardens in front of the restaurant are lush with rhododendron and silky green grass, and lead to a cozy outdoor patio.

But eating indoors was our style last night, and we found ourselves among 16-year-old prom- goers sitting stiffly in formals and tuxedos, as well as groups of 60-year-old weekenders cozying up to the red leather bar with glasses of wine and cocktail nuts, listening to an Al Jarreau cover singer until their tables were called. We may have been some of the only 30-somethings in the entire restaurant, but it was my cheesy fun all the way! And the food was fabulous. Joe chose the gluten-free risotto with porcini mushrooms and roasted chicken while I ate penne Arabiatta with shrimp (what else?). This is a great place to visit the next time you head up to Saugatuck or Grand Rapids...even if the restaurant looks slightly more German than Italian inside!

As M. Henry's so sweetly puts it, chow for now.

The Birth of Lola Living

Lola Living was birthed yesterday evening, at about 6 p.m., on the sun-dappled patio of Cafe Gulistan in Harbert, MI. Actually, once the long labor of blogging indecision subsided, the actual birth took about, oh, five minutes.

What happened was this. After a pleasant day exploring Harbor County, my husband, Joe, and I sat on said patio with some cold drinks and I once again expressed to him how much I would like to share the things I experience with other people. By "things" I mean to say that Gary Thomas would classify me as a Sensate in his book Sacred Pathways. I connect with anything that has to do with the beauty I see around me, as perceived through my senses: food, music, artistry, storytelling, a beautifully set dinner table. I get that.

So after I expressed this again to Joe, the idea of Lola Living came very quickly. Sort of the last push before a beautiful creation is birthed. Since I tell stories for a living in a round-about way, why not combine that passion with my passion to connect people with unforgettable experiences. Lola living is simply me living every day of my life to its fullest and sharing that with you.