monthly dinner club: fox & obel market bistro

The continuation of the ladies’ monthly dinner club…. Next up? Monica.

Fox & Obel Market Bistro

401 East Illinois St., Chicago, IL  60611
(312) 410-7301

Located in my hood, Streeterville, Fox & Obel Market Bistro is a restaurant joined within the Fox & Obel Market. From my knowledge, all food that is prepared there is done so with the very ingredients that Fox & Obel sells.

Environment:
It’s a smaller space, about 15 tables. It’s intimate with low lighting and candles. Nothing too special about it visually, but a neat space for being connected to the market. People were dressed casual to business casual – could be do to it being a work day.

Service:
The service was great. Our server, Spencer, was a bit of an oddball with a hilarious chuckle of a laugh, but he was knowledgeable about the menu and provided great service. When ordering wine, 3 of us wanted Riesling. He recommended to buy a bottle because it was cheaper for the 3 of us. Thoughtful.

Food:
For beginners, fresh bread was on the table for us with the usual messings – oil, parmasean, etc. Always a great way to start your meal, that is unless the people you’re meeting for dinner arrive first and eat all of it.

For drink, I had a delicious glass of Riesling. It was a $15 bottle (or $8 glass), so probably not the highest quality but it did the trick! I plan to buy a bottle tonight!

For dinner, I had the linguini pasta – asparagus, fresh wild mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, and parmigiano reggiano. It was very yummy. I ordered mine sans mushrooms. My only issue with it was the lack of asparagus. I had one small bite in mine, whereas others at my table that ordered it had a whole garden. Total cost for the pasta was $8.99

To complete our meal, I shared the dulce de leche cheesecake with Lisa. Oh my goodness it was delicioso!! Total cost $5.99.

Overall:
I think this is a great place for a nice reasonably priced dinner. The mood was nice with great service – even given our inappropriate behavior (i.e. the words we used, games we played, and a broken stem on a wine glass). Definitely try it out! If you’re at Navy Pier, you’re only 4 blocks away!

Until next time
<3 jenna

is it too late for a weekend recap?

So I’ve become sucked into this tornado that won’t let me out called work. Finally have a second to breathe. Is it too late for a weekend recap? Ehhh, never :)

Friday – Jake had a day trip to central IL for work and got home pretty late. I decided to do what I do best when wasting time and went SHOPPING :) Stopped by Best Buy to look at the camera I’m going to buy on Black Friday or Cyber Monday – AAAHH SOO EXCITED. I played with it like a ridiculous child and was getting far too giddy, so I left. Stopped by H&M to shop and laugh at the 20 people who were lined up outside for the new Versace line coming out the next day. Would you wait in line for this?

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Seriously, it’s disgustingly ugly. DISCLAIMER: I mean no offense if this is your style. It’s just not mine. Afterward, I stopped by a few more places to shop. Finally became hungry and tired of looking and headed home. Once Jake got home, we spent the night relaxing after a long day for the both of us.

Saturday was fun! In the AM, I had brunch with KO, who is a good friend and essentially my wacky other half. We ate at Orange in River North right at Grand and Milwaukee. It was super yummy. I had the cinnamon bun pancakes – couldn’t resist :) I miss hanging out with Kathy. We spent most of the meal contemplating what animals couldn’t clap. Our list was short – started with T-Rex. Let me know if you can think of more, other than fish.

Once brunch was done, Jake picked me up and we headed to the Shedd for the day. It was sooooo much fun. I love going to look at the animals and fishies and sharkies! They have a new exhibit for gellies. Pretty cool!! We spent about 3-4 hours there, then jumped back in the car and drove .75 miles home.

Once we got back, we stopped by our place then walked to Michigan Ave. for the Chicago Light Parade! There were TONS of people lining the streets of the Mag Mile. The parade was awesome filled with cool floats and singers. I personally liked when the lights went on all the trees :)

After the parade was over, we went out for dinner then headed home with me of course singing Christmas songs to Jake the whole way. It was such a great day. I’m feeling so festive now :)

Sunday we headed to Timothy O’Toole’s per the usual to watch the Vikings game at noon. The bar was PACKED with Bears fans and Chargers fans that were going to the game. We made tons of new friends all from out of state. One of the guys (Bears fan from NY) said that just being at the bar surrounded by Bears fans was his dream. He also said that going to a Bears game in Chicago was his lifelong dream. Taught me not to think lightly of what I do each day :) You never know, you may be living someone else’s dream :) After Jake’s game, we headed home to watch my game. Very proud with how my boys played, but totally bummed about Cutler :( Here’s to hoping Hanie does well for us!

Sunday was also Jake and I’s dating anniversary. I didn’t realize it until late that night. I turned to Jake to wish him happy anniversary and ask what he got me, and he laughed. I realized that apparently once you’re married you no longer celebrate this anniversary.

All day today and yesterday have been nuts. Clients are coming to me like crazy with ridiculous number of projects to be completed in short timelines. Holy cow I’m busy. NOW I can kinda breath and prepare for Thanksgiving. Well not really. Here’s my to-do tonight:

• Grocery shop for all ingredients for dishes and desserts I’ll be making
• Determine budgets for each person for Christmas presents
• Figure out what to get everyone so I can go in prepared on Black Friday
• Pack for a 5+ day leave
• Prepare list of what personal things I want to buy for all my DIY projects for the holiday season (more to come)
• Clean the house

Wish me luck! I hope everyone has a very happy Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

Until next time
<3 jenna

a lesson for the guys

Fellas, listen up.

I always hear from guys how girls are so hard to figure out. Erroneous.

Girls just want to feel needed, wanted, and desired. Sure when you first start in your relationship things are new and exciting. But after you’re together for a long time and know just about everything about a person, it’s important to continue to show the girl you care (same applies for you girls reading too). Don’t assume. Once you begin to assume is when the romance will start to fade.

We don’t need expensive jewelery (though we’ll accept it gladly). We don’t need fancy dinners, or shopping sprees, or even flowers all the time. We just want to know that you still love us. Here’s an example of what my husband did for me this morning that meant the world.

{ found on bathroom counter when I woke up }

{ after i was already smiling, i found this one in the bathroom cabinet }

This, to me, is romantic. It cost $0 but meant so much <3

Guys – you can thank me later.

Until next time
<3 jenna