Three years....

FINALLY, I have enough time in my schedule to actually maintain this blog!  I've probably spent about an hour "re-designing" the blog to make it more current and more me.  So....let's get started ;)

So much has changed in the past 2 years.  My best friend and love, Jake, and I got engaged and are now married!  I'ts been such an exciting two years with so many changes--all good ones.  We've continued our exploration of Chicago's culinary depth and even traveled the world to expand our palettes.  More importantly, these experiences have resonated to our own kitchen and has inspired us to embark on homemade culinary adventures.  So many of my friends and family ask if I keep a blog.  Regretfully, I would say no, but knew this blog was sitting there collecting dust.  With that said,  I'm going to use the next six months or so to "back-blog".  None of this would be possible without my constant companion--my iPhone.  

iPhone Generations

The iPhone has revolutionized how I archive my life visually (Thank you, Mr. Jobs) .  Not to date myself, but in the early 2000s, I would have never been able to take pictures/videos of the sites and sounds on a day-to-day basis.  I would neither remember nor want to carry around a camera due to it's size and the fear of losing it.  But now, with such a great camera built into my phone, there really is no excuse not to be taking pictures or videos.

And so without further adieu....let's start the next blog with the TV show that profoundly changed my life philosophy.

RIP Le Press

Alright, so here we go!

Yesterday morning, a death happened in our household; our french press (aka Le Press) went KAPUT....may she rest in peace.

I only started using my french press again about a week ago.  We randomly perused the isles of World Market over on Sheffield, and came across my absolute favorite coffee blend - Cafe du Monde.  Cafe du Monde is distributed by the world famous cafe of the same name located in New Orleans, LA.  Their coffee's fame may only come second to the true jewel of Cafe du Monde - the Beignets!  This blend combines coffee with chicory, which is the root of the endive, commonly found in salads.  The chicory sort of takes the bite out of the bitterness from the coffee.  And when this blend is mixed with milk, moreover, condensed milk, it sends your palette with a perfect balance of flavors.  It's prob the best way to start and end my days.  Honestly, my mornings get a lot more *umph* when I have my cup of Joe - give it a try!

At least we still have our Cafe du Monde still....

So now we must dust off our baby Bodum and look for a new french press.  I first learned of French presses once I started frequenting Kaldi's Coffee in St. Louis.  Kaldi's was and continues to be a local favorite of local and college student alike.  My twin sister and I first got our first press from Kaldi's (the baby Bodum), and my life would not be the same without it.  Be careful, though.  If you do not have the right grind and the write amount of coffee + water, you could end up being a french press hater.  A common mistake we amateurs make at first is to think that the grind needs to be larger given the press filter.  Enlarging the grind of your coffee will make your brew GAR-BAGE.  Stick to what you know; it'll work well.  The other key to making a great brew is to use the measuring spoon provided when you purchase your french press.  It makes a world of difference compared to measuring with an ordinary tablespoon.  That's pretty much all the tips this rookie can give...

Tomorrow will begin a new with our Baby Bodum, and search for our new french press.  Maybe I should just invest in a fancy espresso machine.  Until next time, let's toast to our fallen friend, Le Press.