Happy Foods Blog

On a beautiful Saturday, enjoying rhubarb, honey and mint sorbet, we strolled in Lincoln Park among the crowds and between the organic stalls at Green City. So early in the season, the first days of Spring (yes, Spring in Chicago starts late), the Asparagus stole the show at the market. Can it get better?

This is a fantastic, fantastic shrimp preparation courtesy of Rick Bayless.

With Safeway (a.k.a. Dominick's, for the Chicago contingency) a 15 minute walk from our apartment, I find myself going there at least every other day. In the beginning, I was excited when I saw tomatoes or strawberries from California - my now "home state" - they had to be fresh. I find myself expecting this now, and when I see produce from Mexico it drives me crazy! This last weekend, Niko and I decided to check out the Mountain View (home of Google) farmer's market - it was wonderful! Fresh (and locally!) grown tomatoes, asparagus, artichokes, zucchini, leeks, mushrooms, flowers, everything you could imagine! And, for the most part, everything is comparably priced to what's found at Safeway. I can't wait to check out the San Francisco markets!

Simple Guacamole. Just Delicious. What else, Baba Ghannouj, a.k.a., the "spoiled daddy"... need I say more. One of my favorite eggplant preparations.