Fish Out of Malbec

08/30/2026

THE GRAND FLAMM ✨ Part Four: BLVD. So, I’ve been to BLVD twice now for a nightcap or pre dinner drinks with friends and the bar itself is alone worth visiting if you’re in the neighborhood or looking for a chic spot to get a drink or snack in the Fulton Market district.

The bar is looooong with lots of seats, and partially outside/open but I’ve also been here twice while it’s been raining so I can confidently say that you’re covered and comfy when it’s pouring out, so it’s a great way to be inside but KIND OF outside. My kind of nature. 😂

Bill King and I headed here after Rose Mary and before we shut down the piano bar down the street like the weird old people 😂 we thought we’d never become when we became friends 25 years ago.

I really need to eat here and want to try their happy hour - amazing deals including $1.50 oysters and a prime rib sando for $12.

Already plotting my return in October!

08/30/2026

THE GRAND FLAMM ✨ Part Three: Rose Mary is a master class in how to do incredible Croatian and Italian dishes in an effortlessly cool setting. The first time I came here, Joe Flamm was in the kitchen so it was extra special. Either way, it’s my favorite place in Chicago to have a great dinner, hands down.

My ancestry is part Croatian and Italian so this place slaps on so many levels. But the dishes I dream about? The radiatore cacio e pepe (not even kidding, I have been thinking about this ever since I first had it in October 2025, and will tell anyone who is going to Chicago to come to Rose Mary and order this, as a non-negotiable), and the tuna crudo (which is like a genius take on vitello tonnato reversed).

Tried a few new dishes this time with Bill King (including the eggplant 🍆 crostini, skradin risotto with chicken, and Croatian sausage dish called kjufte) and we chose a really nice Croatian wine (Plavac Mali) to accompany our meal, after starting with tasty cocktails. Finished with a delicious peach crepe (palačinka) for dessert. 11/10.

Side note: Wes, our server, was amazing.

Have you had Croatian food before? Been to Croatia? What’s your favorite dish?

08/30/2026

THE GRAND FLAMM ✨ Part Two: Bar Tutto is an all-day dining concept by Day Off Group and executive chef Joe Flamm (Top Chef Colorado winner, you knew he looked familiar!). Also in the Fulton Market District, it’s a huge space with lots of seating options including al fresco dining in front on a nice day.

Since Bill King joined me for the weekend at this point, he was game to check it out for Saturday breakfast. We were already heading to Rose Mary for dinner and BLVD for drinks after dinner, so it was a great way to fit it in to ensure Grand Flamm completion in the weekend. Yay!

So the food. One thing about me is that I’m a pistachio LOVAH 💚. I want them in everything. So naturally I needed the pistachio latte, half of the pistachio bombolino, and the mortadella sandwich (yup, more pistachios). The hash brown side was amazing and I was very proud of limiting myself to just a bite or two.

AND everything was surprisingly reasonably priced for the quality of what we got - even the fancy coffees were less expensive than my neighborhood coffee shop back home in Austin.

I’m still thinking about the filling of that bombolino - not too sweet, but super creamy and custardy and pistachio-ey. All pastries are made fresh daily and when they run out, get ready to have your heart broken. Fortunately, we were early enough that we got my first choice. Phew 😅.

Menu is in the last slide - what are you getting when we go next time?

08/30/2026

THE GRAND FLAMM ✨Part One: Turned a long weekend in Chicago into participating in the Grand Flamm - a challenge to visit all Day Off Group restaurants in August. After falling in love with Rose Mary (to come…) in Oct 2025, knew I wanted to try Joe Flamm’s other spots so this was a no-brainer. First up? Il Ca****fo (the artichoke), a Roman Italian 🇮🇹 spot in the Fulton Market district.

Literally landed at O’Hare, took the L to the hotel, checked in, dropped my bags and grabbed an uber to the restaurant in time for my 930pm reservation.

The verdict? An absolute “hell yes.” Did the chef’s counter tasting menu with wine pairings, all by my lonesome. Would do it again anytime.

Started with an amuse bouche of Ca****fo alla giudia (Jewish artichoke, made famous in the old Jewish neighborhood of Rome) and a mozzarella ball wrapped in prosciutto with balsamic drizzle. This artichoke is better than the ones I’ve had in said part of Rome. Crispier and lighter and perfectly fried.

Somehow it got even better from there.

Swipe for the full rundown and menu at the end ➡️ but my favorite bite was probably the rigatoni carbonara. It’s as rich as you wish you were IRL. The wine pairings 🍷 are just the icing on the cake!

Also yes they bring you 4 gelati with the tiramisu and I busted out laughing because it was SO MUCH just for me. My sweet server admitted it’s usually for more than a party of one, but I appreciated it and did my best, nonetheless.

Have you been to Il Ca****fo yet?!

03/02/2026

Mondays, am I right?

This poor little guy ended up with a hat made of p**p.

How’s your day going?

07/06/2020

ICYMI: Rosetta Stone is upgrading anyone who bought their language programs by CD to a Lifetime Subscription (digital) for ANY language (not just the one you previously purchased - this is the BEST part) until July 8th!

Go to www.rosettastone.com/freedom to learn more!

NOT sponsored - I just really think it works and did it myself for Spanish before moving to Argentina.

I signed up for Italian as a lifetime membership :-D

05/06/2020

I love how creative people are getting in this time of no travel. Rome is one of my favorite places (we were maybe going to go in December...). What are you doing to stay sane during this troubling time?

Follow our detailed itinerary for ways to bring Rome into your home during coronavirus quarantine.

04/16/2020

LET’S PARTY 🎉 | So, my friend and I are gonna have a party tomorrow to celebrate Malbec World Day (or World Malbec Day) on Instagram Live at 8pm ET, 7pm CT - and you’re all invited! 🍷
Joining me from Argentina will be Julia Bermejo () a Mendoza native freelance chef 👩🏻‍🍳 and wine 🍷 consultant with 15 years’ experience in the wine industry and 18 years in the culinary world. In her career, Julia has spent years in an Argentine wine tasting room and was one of my first guides in Argentine wine!
We are both kinda nervous to be honest but we will have plenty of Argentine Malbec to help us with that 😉
To join in, open up a bottle of Malbec or other wine (we don’t judge!), maybe make a snack, and click on my profile pic when it says I’m “live.” Easy peasy.
If you want us to speak in Spanish, please drop a comment below or just tell us. Si querés que hablemos en español, avísanos!
See you there! And, save this post so you don’t forget! 🥳
🍷

01/31/2020

CAROUSEL 🎠 BAR (NEW ORLEANS) | What makes a great bar?
🍸 Is it the cocktails?
🍹 Is it the bartenders?
🥃 Is it the other patrons?
🍻 Is it the ambience or history?
🍷Trick question - it’s all of that, plus the general “onda” - the Argentine way of describing the vibe. The Irish call it “craic.” It’s the secret ingredient in every great bar and The Carousel has it in spades ♠️ .
🍸Allow me a quick story. Marvin, the bar’s star bartender was taking care of us and I asked him where I might find some more cocktail pins for my jacket (see the ones in the pic?) to buy. His eyes lit up and he walked away. I thought he was just over it and moving on. But no! He returned with this awesome gilded pineapple 🍍 pin, for me! It’s from Plantation Rum and he was telling me all about their distillery (he’s visited) and their process. Of course I had to buy one (neat🥃) to try it after that 😉.
🍍🥃Spoiler alert: it was delicious!!!
🥂 Then we chatted about lunch plans and he recommended a bunch on the menu at our destination of choice (post coming soon). He was a DELIGHT. And his recs were perfect!
🍸 Later on I found out that Marvin is a world-famous bartender, responsible for reviving the Vieux Carré cocktail’s popularity, an author of a cocktail book, and one of the forces behind Tales of the Cocktail. Crazy!
🍹We reluctantly got off the carousel 🎠 to go to lunch and had such an amazing experience that I’ll definitely be back to see him (on a weekday!) soon.
🎠 What’s the most important aspect of a bar, for you?
🎠 #🥃 @ Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans

01/26/2020

Ever wonder what Times Square looks like in the snow? Pretty cool 360 degree video of Times Square during a snowstorm - but the best part is that my friend is the guy who took it! 😉