The Best Part About Changing Jobs

Today was the first day in about two weeks that I had to buy my own lunch.  Ever since I gave my notice, it’s been a whirlwind of happy hours, lunches, breakfasts, coffee breaks, etc.  First with the old job, and then this week with my new colleagues.

There was the Adele-planned happy hour at the Union Grill.  Complete with champagne (and a margarita for me!), great apps, and really nice and thoughtful gifts.  Then there was a delicious lunch at Eleven, where I had the best burger I’ve had in awhile.  Both of these excursions were PC…they included some people I am less than fond of, so it started another wave of events for just people we like

On one of my last days, two of my most important and favorite internal customers took me to Lucca.  I hadn’t been there in awhile and never for lunch, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect.  I had the turkey club sandwich, and oh my God, was it good.  It was enormous and came with lots of chips and a really large side salad.  (Just a note, if you’re a club sandwich fan, check this cool new blog out:  http://clubsaretrump.blogspot.com/ – it’s really neat!)  I also had the tiramisu for desert, and well, that was just a disgrace to tiramisu everywhere.  Over all the lunch was excellent both in taste and company.

My very last day, two of my fav co-workers and I went to a restaurant off the beaten path so we could enjoy a few cocktails.  A couple of glasses of prosecco later, and I was feeling GREAT as I handed off my badge and everything to HR.

Then I started the new job.  Day one was a retreat, so even though it wasn’t all for me, I can pretend it was.  Breakfast, lunch, and ice cream sundaes!  Day two and three…more lunches with new, interesting and great people.  One place we went that I really liked was the cafe at Phipps.  I had a great chicken salad…it was a good size too.  Not overwhelmingly large, but I left full.

Today…a quick bagel at Einsteins.  Not that exciting, but filling.  It’s fun changing jobs

Restaurant Review – 17th Street Cafe

I haven’t blogged in awhile…and now two in one day?! Can you tell I just really don’t want to work???

Anyway, we went to 17th Street Cafe last night with my mom, who is visiting from Florida. I love that restaurant. The food is great, it’s really cute and cozy inside, the wine is good, and the prices are reasonable. Since we moved to the South Side, we’ve eaten there several times, have gotten take out and had them cater last year’s holiday party. They never disappoint.

We started with the hot banana peppers appetizer…very good, and not really that spicy.  They could actually be a little spicier.  Then, we had bread and salads. I don’t know if they bake their own bread or where they get it from, but it’s simple Italian bread that is so soft and yummy.

For dinner, I ordered the filet, extra extra rare. Normally, I don’t like when filet comes with a bunch of sauce and other things, but the sauce and the mushrooms were excellent. I did scrape the blue cheese off the top though because the meat was too tasty and didn’t need it. And, it was cooked, or under-cooked as my mom said, to perfection.

My mom really enjoyed her pasta dish, and Brad loved his spicy diavolo pasta. They also have Chateau St Michelle Reisling by the glass…which is my preferred Reisling. It was a really great dinner, and nice to spend some time with my mommy.

Restaurant Review: Cafe Allegro

There’s nothing better than Friday night date night.  Brad and I were starving after a long week and decided to go out to dinner. 

We had tried Cafe Allegro about a year ago after we first moved to the South Side.  The food was amazing but our server was terrible.  We sat there without wine from before our entrees were brought out until we finally flagged him down for the check.  Our appitizer and salad came out at the same time…very annoying especially at a nice restuarant.  But, the food was so delicious, we were willing to give it another try.

I started with their homemade white sangria.  It was fruity and refreshing…I just don’t think there was any alcohol it it.  After three glasses, I didn’t even feel a faint buzz.  Brad had the house cabernet and thought it was decent.

He tried the Allegro Salad and really liked it.  For dinner, he had the seafood stew dish and ate every bite of that.  Even the oysters, his least favorite type of seafood, were good…and gone.

I’m the type of person who finds a dish I like and then sticks with it.  The pasta I had previously was one of the best pasta dishes I’d ever had.  I immediately found it on the menu and couldn’t wait.  The second time around, the Pasta Del Sol didn’t dissappoint.  The sundried tomatoes had a really rich taste.  The cream sauce covered the penne noodles pefectly – I’m not a fan of tons of sauce.  It was a filling but very good meal.  Brad tried some and defintely agreed!

Our service this time was much better…exactly what you’d expect from a more upscale restaurant.  Our wine and water glasses were never empty, plates were promptly removed from the table and our server was friendly and helpful.

I’d give this experience four stars out of five.  We’ll definitely be back!

My Book Club

Last night was book club night.  They are always pretty fun, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint.  This month’s book was Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea…if you need about a hundred good laughs, go out and buy this book right now!  My favorite chapter was Prison Break.

There were only four of us there last night.  Pammie, Ang, Gabs and myself.  We spent most of the time last night discussing Gabby’s awful new sister in law, piecing together the events from Saturday’s girls night out and figuring out how we can get Chelsea Handler to be our friend.

We meet at the Library on Carson Street.  It’s a really fun little bar and restaurant.  The food is great, and the wine is even better – although we were all taking it easy last night and ordered diet cokes!

Next month’s book, chosen by Gabby, is Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian…I’m going to pick it up before vacation Thursday…it sounds like it will be great!  Hopefully more of our book clubbers will be able to make it.  We’ve only been doing this since January, and I’m really glad we started it.  Not only does it get me to read things I might not otherwise pick up, but I know I’m going to see good friends once a month….and with our busy lives and schedules, that definitely helps.

Wine, Fridays…and more Wine

I love wine. Give me a glass (or three) of Riesling, and I’m usually a very happy girl. Or bubbly. Or strawberry flavored bubbly.

It’s been a hectic week. Non-stop meetings at work – so I really haven’t had time to get much work done – and unwinding from Gabby’s wedding weekend. Last night, I got home around 5pm, poured a glass of wine and just vegged with Bruin and my TV.

By the time the boyfriend got home from golf at 9pm, I was feeling great and ready for bed. And when I woke up this morning, I realized it’s Friday…what could be better?!

PRSA had an event today – Laura Ries spoke on the Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR. It was a really great event, and Laura was excellent. (She had amazing heels on that I want – she’s also totally polished, professional, smart and successful…I aspire to be that!)

This afternoon, I have a meeting with my boss (those are usually pretty fun), and I’m going to try and get a few things accomplished. And, then it’s the weekend. For the first time in awhile, I don’t have a jam-packed schedule to follow, and I’m loving it. I plan on just hanging out and doing whatever I feel like doing at the moment. Perhaps some shopping (I do need to buy Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea? for my book club). Definitely some quality time with Bruin and the boyfriend. Maybe I’ll get to see my sister.

And, there will definitely be wine!