The food scene is Buzzing in The Chi! My culinary tour was a great food and cocktail experience. Chicago has a diverse selection of places to eat and drink. Check out some of my faves as well as a new, buzz-worthy restaurant!

1. )Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab on Rush Street. My all- time favorite restaurant; great cocktails, seafood,  steaks,  and salads.  I also recommend the Joe’s Fried Chicken,  Colossal Lump Crab Cake and Lobster Mac&Cheese. The ambience is lavish and the service is stellar.

2.) Provare’- New on my list! This Creole and Italian Fusion, Black- Owned restaurant located in West Town was a hit! The dining experience was amazing- welcoming atmosphere and a great music Playlist. The server greeted us with a shot of one of their signature drinks.

WHAT I ORDERED:

Windy City, an Espresso martini. This delicious, creamy, indulgent cocktail was one of the best I’ve ever had. The list of cocktails are named after Chicago streets and neighborhoods.

Chef’s Special Calamari- Fried Calamari with red onions, jalepeno and yellow peppers, with a side of marinara and sweet heat aioli dipping sauces. Very good, fried to perfection.

Spicy Seafood Trio with add-on lambchop. Can’t go wrong with adding -on! What’s your favorite Add-ons? This pasta dish was amazing and very flavorful. Provare’ did not disappoint, I would definitely recommend and revisit. A must try if in The Chi.

Check out Prive’ Speakeasy- located in the basement of Provare’. The hidden entrance is located behind the bookshelf, and the man wearing a suit will escort you. Reservations are required. Great vibes and cocktails, limited menu- late night bites.

3.) Bar La Rue- A touch of France in the Windy City, located in Fulton Market. The restaurant serves French inspired, American comfort foods. Very ornate aesthetic with Bohemian floral decor. We snagged a patio seat streetside- coveted spot to sip, dine, and people watch! The Bonne Vivant was a very light and refreshing cocktail. We ordered the Royale with Cheese (smashburger), Provence Style- served over gruyere cheese fondue and frites with garlic Aioli. The food, cocktails, and service was impressive. 10/10 experience.

4.) Dearly Beloved, A Premier Cocktail Restaurant with impressive decor. The presentation is everything! The aesthetic is eerie and elegant. Be willing to try meticulously crafted, unusual spirits. The cocktails are works of art! I ordered “The Last Kiss”- tropical and creamy drink that reveals itself as woody, aromatic, and calming. It was garnished with Palo Santo smoke, great presentation and taste. The food did not disappoint. I ordered Truffle fries, Truffle Honey Fried Chicken, and Potato & Caviar Cigar. This was an Amazing luxurious experience – ambience, decor, service, cocktails, and food. Executive Chef, Kristofer Lohraff stopped by our table for a little chat.

5.) Nobu Rooftop- Soaking Up Summer Vibes in The Chi. Great specialty crafted cocktails, small bites, music, ambience, and service. Great time taking in the stunning Chicago skyline while sipping cocktails, my favorite is the Lychee & Elderflower Martini.

6.) Costera Cocina Tulum- great spot for girls night, fun dinner spot! Great atmosphere, food, cocktails, and vibes. Our server was very attentive. I ordered chips&guacamole, asada tacos, and Sandia fuego(spicy watermelon margarita) which was tasty. The short rib quesadillas and surf & turf is also very good. This Tulum inspired restaurant and lounge is a full- fledged club after 10:30pm…Lovely Jungle decor!

7.) Pizzeria Portofino- Spritz and perfect Picturesque views of the river! Located on the Chicago riverfront, this restaurant transports you to the Italian Riviera, reminds me of that time in Cinque Terre. Enjoyed my favorites alongside stunning views of the Chicago River! I ordered the Paparazzi Spritz, light and refreshing. Also ordered the Portuguese Octopus with crispy potatoes and portofino vinaigrette, Calamari Fritti, Crispy Parmesan fries with garlic aioli, and Mediterranean Branzino, cooked to perfection, served skin on over a green olive Salmoriglio. Make sure to save room for House-Made Gelato, the Salted Caramel was amazing. The riverfront terrace was the perfect spot on a summer day for an amazing, relaxing lunch with friends. I highly recommend, a great place to check out! Great vibes, food, and service.

8.) The Penthouse.

The Penthouse- Toast to Summer on Fioretta’s Exclusive Rooftop, perched on the 13th floor, perfect for the Per•Us wine tasting event. This was a sophisticated atmosphere with panoramic views of the Chicago skyline. Interactive experience with Winemaker Russell Bevan, vintage wines and food pairings. 10/10- atmosphere, food, wine, and music.

9.) Fioretta- Italian Steakhouse located in Fulton Market. Another one of my faves! Impressive decor and cocktails. The food is amazing!

What we ordered:

Parmesan Truffle Fries with Garlic Aioli, Table-Side Caesar Salad, Bistecca Alla Fiorentina- served sizzling and carved table-side, and Brussels Sprouts. Great selection of cocktails, but I ordered spirit free Pineapple punch; had great wines on The Penthouse. Great atmosphere, music, food, and service. Highly recommend! Also a perfect date night spot!

I spent 16 days on holiday in Thailand and it was quite an experience. This was a beautiful trip and as promised, a blog post is a must.

Livethruthelens.com was able to capture and document authentic experiences and indelible moments to share, while inspiring others to travel abroad. Traveling abroad challenges you to escape your comfort zone and is a great opportunity to discover the beauty in other cultures. Check out the highlights of my trip!

DESTINATIONS:

Where I went, What I did!!

Arrived in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital. Exotic Bangkok is a vibrant city with grand temples, rich culture, amazing cuisine, and bustling nightlife- nightclubs, cabarets, and red- light districts.

1. City Tour of Bangkok, traveled through Chinatown and then on to the colorful Indian Market- colorful/vibrant flowers and veggies.

2. Visit to Wat Po, the oldest and largest temple in the city, with a gigantic Reclining Buddha, over 150 feet long and almost 50 feet high, covered in gold leaf. The Buddhist temple complex is impressive and the other parts of the temple include gardens, tall decorated spires, intricate colorful carvings and numerous statues of Buddha, and Chinese statues. Walking around the complex is a relaxing and enlightening experience.

3. Hailed a tuk-tuk to a local Thai restaurant for dinner. Uncovered a gem of a restaurant in the alleyway- Dok Kaew House Bar. It was a relaxing atmosphere with great staff, craft beer and pretty good food. It’s supposedly a haunted craft beer bar taking over an 80 year-old, two story house.

4. Sunset views at Red Sky- Rooftop Bar & Restaurant. Set on the 56th floor, the Rooftop Bar offers 360 degree panoramic views of the skyline. Indulged in creative cocktails, small bites and an amazing dinner. An absolute must- amazing experience!

5. Escaped the busy streets of Bangkok and took a journey to the Maeklong Railway Market- fresh market selling seafood, fruits, vegetables, meats, and handicrafts and souvenirs. Located on a railway, watched as the vendors made a mad scramble to pack up stalls and goods when the signal of the arriving train rings. The trains pass at a great speed 8 times a day. After passing, the vendors unload again and customers continue to shop until next time!

6. Hopped on a long tail boat for a scenic ride along the canal to The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, admiring the local villages and farms. Caught a glimpse of the lifestyle of the locals who live along the river. The Floating market is one of Thailand’s largest and most famous Floating markets where vendors in wooden boats sell fresh produce, street food, and local handicrafts. There are also different stalls to shop and wander around.

Caught a flight to Chiang Mai (1hr, 15min), the largest city in Northern Thailand.

1. Visited Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple- Northern Thailand’s most sacred temple. The Buddhist Temple is located on top of the Doi Suthep mountain. To reach the temple, you must ascend a 306 step staircase. The beautiful architecture of the staircase is flanked by Naga.

2. Met a new friend at Elephant EcoValley Sanctuary. This was a no- riding Sanctuary, but I had a great time taking care of the elephants- making vegetarian snacks, feeding them, bathing them, touring the museum and purchasing elephant-poo paper! Elephants are highly intelligent, sociable, and sophisticated. They have “self awareness ” and strong memories. This was a remarkable experience.

3. Cooking class at Cooking at Home Thai Culinary School. One of the highlights in Chiang Mai. This was an Open-Air Thai style kitchen and the instructors were excellent! We took a tour to a local market to learn about local fruits and vegetables prior to class. The dishes were easy to prepare and delicious- restaurant quality. The class was super fun and a great way to learn about local cuisine and how to make a delicious meal. Amazing experience!

4. Enjoyed a lovely birthday dinner at Chef’s Together by Aod & Dan. The restaurant is located on a river and serves amazing cuisine and cocktails. Beautiful views.

Traveled to scenic Chiang Rai from Chiang Mai, the northernmost province of Thailand.

1. Visit to The Golden Triangle – See 3 Countries at Once! Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos, this is also where the Mekong meets the Ruak River. Embarked on a long tail boat ride along the banks of the Mekong River between Myanmar, Laos and Thailand. Interesting fact: Learned the history of the Opium trade. The Golden Triangle was the largest Opium producing area of the world since the 1950s.

2. Night Baazar- vibrant night market selling street food, apparel, jewelry, souvenirs. Also has live entertainment and colorful light show at the Clock Tower.

3. Admire Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, which is the most popular attraction in Chiang Rai. The Buddhist temple symbolizes purity and Buddha’s teachings. The all white exterior is adorned with intricate carvings, glass mirrors, and many Buddhist symbols. The Golden building on the grounds represent the cycle of rebirth and the bridge symbolizes crossing from the world of suffering to the world of enlightment. The gate of Heaven sculpture depicts many hands reaching from the grounds that symbolizes unrestrained desires.

Traveled to Sukhothai and Ayutthaya and visited the Historical Parks, UNESCO heritage sites. Enjoyed the history and liked exploring the sites. Marveled at the ancient Buddha figures, palaces, temples, towers, historical monuments and ruins.

Took a flight to Phuket

1. Visit to Bang Pa- In Palace, also known as the Summer Palace, is a collection of beautiful buildings in various architectural styles surrounded by a lake. Reminds me of one of my European vacations. The complex was formerly used by Thai kings.

2. Excursion to Phang Na Bay Lawa Island by a cruiser. Traveled through mangrove jungles and limestone peaks, enjoyed the white pristine beaches and the blue/green water. Discovered a floating Muslim Village(Koh Panyee), a fishing village built almost entirely on stilts. The village has a market with souvenir stalls, a school, and a floating football pitch.

More of Phuket!

Took a ferry to Phi Phi Islands, some of the most beautiful beaches. Maya Bay, was made famous by the movie, “The Beach ” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Also visited Monkey Beach and spotted monkeys steal bottles from boats as people left to snorkel or kayak through the caves.

James Bond Island , famous movie location where the Movie, The Man With The Golden Gun, starring James Bond was filmed.

Thailand is an Amazing travel destination that has a lot to offer travelers.

Thanks for reading my Blog

XOXO,

Rochelle M.

I recently traveled to St. Thomas, U.S.Virgin Islands(September 15-22) and had the most beautiful trip… so many wonderful memories created in one week!

Interesting Facts:

*”Pirates of the Caribbean” hot spots in the 1600’s. The Virgin Islands were home to real life pirates.

*Most people know about three U.S. Virgin Islands, but the fourth is Water Island- a tiny island located off the coast of St. Thomas.

*The U.S. Virgin Island (USVI) is the only place in the United States where you drive on the left side of the road… Pay attention and make sure to stay on the left side (as told by a driver). The people drive aggressive on the narrow, steep roads. Driving in St. Thomas was quite the Adventure!

*U.S. citizens do Not need a passport to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Best time to go is between April and June- mild weather and to avoid cruise ship madness.

Things To Do:

There are many things to do in St. Thomas. It is a lively island with lots of sightseeing, shopping, white sand beaches(lined with swaying palm trees and Azure waters), cultural landmarks and historic sites… Beautiful views, incredible local cuisine and Island vibes awaits you!

*Walk around Downtown Charlotte Amalie (Capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands) for duty-free shopping, dining or just to wander around the cobblestone paths along the Historic District. I appreciated the Old World(Danish Colonial) architecture and cobbled streets.

*Main Street- Also known as Dronningens Gade is a famous Street known for souvenir shops, restaurants and many jewelry stores. Do yourself a favor and detour onto the alleyways/side streets where you will discover hidden gems- restaurants, bars and malls.

*Market Square- Formerly a slave-trading market in the early 1670’s-1800’s; it’s now an open air market with vendors that sell fresh produce. I saw a few people gathered at the Square and ladies selling cooked food, but not much happening there. No other vendors were in sight.

*Yacht Haven Grande- Marina located alongside the Charlotte Amalie Harbor with colorful murals, amazing views of Mega yachts, waterfront dining, shopping and entertainment. Once considered a shopper’s paradise with luxury brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari(to name a few)… the designer stores are now gone! The high-end boutiques appeared to have packed up following the recent natural disasters in the USVI.

*Island Hopping- Take a Day trip to a nearby island. There are 8 main islands in the Virgin Islands to explore- St.Thomas, St.John, St. Croix and Water Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). I took a 10 minute ferry ride from Crown Bay Marina on St. Thomas to Water Island for $15.00 USD round trip. This was a day of relaxing on Honeymoon Beach— clear, calm waters and enjoying cocktails at Dinghy’s Bar & Grill. I kept it simple with Bubbles and wine; although, the signature drink on the Virgin Islands is the Pusser’s Painkiller(tropical rum-based drink with roots to the British Virgin Islands). Golf carts are available to rent on Water Island to get around and explore a little bit- panoramic views of the Island, winding hills, Limestone Beach, Fort Segarra(WW2fort) and Heidi’s Hilltop Grill.

*Magens Bay Beach- One of the most beautiful beaches in St.Thomas and ranked among the top 10 best beaches in the Caribbean. I strolled along the shoreline enjoying the Ah-mazing views of the calm, turquoise waters while feeling the soft, white sand between my toes. I also sat on the beach rocks; dipped my feet in the warm water and watched as the pelicans plummeted into the water to dive after fish… it’s just the little things. I enjoyed the beauty of the beach!! Snapping shots at the beach helped create summer memories that will last forever.

Restaurants

Where to Eat… Eat like the locals! Can’t forget about incredible Caribbean cuisine. No trip is complete without experiencing local flavor.

Some of my faves:

*My Brother’s Workshop(MBW)Cafe & Bakery is a non-profit organization that offers education, mentoring, job training and placement to at risk young people. We stumbled across this restaurant off the beaten path and it did not disappoint- this is a must try for Savory Eats! I popped in one morning for breakfast and enjoyed the perfect Latte and a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich on coconut Dumb bread; it was delish and filling, I could only eat half. We sampled pastries and baked goods and had great conversation with the amazing staff!

*Northside Grind- Super cute cafe with great views, fresh coffee and great specialty sandwiches. We stopped by before a day at Magens Beach. I ordered the bacon, fried egg and cheese on sour dough with locally grown sprouts and the CCC(Coconut Milk Caramel Cold Brew); it did not disappoint. Great choice for Breakfast/Brunch and very friendly staff.

*Shama’s Specialties- Caribbean, Seafood, Bakery

Enjoyed the Rasta Pasta dish, oxtails, baked mac and cheese, jerk salmon and conch fritters. The manager was very hospitable and ensured that we had a great dining experience.

*Glady’s Cafe- Caribbean and American dishes. Great service and food. I ordered Grouper for breakfast one day; it was fresh and well seasoned. Also tried curry goat, oxtails, peas and rice, cabbage and plantains… perfect lunch spot!

*Parrot Fish- American, Peruvian, Contemporary & Bar

Nice, relaxed spot with delicious food, amazing Martinis and great customer service. The menu is limited, but a collection of Chef’s creations. The Ceviche was excellent with plantain chips.

*De’Coal Pot- Caribbean, Vegetarian/Vegan options. Hidden gem located in a strip mall. This white table cloth restaurant had very good authentic local food; my favorite was the chicken roti, peas and rice, plantains and oxtails. I couldn’t get enough oxtails in St. Thomas.

*T Restaurant and Chicken Fry- Cafeteria style local spot with Caribbean dishes reasonably priced. My first meal in St. Thomas; it hit the spot!

I didn’t do everything and see everything, but this will give me a reason to go Back to the USVI!! From St. Thomas, I ventured to Puerto Rico to continue my Caribbean Destination Vacation- flight time less than 45 minutes.

I hope this guide will provide valuable information for anyone planning to visit the USVI soon! XO,

Rochelle M.