Discover the extraordinary dining experience at Hales Blackbrick in Tampa, where Chef Richard Hales delivers innovative. Immerse yourself in a beautifully curated atmosphere that sets the stage for unforgettable flavors.
Behind the Smiles – A Gentle Reminder to Prioritize Ourselves
It’s been a while since I last posted. Life has been a bit overwhelming lately — things going on personally that have left me disturbed, emotionally drained, and, honestly, questioning a lot. I wasn’t ready to show up here pretending everything was okay. And that in itself made me realize how often we do exactly…
Finding Hope in the Deep — A Review of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
I read this one a while back but didn’t get around to reviewing it. It does deserve a blog post cos it did tug at my heart strings. If you’ve ever wondered what an octopus might think of the human condition—or if it could teach us something about ourselves—Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt…
Restaurant Review: Simply South – A Promising New Arrival in Naperville, IL
Yesterday (June 21, 2025), we had the chance to do something we’ve never done before — attend the soft opening of a brand-new South Indian restaurant in Naperville called Simply South. While we weren’t sure what to expect, the experience turned out to be a pleasant one, filled with warmth, flavor, and a little bit…
Burma O’ clock – a suburban hidden gem (Restaurant review)
Grass Jelly drink This time it was just my son and me as the husband was traveling for work. We had been to Proof No. 5 a new hip place in downtown Wheaton and on the way there saw this little place called Burma O’ Clock. We hadn’t eaten Burmese food before so decided to…
Nadu – Restaurant review
Do you like eating out? Love mouth watering south Asian food? Here’s a review of a hip new restaurant in town - Nadu is located in Lincoln Park, Chicago
Bazaar Meat (Chicago) – Restaurant review
I feel compelled to do a review of Bazaar Meats after a visit there the other evening. The hubbs was in DT Chicago for official business and asked me and my son to join him there in the evening. It was a special evening for him and he wanted to take us out for a…
Indienne: 2nd visit
Our son’s 18th birthday warranted a special celebration. I tried last minute reservations at Indienne to no avail. Why do I always forget that his birthday is on the one day when everyone and I mean EVERYONE wants to eat out - Valentine’s bloody day! All frustrated I put my name on the waitlist knowing…
RK – is it worth the hype?
El Jefe – Aurora Illinois
Restaurant review - El Jefe in Aurora, Illinois, USA