• home
  • press
  • bio
  • appearances
  • partners
  • contact leslie
  • subscribe
lesliedurso.com
  • recipes
  • the pantry
  • wellness
  • eco style
  • celebrations
  • gluten free
  • adventures

Archive for adventures – Page 5

Restaurant Review: Sable {Chicago, IL}


By Leslie · Comments (2) · April 28th, 2011

Another culinary highlight on this trip to Chicago was Sable.  It's located in the super swanky Palomar hotel.  This restaurant is very chic and cool.  The vibe is very old Hollywood.  Chef Heather Terhune puts together a beautiful menu consisting of tapas and shared plates.  I had a hard time deciding what to order, but this is what I did:

I started with this curried carrot soup with toasted cashews:

0001rest1The soup was packed full of flavor!  A little spicy for me {I'm a wimp}, but still very delicious.

Next came a dish I had to order as soon as I saw it on the menu, sweet corn creme brulee:

0001rest2It was fabulous and tasted exactly like what you would think it would.  A crispy top with a sweet corn "soufflé" underneath. 
I next ordered the crispy red lentil cake with coconut curry broth, peanuts and zucchini salad.

0001rest3Yum yum yum!  The lentil cake was delish!  

As if I hadn't eaten enough, next came dessert : )

0001rest4We had to order the dark chocolate souffle cake with peanut butter sauce and salted caramel ice cream… need I say more??  

The entire meal was fantastic!  Another restaurant that I highly recommend!

Sable

505 North State Street
Chicago, IL60654

 

Lesliesarnasig

Comments (2)
Categories : adventures, Restaurant Reviews: Chicago

Restaurant Review: XOCO {Chicago, IL}


By Leslie · Comments (2) · April 27th, 2011

I'm eating my way through Chicago, IL {again}!  I adore Top Chef Masters winner Rick Bayless and I love going to his restaurants when I'm in Chicago.  I hadn't been to XOCO yet, so it was a must for this trip.  This is his casual eatery.  One of my favorite things about his cooking how he is able to pack such amazingly complex flavors into vegetarian food.  PS there is always a vegan option on his menus. : )  If you are interested in trying some of Rick Bayless' food, but don't want to break the bank, definitely check out XOCO!  Ok, so here's what I ate:

0001restOf course we started with chips, guacamole and salsa!  The guac was super tasty!  It had little pieces of sundried tomatoes in it instead of fresh and wow what a great idea!  I'm definitely trying this myself next time I make guac.

0002restNext up, I had this absolutely incredible vegetable and black bean caldo.  It seriously was one of the best things I've ever eaten!  It was a warm broth soup with potato-masa dumplings, zucchini, onions, woodland mushrooms, black beans, avocado and is topped with arugula.  Unbelievable!

And of course we saved room for dessert  : )

0003restHere at XOCO, they hardly even need to ask if you would like the churros because it's almost a given that you will order them!  Super yummy way to end an amazing meal!

If you are in Chicago, here is the info:

XOCO

449 North Clark Street (enter on Illinois St.)

Chicago, IL 60654

Phone: 312-334-3688

Lesliesarnasig

Comments (2)
Categories : adventures, Restaurant Reviews: Chicago

Restaurant Review: Sweet Butter


By Leslie · Comments (0) · April 21st, 2011

Is there a better name for a cafe?  I practically crashed the car when I drove by and read this sign!   Sweet-butter-logo2tm

I knew I had to go there.  A few weeks later I made time to return.  It's on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks which is not exactly my neck of the woods, but it was well worth the trip.  Adorable little sidewalk cafe with all outdoor seating (well some is under a fabulous glass roof).  There is also a fabulous little marketplace where you can pick up all sorts of goodies!  Check out how cute the entry way is decorated with potted herbs and flowers:

   0001cafe1 00001cafe2

Everything on the menu looked delightful!  There are vegetarian and vegan friendly items included in the menu consisting of mainly salads and sandwiches.  I opted for "the yoga" sandwich.  It is "Homemade White Bean Spread, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Dressed Arugula on Toasted Rustic Millstone w/Arugula Salad" and of course I added avocado to it : )

00001cafe3It was light, healthy and delicious!  The white bean spread was super yummy and the arugula was dressed perfectly.  

If you find yourself in this area of Los Angeles, I recommend checking it out!

Sweet Butter

13824 Ventura Boulevard
Sherman Oaks, California 91423

Phone: 818-788-2832 

6a012876272fb6970c014e87ef6fc4970d-800wi

Comments (0)
Categories : adventures, Restaurant Reviews Los Angeles

Pizzeria Bianco


By Leslie · Comments (5) · March 30th, 2011

If you follow me on facebook or twitter you know that I was just in Peoria, Arizona for baseball spring training.  It’s become a tradition in our family.  I’m a huge Padres fan and I’m slowly converting my husband : )  Pizzeria Bianco is named the number one pizza joint in the country on more lists than I can count.  It’s said to be a must if you are in the Phoenix area.  It’s right downtown.  Now it’s not the normal restaurant… they don’t take reservations and you are going to wait anywhere from 3-4 hours.  Yup, you heard me right.  Is the pizza worth it?  Check out this video to find out.

Comments (5)
Categories : adventures, Restaurant Reviews: Phoenix, AZ, Videos

Restaurant Review: Olive and Thyme


By Leslie · Comments (0) · March 21st, 2011

Picture 4I had been anticipating the opening of this restaurant for awhile!  It's next door to one of my favorite neighborhood spots Gindi Thai.  So every time I ate there I would walk and peek into the windows of the soon to be open Olive and Thyme.  Simply by the name I knew it would be my kind of place and it is!  It is the most perfect little cafe and a welcomed addition to the neighborhood.  

It's been open for about a month and I've been countless times : )  They have fabulous salads, sandwiches and soups.  They also have a wine bar with meat and cheese plates.  They have plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.  Today I had the soup special which was delish! 

1111oatIt was a cream base broth with chickpeas, potatoes, tomatoes and bowtie pasta.  Mmmmm!  

They also have lots of adorable little items for sale and a very impressive dessert case.

I highly recommend you stop by if you are in the area.  Olive and Thyme, I'm so glad you are here and I hope you stay forever!

Olive and Thyme

4013 Riverside Drive

Toluca Lake, CA 91505

xoxo

Lesliesarnasig

Comments (0)
Categories : adventures, Restaurant Reviews Los Angeles

Huckleberry Cafe {Santa Monica, CA}


By Leslie · Comments (2) · December 20th, 2010

Picture 2Wow, I just had the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich ever!  Grabbed a bite to eat at Huckleberry Cafe in Santa Monica with my great friend Julie Weiss.

So this cafe is adorable, sweet and delicious!  Everything here is homemade.  I would call the menu eclectic comfort food.  They also have a beautiful case full of the most scrumptious looking pastries!  But here is the star in my mind, the homemade peanut butter and jelly on brioche bread!

111111pbMmmm Mmmm Mmmm!

So if you find yourself in Santa Monica, get down to this fantastic cafe!

Huckleberry Cafe {1014 Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90404}

Lesliesarnasig

 

Comments (2)
Categories : adventures, Restaurant Reviews Los Angeles
« Previous Page

connect

search

subscribe to my newsletter

join my mailing list
* indicates required
Close


I'm on Gojee!

On Twitter

  • “@TristinAndTyler: @LeslieDurso miss u! Come back to #nyc soon! U inspire me. :)” you are too sweet!! Ill be back at the end of June!
  • Yum! :)“@NewsByNewms: Perfect topping for my #MemorialDay Veggie Burger! “@LeslieDurso: my fav #vegan #guacamole https://t.co/TlEf189Tf1””
  • Yikes! Another concern: Drug residues in meat http://t.co/yc6E4xtIwH Glad to be #vegan
  • You too!“@TristinAndTyler: @SavvyMomNYC @SavvyAuntie @NYStateofMoM @IndustryStyle @LeslieDurso @DhanaEcoKids @eatingarainbow @smallftprints”
  • Xoxo! :)“@wayofthewong: #FF @KingMarchio @JasonSchmid @wongify @movelifestyle @RunTaniaRun @ashleyfauset @BHasemeyer @mslynnchen @TomFLeary”

categories

Leslie Durso
Copyright © 2013 All Rights Reserved
iThemes Builder by iThemes
Powered by WordPress