Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Beach Volleyball!!
One of my favourite things about Chicago summer is playing beach volleyball at North Ave Beach. You get to hang out with friends outside with the spectacular skyline in the background. What more can you ask for? :)
Friday, June 20, 2008
Quebec City
This year's CAS Spring Meeting was held in Quebec City. Donna came up with me for the weekend before the meeting.
We mostly just wandered around sight seeing.
Donna likes to take pictures next to big things that should be small things.
There must be some high rollers there. That's a Porsche GT parked in front of a Ferrari F430.
This year was Quebec City's 400th anniversary, if you couldn't tell by all the "400" lights all over the city streets.
We got to stay at the Chateau Frontenac because the meeting was held there. It's a beautiful hotel from the outside and lobby.
Of course when we come to a city like this, it's a food adventure. We tried various side street bistros and restaurants. We had a good brunch at Restaurant L'Echaud.
Complimentary appetizer of pate.
Donna's breakfast medley
My duck confit, salad, and frites
But the real find of the week was Cafe Saint-Malo on Rue St. Paul. It doesn't appear on any guide book and isn't as swanky looking from the outside, but from what we ate and what the other local frequenters inside said, it is THE best restaurant in the city. It's a small, cozy, little place with a small menu and just one chef (no other cooks) serving some of the most perfectly cooked homely, rustic, classic dishes.
The most amazing fish soup ever!
Donna's mixed seafood dish
My first ever cassoulet. Had lamb chunks, duck confit, and a sausage.
What was left of our dessert.
It was so good, we came back the next night!
Cured herring.
A gaspacho and a pea soup.
Some sort of ham and cheese roll.
Osso buco, my favourite!
All that was left of the osso buco...I sucked the marrow dry out of that shank.
And dessert.
Seriously, if you're in Quebec City, eat at this place. There were things on the menu that scared me at first, but after seeing what this chef can do, I wish I had tried it. Next visit: Cerveau de Veau! (veal brains)
We mostly just wandered around sight seeing.
Donna likes to take pictures next to big things that should be small things.
There must be some high rollers there. That's a Porsche GT parked in front of a Ferrari F430.
This year was Quebec City's 400th anniversary, if you couldn't tell by all the "400" lights all over the city streets.
We got to stay at the Chateau Frontenac because the meeting was held there. It's a beautiful hotel from the outside and lobby.
Of course when we come to a city like this, it's a food adventure. We tried various side street bistros and restaurants. We had a good brunch at Restaurant L'Echaud.
Complimentary appetizer of pate.
Donna's breakfast medley
My duck confit, salad, and frites
But the real find of the week was Cafe Saint-Malo on Rue St. Paul. It doesn't appear on any guide book and isn't as swanky looking from the outside, but from what we ate and what the other local frequenters inside said, it is THE best restaurant in the city. It's a small, cozy, little place with a small menu and just one chef (no other cooks) serving some of the most perfectly cooked homely, rustic, classic dishes.
The most amazing fish soup ever!
Donna's mixed seafood dish
My first ever cassoulet. Had lamb chunks, duck confit, and a sausage.
What was left of our dessert.
It was so good, we came back the next night!
Cured herring.
A gaspacho and a pea soup.
Some sort of ham and cheese roll.
Osso buco, my favourite!
All that was left of the osso buco...I sucked the marrow dry out of that shank.
And dessert.
Seriously, if you're in Quebec City, eat at this place. There were things on the menu that scared me at first, but after seeing what this chef can do, I wish I had tried it. Next visit: Cerveau de Veau! (veal brains)
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