SPRING SALAD IDEAS, BUT HOLD THE LETTUCE 🥬
+ choco-orange espresso martinis & best italian restaurants in chicago 🇮🇹🍸
NO LETTUCE, NO PROBLEM
I was reminded of my rainbow salad the other day when I needed to use up the rest of the produce I got from the farmer’s market last weekend. It’s always fun when my meals are colorful, and true to its name, the rainbow salad is vibrant! All that’s required are any veggies you have (except lettuce) + a protein! This time, I had bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, corn, tomatoes, and avocado to work with. Each diced (great time to work on those knife skills) and arranged on a serving platter by color. I added hearts of palm and sundried tomatoes for a boost of flavor. I also had some chicken breast I marinated in leftover salad dressing that I cooked on the grill. To not disturb the beauty of the rainbow, I sliced the chicken and put it on the side.
In addition to using up any vegetables you have just sitting in the fridge, this salad is also great for leftovers or lunch meal prep. Because it’s lettuce free the veggies don’t get soggy and last longer when prepared. And it turns out I’m a big lettuce-free salad girl. No hate on lettuce, but sometimes it’s nice to mix it up. Plus I find my lettuce-free alternatives are heartier than the usual lettuce-forward versions. You can also easily make them vegetarian by adding an assortment of beans for protein!
So if you’re bored of salads, try changing it up by going sans-lettuce.
CHICAGO ITALIANO
And on a totally different note, my mom and sister are in town this week for a Zucchero concert. For those of you who don’t listen to Italian pop music from the 90s, Zucherro is an Italian musician known for his ballads and blues-inspired hits (Baila! is probably his most popular in the US). According to my mom, his concerts are wild full of Italians dancing in the aisles lol. He also apparently, discovered Andrea Bocelli 🤷🏻♀️.
In keeping with the Italian theme, we are going to one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago, Ciccio Mio, before the concert. Before landing on Ciccio Mio, I realized I have quite the list of favorite Italian restaurants. So if you’re in town, and interested here are my top five favorite Italian eateries in Chicago
Ciccio Mio: Ciccio Mio is cozy, trendy and the food is excellent. The dark interior is covered in wood, wallpaper, and artwork, filled with warm amber lighting, and upbeat old Italian music. While I haven’t tried everything on the menu, I highly recommend the Caesar salad (it has potato chips instead of croutons!), the spicy rigatoni, the chicken parm, and a soft serve gelato for dessert! Cocktails are also great here, and I especially love the sbagliato with lambrusco. Reservations are harder to come by so plan for this one.
Elina’s: It’s within walking distance from my house, so I’m partial. However, with that benefit aside, everything about this place is perfect. It’s small with a vibe that’s not too trendy but also not too old-fashioned Italian, the menu is limited but every single thing is delicious (and I’ve tried it all), the house wines are 10/10, and the Harry Belafonte-esque playlist ties it all together into an all-around charming, chill and delightful experience.
The salads and eggplant parmesan are incredible at Elina's Monteverde: Monteverde’s ‘buratta e ham’ is hands down my favorite appetizer in Chicago. They also have a fire cacio e pepe. The atmosphere is the best mix of classy and casual. If you can’t get a reservation, walk in when they open and try to snag a seat at the bar.
Trivoli Tavern: This place is always busy and lively. The menu is huge, so there’s bound to be something for everyone. Trivoli is known for its desserts, so be sure to save room. I got the sticky date cake last time, and we ate every last bite.
La Scarola: This one’s a shout-out to my Dad because he loves this place and its large portions lol. It’s quintessential old-school Italian with framed photos from wall to ceiling. If you’re looking for a solid Italian meal where you’re guaranteed to have lots of leftovers, then La Scarola is for you.
HERE’S WHAT ELSE I’M MAKING THIS WEEK:
TRY THIS CHOCOLATE ORANGE ESPRESSO MARTINI
We perfected these chocolate orange espresso martinis before we went to the Zucchero concert. Inspired by an espresso martini we had in Helsinki made with orange liqueur, this chocolate orange espresso martini uses Cointreau and chocolate sauce for the smoothest and perfectly sweet cocktail.
And don’t forget you can access my entire recipe library with all your favs.
THANKS FOR READING!
Cheers 🥂
Hil & Nat
