Nandos, Eataly, Caffe Umbria, Intelligentsia (Chicago)

We tried to eat at Nandos in London a few years back but…the location we visited had RUN OUT OF CHICKEN. Why they were still even open we didn’t know. But this time we were cold, wet, hungry, and desperate…and Nando’s came thru. We really loved their chicken, especially the chicken on the bone. I also liked their peas and brussel sprouts. Sadly there are no Nando’s on the West Coast. This is another good reason to pay a bit more to stay downtown…ALL the services are nearby. CVS drugstore, 7-11, urgent care, eateries. Although it was a bit wierd to carry a 2L bottle of Diet Coke in my arms down Wacker Drive. Next time we will get a bag.

We ducked into Eataly for dessert after Lou Malnatis (I know, sounds stupidly gluttony) but it had been a while since we’d visited Eataly. The Chicago location is quite small compared to the New York Eataly…but the pastries were out of this world! Pure cream and sugar and very fresh. The shopkeeper KNOWS when you will be ordering…she was pulling on her gloves before I even knew I was going to order… Lots of seating. Great stop after visiting Chicago360.

Now that our Philips Carina super-automatic espresso machine has made us coffee connoisseurs, we have been enjoying morning espresso breaks. Since we are not big breakfast eaters, this are a great way to eat a little bit before setting out on our day. We tried Caffe Umbria and Intelligentsia. Neither had what I would call GREAT espresso (too sour) but Caffe Umbria was a bit less sour, more peaceful, tho more expensive, than Intelligentsia.