nostalgia

wow dessert bao!

delicious doughy dumplings are always tasty... if you haven't tried it already.... try the chocolate dessert bao at
wow bao. this is me posing... please forgive me.

from the archives

I dont think i ever shared this with you, dear internet!  while digging through pics on the ol' laptop i saw these gems.

My lovely friend Yoomi and I once worked together in the same office when we were both interior designers.  then Yoomi and I worked together in the same building on the furniture and fabric side of interior design.

this warm spring day seems like forever ago... one of my most favorite things about this city.  Being able to walk to dinner with a friend after work on a nice spring day.  Little known fact - there is a chocolate factory down the street from the merchandise mart, and semi-regularly the city smells like chocolate.  no lie!  it smells like Hershey Pennsylvania!  talk about a pick-me-up after a stressful day at work.  the only think that would make it better would be a yoga studio nearby where i can practice my meditative breathing.... inhale the chocolate, exhale the stress!

anyway, on this fateful day, Yoomi and I left the building and walked right out into an episode of TopChef Desserts!  forgive me, because its been awhile, but i think the contestants had to create a dessert that could be handed out from a food truck.  if you know chicago and their food trucks, you know that you cant actually do any prep in the food truck, you can only use the truck as a moving location to vend your goods.  i think the challenge was to see what would be the best dish passed out over time.

anyway.  here's to a great memory with a great friend and tasty spontaneity.

Dear Bloggy Blog

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything new in a long time.  It's not like I haven't been making anything lately... its just that I have been making my old favorites.. because i want to feel nostalgic, because they are familiar, because they are easy....and for some reason I don't think they are blog-worthy.. I know, I know -  I'm sorry! It's just that I'm on the fence about whether or not everything should be posted online!  This is supposed to be about trying out new recipes and sharing them!  I don't want to bore you and take up your time with the babble of my day-to-day sweets addiction.... I just don't have time!  and I don't know if I want to you know that much about me (after all this is the internet!!)... and don't you want to hear about the new stuff? isn't this about being inspired to make things?

It's pretty funny... because I spend an obnoxious amount of time online reading other peoples blogs.  From DIY home decor blogs, to knitting blogs, to other food blogs... and where would we all be without Pinterest these days!?! Part of me wants to apologize for not posting more.  For being more of a user than a contributor.  For not holding up my end of the stick when it comes to my New Years resolutions-  there were some really great ideas on there!

The thing is... sometimes you would rather just buy a slice instead of make a whole cake. But many times, the disappointing thing is- after you take that bite of someone else's cake, you realize that your's was so much better, and you wish you would have taken the time to make it yourself.  That's how I've been feeling lately.  Do you ever feel like that?

Time to make something!

Iron chef .... Dessert!

I'm at a team meeting for work and our activity tonight was iron chef!!! And i was charged with the dessert!

Starting by soaking a basic cheesecake with kaluah, we topped with steamy fresh pineapple quarters on top of a layer of sliced strawberries! Yum!!

Who loves chocolate?

You know I do!  

This past weekend, I was invited to attend an event benefiting the French Pastry School's scholarship program, and wow what an event!  Lets say you can imagine the most desserts you have ever seen in your life - doubled!  The event was held in the Merchandise Mart all throughout the first floor lobby and into some of the kitchen and bath showrooms.  There were hundreds of people dressed in their fanciest of fancy's, wonderful entertainment, music and tasty over-the-top treats.  The treats were as delicious as they were beautiful... here, for you are only a few of the pics from the evening.  Sorry I couldn't have taken more!

gelatto floats

me!

garnishes

Megan

Chef's preparing sweet and savory treats in the Wolf SubZero showroom

Scallops!

So beautiful you hardly want to eat it... but you know i did!

chemistry!

pop rocks truffles

chocolate gummies!

golden edible paint on these treats!

love this beverage station!

walking dessert station!

i don't even know what it is, but it was beautiful!

bicycle wine station!

brownies with chocolate mousse with macaroons!

how do they do this!?  love this cake.  doesn't it look like it was dyed?

she was a walking napkin dispenser! totally brilliant!

sorry the photo is a little dark... most beautiful cupackes evah!

they were carving large chocolate masks!

the bean.. made of jelly bellies!

another walking dessert station!

i have a sugar high just thinking about all of this!

love the painted on color!

golden chocolate buddha bon bon's

parting is such sweet sorrow... shortbread cookies with chocolate filling and a chocolate coin!

what a night! i so wish you could have been there with me!  there were so many treats to share and so many beautiful things to see... speaking of.. did you notice those performers that were the walking dessert tables or the moving napkin stand?  they were from the Red Moon Theater.  super creative group of performers that do special events like this one.  

enjoy!

Kansas City Cookies

Kate took me to this wonderful place with great coffee and even greater treats the last time I was in Kansas City.  Check out these Chocololate Chips... and a couple views from the plane!