RA Sushi

I was introduced to a new sushi restaurant. It is called RA Sushi, and this one is in Lombard. I since discovered that there are other locations in my area, but also across the USA. You can find details here www.rasushi.com

 

It is a Japanese fusion cuisine, and I really enjoyed the food as well as an eye-pleasing and modern interior. I have visited once for lunch, once for dinner, and will be going back. It was a very nice experience not too far from us.

 

 

 



http://www.rasushi.com/locations

 

 

 

 

Walking in Batavia

I can't remember if it was last year or already the year before (past two years were very hectic), but it was spring and we went to Batavia again for a walk.

Batavia is a suburb of Chicago, and the oldest city in Kane County. I like that area because of it's river walk. No sign of spring flowers in my neighbourhood yet, so I guess there is still time before I can enjoy the carpet of blue flowers again.

 

 

 

First day of spring

Yes! The spring is officially here. Finally!

What a horrible winter we had. It took toll on our Giant Arbovitae trees which were frostbitten due to the unusually low temperatures this year. I hope they recover from it. We only planted them last year and I should have known better and burlap them. I will definitely do it this year, just in case.

In the meantime I have pulled the book I bought last year off the shelf. It is American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants & Flowers. I decided to get it because there are quite differences and less choice in what I can plant in my garden here in Midwest to what I am used to from Europe, but I am not giving up. Gardening is one of my passions.

Meltdown

No, I am not talking about an emotional meltdown, although I was close to one this winter. I am actually celebrating this one - the snow is finally thawing. The pictures are taken from the front door of my house.
We have absolutely lovely plus 5°C (40°F) today! I don't know how long it is going to last but it should even rain tomorrow.The more snow disappears the better because we have nowhere to put it.

I guess we will remember this winter as I already mentioned in my previous post. I have heard a new description of Chicago's weather. It goes like this: "There is 9 months of winter and 3 months of hell in Chicago..." It pretty much describes it.

Sushi Station

On Saturday we went to the Sushi Station again. Finally!

Sushi Station is one of my favourite places to eat. If only the place was closer. There are actually two Sushi Station restaurants. One is in Rolling Meadows (B) which is closer, and the other one in Elgin (C) which I like much better because it is a more spacious and modern place. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the one in Rolling Meadows and 50 minutes to Elgin.
I have heard that there are some plans to open a third location south, around where I live. I hope it is true, it would be amazing!

Note to the owners: "There are many sushi eaters here too, please open one soon :-)"

 



 

from www.sushistation.us

So what is Sushi Station? It is a restaurant serving Japanese Kaiten Sushi style where the sushi is served on small plates that revolve on an enclosed conveyor belt. I absolutely love this style because I can sample many different types of sushi at once, it is very affordable, and completely different experience. The price is determined by the colour of the plates.

If you have never heard about this type of restaurant there are some videos to learn more about it on this website.


Some of my favourites are Miso soup, Spider Roll (soft shell crab), Phoenix Roll (spicy tuna), but many more.




Miso soup



Phoenix



Spider



American Eskimo

I miss having a dog. I used to have a breed that is in Europe called Spitz, but I was told here it is American Eskimo. I am still confused, as you can see from the pictures below they are also called Japanese Spitz. Anyway,  this is how mine looked like. Could you resist this face? I love this breed. But be aware, these dogs are not for everyone, they look like angels, but can be a bit tricky :-) You definitely have to be a pack leader.





via Google Images





via KONALAE www.konalaejapanesespitz.com



I haven't had a dog for a long time. I didn't want to because of our constant relocating. It was unthinkable.
Now we have our own house with a big garden, so it should be perfect scenario for a new dog, BUT... I don't really like to keep a dog inside of a house (most of the time anyway), and after living in Chicago for a while I realized that it would be difficult. I can't keep a dog outside during the extreme weather that we experience here especially in winter and summer. Also, I am used to, from back home, taking a dog for a walk in a countryside where he can run free. Here it is pretty much on a leach or a dog park, behind a fence. The rest of the time inside of a house. I don't know, somehow it is not for me. Will I ever have a dog again?! I hope so, but for now I am still undecided.

my local dog park at Whalon Lake

 

 



Barnes & Noble

One of my favourite stores is Barnes & Noble. Today it is the largest book retailer chain here in the US, since the closing of Borders in 2011.
Borders was and international bookseller based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Unfortunately, they applied for bankruptcy protection, and because they were not able to find an acceptable buyer they closed in September 2011. Their competitor Barnes & Noble acquired Borders' trademarks and also customer list, so when you log onto Borders' former website today you are redirected to Barnes & Noble's site.

What is making me nervous now is the information that I found last year. Barnes & Noble Inc. plans to close 30% of its stores, which is about 20 stores a year, over the next decade! The list of the stores that would be closed wasn't provided. The company has 689 retail stores and 674 college stores.
Do I have to worry now about my local Barnes & Noble?! It is so sad. Don't people read books anymore? OK, I admit I am the owner of the Amazon Kindle e-book reader as well, but I somehow still prefer books. I love books!

I sometimes visit the store in Naperville, but prefer to go to the one in Bolingbrook at The Promenade. I will write about The Promenade later.

Barnes & Noble in Bolingbrook

Barnes & Noble in Naperville

 

I visit often. They also have a Barnes & Noble Café where they offer the Starbucks beverages and a selection of the pastries and cakes. To be honest, there are no other real coffee shops, how you find them in Europe, in the suburbs. Unless you came across a Starbucks or a Caribou Coffee, you would be looking for another one for a long time.

This option is actually a perfect combination. You can have a cup of tea or coffee or whatever else

you fancy while you read a book or a magazine, and you can stay as long as you want. It is how my husband and I spend our time on a rainy day or other days quite often. And when he joins me, we almost always have a chocolate cupcake - we share it as I can't eat the whole thing. It is quite sweet, so after a few mouthfuls it doesn't taste so good anymore, plus it has 440 calories!! Otherwise I really enjoy it :-)

I like my Barnes & Noble, please don't close it!

 

Fahrenheit or Celsius...

Who cares...it is going to be brutally cold no matter how you look at it. I can deal with 10 C below zero, I got used to it, but minus 28 C ?!
I completely detest the weather in Chicago, it doesn't matter if it is winter or summer, these are basically two seasons here. Reportedly, it is going to be the coldest days in decades.

Let's hope it will be over soon.

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2014/01/03/winter-storm-petersons-newday.cnn.html



This is the weather forecast for my area:

in Celsius

in Fahrenheit

Season's Greetings

It is one day before Christmas.
I hope you survived all that shopping and preparation for holidays, and wishing you a season filled with beautiful moments.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM CHICAGO!

Christkindlmarket in Chicago

I completely forgot to mention German Christmas market here in Chicago called Christkindlmarket .
But there is still time if you want to visit. I would definitely recommend it!

 

http://www.christkindlmarket.com/en/

History and Tradion:

 

Inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, which began in 1545, the Christkindlmarket Chicago brings a cherished German and European tradition with international flair and local charm to Chicago. Chicago's largest open-air Christmas festival was first held on Pioneer Court in 1996. By special invitation of Mayor Richard M. Daley, Christkindlmarket Chicago moved to Daley Plaza in 1997 and has become a staple event on the plaza ever since. Christkindlmarket Chicago has grown to become one of the most popular winter attractions in the heart of the city.

 

 

 

I love to go and visit every year because of the atmosphere and of course because of the food!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kartoffelpuffer/potato pancake - my favourite

Glühwein

 

 

NAF NAF

I mentioned it  before, I am not a -fast food- person, but when I need to eat on the go or just eat out I love to go to NAF NAF GRILL.

 

 

This place actually started in Naperville, where I lived before, when it opened the first building on Ogden Avenue.
Today there are other locations, but I usually go to the  Fox Valley.

4430 Fox Valley Center Dr., Suite 101
Aurora, IL 60504
Phone: 630-499-1700

I love the fact that everything is chopped, fired, roasted, blended and baked FRESH throughout the day!
It is a middle eastern restaurant, so if  Shawarma, Falafel, Baba Ghanoush, Tabule, Kabab, Hummus, Tahini, Pita... speaks to you, it is a place to visit.

My favourite is a Pita filled with chicken breast kabab, a spread of hummus, Israeli salad, and topped with tahini sauce. It tastes so good!! When I am really hungry I also add their to die for homemade fries which come in sliced version. Believe me this food is tasty.