Mitsuwa Market Place Schaumburg

First time at Mitsuwa Market was back in November 17, 2013 , Neo brought Bobo and I there. That was when I went crazy with the fact that they sell raw salmon at an affordable price. I had the chef sliced it for me, and already started digging in while still shopping for groceries. Yes, before I pay for it. It was 10am, salmon sashimi as breakfast, and my friend said I smell like a fish. 

Yes, this was the exact picture I posted on Facebook.

This place has always been my favorite place. I do not own a car, therefore to travel here requires hours on bus and train. When I get to be here, what can I say? I am lucky enough to be here. 

August 6, 2015

Superstar picked me up and it took us almost an hour to arrive. It just feels like ages, hot summer, without air conditioner, rerouting, and also I was skeptical of Superstar's driving skill (sorry). 

Finally finally! This time here, the mission is to try Santouka's ramen as recommended by Eve. It is located the food court area.

Santouka (Ramen)

Menu. (you're welcome).

Left: Toroniku with Spicy Miso Ramen $11.49 (medium)

Right: Toroniku with Salt Ramen $10.99 (medium)

So what's toroniku? It is Pork cheek meat. The lady at the cashier said it tastes really good, so why not? A little adventure in food is never a bad thing.

Close up look at the pork cheek meat, with bamboo, onions, a slice of narutomaki (the pink fish cake), a tiny plum, and some black fungus. 

Superstar ordered Soy Sauce flavored egg too. Fresh. $0.99

For presentation purposes, I placed all the ingredients in the ramen bowl. 

Itadakimasu! (Let's start eating)

Total bill came out  to be $25.88 including tax. 

Comment: This medium bowl of ramen is sufficient for me, love both of the salty and spicy soup, ramen is Q, pork cheek meat is really tenderrrrrrr! Rate it 4.5 stars!

Re Leaf

Superstar been longing for this green tea ice-cream, and finally his wish has came true.

I have eaten matcha (green tea) ice-cream, so I wasn't crazy about it. 

This one here is good :) If you have not tried it, I would recommend you to give it a try. 

Pastry House Hippo

Next stop: the pastry house located right next to the food court, called the Pastry House Hippo.

Eve recommended me to try their bread. She told me that she has never bought any other brand ever since she has tried the bread here.

Out of curiosity, I decided to give it a try. I got the No Crust Shokupan and Superstar got Marble the Coffee Bread.

These bread are no joke! They are so SOFT like a pillow, like goose feather, like baby cheek. They taste really good! The all wheat bread that I got it from the normal supermarket, they molded after a few days (during summer). This bread here stay fresh and white. But to be safe, I still kept them in the fridge after that; whenever I want a slice, I can just toast it- still taste perfectly well. 

I did not get to try the coffee bread, but Superstar and Eve say that it tastes good. Beware though, once you have tried these bread, you might not want to try any other bread. 

HOOKED.

Besides loaves of bread, this pastry house has other bread and dessert as well. I always love this kind of bakery store, everything made fresh and lots of varieties. Highly recommended.

Then of course, a trip here means "I must get something from the market no matter what". Usually I will buy sashimi and natto (fermented soybean), sometimes snacks and beauty products. From Japan yo! No joke ;)

The view from the pastry house.

I have tried tons of nattos from Mitsuwa Market, do visit back for my upcoming post, review on different brands of nattos.

Ciao for now.

Ravinia Festival 2015

August 2, 2015

Blissful Sunday morning

Took Metra up North, about an hour to reach the destination of the day- Ravinia Park

Park map

 Yes it was a sunny day mam, I feel you and by the way I like your picnic basket ;)

 Favorite shot of the day

This ticket was for lawn admission; there was orchestra admission as well but it would be more expensive. Live orchestra playing for the movie- Gladiator; how cool is that?

My stomach was already growling by 6:30pm

Bobo's aunt prepared Naeng Myeon (I was told it's North Korean cold noodle) for us- here are a varieties of veges

With chicken

and topped them all with noodles

A big fat plate for each of us. Scrumptious food makes me happy and satisfied.

and then prawn and veg filling spring rolls

Ends with blueberry cheese pastry

Sipping Sweet Red Blend .....Life, I could write a poem.

View behind me

and view in front of me.

And this would be a picture of the overall view of the lawn; one thing I have observed is that Americans take picnic seriously. They have portable chairs, tables, coolers, food, drinks all ready. Maybe I wasn't brought up this way and picnic is not an IN thing back home, I guess at most we would sit on grass and munch simple sandwiches.

Bobo and I went to walk around and I spotted The Crave Bar; I insisted that she must try it [I have tried it at Taste of Chicago, though it was a pitiful half size, but it was good!]. 

This time we gotten Cappuccino craze

Finally seen how it looks like originally. A huge cube shape with chocolate coated pretzel stick. Our hand temperature would melt the chocolate so it was covered with cardboard, it would be better to hold as well.

Went back, had peach, grapes and my favorite- corn.

First time trying this kind of hybrid corn; unfortunately it was not sweet though; but I can feel oh so healthy.

Aunt Yu -Chen and Tom

Weather forecast says it would rain and it did...but just a little bit. Chicago is known as Windy City, therefore the strong wind blows the heavy clouds away. It stopped raining, but the skies are filled with lightnings. From the videos and pictures, lightnings are purple in color! Took a few videos and capture the moment. 

C shape lightning.

My Thor is visiting me again lol 

Many have left but I was pleased that we stayed till the end. Gladiator is a great movie, add on to the live Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Justin Freer, it was perfect.  

I am so grateful that Aunt Yu-Chen and Bobo invited me for this event. Ravinia Festival is the oldest outdoor music festival in the States and I'm delighted to be here. Movie lasted till 9:30pm; catch the train back and it was raining cats and dogs at downtown.

Good night sleep it was.

Uni Sushi & Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

Uni Sushi

August 1, 2015

Dinner time at Wicker Park, a classy type of Japanese restaurant.

From the outside, as well as the logo of the restaurant, I would never thought it would be a restaurant.  It feels like US's Japanese restaurants always have the sophisticated interiors; most of them have the Bring Your Own Beverage (BYOB) policy, technically it is referring to alcoholic drinks. This restaurant is not an exception too.

Looking in from the right side from the entrance, where we seated.

Uni Shooter

First right up! A plate of 3 shots for the Hero, Superstar and Better Half.

Salmon roe, quail egg, sea urchin, cucumber & unknown sauce - $6.95

Well, I guess I'm not a fan of sea urchin. Like I think I remember how it taste like, at the same time, I don't think I remember. *teehee* 

Comment: The whole shot has a very smooth texture, basically I just "bottoms up" and at the very end I kinda chewed a little, and I tasted the sea urchin. 4 stars

Pork Belly Ramen

Braised pork belly, seaweed, bamboo, quail egg, mushroom, pickles, onions - $114

Comment: first thing I taste from a bowl of ramen would be the soup, the quality itself is very important. What I'm trying to say is that soup made from salt, MSG, and soy sauce is a 

.  

This bowl here has passed the "soup test", then goes the ramen, very Q (meaning it is very chewy). Everything is good except the mushrooms, the smell is too strong.

3.8 stars

Bulls

Spicy tuna, mango, mushroom tempura, crunch $12.50

Sushi, nothing much to talk about it, beside it must not fall apart, it would be the whole feeling because that's how I eat it: dipped the sushi into wasabi and soy sauce and YUMMMM. I just know I feel like having another one, but I would finish up Superstar's dinner.

4 stars

Sox

Super white tuna, salmon, tuna, crab tick, oshinko, oba leaf rolled with radish - $14.50

Comment: It has already mentioned in the menu that this dish does not have seaweed or rice, and it surprised me that it is so presentably beautiful. Side note: fish wasn't as fresh as it feels like.

3.5 stars

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Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

Off off we went to the fairly new ice-cream store on North Milwaukee Avenue.

It was 10:30pm when we arrived and there was still a line.  Everyone likey some sweet treat.

Better Half's choice: Sweet Cream and Root Beer 

Oh my the root beer is a yum toooooooooo! I feel it complements the Sweet Cream.

Darkest Chocolate and Brown Butter Almond Brittle. Darkest chocolate is love!

I had Sweet Cream (top) and Brown Butter Almond Brittle. Both pale white in color, they're good! Bourbon Salted Pecan was sold out, and had these combinations: would not choose these two combinations; feeling too sweet. I would love to try Bourbon Salted Pecan and Darkest Chocolate next time! Kudos to the waffle, I saw the lady making it on the spot, fresh, and IT JUST SMELLS AND TASTES SOOOO GOOOD!!! 

Was laughing so hard at Superstar crazy cuckoo face when JM was taking the pic. Credit to JM for the pic!

The Enrichment of Food - Black Apple.