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.

Geja's Cafe

July 29, 2015

A date with cousin Eve. She suggested this place and invited me here. All I know is we are going to have cheese fondue, chocolate fondue and meat. 

First thing that comes into my mind about the meat would be the German new year style kind of grilled cheese with different type of meat. Well, let's see what Geja has to offer.

The moment I stepped into the restaurant, I just.....WOW...*speechless*. It feels so Mediterranean, so mysterious, so calm, so COOL! 

Light hanging right above our table

To my left from where I sit. This is the patio area.

The menu stated that no phones and electronic devices shall be used at the dining table. *Gulp*

I am a culprit. I have both phone and camera with me. Life of a blogger, gotta take pics yo! lol

Couldn't really take a bright, proper picture because the restaurant is filled with red lights. 

[50 shades of Grey's red room of pain] This would be Red Room of Fondue-ness 

With the help of my cousin, we turned on our phone's flashlight to take pictures. It turns out pretty well I would say.

Premier Fondue Dinners

This dinner includes salad, cheese fondue, choice of meat and ends with chocolate fondue.

Cheese Fondue

A basket of fruits: grapes, apples, two kinds of breads

with this Swiss Gruyere cheese fondue, that has brandy in it. [I'm not a brandy, whisky or rum fan, but the brandy goes perfectly well with the cheese].

Salad

Salad with Dijon vinaigrette

Prince Geja's Combination

Consists of beef tenderloin, lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, and chicken breast

Vege: onions, broccoli, mushrooms, bell peppers and potatoes

Sauces: BBQ, dill, garlic aioli, flaming apricot, terriyaki, horseradish cream, Thai chili, melted butter.

My favorite? The chili. Be cautious though, you might choke from the spiciness, because that was what happened to me.

Each person would have 4 fondue sticks

With camera flash this time. Much clearer.

 The only table that keeps taking pictures. 

Much thanks to Eve for helping me. 

Chocolate Fondue

Banana, strawberries, pineapple, pound cake, rice crisp, cherries, and crumbled graham crackers

Belgian chocolate

It starts off with marshmallows roasting. The fire goes out after a minute, stir it and start digging in. Rich, irresistible dark chocolate. 

Hours of chatting with Eve, talked about everything...it's like we have known each other forever.

Mandatory picture with cousin.

Thank you for introducing me to this restaurant and also for the awesome meal.

PS: we ordered one dinner and add on $10/person. Giving the amount of food, is quite filling!

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August 10, 2015

After 12 days, I'm here again!  

This time with my roommate. I know how much she's a devotee for dessert. Fondue, our favorite thing during our time in the dorm. Cafeteria would have chocolate and cheese fondues during special occasions. Definitely would not forget how we "takeaway" the leftover chocolate fondue from a Valentine's day event and made our own strawberries and bananas dipped chocolate for own our 闺蜜Valentine's day

We arrived there a quarter past 5, daylight shining in from the window, not pack with people yet

*take out camera*, shamelessly SNAP SNAP SNAP tons of pictures

We got a booth seats

With the help of phone's flashlight

Us, picture taken by our server.

Happy happy face!

Wine bottles as barriers between booths

It's not that "empty", I was too eager to cook my meat and forgot to take picture lol

PS: This time we ordered two dinners, the Prince Geja's Combination and Bonesless. So the portion are doubled. SUPER FILLING. 

Do you know fried broccoli tastes super good?

Mandatory picture with roomie

Currently Geja's Cafe has promotion on Groupon. Just checked, sales ends tomorrow the Aug 13! QUICK QUICK QUICK! :)

Snow Dragon- Shavery & Yogurt

July 17, 2015

This is what I've been craving for!!! I'm a shaved snow person, as compared to bingsu (shaved ice). I am always around this area for yoga and I can't believe I just found out about this place. Bringing my super excited tummy and smiley face here.

Ordered a combo; and they have a dollar off for green tea and yam flavor. Both are my favorite, Perfecto!  So with this combo, I get to choose 3 toppings and a drizzle. There are a lot of choices to choose from. I've chosen red bean and strawberry with chocolate drizzle, and Superstar chose lychee jelly.

Shaved Snow- green tea & yam 

Comments: If you could see my face when I have this plate served in front of me, you might stay 5 feet away from me The presentation is superrrrrr disappointing. Flatten shaved snow. The yam started to melt when he was taking his time to find the green tea flavor.  Strawberry tastes just fine, red bean and lychee jelly both are way toooooooooo sweet that it causes headache.  But wait, the shaved snow are very good, really- reminds me of home. Just that improvements for toppings need to be made.

 Better Half ordered mango flavor, with both different kinds of jelly & condensed milk drizzle.

Shaved snow- Mango
Comments: Presentation is definitely better. Mango flavor with condensed milk gives a milky and sticky feeling.Those jellies aren't too sweet, they taste great!

If I were to choose the flavor of shaved snow, I would still go for green tea and yam, but with these jellies.

Green Tea
This teapot caught our attention, it's like our entertainment of the night. There is even a video of me doing magic with this teapot and the tea LOL.

Ok, joke aside. First visit Snow Dragon wasn't as expected. So far there is no shaved snow in town that I've known of, and yes I will definitely go back, hoping for better toppings and nicer presentation  I have faith.