Scoozi: Exceptional food presentation and quality

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Kim Miller

My husband and I had date night, once again, this past weekend and wanted to try something new. We gave Scoozi a shot after hearing some great food reviews. The restaurant gave off a warm and inviting ambiance as soon as we entered making us excited to sit down and start the experience. Our server made us feel very welcome and immediately asked if we would like to start with drinks, wine, or cocktails and also started to discuss the nightly specials and layout of the menu. He did a great job describing the preparation and presentation of some of his favorite recommendations, and it was apparent that he had a good understanding of the menu. Overall, a wonderful first impression.

We started with the Mushroom and Truffle Pizza as an appetizer. Wow! It was a large rectangular thin crust pizza topped with roasted Portobello mushrooms, fresh green baby arugula, ricotta cheese, a porcini pesto sauce, and rich white truffle oil served on a wooden pizza server. Excellent crunch and flavor overall. The fresh and peppery baby arugula paired extremely well with the richness of the ricotta and truffle oil and the earthiness of the Portobello mushrooms. Very good value and portion size for the price. Great appetizer options overall.

Scoozi Gnocci/Ravioli Trio

For an entrée I ordered the Gnocci/Ravioli Trio. This included generous portion of three gnocci/ravioli choices – mushroom bolognese gnocci, tomato and cream gnocci, and seasonal butternut squash ravioli – on a white, divided dish. Overall, the ravioli and gnocci were prepared perfectly. The mushroom bolognese gnocci had a great meaty flavor that paired well with the smooth creamy texture of the gnocci. The richness of the tomato cream sauce paired extremely well with the smooth light tender gnocci and the smooth butternut squash filling paired very well with the crunch of the candied walnut pieces served atop the ravioli. Overall, a great, unique dish!

What is a dinner date without dessert? We ordered the Strawberry Panna Cotta – a small white disc of fresh cool smooth panna cotta served with fresh sliced strawberries, a drizzle of dark balsamic, and a dusting of white powdered sugar. Excellent fresh light dessert option overall. The smooth vanilla flavor of the panna cotta paired very well with the sweetness of the fresh strawberries, the balsamic, and the powdered sugar.

After we finished our meal Brian wished us a good evening as we stood up to leave as did the host as we left the restaurant. There is no question that my husband and I will return to Scoozi. It is an excellent value, the food quality and presentation is exceptional, and it has a fun, welcoming and elegant atmosphere.

NYC Bagel a hidden gem in River North!

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Ruth Garcia Gonzalez

As the saying goes, little things come in small packages….. No, I did not get a little box over the weekend that could possibly determine the rest of my life. I am actually talking about the small New York City Bagel store (NYC), located on Dearborn just across the street from the Hampton inn & Suites Chicago Downtown. This is truly a hidden gem in the River North area of Chicago; they have great flavors and the quality of their meats are amazing!

I have begun to use them as our outside catering company for my meetings at the hotel. I knew that they were good, as on more than one occasion I have been known to run across the street to indulge in their savory breakfast bagel sandwich. Yum! Our first experience working with them as a caterer went better than I had hoped, the staff was amazing! When I expressed concerns about the details of the lunch for the meeting they were more than happy to meet with me. In person, we were able to discuss what I envisioned; they ensured that everything was executed to my expectations.

The meeting was for 64 people, this had originally been 24 and as the client called me to increase the number of attendees, I in turn called NYC to increase the number of people for lunch. They were more than accommodating, which seeing the size of the store one might think that they would not be able to high volume catering. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the presentation of the food that they were so willing to deliver to the hotel in order to facilitate the process for us.

The best part of this experience is that the client was blown away; the program coordinator sent an email a couple of days after the event, “Thank you for taking care of our needs for this event! It was above and beyond our expectations. The ultimate goal in the service industry to make the client happy, through NYC’s professionalism and attention to detail this was accomplished and certainly well received”.

The next time that you stay with us at the Hampton or if you are in the River North area, go and get a sandwich at NYC Bagel. You won’t regret it!

Streets of Chicago

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Michael Flynn

“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”

― Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities

Marina City

It wasn’t until moving to Chicago did this ring so true. Until you experience the majesty of street life in a big city, it is hard to truly understand it. You definitely can feel it visiting, you may even notice that there is something different, but can’t quite put your finger on why. I noticed that my vacations from my home town of Memphis were always large cities: Chicago, LA, New York, London… I knew that I wanted to be in the cauldron of street life. Its being part of city life that you are actually shaping the city.

The built environment has a lot to with the vibrancy of street life as well. Think of a typical suburban strip mall. There is a lot of activity, but walking down the sidewalk you don’t get a sense of lively cohesion. One of the most important parts of this built environment in modern North American cities is the Grid. Chicago is one of the largest cities with a continuous grid throughout the city.

River North grid On Google Maps (Hampton Inn & Suites is marked)

Chicago’s grid is 1.3 degrees off true north. If you travel northbound on a north/south street, you will travel just slightly west. Not bad for the engineers that laid out the Chicago grid system using 19^th century tools. You can actually see this on Google Maps! Take a look at the photo above, Find Chicago Ave in the upper left, notice how it jogs north the further east you go.

Some things to remember about the Chicago grid:
Every 8 Blocks equals 1 Mile & you will find an arterial Street
Every 4 Blocks is a major Secondary Street.
A Block is about 480 Feet. In downtown with the older blocks, it is closer to 400 feet
Even Numbered Addresses are on the West and North sides of each street
Odd Numbered Addresses are on the East and South sides of each street
Odd Numbered Addresses are on the East and South sides of each street
The intersection of State (0) and Madison (0) is the 0 / 0 block. If the original numbering system were done today, I am sure that the 0/0 block would be much further west. There are no east numbers north of North Ave because of Lake Michigan. I don’t think the 19th century planners could even to begin to imagine how much futher the city would grow. The city could only grow west because of the lake!

Look for the Chicago grid when you fly into the city.

The grid is part of street life in Chicago, but the grid would be nothing without the people that live in work in it. Think of the entrepreneurs with their business ideas, the actors & techs with their art in the theatres, the workers in the shops, the tourist with their cameras, the bar patron enjoys one last beer before getting on the train… The lively street life is why people come to big cities like Chicago. Just walk around River North for a few hours you see it all: world-class architecture (Trump Tower, Wrigley Building, Boyce Building, Marina City), fine dining (Sunda, Sushi Samba), the hippest of hip clubs that as so cool, they don’t even need a sign (Underground) & a lively street scene. This is why Chicago is always sure to surprise.

Hank the Tank the Traveling Hampton Bear

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Kim Miller

Hank the Tank scouting out his next trip

As some guests may have noticed, the Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown is home to a loveable, large size bear that resides in the lobby. No, you’re not seeing things. This over-sized teddy-bear is the Hampton’s very own traveling mascot and his name is Hank the Tank!

Hank the Tank and the Team at the Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown before shipping off to Hampton Inn & Suites Carson City, Nevada

Since his adoption to the Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown Family, Hank has been hanging out with guests, taking pictures, sharing smiles and hugs and even been shopping on Magnificent Mile. One guest even dared to steal Hank away to his room exclusively-causing quite any uproar on Hank’s whereabouts. Thankfully the staff here at the Hampton was able to rescue Hank and with just that change of scenery from the lobby, Hank longed to see new things and travel to Hampton hotels all around the U.S. He details his travels via facebook, twitter and with pictures and postcards. Ever seen the movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?” Well Hank is to Hampton what a pair of jeans were to a few girlfriends. The friendly spirit of camaraderie and hospitality!

Hank the Tank and the Nevada Commission and Chinese Delegation

Nevertheless Hank has had some amazing opportunities to visit some awesome Hampton hotels, namely the Hampton Inn & Suites Carson City, Nevada, and the Hampton Inn Raleigh-Capital Blvd. North. Currently, Hank is traveling to Hampton Inn Gretna/Altavista/Chatham. Do you work at a Hampton nationwide and wish to have Hank at your property? Email me at kreeves@fhginc.com for Hank opportunities!

The Team here at the Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Downtown hopes you enjoy Hank the Tank’s travels across the United States. Don’t forget to check out pictures and more detailing his trips. If you have suggestions for his next visit, please let me know!

Winter Weather not a deterrent for Chicago Fun!

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Andrew Scarlett

The frozen winter is now upon us. Well… kind of. It’s been an incredible holiday season, but the weather has finally started to drop down into the winter weather we are used to feeling. Everyone always feels that they have to stay away from Chicago during our sub-zero degree-a-thon days because there isn’t anything to do. ABSOLUTLEY WRONG! There are a ton of fun things to do during the winter up here in Chicago.

People from around the country come and visit our world renown museums during the peak of the summer, but why would you come here during the summer to spend the whole day inside? We have six world class museums that will entertain the kids and keep the parents learning: Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Science and Industry Museum and the Museum of ContemporaryArt.

Field Museum is my favorite and it is one of our largest and most historic museums. It sits overlooking on Lake Michigan overlooking our city. Check out their discount-days portion of the website and plan your visit to Chicago.

From the Field Museum’s website:

“The Field Museum was incorporated in the State of Illinois on September 16, 1893 as the Columbian Museum of Chicago with its purpose the “accumulation and dissemination of knowledge, and the preservation and exhibition of objects illustrating art, archaeology, science and history.” In 1905, the Museum’s name was changed to Field Museum of Natural History to honor the Museum’s first major benefactor, Marshall Field, and to better reflect its focus on the natural sciences. In 1921 the Museum moved from its original location in Jackson Park to its present site on Chicago Park District property near downtown where it is part of a lakefront Museum Campus that includes the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. These three institutions are regarded as among the finest of their kind in the world and together attract more visits annually than any comparable site in Chicago.”

And don’t forget to check out the world famous “Sue” the Tyrannosaurs Rex while you are there too…

Great experience at Wildfire Chicago!

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Kim Miller

Wildfire Chicago

It was date night last Friday night at Wildfire Chicago. My husband and I were graciously welcomed by the host. We were then greeted by the Maitre’d who showed us to our table. She engaged us in conversation on the way to the table, asking if we were out doing holiday shopping (we had several shopping bags with us). As we sat down, she made sure the table was in order and made sure we were comfortable before departing back to the host area. An overall wonderful first impression!

We started with the chopped salad to share for an appetizer. What a great appetizer option! A generous portion of mixed greens, roasted chicken, avocado, tomato, blue cheese, bacon, scallions, corn, and tortilla strips tossed with a light citrus vinaigrette dressing and served tableside in a large white bowl with tongs. Excellent blend of fresh flavors and unique textures. Each ingredient complimented the others extremely well. The crunch of the tortilla strips, fresh corn, and bacon pieces paired well with the smooth tender chicken, avocado, tomato, and blue cheese crumbles. The citrus vinaigrette dressing was very light yet flavorful and gave the dish a desired citrus flavor to balance the other ingredients.

For an entrée I ordered the Fillet Medallion Trio. Three filet medallions positioned on a circular white plate. Each was topped with a different signature crust- I chose blue cheese, parmesan, and horseradish. Prepared medium-rare, the filet medallions were extremely tender and juicy. The horseradish crust was surprisingly balanced and not at all overwhelming. The parmesan crust had an excellent cheesy aftertaste, and blue cheese crust was very rich and flavorful overall. An excellent entrée choice due to the difference in flavors you get with one dish. Great job!

After we finished our meal, our plates and flatware were cleared. Our server made sure to wait until the table was fully cleared and crumbed before presenting coffee and dessert options which was appreciated. He wished us a good evening and a happy holiday as we stood up to leave as did the host as we left the restaurant. Overall, a great experience at Wildfire Chicago!

The Best Online Shopping Sites for the Holidays

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Jenna Haymond

Tis the season to be jolly, right?

Tis the season to be Jolly, right? Well with the holiday cheer also brings some holiday stress with fighting the crowds, while trying to find the right gift at the right price. Its survival of the fittest. Well, if you are one of the many who prefer the miracle of online shopping, I have a few sites for you to check out that will get your creativity flowing for getting that perfect gift for someone special.

The first site I think everyone should check out is www.gifts.com. If you are a procrastinator like me, then you are scrambling till the week before the holidays to get your gifts. I frantically was searching every website trying to get an idea for what to buy this season and then I stumbled upon gifts.com. After visiting this site, my holidays were saved along with my sanity. I started to become slightly addicted and would spend my evenings searching though every gift imaginable. The best part about this site is the personality profiler, which allows you customize your search settings to narrow down the best gift. You can also select the amount you are looking to spend and it will bring up a schmorgous board of ideas for you to select from and the link to where you can buy them. Personally, I have become quite fond of Personal Creations which allows you to customize your gifts at an affordable price. I hate to spill the beans, but most of my family will be receiving gifts with their names all over them. This site has gifts for the the guys guy, outdoor adventurer, trendinista, fitness and health nut, and much more.

Another site that you could spend hours perusing through is www.pinterest.com. This site is creativity on steroids. If you are feeling ambitious and want to hand make your gifts this year, visit this site for some of the most crafty projects that will wow anyone in your family! This site is an online pinboard which allows you to post all of your favorite ideas and check out other peoples projects to recreate in your own home. From food to fashion, there is something for everyone. Here are some pins for you to check out which will really add pizzazz to your holiday’s.

Santa party mix: http://pinterest.com/pin/38351034296309962/

Handmade ornament: http://pinterest.com/pin/2814818486784659/

Until next time, shop on online shoppers and have a wonderful Holidays!

Ras Dashen, a wonderful Ethiopian Restaurant on the northside of Chicago

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Ruth Garcia Gonzalez

Chicago as a city has so much to offer; fun sightseeing, good theatre, great nightlife and definitely some good eating! When you come to Chicago you are bombarded with an array of different cuisines that will blow you away. I try to venture out to a new local restaurant that I have not been to about once a month. Let’s be real guys, most of us are not billionaires, so like the rest of us I’m trying not to break the bank and still be able to enjoy what Chicago has to offer.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting some friends at ‘Ras Dashen’, an Ethiopian restaurant. It is located on the north side of Chicago on Broadway. If you are traveling from out of town and staying with us at the Hampton Inn & Suites, just take the red line at the grand stop and head north! This was such a great experience! Beware! If you do not like spicy food, this is probably not going to be for you. Since it was our first time there we did not know what to expect. Totally exceeded my expectations. As we entered the restaurant, there was a band playing which was awesome! Then, we were seated at a table that was not really a table (they have actual tables there too, but we wanted the full experience!). They had four chairs surrounding this tall basket in place of a table. As the table top, they used a round tray with Ethiopian art.

The Dining Room at Ras Dashen

We started off with some drinks. I ordered a Peach Martini, usually not a fan of very sweet martinis, but the restaurant recommended it, noting it was quite popular. I took a chance and it was delicious. For the appetizer we ordered the Sambusa, this is such a great dish. It was a little spicy but light and full of flavor. We all ordered our entrées and sides (with an entrée order every table gets a choice of three sides) with the thought of sharing in mind, and good thing too because they prepare the meal on one plate for the entire table. The preparation of the food is so unique. They use a very large round tray as a plate. At the bottom they put Injera, which is the traditional word for flat bread. Then they place the entrée on a section on the Injera in front of the person that ordered it. In between each entre, they place one of the sides in order to provide a little variety. Then you dig in! Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that they do not use utensils. You use the Injera to grab the food and you eat with your hands!

Whether you are a local or someone that is visiting from out of town, I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone that is daring and likes spicy food.

The Vic Theatre: A Musical Mecca in Chicago

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Kim Miller

As Chicagoans, we’re spoiled. There’s so much to do in this vibrant city, so much to explore, so much to see and share. I don’t think any one person could experience all the city has to offer in one lifetime. I got my first taste of the Windy City culture when I was in College at the University of Kentucky. I remember road-tripping it 6 hours with friends to catch the Hot Chip concert at Metro in Wrigleyville. The next day as my friends and I drove back to campus I realized it was too late; I was hooked. Chicago was to be my new musical mecca. I would make any pilgrimage to see whatever show, wherever, just so long as it was in Chicago.

Fast forward 4 years. I live in the city now and one thing that hasn’t changed has been my love of music. I’ve seen countless shows (Dan Deacon, Feist, Jimmy Eat World, The Sounds, Lykke Li, Hot Chip, 30 Seconds from Mars, Lollapalooza 2010, etc.) at countless venues (The Riv, Aragon, Metro, Shubas, Martyrs’, Kingston Mines, etc.) and yet one of my favorite spots to listen to tunes remains the Vic Theatre at the Belmont and Sheffield intersection.

The Sounds performing at the Vic Theatre

Lead singer of The Sounds, Maja Ivarsson, performing at the Vic Theatre

There’s just something about the Vic that makes you feel alive. Contrary to the mass super-dome centers of Allstate Arena and the likes, the Vic is a more intimate, small venue rich with character and history. According to Wikipedia, the Vic Theater was built in 1912 by Architect John E.O. Pridmore. The five-story venue, originally named Victoria Theatre, took 3 years to build. The beauty of this establishment is that this vaudeville house still operates today for the enjoyment of countless people just as it did nearly 100 years ago.

Opening the double doors that lead into the standing room, lights stream, pulsating bass beats resound in the air and guitar rifs can be felt from the floor to your core. It’s an amazing experience. Mostly due to the close proximity of the stage to the crowd. Musical entertainment is so near, you feel like you’re front and center even if you’re in the back of the room.

Lykke Li performing at the Vic Theatre

Heightened standing areas allow for multiple vantage points, even for the vertically challenged. And let’s not forget the 2 liquid subsidence stations (aka bars) located immediately to your left and right as soon as you enter the standing room. Priorities, people. And speaking of priorities, seeing a live show at the Vic Theatre should definitely be one of yours. Not interested in music? Easy. The Vic Theatre does a Brew and View movie showing weekly. So now you have no excuse not to go. So get going, already!

Chicago Steaksnob

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Andrew Scarlett

Going back almost a 150 years Chicago has been known for the meat packing trade. The Union Stock Yards on the south side was the largest processer of meat for almost 80 years. There isn’t much left of the stock yards now except the original gate…

All of those stock yards laid the foundation for Chicago to have some fantastic steakhouses… And after being in Chicago for 12 years, I have had the opportunity to visit all of the best ones. The most recent one I went to was Mastro’s Steakhouse. The overall experience we had was truly one of a kind, with food that is over the top and service that is second to none. With being in the service industry, you really have to impress me for me to say that the service was that good.

I made the reservations a week out and came in about a half an hour early to sit in the bar. We ordered some cocktails and received a nice heavy handed poured drink. They had someone on the piano and a singer serenading the crowd. They were just loud enough to enjoy, but not so loud that we couldn’t hear each other speak. Our table was ready right on time. The menu has items like Alaskan King Crab Black Truffle Gnocchi and Gorgonzola Mac & Cheese to complement their wide array of perfectly cooked steaks. A few days later, I even got a follow up phone call to ask how my experience was! The entire experience was absolutely perfect. If you get a chance, go visit them. It will cost a few bucks, but if you are going to splurge, this is the place.

Enjoy!