I ate, I saw, I conquered

I'm back! Sorry to go MIA for the week, but I had to fully maximize my time in Chicago! And boy did we do a lot of eating, walking and sight-seeing. Thank you to everyone who sent in suggestions!

OK, so let's get to the good stuff...the FOOD!

Our first night in town, we  I had to go to RPM Italian. Made reservations via OpenTable, but also sent the restaurant an e-mail letting them know of our trip. Hands down the best food and service throughout our entire trip! Big shout out to Kelly, Bruce and Jeffrey! They all went above and beyond to make our first night (and stop) in Chi memorable. If I could have their Wood-Roasted Octopus everyday for the rest of my life, I'd be a happy girl! It. was. unreal. Even if you're not a huge octopus fan, get it. You can thank me later! After the octopus, we took our talents to the other plate; we dove into the 600-Day Prosciutto. Thanks for that, Bruce! Another amazing starter! For my entree, I went with their Alaskan Halibut. Paired the dish with roasted brussels sprouts and cauliflower. This place will be a must every time I visit! Maybe next time I'll have a G&B sighting!

Even though this trip was vacation for me, I was also helping my "little" brother move into his new place in Chicago! Being our first time in the Windy City, we had tons of stuff we wanted to do and see. But for any one that knows my brother, boy likes to eat... A LOT (and often). Our second day in the city, we planned to go to Willis Tower (see pictures below)! Not a huge fan of heights, but that's beside the point. En route to the tower, Charley had to eat. He literally found his holy grail, Protein Bar! This place is insane. From their bowls to blended drinks, we both couldn't get enough of this place. We definitely ate there a few times, and picked up a couple post-workout smoothies. Highly recommend the Buffalo Bowl and the Wrigley Peeled smoothie. Not only do they include the calorie count on their menu, but they provide the breakdown on protein, fats, carbs and fiber in their items. Not kidding! Excuse me while I go look into franchise opportunities...

We definitely ate well on the trip, but RPM Italian was at the top of the list for me! If you're headed to Chicago in the future, here's a list of where we dined:

• RPM Italian
• Protein Bar 
• Intelligentsia Coffee - The Cookie Studio & Atlas in Buckhead both brew this amazing coffee! 
• Chicago Cut
• Maude's Liquor Bar
• Pump Room - Cool vibe. Their lamb was phenomenal!
• Cantina Laredo - Awesome table side guac! Plus, an entree comes with a mimosa or bloody mary.

As always, feel free to send me an e-mail or comment below, and I am more than happy to suggest some places!

Now for a few touristy pictures and some of the incredible food we had on our trip!

Wood-Roasted Octopus at RPM

Buffalo Bowl at Protein Bar 

Vanilla Latte at Intelligentsia Coffee

On Lake Michigan 

Wrigley Field (...pinch me)

First Opening Night in Cubs' history

Now that I'm back, I have LOTS of exciting things coming your way! Stay tuned for another giveaway this week!!