table41tommy

[table41tommy]

A simple Sunday supper. Stir fry of chicken and mango (broccoli, carrot, celery) with a soy ginger glaze. Paired with a 2019 Franc Dusak Moon Mountain Viognier from @nakedwinesdotcom. #homecook #homecooking @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #berwyn #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine #quarantinecooking (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBb5erDjXMn/?igshid=1f4s9utxkkvuu

[table41tommy]

Adventures in cooking! I decided to try my hand at paella for the first time ever today. I don’t have a paella pan, but I do have some excellent cast-iron, so I gave it a try. Clearly, it’s not “traditional” but it was damned good for my first try. If you look closely (on the right of the plate), you will see that I even got some tasty soccarat! I generally followed a recipe by @sandra_valvassori but I made sofrito yesterday using a recipe by @marcvidalchef and let it rest overnight. Thanks, chef! That sofrito is amazing and so easy to make. Instead of the “Chicken and Chorizo” from the recipe I found online, I went for Kielbasa and Shrimp because, well, that’s what I had in my refrigerator. I added green beans, red peppers, and peas and used up the last of my stock of saffron for the traditional color and added some smoked paprika to get that pimenton flavor. I also had some tasty chicken stock I made a couple of months ago, so I heated that up. I am sure a paella pan would give a better result, but the cast iron worked great! For my first try at paella, I am tremendously impressed with the result. Good thing I like it since it makes a mountain of paella and I will be eating leftovers for the next few days. #homecook #homecooking @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #berwyn #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine #quarantinecooking #paella #castiron #castironcooking (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBZMeW7DtWd/?igshid=1jayhfte4m013

[table41tommy]

Walleye! Paired with 2018 Joseph Drouhin Mâcon-Villages. #lagrange #lagrangeillinois #lagrangeil #chicagosuburbs #chicagosuburbfoodies #chicago #chicagofoodbloggers #chicagorestaurants #foodie #greatfood #checkpleasepics #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely (at Fourteensixteen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBT_oTyjyY6/?igshid=1f4f5cq5rcu0o

[table41tommy]

My first restaurant meal since early March continues with Asparagus Gazpacho. #lagrange #lagrangeillinois #lagrangeil #chicagosuburbs #chicagosuburbfoodies #chicago #chicagofoodbloggers #chicagorestaurants #foodie #greatfood #checkpleasepics #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely (at Fourteensixteen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBT9DpKDR8A/?igshid=jz2bnkr88c5n

[table41tommy]

My first restaurant appetizer in person since early March. Crab Cake (lemon, green garlic, arugula). #lagrange #lagrangeillinois #lagrangeil #chicagosuburbs #chicagosuburbfoodies #chicago #chicagofoodbloggers #chicagorestaurants #foodie #greatfood #checkpleasepics #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely (at Fourteensixteen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBT7ZkRjKtI/?igshid=1x8f599n1zgd8

[table41tommy]

Oh, my God! It's my first cocktail at a restaurant since early March. The drink is "Fourteensixteen" - Grist & Saw Empire Rye, Lustau Palo Cortado sherry, Grand Poppy liqueur, bitters. #lagrange #lagrangeillinois #lagrangeil #chicagosuburbs #chicagosuburbfoodies #chicago #chicagofoodbloggers #chicagorestaurants #foodie #greatfood #checkpleasepics #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely (at Fourteensixteen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBT5cOElox3/?igshid=p138wc9i434k

[table41tommy]

I needed a nice meal tonight. Salad with homemade version of Thousand Island. Rare sirloin seared in my cast iron and served with a sauce of tomato, onion, garlic, and capers. Sides of crispy roasted potatoes, asparagus, and cauliflower. Paired with a 2015 Château Haut-Beauséjour Saint-Estèphe. #homecook #homecooking @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #berwyn #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine #quarantinecooking #castironcooking #castiron #bordeaux (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBRjohuF1pv/?igshid=1ux0095xmo8mp

[table41tommy]

I finally broke through my ennui and decided to prepare a nice meal for myself tonight. Side salad (green leaf lettuce, carrots, celery, olives, tahini dressing). Main course is Swordfish à la Marseillaise (sauce of tomato, caper, onion, garlic); steamed asparagus and cauliflower, both dressed with a lemon/butter/chive sauce. For dessert, leftover from my takeout last night from @autremondecafe , a vanilla/lavender flan. I paired it all with a 2015 Château Haut-Beauséjour Saint-Estèphe. #homecook #homecooking @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #berwyn #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine #quarantinecooking #frenchwine #bordeaux (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBHUXGFjaBr/?igshid=nlsie5sc59nl

[table41tommy]

One of my favorite spots at @mortonarb is sitting on the roots of this giant Freeman maple at the edge of Lake Marmo. (at The Morton Arboretum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBEEMSdDXth/?igshid=1gkhhoopl4fln

[table41tommy]

I am finally outside again. I found a bench under a shady tree and am reading and enjoying a day in nature. This is my view. (at The Morton Arboretum) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBD75DhjALA/?igshid=1tegfm1alz1da

[table41tommy]

For dinner tonight, I decided to support one of my favorite local restaurants - @bigguyssausage_ The meal included Chicken Creole Pasta, Wedge Salad, Gumbo, Shrimp, and for dessert (not pictured here) Bananas Foster Bread Pudding. I paired with a 2017 “La Smilla” Barbera D’Asti DOCG. I bought the 1/2 size family meal, so I have enough for one more serving of salad but at least two or three of everything else. What a deal! @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #berwyn #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CA1MAyFl1at/?igshid=fxwq5nbglvoo

[table41tommy]

Another quarantine comfort meal. A hearty beef stew cooked in my cast iron Dutch oven, served with with jasmine rice. The side salad is kale with kiwi, dates, pecans, and raisins dressed with lemon juice/avocado oil/honey/cinnamon. I paired the meal with a 2017 “La Smilla” Barbera D’Asti DOCG. #homecook #homecooking @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #berwyn #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine #quarantinecooking  #castironcooking (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAyjTyzFBTs/?igshid=qqaz0jp231qu

[table41tommy]

I needed to pamper myself a bit tonight, so I created a “surf and turf” meal. Quarantine need not be a dull culinary experience and one of the few things I can control right now is what I choose to eat and how I choose to present it. I started with a kale salad, dressed with a tangy lime/mayo dressing and shredded broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, celery.  The side dish is blistered green beans and grape tomatoes drizzled with a balsamic reduction.  For the main course the “surf” is scallops seared in one of my cast iron pans then topped with butter and freshly-shaved black truffles. The “turf” portion is sirloin seared in another cast iron skillet and topped with a sauce I concocted by deglazing the pan with beef stock, adding some garlic, and then sautéing scallions in butter and adding those to create a kind of “demiglace” to drizzle over the steak. Special thanks to @mapleandash for the superior steak knife. I paired the meal with a 2015 Salice Salentino. #homecook #homecooking @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #berwyn #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine #quarantinecooking  #castironcooking #truffles #blacktruffles (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAtbj2dDVqR/?igshid=bxsrwm3pyflq

[table41tommy]

A light, simple, early brunch. Salad of butter lettuce with carrots, grape tomatoes, sugar snap peas dressed with avocado oil and rice vinegar. The stir fry is shrimp and shredded vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, celery) with a tamari-brown sugar-lime juice sauce. I love using shredded vegetables! They cook fast. All the fresh vegetables and the wild-caught shrimp are from a recent @imperfectfoods box. #homecook #homecooking @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #berwyn #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine #quarantinecooking #brunch #sundaybrunch (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAk3oY_F9O6/?igshid=51kxcep5kxn4

[table41tommy]

It's an Aviation kind of night with my favorite gin @empress1908gin. @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine #quarantinecocktails #cremeyvette @luxardousa @luxardoofficial (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAjJPxPBY-K/?igshid=8fnbosz7fu10

[table41tommy]

Surprise! Look what I just got in the mail. OK, chef friends - best storage tips and recipe suggestions. #quarantine #quarantinecooking #truffles #blacktruffles (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAdUYWyjthM/?igshid=q35rto55da3h

[table41tommy]

It felt like a "burger and beer" kind of night. I shaped the burger to fit on my homemade bread, served with a side of baked sweet potato and homemade sweet pickles. I paired with Chinga Tu Pelo from @5rabbitbrewery. #chingatupelo #homecook #homecooking @whyberwyn #nothinglikeasuburb #berwynillinois #berwyn #ChicagoInsiders #singledining #diningalone #datingmyself #diningsolo #solodining #tableforone #tableforoneplease #takingcareofme #grateful #lifeisgood #alonebutnotlonely #quarantine #quarantinecooking (at Berwyn, Illinois) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAbf73Kgkdq/?igshid=qlof3gqd99hi