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Welcome to Dupage Mamas! This blog is a place for Mamas to connect, share their experiences, and recommend great finds and ideas (or let us learn from your mistakes!) If you are raising kids in Dupage County, then we'd love to have you along for the adventure!
Showing posts with label Chicagonista. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicagonista. Show all posts

Monday, July 20, 2009

Sweeter Than Honey

FEEDING OUR FAMILY:
This is the beginning of a series of posts about Feeding Our Family. For the next few weeks, we will have at least one post each week which focuses on all the different aspects of this topic and how we can help each other in this often daunting task of making sure our families eat healthy, well-rounded, on-time meals. If you have an idea for a post on this topic, please e-mail us at dupagemamas(at)gmail(dot)com. We would love to hear from you! Stay tuned for some really great discussion about how we can better Feed Our Family.

In this quest to be smart and healthy in how I feed my family, I am always on the look out for places that help me on this path. And while I always want to serve the best to my family, I don't always feel like cooking that food in my own kitchen. That is when it is super nice to have someone else who is cooking the healthy, organic food that should fill my boys' tummies.

Honey is an amazing restaurant in downtown Glen Ellyn, in the western suburbs. They call themselves a "modern comfort cafe" and that pretty much says it all. Except I might add "yummy," and "delicious" and "soul-satisfying" to the list of descriptors. It is comfort food in the true sense that it is warm and flavor-ful. But beyond that, it is comfort food because I know that what my family and I are eating is good for us and good for the earth. Their produce is all organic, their meat is free range/grass-fed and often local. Even the wine and beer and coffee are organic. They bake most of their own bread and sweets every morning and make all their own sauces and salad dressings from scratch.

While these things are great and certainly key, I think the thing I like most about Honey is the atmosphere. It is laid back and friendly. It is the type of neighborhood place where people could sit with a cup of free-trade coffee and chat about the local happenings. I don't know if people actually do that, but you could. It is comfortable that way. It brings healthy, organic food down to an approachable level and makes it available for everyone. The prices are pretty reasonable for what you are getting. They cost more than a breakfast at your run-of-the-mill pancake house, but you are getting so much more for your money. When your options include Filet Mignon Benedict and Triple Chocolate French Toast, you know you have found a gem. For lunch and dinner, they have everything from yummy meatloaf and pot pie (see, comfort food!) to sandwiches to just about everything in between. They even have something called "Truffle Mac-N-Cheese" made with white truffle oil. Modern comfort cafe, indeed!

There is a "Little Honey's" menu for the kiddos with organic chicken nuggets or mac-n-cheese or organic PBJ. Even if you don't come for a meal, you gotta come for the dessert. For dessert, try the "cupcake of the day." You can't go wrong with that.

Honey offers delicious food that you know is good for your body. Sitting there eating yummy food in a laid back neighborhood cafe... comfortable!


Honey
499 N. Main St.
Glen Ellyn, IL
630-469-0000
www.honeycafe.net
Mon-Sat 9a-9p
Sun 9a-3p

Originally posted by Farrah at Chicagonista.

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Monday, June 8, 2009

Serenade- Your One-Stop Style Shop


I am that type of girl that loves her house (and her fashion) to be just right. I love for the pictures to be hung and the curtains to be chic and my overall style to just flow. But I am also that type of girl who has two small boys, a dog, a job, a tight budget and more things on my to-do list than hours in the day. So in order to make my dream of a put-together, stylish home (and overall me) a reality, I need some help. I need somewhere I can go that will inspire me and give me some style tools. Thankfully, I have found my go-to place. Serenade.

Serenade is this adorable shop in a converted home with something for everyone. They are located in downtown Wheaton at 129 N. West Street. Don't let the exterior deter you. From the outside, it looks like just another beautiful Wheaton home. Nancy Shepard, the owner, purchased the historic home in the fall of '07 and transformed it from a dilapidated office building to a gallery of unique and beautiful things for your home and your closet. They have two gorgeous levels and both are filled from corner to corner with some of the most beautiful clothing and accessories and pictures frames and accent pieces and ... the list could go on and on. Antiques, couture clothes, trendy jewelry and t-shirts. I could have spent several hours and lots of money there. Good thing I had my boys with me. :) Well, good for my budget at least.


Out of the countless things that caught my eye, I really loved one certain line of products by be.ology. It is beautiful inspirational tees and bags and hats and other items that I would wear with pride and with style, each sporting a different phrase- be.greatful, be.inspired, be.loved.

Serenade recently won the award for "Best New Store" in Western Suburban Living Magazine. It is an award that is voted on by the readers and shoppers themselves so I am not the only one that thinks this store is uber-fabulous!!
If you are in the market for local made soap or candles, that perfect antique accent for your coffee table, or a one-of-a-kind pair of earrings to go with that perfect trendy top, Serenade is the place for you. It is certainly the place for me.


Serenade
Nancy Shepherd
129 N. West Street
Wheaton
630-682-0200
Tuesday-Saturday 10a-5p (Closed Sun. and Mon.)

nashephard@msn.com


Farrah's post is also featured at Chicagonista

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Monday, May 18, 2009

A First Time for Everything

While there are many things that cause stress for mothers, planning their kids' birthday parties is right up there in the top 10. Maybe even the top five for some. My son is only three and I am already out of ideas. Not looking good for me. Could be that I set the bar too high or have unrealistic expectations. I just want the perfect toddler party, tons of fun, not much cash...is that impossible? Not anymore.


In search of a unique and fun place to have his party, my son and I wandered into the Dupage Historical Museum. Located in the heart of beautiful downtown Wheaton in the western suburbs, the museum is full of interesting artifacts and beautiful exhibits highlighting the rich local history and culture of this county. But that is not really why we went. The big pull for us, and for many, is the huge model train they have in the lower level. It is truly a work of art and an awe-inspiring site for kids and kids-at-heart. Once my toddler saw it, he was hooked.

When I inquired about having his birthday party there, I was informed by the museum staff that they have never had one before. However, from there the museum educator proceeded to plan and arrange the entire party on just over a week's notice. She planned activities and crafts for the kids, decorated the room, offered to purchase snacks, ... She did it all! It was a perfect toddler train party where the kids had tons of fun and it didn't cost much at all. It does exist!!

The Dupage Historical Museum has recently been purchased by the Wheaton Park District in efforts to keep the doors open. They have all new staff and all new motivation to update the exhibits to enhance the visitors' experience of the local history and culture. They already have several hands-on areas where kids can get a feel for life in Dupage County in the 1800's and other fun tactile activities. They also have a beautiful auditorium perfect for events and performances. Coming this fall, the museum will be hosting a series of educational and hands-on progams for adults and kids designed to draw the community back to this forgotten resource.

We loved our experience there. The kids loved the trains, the staff was great and so very helpful and I got to sit back and enjoy the day. Perfect. And with the museum located in the midst of downtown Wheaton, you are just walking distance from dozens of local shops and restaurants once you see all that the museum has to offer. We will be back again and again. We have truly found a hidden gem!

Anyone interested in learning more about this local gem or about having your event (toddler party, office party, etc...) there, contact the museum educator Sara Buttita at (630) 510-4956 or sbuttita@wheatonparks.org.
ItalicOriginally posted at Chicagonista.

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Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Sushi in the Suburbs

There are many great things about living in the suburbs versus the city. Bigger living spaces, plentiful parking, and indoor malls just to name a few. But one of the many advantages of being in the city is all the fantastic restaurants. In the city, one can find just about any style of food any time of the day or night. But thanks to Kinta Sushi, us suburbanites can have a little taste of city life without the parking meters.

Kinta Sushi is this tiny little Japanese restaurant in a strip mall in Carol Stream. From the outside, it looks like nothing special. But as soon as you walk in, the great atmosphere and friendly staff make you feel welcome and hungry. It is a bit small, with just 4-5booths and 4-5tables and then some stools at the sushi bar. The decor is like hip Asian-chic with a little splash of traditional thrown in for good measure. Very cute!! The perfect date restaurant or girls' night out.

Most importantly, the food is fantastic! The portions are large, but the prices are not. We got California Rolls and Miami Rolls and Ginger Chicken Rolls and Edamame. It was all amazing. Seriously some of the best food, not just the best sushi, I have ever had. They brought out some sort of broth and tofu soup as an appetizer. And even though I am not a fan of tofu, it was really yum. Our total bill was around $35 for generous portions of all the food you see above. Can you beat that, city sushi restaurant?
The staff was attentive but not pushy. The place had a steady stream of people for both eat in and carry out for the entire 2hours that we sat there. And although the atmosphere was great, the pull to get back there is to have the taste of that Ginger Chicken back on my tongue. It is like one of the best kept secrets in all Dupage County.

So if you get that urge for good Japanese food with quiet ambiance but you don't want to drive downtown or fight for street parking, Kinta Sushi is your best bet.

=======


Kinta Sushi Japanese Restaurant and Contemporary Sushi
Carry out/Catering
Hours:
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30 - 2:30
Dinner
: Mon-Thu 4:30-9:30
Fri-Sat 4:30-10:00
Closed Sunday

135 Hiawatha Dr.
Carol Stream. IL 60188
Tel (630)-260-9557
www.kintasushi.net

Originally published on Chicagonista.

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