Brunching It at Grace Coffee and Wine in Yorkville, Illinois

Grace Coffee & Wine Yorkville, IL Tempting Flavors All  Around

Grace Coffee and Wine in Yorkville was recommended to me by a reader as a fantastic local coffee spot to explore. On an adventure in Yorkville, we found ourselves with a couple of hours to spare. So we headed over to Grace Coffee and Wine for a coffee pick me up and a meal. At this point the day was pretty rainy, so a little Grace was just what we needed!

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Comfy, Fancy and Friendly at Palm Court in Arlington Heights

Comfy, Fancy and Friendly -- Dinner at Palm Court in Arlington Heights

**Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary food experience and gift certificate to bring you this review of Palm Court. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Recently, I enjoyed a true foodie adventure exploring the flavors of  Palm Court in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Palm Court has been woven into the fabric of Arlington Heights for 40 years, so it was quite a pleasure to explore a restaurant that has been so meaningful to the community over the years and still is today. In fact, immediately when I shared some pictures from the evening so many of you shared stories of your memories at Palm Court! Palm Court is truly a special part of the Arlington Heights fabric and will remain so for years to come!

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Fresh Seasonal Farm To Table Flavors at Hey Nonny

Fresh Seasonal Farm To Table Flavors at Hey Nonny

**Disclosure: We did receive a complimentary meal in order to bring you an accurate review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights keeps its menu fresh with seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers and producers. Recently, the stylish bistro debuted new seasonally inspired menu items in addition to restaurant favorites. On a recent date night, my husband and I explored Hey Nonny in vibrant downtown Arlington Heights for a little evening adventure. Take a peek:

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Savoring Café Aroma's Comfort Flavors While in Chicago's North Shore

Savoring Café Aroma's Comfort Flavors While in Chicago's North Shore

**Disclosure: Thank for Chicago's North Shore and Café Aroma for accommodating my visit. I did receive a complimentary meal for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Entering Café Aroma in Winnetka, warm hues and ambiance immediately embraced us for a relaxed lunch full of carefully melded flavors. The interior of Café Aroma displays a comfortable vibe while also adding a bit of richness. Adorning the wall, we found artwork displayed which we quickly learned was painted by owner Mitra Ryndak.

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La Grange Restaurant Week February 22-March 7, 2019

La Grange Restaurant Week February 22-March 7, 2019

La Grange Restaurant Week -- well, actually TWO weeks -- is popping up this Friday! The special foodie season in La Grange will feature 15 unique restaurants featuring Indian, Japanese, Italian, Latin and contemporary American flavors as well as some casual dining choices. The special multi-course menus will be available at lunch and/or dinner and will be $20, $25 or $30 per person (excludes tax and gratuity). It is recommended that you contact restaurants for reservations and more menu details. 

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Chicago's North Shore Restaurant Month February 2019

Chicago's North Shore Restaurant Month February 2019

**Disclosure: I will receive a complimentary dining experience during this event. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Chicago's North Shore Restaurant Month returns this February and I cannot think of a better reason to get out and explore! For the entire month of February, more than 90 of the North Shore's favorite restaurants will be providing fabulous discounts, special prix fixe menus, free desserts and other specials. Chicago's North Shore Restaurant Month is in its 11th year and bigger than ever!

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Quick Stop at Limestone Coffee and Tea in Batavia, Illinois

Quick Stop at Limestone Coffee and Tea in Batavia, Illinois

This past summer, we spent some time exploring spots along the Fox River. Of course, that familiar craving for coffee called. We happened upon Limestone Coffee and Tea, an adorable coffeehouse in Batavia's historic district. We were immediately smitten!

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VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar in Naperville: Sharing Life Over Plates

VAI's Naperville: Sharing Life Over Plates 

**Disclosure: Thank you to VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar in Naperville for accommodating my visit. We did receive complimentary meals in order to bring you this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own

Last weekend, we enjoyed a relaxing and leisurely lunch at VAI's Italian Inspired Kitchen + Bar in Naperville, IL. VAI's opened about 6 months ago, so we were pretty excited to explore this new foodie destination. Upon entering, we were charmed by the ambiance and felt a visit to VAI's would be a special treat.

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The Chocolate Sanctuary in Gurnee: Making Dining a Chocolate Experience

The Chocolate Sanctuary in Gurnee: Making Dining a Chocolate Experience

The Chocolate Sanctuary in Gurnee, Illinois has been on my chocolate radar for awhile. Finally, we had a free afternoon for a little winter adventure. The Chocolate Sanctuary is quite the experience for chocolate lovers with chocolate being infused into many of the dishes. Of course, the foodie adventure also can include a large variety of chocolate desserts, drinks, truffles and more should you choose.

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2 Restaurant Finds in Galena, Illinois

2 Restaurant Finds in Galena, Illinois Including One Eleven Main and Otto's Place

Galena's historic main street invites wandering, exploring and relaxation. During our quick getaway to Galena, I found that I really was able to sit and relax at a number of spots plus saunter through a number of shops. I was so relaxed that I actually didn't take many photos of our tasty exploits. So, I guess Galena is one of those places that finally got me to relax, so I will need to return again! I do have a couple of places that we enjoyed to recommend. So, all is not lost!

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Gillerson's Grubbery in Aurora, Illinois Serves Up Great Food with Local Flare

Lunch at Gillerson's Grubbery in Aurora, Illinois enjoying comfortable bar favorites with a twist.

Before our afternoon at the theatre at historic Paramount Theatre in Aurora, we decided to stop for a little lunch. My husband noted that Gillerson's Grubbery uses a number of local providers and are big supporters of the local community, so we knew we had to check it out. Well, they have burgers too.... so there's that!

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Tasty Local Bites in Beloit, Wisconsin

Savoring Local Fare and Flare in Beloit, Wisconsin:

**Disclosure: Thank you to Visit Beloit for hosting my family's visit to Beloit.

While exploring Beloit, Wisconsin, we did get a bit hungry. So, we were more than happy to sample a few places for some nibbles. We needed fuel for exploring, right? Beloit has a nice range of restaurants all in the downtown area that are both flavorful and unique. Explore the eateries we added to our adventure:

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Double B Farm Country Store & Cafe in Beloit, Wisconsin

Hearty Farm Fresh Fare at Double B Farm Country Store & Cafe

Traveling to Beloit, Wisconsin, opens you up to a range of farm fresh experiences. I cannot think of a better way to start our day exploring Beloit than with a fresh breakfast on the farm. There just is something about waking up with the farm. So, we headed to Double B Farm Country Store & Cafe for a hearty and delicious meal whipped up using farm fresh items from the farm.

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Foodie Finds in Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon certainly does not fall short on the foodie scene. The city is full of intriguing and innovative restaurants. We had quite the adventure exploring and sampling a variety of flavors. We could probably spend months exploring culinary treasures in the city! Alas, we only had a few days but we made some fab discoveries:

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Chicago Culinary Kitchen: Texas Style BBQ in Illinois

My husband loves BBQ, so naturally we had to check out a BBQ joint for his birthday. At some point over the summer, I noticed one that I actually had never heard of before in Palatine -- Chicago Culinary Kitchen. Chicago Culinary Kitchen is a unique local experience, so definitely the type of restaurant we seek out. Chicago Culinary Kitchen is only open on Saturdays and Sundays 11AM - sold out and features locally sourced meats and craft beer. Ok, this place was made for us and is so close to home! We planned our weekend visit and couldn't wait to check it out.

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Tasty Bites from Lola's Pizza Palace in Arlington Heights

Tucked away a little from the busy shopping area of Rand Road in Arlington Heights, IL is family owned Lola's Pizza Palace. Someone that knew I love unique local spots recommended Lola's to me awhile back. Since then, we have visited a couple of times and I can say that we quite enjoy the little joint! Being near the high school, it is a popular spot for the young set but it is also a great place for family fare.

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Tasty Tidbits from Taste of Wisconsin

On the spur of the moment, we visited Taste of Wisconsin in Kenosha yesterday. Of course, the sunny weather and the added plus of beautiful views of Lake Michigan further inspired our visit. We really enjoyed a lovely summer afternoon and I thought that I would share a few tidbits with you.

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Nonie's Bakery and Cafe in Utica, Illinois

After hiking in Matthiessen State Park, we worked up an appetite. While researching places to visit Matthiessen, I learned about a sweet little bakery/breakfast/sandwich shop called Nonie's Bakery and Cafe in Utica, IL. I was immediately in love. So, of course, we had to take a peek!

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One State, One Plate, One Story: Getting to Know your Illinois Farm Neighbors

**Disclosure: Illinois Farm Families invited my to enjoy a farm-to-table meal and meet local Illinois farmers. My meal was complimentary. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Last week, I attended an incredible farm-to-table dinner hosted by Illinois Farm Families in conjunction with Momma Cuisine at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The evening provided an opportunity to learn about farming in Illinois, where our food comes from and how it is produced.

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Dolce Italian Caffe and Bakery in Arlington Heights

Dolce Italian Caffe and Bakery is a small tucked away eatery in Arlington Heights that is worthy of venturing off of your normal path for further exploration. On a free afternoon, my husband and I ventured in for lunch and quickly learned that although slightly of the radar Dolce has fabulous food!

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