My daughter and I are taking a long weekend in Chicago. She’s going to a conference but we’re going to squeeze in every hour of shopping and eating that we can. It’s been years since I’ve been there, but I used to love Chicago and while I’d rather be going in warmer weather, I’m looking forward to the trip.
 
Like I said, there’s shopping planned. We’ll definitely spend hours at Ikea (”People say Disney World is the happiest place in the world,” Megan said. “But it’s really Ikea.”) We’ll hit up Crate and Barrel. I’ve come up with a list of a few places I want to eat and my daughter is concerned: “How many times do you plan to eat?” she asked.

The answer is nine. That’s the appropriate number of meals plus a hot dog. So tell me: Where do we need to eat? Where’s the best hot dog? Where are the best ethnic stores so I can stock up the cooler for the drive back?

Here are a few pics from Seattle…

The scary-looking thing in the middle is a geoduck, on display at Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe, a funny spot on the waterfront…

What’s new in Memphis? I’m coming back for a few days… to meet the movers, and sneak in a couple of biscuit/BBQ/chicken-and-dressing meals… any suggestions?

Nearing the end of our cross-country blizzard-fest, we made a stop in the old stomping grounds to see friends and eat pizza… Bennedito’s makes the best pies and my pal Amy made my day by treating me to dmy all-time fave, a prosciutto and roasted red pepper. So good.

The lovely and talented hostess Holly made her sweet specialty, creme brulee… with the new torch her son bought her for Christmas… ahhhhhh!

I got some very cool Indian spices from Santa, who shopped at Sur la Table… what kinds of kitchen goodies did you find under the tree this year?

As our great nation becomes littered with homogenous chains, it’s not surprising that service stations off the interstate feel the same, whether you’re in Arkansas or Oklahoma or Texas or New Mexico or Colorado… been in all those states in the past week, so I can say it’s so.

Still, I try to search for some local flavor, something edible that’s out of the ordinary.

Just outside Little Rock, I picked up some dill pickle-flavored salt called Twang. In Texas, habernero potato chips, and in New Mexico, I just cannot get over all the flavors of beef jerky. I’ve also squirreled away blue corn flour, all sorts of chili powder and I’m on the hunt for Hatch products: chilis and stews and sauces with quality ingredients, no fillers.

Looks like I’ll have another day to shop… there’s a winter storm dumping a foot of more of snow on the roads we planned to take north. Hubby got stuck on a pass for hours yesterday after skiing at Red River.