Mar
17
Cheddar Dip
(via foodfuckery)
culinary exploration
Follow me through the adventures that take place in my kitchen, in restaurants or in other kitchens. Cooking and food are my passions and I want to share my experiences of cooking, baking and eating with you.
I'm a Greek self-taught cook who lives in Chicago. I learned a lot about cooking from both of my grandmothers, my mom and dad, family and friends. Passing on timeless traditions through food is one thing I strive to do in life.
These are my journeys through culinary exploration...
clraptis (at) gmail (dot) com
Culinary Exploration - Grecian Kitchen
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Posts tagged appetizers
Oct
1
Sopes Rancheros
Crispy corn masa boats with savory shredded beef, roasted tomatoes, avocado and homemade fresh cheese
I took my mom to Frontera Grill (finally) so we could have an amazing dinner. They don’t take reservations (unless you have a party of 8 or more and you make them 6 months in advance) so there was a 3 HOUR wait. I promised my mom it was worth the wait… and at the end of the dinner she agreed that it was!
My whole family shares a love for greasy Mexican food - but Rick Bayless proves that gourmet Mexican cuisine will win you over. The fresh, spicy and smoky Mexican flavors are enhanced by the use of organic and “home grown” ingredients from their rooftop garden. Not to mention, they are known for their selection of premium tequilas and hand-shaken margaritas.
Mom and I made friends with a woman from San Fransisco (Julie) who was in town for a convention. She came in a day early so she could eat at Frontera and send photos to her husband via text message. They are both BIG fans of Rick Bayless. After almost two hours of waiting we were able to snag 3 seats at the bar. This was my first time sitting at the bar, and in my opinion it was more fun!
The bartenders, despite the fact they were crazy busy, made time to interact with their customer dining at the bar. We included the couple sitting next to us in on our fun and by the end of dinner it was almost like we all were long-time friends! Our bartender, Jonathan, made us feel right at home, bought us a round of drinks that we didn’t need and talked Julie, my mom and me into sharing a dessert… even though we were so full we were about to burst.
This was by far my most fun and most delicious experience at Frontera Grill. If you live in Chicago or just in town visiting and have never been here before - put it at the top of your priority list. You won’t be disappointed… even if there is a 3 hour wait! :)
Feb
19
cheesy roasted red pepper dip
(via our best bites)
speaking of dips… add some caramelized onions to this one and it would be doubly delicious!!!
caramelized onion dip
(via closet cooking)
i’m always a sucker for a dip, especially a dip baked in the oven with melty cheese. but a dip with caramelized onions in it?? DIVINE!
artichoke bread
(via closet cooking)
wow - what a GREAT idea for a snack or app to bring to a party!
Feb
7
quesadilla de queso appetizer at frontera grill
i love how this wasn’t a typical quesadilla with tortillas, instead it’s more like an empanada with gooey cheese inside. the sight of that melty cheese oozing out of it is appetizing in itself!
