Bourbon N' Cake

The Style of Dining and Drink.

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Places We've Loved: Ada Street

Mint.com says I eat out too much. Fine, Mint. Maybe you're right, but damned if I haven't enjoyed it lately. David and I took a much needed friend date to Chicago's most astroturf laden restaurant: Ada Street. I'll begin by saying that any place offering to let me choose the music can have my heart. Despite the sweltering heat, we grabbed a seat on the green and yellow patio and ate...everything.

From grilled peaches with goat cheese to steak tartare and octopus, our server Sarah took us on a tour of Chef Zoe's menu with serious gusto. I was dubious at first, but fell head over heels for the fresh veggie flatbread with avocado crema while David swooned for the grilled scallop. As far as drinks went, the Fistfull or Dollars, Ward 8 and G&T Spring shouldn't be missed. Heck- as far as everything goes, Ada Street shouldn't be missed. 

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Brunch Like a Rockstar at Nellcôte 

Whether you came for the Vampire weekend DJ set or stopped by to take in a St. Germain cocktail with your prix fixe brunch, Nellcôte was rocking this weekend. With a huge release during Pitchfork Festival weekend, the West Loop spot featured everything from delicious Pain Perdu to Tres Awesome's Emma Arnold snapping photos. It wasn't so much brunch as it was a luxe experience to help one get excited for (or perhaps recover from) Chicago's number one indie festival. If the goal of Nellcôte is to revive the levity and excitement of Exile on Main Street then Marketing Manager Mel Muoio succeeded. The spot is a great place to kick off the most important fete of the day-- brunch. Looking for something a bit more serene? Choose the gorgeous wicker outdoor seating and try the Lobster Hash. It rocks. 

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Visual Recipe: Bacon Wonton Bites with Mustard Sauce

Confession: We at Bourbon N’ Cake are visual learners. We actually feel like lots of culinarily minded people might be, which is why we’ve prepared this series of visual recipes for your aid and education. This simple, fun recipe for Bacon Wanton Bites is simple enough for a roof deck party and addictive enough that you’ll plan parties just to make them! Just don’t forget to invite us! Ingredients: 20 Wonton skins (found in the refrigerated section of most supermarkets) 1 8oz package cream cheese 6 Slices of bacon (any kind will do, but we like to use Black Forest bacon) 1/2 Cup diced red onion Salt and pepper to taste (we prefer roughly ¼tsp of each) 2 Tbl vegetable oil 2 Tbl water

Images by John Stoffer, Recipe by David Fingerman

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When Nathan Michael asked us to create a special 4th of July feast to celebrate a PANAM photo shoot at Heritage Bicycle, we jumped at the chance. After obligatory family parades and early morning patriotism, David and I went to work creating our Independence Day cook out feast complete with tiny floral arrangements, a build-your-own Shandy bar featuring rosemary ice and generously donated Goose Island Beer. There will be editorial photos, recipes and a menu to come, but for now, enjoy this behind the scenes peek at the 4th of July that was. 

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Hello Bourbon n' Cake!

  Hey! Happy Independence day! David and I love this holiday. It's a great time for food, style and friends; three things that Bourbon n' Cake cares dearly about. For years, David and I have been dining out, sipping our way through Chicago's best Manhattans and throwing in the occasional personal styling trip. After a rainy spring visit to a gallery, we decided (over a glass of Bulliet, neat) that it was time to take my love of style, our love of food and a combined interest in gorgeous photography to create something new. So, here it is- two parts dining and drink, one part style, all parts love for the city in which we do all three. 

- Kelsey Kreiling & David Fingerman

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On a perfect summer evening last week, we at Bourbon and Cake hosted the second Over Served Society, championed by The Midwestyle's Seth Putnam and Blake Royer. Celebrating the Whiskey Smash, the four of us invited twenty guests to a Chicago rooftop for great drinks, good company and delicious libations. We were thrilled to spend time with drinking companions from the Jamco team, Max Wastler of Buckshot Sonny's, Heather Sperling of the Tasting table and so many delightful others.  While Seth and Blake mixed beverages in style, we polled the crowd on their favorite clutch meals- what they eat when they're feeling homey and unsophisticated. The cravings have been censored to protect the sophisticated, but we CAN tell you that the list included blue box Mac N' Cheese, Trader Joe's frozen Bao, Annie's enchilladas and the perennial favorite- Frozen Pizza. I'm not afraid to confess that I'm addicted to a fried rice situation that Jules was kind enough to introduce me to. Keep your eyes peeled for one very special gluten free, vegetarian friendly tutorial on our Magic Rice. 

We loved having everyone over for cocktails in the sky and can't wait to do it again! 

- Kelsey Kreiling