it's Christmastime in the city

New York style pizza in Chicago?!  Even though I'm loyal to deep dish, I'm not going to lie- New York has it pretty good too.  On my first week back home, my mom took me to Jimmy's Pizza Cafe for pizza, garlic knots, and beignets (not pictured because it was too hard to take out my camera without getting powdered sugar all over myself.  We were eating in the car too).

See that little white glob above our heads?  It was a patch of snow!  The weather has been unseasonably warm and mild so we haven't seen any snow since then.


Going downtown is one of my favorite wintertime activities despite the cold.  The trees on Michigan Ave. are lit up like the ones at Disneyland, The Bean is frosted with snow, you can skate at the huge rink at Millennium Park, and you can get lost at the crowd at the Christkindlmarket...maybe spot a parade of Santa's if you're lucky.

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Dinner was at The Slurping Turtle, a Japanese restaurant that recently opened downtown with the most adorable little mascot and "best ramen in Chicago," according to Serious Eats.  We got a cute booth near the window and yummy ramen indeed!

Bincho Grill Octopus, Scallop, and Shrimp

Duck Fat Fried Chicken

Chiyan Pon: fried egg noodle, stir fry shrimp, scallops, calamari, and vegetables

Tori Ramen: egg noodle, clear sea-salt broth with grilled organic chicken, soft-boiled egg, bok choy, and snow peas

Obligatory slurping portrait at The Slurping Turtle.

Black Sesame Ice Cream and Raspberry Wasabi, Yuzu, and Chocolate Sesame Macaroons