the good life

I love coming to my Mom & Dad's because it's like being at summer camp for cooks. The weather's always warm and sunny and our days are spent cooking, eating and planning what to cook next. This trip has been especially fun because it's Mom's birthday and Mom & Dad's anniversary, so we've got some serious celebrating to do. In this shot I'm skewering some shrimp and vegetables on The Calypso - a cool cooking gadget that Kim found for my Dad's birthday.



It worked really well and made a dramatic presentation. Maybe we'll start carrying these at the shop. It turned out to be a great gift.

granny's house

Tiz and I are visiting my parents for the weekend. My Mom had a hip replacement, so we came down to cheer her up and help out where we can while she's in recovery.


Tiz was happy to see Grandma and Grandpa and is enjoying the plush accommodations.

bird's eye

This is just a nice portrait of Tiz that her Mom took, so I thought I'd post it. Enjoy.

another food adventure

Here we are at Frontera Grill, a Chicago landmark and a favorite of ours since Kim & I were first dating. This was Tiz's first visit and, since she's now eating real food, she was able to partake in some of the dishes we had ordered. Here she is getting a taste of Rick Bayless' famous cowboy beans that accompany the tacos al carbon. And no, that girly-looking drink is not a cosmo, it's my mezcal margarita. Cloaked behind its feminine hue, this mysterious and high-octane brew is defined by a charred-agave smokiness that is unmistakably manly and is simply terrific with this food. Highly recommended.

day at the beach

Tiz had her first day at the beach last Sunday. It was in the 70's and sunny so we packed up and headed to Evanston to Greenwood Ave. Beach, our summer hang out for the last few years. Tiz and her Mom strolled along the lakefront and played in the sand while I windsurfed. The day was beautiful, but the water was still a frigid 47-degrees. I'm pretty sure Tiz liked the atmosphere. She seems well suited to the laid-back beach lifestyle. It was a great day and we look forward to many more this summer.

a little drama

proud parents