Dear Family,
Hi. I hope you’re not too upset when you hear this news but… I don’t think I’m ever coming home.
Don’t be surprised – you should have seen it coming a mile away. Let’s think about it, shall we? Two food bloggers in a city eating delicious food to our hearts’ content?
Like I said, I’m never coming home.
Do me a favor – you can ship Charlie to me… and the Husband too. It might be a tight squeeze, but I don’t think Gabriela would mind if we moved in forever. The more the merrier, right? But there’s just no way I can leave the vermaports, the vegetarian and vegan restaurants within walking distance, and – oh yeah, Candle 79.
You see family, Gabriela promised me some fine dining experiences while I was visiting her in the city. This first dinner surely did not disappoint.
It started with some white wine sangria (and a gluten free beer for Gabriela in the background).
Maybe I’ll come back if you make me sangria… maybe.
And unless you can whip out a Moroccan chickpea bake with sautéed greens and broccoli topped with a mango ginger chutney and slivered almonds – well, you’re kind of on the losing end.
And did you know, familia, that you never take pictures of your food? You know I feel like the oddball whipping Roxy the Rebel out during dinner time.
Not only did this meal make me want to rethink my life choices about residing in Chicago, but the service and the overall feel of the restaurant was fantastic. It was quite the perfect dinner.
There’s another thing too – a girl just can’t get a dessert like this in Chicago.
Or a dessert like this either.
I know what you’re thinking – you don’t want me to come home either. You want me to stay here forever so you can eat your way through the city too.
That’s fine – but you better bring your stretch pants. I’m pulling mine out tomorrow.
Your newly estranged daughter,
Chelsey
PS – you’re lucky i love you. i’ll still be home thursday.
Question: What was your best dining experience? Was it the food, the wait staff, or the mood of the restaurant?
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
I LOVE CANDLE 79! One of my faves in NYC for sure!!! There food is phenomenal!!!
Your dinning experience seemed so lovely. I’d never want to leave either.
Wow all the food looks amazing!! I am so jealous of your dinner. Glad you’re having a good time
“How are we gonna keep her down on the farm, once she’s seen those big city lights” (I think it’s the lyrics to a country song) Have fun, but come home! We need Chelsey in our lives.
Love from your other mother
Wait, wha–what? We’re not supposed to take pictures of our food?!?!?! Crap. I’m so jealous you’re in NYC, I’ve been wanting to go there for over a decade…stoked your documenting your trip so I won’t be completely clueless when I actually make it there!
PS: yay for stretchy pants;) ENJOY!
Mmm.. that’s the one place I absolutely will not leave NYC without going when I visit my brother for the first time in December. I can’t wait!
those are the best experiences!! good amazing food with great amazing people! enjoy!!
Sounds and looks amazing! I’m sure you all are having a total blast together!
I’m visiting NYC in August, and definitely plan to have a dinner at Candle 79!
I feel like this every.single.time I visit NYC…I love that place so much! Glad you’re having fun!!
That dessert looks so good! I would love to go to NYC one day…if just for the food!
NO YOU DID NOT!!!! JEALOUS!
Enjoy NYC! I am so excited to spend time with some college friends there this weekend : )
HA! I know how you feel, when I lived outside The City, I fell in love with the food. Lucky enough for husband and family, I started to miss them at month 3….. It will take 3 months to want to come home….. Have FUN!
I guess I’ll see them in September then.
soo drooling over here
OH my gosh! I want that brownie right now and I am not even remotely hungry! I had an amazing Mother’s Day Lunch at a quaint but gorgeous little tea house in Mount Dora, Florida and it was almost perfect! Iced Peach Tea Unsweetened but with a sugared rim, amazing tomato bisque (except it burnt my tongue:(), vegetable quiche topped with a pastry heart and served with a mixed green and candied pecan citrus vinaigrette salad, followed by three yummy desserts! All homemade of course- Strawberry shortcake, brownie sundae, and a swan cream puff (my fav)! To top it off the staff was wonderful- and all of the mothers got certificates to come back for a free lunch! I was floored! I was sad I couldn’t make it to the next visit but I heard all the mother’s enjoyed it!
Wow looks great! Are those desserts vegan?!
I wish I was there….it looks awesome and you both rock
Hahaha! Sounds like you’re having a blast up there!!! I’d say most of my favorite dining experiences have been at home. After cooking for myself so much, I’m often disappointed by going out to eat. Clearly I need to come to NYC to try out the food up there
So funny! Looks like you are having a blast…happy times indeed!
That meal looks incredble, and Candle 79 is te kind of restaurant I dream about, lol! 
xyx
I don’t blame you! I wouldn’t want to come home either.
I just moved here so I’m going to have to try that out! Keep testing food please so i know where to go
What an awesome trip! Looks likes you two are having a blast!
I’m going to NYC next weekend and will at this to my wish list!
Haha I don’t blame you for not wanting to leave!
The best dining experiences for me are always at Blacktree – the food is obviously the highlight, but I also love that we’ve become friends with the chef and the waitstaff. It definitely adds to the experience!
the food looks to die for. my favourite dining experience was actually a brunch in a beautiful place called maroco in Toronto. they had lovely atmosphere, food and service! you cant beat that!
oh my gosh, I love Candle 79! I actually went on a date there with a beef-lovin’ Texas boy, and he loved it too! A true testament to the quality of the food is that it can appeal to people who cover the spectrum of dietary preferences. So glad you were able to enjoy it!
I always have a great dining experience at Seasons 52! Glad to see you’re enjoying youself!!
Ah I have been wanting to try there forever!! If you are still in New York, there is a place near me that is delicious. It’s called Blossom on 9th and 22nd street. I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed!…and if you are you can yell at me
I’m ooohhhing and ahhhhhing over everything in this post. It looks so good! I always want to gobble everything Gabriela posts about from there. I need to get myself to NYC.
This place looks great! I too love NYC, but there is nothing like Chicago!
so fun to see two of my favorite bloggers in my stomping ground! have fun! and I say you SHOULD stay
Whoa, I totally guessed wrong on where you were going! This sounds like such a fun trip. I’ve always wanted to visit NYC. Mostly so I can pretend I’m Carrie Bradshaw.
Looks like you are getting to experience lots of delicious food in NYC! I have been there a couple times and it’s almost overwhelming just how many fabulous restaurants there are. Have you ever been to Karyn’s on Green or Green Zebra in back in Chicago? Those are some really nice vegetarian/vegan restaurants.
I went to Pure Food & Wine and ohhhmygod. So worth it. If and when you go, get the salted carmel tart for dessert. You can’t go wrong.
Ooo I’ve driven by that place a million times when I used to pick up the hubby from work! Glad to hear its great, and glad to hear you’re loving NYC!
Chelsey – can I come live with you and Gabriela too? I’ll be really quiet, I’ll live under the bed and you’ll hardly know I’m there
My best dining experience was in Chicago, at a raw vegan restaurant (x 2). It was the company and the food, and the fact that I was so deliriously happy at the time that you could have probably presented me with a pile of elephant dung, and I STILL would’ve proclaimed it the best meal ever!
I love you both!!
And the food is always my fave part of eating out
I love going out for sushi and pasta!!
<3
Haha very cute post! Loved it!
One of my best dining experiences was in April this year whilst I was in Los Angeles on holiday. I was travelling alone and went to a great Italian restaurant in West Hollywood. The food was great, the coffee was wonderful and the service was fantastic. I also managed to bring home a great souvenir from the restaurant – a boyfriend! My waiter was entertaining and funny, handsome and asked me out for a drink! 3 months later and we are still madly in love. Now that is a dining experience I don’t think I’ll ever be able to beat
we did not make it to candle 79, heard so many great things
glad you had a wonderful meal
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