April 25 - Wishbone Restaurant, Chicago. Guests Mike and Pat

Here it is.  Our first video review.  We're with Mike and Pat at Wishbone Restaurant in Chicago, Sunday, April 25, 2010.  We all rated this breakfast very high, as you will see on the video.  I still have to learn how to edit so you'll have bear with it through the beginning.  Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwFm3tWgwW8

April 18 - Toast revisited

Kate missed my Sunday breakfast at Toast so we returned today with granddaughter, Jenna (12).  We wondered, how would she do with the fancier breakfast fare?  She did just fine. 

This is a very small restaurant in Lincoln Park.  The food is excellent.  I won't bore you with all the details again.  Go to the original review for more information. Afterwards we walked to Lincoln Zoo where I took lots of videos with my new camera (you'll have to wait until next week to see one).  Then, on Jenna's insistence, we went to her favorite coffee cafe, Starbucks.  When did she get into Starbucks!?  She doesn't even drink coffee yet.  12 going on 18.  Uh, oh.

Birthday weekend, part three - Sunday, April 12, the real day

The fifties are gone.  I am rolling into my sixties with my birthday present, and a dangerous weapon in my hands...a video camera (thank you, Kate).  Watch out.  I will have one soon in a breakfast review.

Birthday weekend, part two - Sunday, April 11

Brunch.  With Becky, Bryon and the kids...Jake, Jenna and Cassidy.  No fan fair, no big party.  Just breakfast casseroles, coffee and family.  Just the way I wanted it. 

My 60th birthday weekend - Friday, April 9, 2010

This was one I just didn't want to make a big deal about.  Kate was great about it. We had a pretty cool weekend starting on Friday with a trip to nostalgia.  We had breakfast a the Fireside Inn in Wauconda, about half way between where I lived from 0 - 9 and where I lived from 9 - 18. 

This is definately more of a local after work and dinner place.  We were the only customers for breakfast, but it was pretty good. I especially liked the sausage.  After breakfast we headed for McHenry dam...my favorite place to walk and think.  But I had no idea how much they had expanded the trails.  I lead us down the wrong path, got lost, and we ended up walking at least two hours longer than expected. 

By the time we dragged ourselves back to the car, it was mid afternoon and we were hungry again, so we went to one of my favorite hot dog stands in Volo.

Apple Villa and white pelicans

March 30, 2010
Apple Villa Restaurant, Batavia, IL
Joining us: Linnea and Kim
After breakfast: Pelican watching at Nelson Lake
Rating: two eggs

The plan was, go to breakfast and then go see the white pelicans at Nelson Lake, Batavia. 

I will start off by saying that the seafood omelet was good.  But one of us got an omelet that was overcooked, returned it, and got an omelet that was way undercooked.  Service was good, except the waitress kept making excuses for cook.  Overall, it was a less than satisfactory breakfast.  Generously, we give Apple Villa two eggs.  Next time I will try the Apple pancake, their specialty.

Nelson Lake was fun. We found the pelicans all nestled together in a group on the west side of the Lake.  The marsh lands kept us from getting too close, but at least we got a few good pictues.  Now if I had that 500mm lens another photographer was slogging along, I would have gotten some. Close ups.  Well, next year. "American white pelicans, one of two species of pelicans in North America, are one of the largest of the boreal birds. They can weigh as much as 30 pounds and their wing spans can exceed nine feet."  Every year hundreds of them rest for a few weeks at Nelson Lake before continuing on their way to their happy breeding grounds in the Boreal forests of Canada. 

Fried Chicken and waffles at Ina's

I can't believe I actually ordered fried chicken and waffles for breakfast.  It is March 6, we are at Ina’s Restaurant at 1235 W. Randolf St., Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. It is a beautiful morning about 40°, blue skies and sunny. We are looking forward to breakfast and going walking afterwards.

Kate ordered the Paris omelet, three eggs, shaved smoked ham, aged Wisconsin gruyere cheese, and Dijon butter, served with Ina’s red potatoes.

 Tim ordered the signature dish…fried chicken and waffles. Kate was a little worried that we were making the staff a little uncomfortable recording our review and taking pictures. The fried chicken was good but it was very greasy and slightly undercooked but it was delicious nonetheless. It was a little strange having a waffle on the same plate as greasy chicken. Kate's omelet was very good.

The place was cozy and comfortable. A nice atmosphere for breakfast. The total bill was $36 including tip, which is way over our $25 budget. On the way out Ina apologized profusely about the undercooked chicken. Mine was the first order that morning so they did not have the temperature just right. We would go back for breakfast, but I would not order the chicken again. We both give Ina’s a 3 egg rating.

Next we went to 39th Street and Lake Shore Drive, parked and walked North for about 30 minutes, and back.

Lots of people out walking, biking and running. You could just feel spring around the corner. 

Take a good look at all the barren trees around you.  We're just 30 days away from seeing them burst full of life.