The Food + Travel Idea: Piccolo Sogno

Piccolo Sogno, originally Italian, when translated to English means “little dream-” the perfect descriptor for this marine blue star of a restaurant. I made reservations for the two of us here for our night out on the Windy City, and would jump at the chance to eat here again. This restaurant sets itself apart from the mafia meeting-place, family-run Italian restaurants generally associated with Chicago in a few big ways.

From simply browsing the website, you can safely assume that the restaurant is fairly invested in its own style and outward appearances (it's got a really refined, web 2.0 kind of setup- kudos to whoever designed it). This assumption holds true on-site as well, as all the design aspects contribute to a cozy, comfortable vibe that's perfect for romantic outings and dinners with family.

How about the food? Well, if you like seafood, you're in luck (I feel like all I've written about is fish). Piccolo Sogno specializes in food from Southern Italy, serving up a fishing village's worth of the sea's fruits. Clara ordered the black (squid-ink) spaghetti Frutti del Mare, and I got a similar dish with more seafood and no pasta- their seafood stew. Both dishes were delicious, and I can only assume that most other seafood-inspired dishes on their menu are of similar quality.

Our waiter was helpful, if not a bit passive in helping us decide which entree to order. At first we thought he had a fake Italian accent, but it wasn't until we took our time and listened to the wait staff's conversations with one another that we realized it was probably just an over-eccentric Spanish accent. Nonetheless, he helped make the dinner successful, and for that he gets my stamp of approval.

For more information, or if you simply want to see the website's cool, refined design, check out Piccolo Sogno online at piccolosognorestaurant.com.

The Travel Idea: Chicago

We're going to Chicago tomorrow. Why? Well, why else? To eat, shop, walk around, see the city, and do all sorts of big city things in a very big city way. We'll keep the internet (and all our followers, if we have any by the time this post goes up) updated as to where we go, what we eat, and the photos we take. It'll be as if The Ideogram is coming with us on our day trip. So, readers (if you're there), I ask of you this: suggestions for Chicago? Suggestions for other cities? Are there any 'must-go, must-see' places in this (or any) big city that we should check out?

Leave thoughts in a comment below and we'll make sure to check it out.

Stay tuned tomorrow to see how our trip goes!

The Food Idea: Bella Vita Italian Grille & Pizzeria

A few of my girlfriends and I decided to go out to lunch today. We decided to go to Bella Vita, a new restaurant on the west side of Madison, WI. In a building that previously housed the Tilted Kilt, this new restaurant has surely undergone a serious renovation. The interior has a warm, cozy, and family-friendly feel.

The lunch menu had a variety of appetizers, salads, wraps, sandwiches, and pastas. I ordered the Smoked Salmon and Cream Sauce pasta, a spinach fettucini topped with smoked salmon and capers, which I thought was a good deal priced at $11.99. Although the restaurant wasn't too full, the food took much longer than anticipated. (It was good thing we had things to talk about.) When our food arrived, the wraps my friends ordered looked much tastier than my salmon, which was undercooked and practically raw in the center.

On the way out, one of my friends pointed out that there were many pictures on the walls and commented, "I wonder if they are real people?" I thought it was hilarious at the time, but she merely wondered if they had names behind their faces.

I will probably go to the restaurant again in the not-so-near future, but most likely order a wrap (they come with sweet potato tots, yum!). I've also heard that their pizzas were to die for...

The Food Idea: Maxie's Southern Comfort

If you happen to:

1) Find yourself in Milwaukee, WI
2) Enjoy seafood
and
3) Have a comfort food craving

I suggest you take the time to visit my new favorite southern-inspired culinary retreat: Maxie's Southern Comfort. The restaurant opened in 2007 and has consistently been rated among Milwaukee's best since.

My meal at Maxie's orbited around an entrée recommended by a friend: the simply titled Shrimp and Grits. Below a buttery helping of perfectly cooked grits rest a school of shrimp, seasoned to invoke feelings of Creole incarnate with each bite. I also managed to sample the Blackened Catfish Creole, which sustained the restaurant's propensity for quality.

Maxie's atmosphere went hand-in-hand with its food, delivering a classic, comfortable setting conducive to conversation and friendly get-togethers. I would definitely suggest Maxie's for anyone looking for a good date restaurant- it's casual, trendy, the food seems to be consistent throughout, and it's not overly expensive (I paid about $15 for my meal).

For more information, visit Maxie's Southern Comfort's website at www.maxies.com