Mad Girl and the goat

I have to admit that I have a culinary crush on Stephanie Izard. It all started when I was watching Top Chef Season 4. I liked that she was a local chef and the first female to win Top Chef. After she won I started following her career to see what she would do next. 2 years ago she opened up The Girl and The Goat and I've been dying to eat there ever since it opened. It's damn tough to get reservations and if you do try to book you have to do it a few months in advance.

My friend and I decided to pop by there the other day and see if we could get in. It was 4:30 on a Sunday, just as the restaurant was about to open. We walked in and asked if there were any available tables and by some miracle they were able to seat us. I was already in love with the staff and was pretty sure that the food was going to be fantastic as well. I had finally made it to The Girl and the Goat!!!!

The restaurant's decor is dark, warm and inviting. There is interesting artwork, a beautiful bar and an open kitchen. We were seated and immediately greeted by our awesome server who was super friendly and explained the menu to us. Throughout our meal she helped up make the tough decisions (pig face or goat confit? cheesecake or zucchini bread?)The concept is based around small plates so you usually order about 2 plates per person. I love this kind of food because you get to try a lot of different flavors, experiment with things you wouldn't normally order and get your fill of food.

I started with a cocktail, the best of three, which had vodka, pimms and cucumber. It was refreshing...I sipped it down at a brisk pace and then moved to the beer list which was focused on local craft brews. My first was Saison from the Haymarket brewery right up the street. This went really well with the bread we ordered to start. It was a warm, crusty loaf with corn baked into it. We had some amazing goat butter and corn relish to go with it. It really was the perfect loaf of bread. It had a soft spongy center and a nice crust on the outside. The butter was slightly sour and deep.

We ended up ordering four small plates for our meal (but honestly could have gotten away with 3). Our first plate was the escargot ravioli. The ravioli was so yummy and the tamarind-miso sauce really helped cut the richness of the escargot. After this we had the squash blossom rangoon and pan friend shishedo peppers. The rangoon was yummy, but not a show stopper. Now the peppers weren't my first choice, but damn if they weren't tasty. I've never considered peppers as a side dish like this. They were sweet, a little spicy and covered in Parmesan, sesame seeds and miso. Holy hell were they amazing. This is one of those things you must order when you go there.

At this point I ordered a black IPA and waited for the our pig face. That's right, our main meat dish was two patties of pig face (cheek and jowls) fried so they were crispy on the outside and fatty on the inside. These were served under some fried potato sticks and a fried egg. It was like breakfast for dinner and everything just worked together so well. This was everything right with the world today. Amazing work Chef Izard. I am now in love with pigs face.

By now my friend and I were ready to burst so I did the most rational thing possible and ordered the zucchini cake for dessert. I inhaled my portion and delighted in the fact that she used tomatoes (I think they were candied in some way) as a garnish. This was an amazing meal from start to finish. I'm going back for sure and have plans to bring everyone to eat here. The Girl and the Goat is a true Chicago gem and an all around success as a restaurant. If you want to see what kind of culinary talent this city has then you have to eat here.

zucchini bread, peppers, pigs face

deal breakers

I really don't have a lot of deal breakers and I feel that the ones I do have are pretty reasonable.

These are my deal breakers:

Unemployed - I do understand that it's a tough market out there and am okay with dating someone who had been recently laid off, but I do not want to date the type of man who sits on his ass and collects unemployment. At the very least you should get out there and volunteer.

Lives with his parents - No way in hell am I going to date someone who lives with his parents. Just not going to do it.

Married - I've had quite few married men approach me. I don't care if they are in an 'open' relationship - I don't want to be. I plan on getting married one day and I don't want to waste my time with someone who has already committed to another person.

Has or wants to have kids - No way Jose. I am not maternal and do not want to procreate or raise anyone else's children.

And then there are these things that I really don't like, but I would be willing to overlook if they were pretty fucking charming.

Orders steaks and burgers done anything above medium rare - This would just kill me every time we went out to eat. I'd cringe when he orders his steak well done.

Drinks Blue Moon - Actually, drinks any type of shitty beer. I once went on a date at an Irish pub and I ordered a Guinness and my date ordered a Blue Moon. When the waitress brought the drinks she set the Blue Moon in front of me and I had to make a point in saying that I did not order that. What kind of sissy orders a Blue Moon?

Doesn't drink - Worse than drinking bad beer is not drinking any liquor at all. Booze is clearly a big part of my life and I want to be able to share that with the guy I'm dating. I like to go to bars, have cocktail hour and crack open a nice bottle of wine with dinner. I'd like someone to enjoy those things with me.

Doesn't eat meat - Even though I was a vegetarian for 5 years I just don't think I could date a vegetarian. I just like red meat way too much to be spending my days eating tofu. Also, he'd have to be the love of my life and perfect in every other way if he was a vegan.

Is a sports nut - The only way I can get into sports is if I'm at the event and there is good food and drink. Otherwise, it's just not my thing. I get that most guys like sports and I am cool with that, but I don't want to date one of those guys that goes MIA when it's his sports season. I never want to pass on an event or family function because 'The Bears are playing'.

Is uber healthy and fit - Honestly, I like my guys with a little extra padding. I'm not really turned on by the guy who works out 6 days a week for fun. Really? Do people actually have fun working out? I could never be with a gym rat and I don't think that type of guy would appreciate my lifestyle.

Is a picky or unadventurous eater - I'm passionate about good food and willing to try anything. I do not like people who won't try new things or only eat grilled cheese and chicken fingers. Those people can go fuck themselves. If he was the type to travel over seas and only eat at McDonald's I'd probably knife him.

Is uber religious - I'm cool if he believes in god or some higher power, but I am not cool with someone who is really into going to church and talking about jesus. I mock jesus way too much to be with a god fearing christian. Same goes for pretty much any other religion.

Isn't sexual - I like sex. I like to have it a lot in a variety of different settings, styles and positions. If he is not willing to play along then we probably won't last. I need some one who has a kinky side, even if he hasn't really explored it yet.

Is late - I hate people that are always late. Especially those that are over a half hour late. It's okay to run late every once in a while, but I find this irritating and disrespectful.

50 shades of Mad Girl

BTW - you should know - that whole 50's pin up thing - yes - I'd love to take you shopping at a vintage store have you dress up and model for me cause GOD you're sexy

Mad Girl swoons and feels her face flush: Thanks, I'm blushing

Have i mentioned that blushing just turns me on?

Mad Girl tries to find her big girl words...nope not there: Still blushing

Kisses your lips softly - i bet your blush is beautiful - I'd caress your cheek softly, to feel the heat of it - step close to you - my hands caressing your stunning curves - your body is delicious my sweet girl - delicious

Mad Girl notices that her face is getting really hot. This simple e-mail exchange is getting very naughty: Not fair to get me all hot and bothered without any outlet :(

my hand slides into your hair, taking hold firmly. but gently, tilting your head back, my words soft in your ear - sternly - it's very fair my sweet girl - i have no outlet either - but i crave this - i crave you - i lean down and kiss your lips softly, tenderly , biting your lower lip gently

Mad Girl, whimpering: this will certainly make me whimper

i smile against your lip as you whimper - i step closer to you - my body touching yours - you can feel my heart beat through out clothes - beating hard for you - my hand releases your hair and both hands slide down your back slowly - over your back side and pulling you gently to me - our eyes locked - i look at you with hunger, desire, passion and say softly 'hello there beautiful"

Mad Girl decides she should just go with it: I probably wouldn't be able to speak at this point so I would kiss you gently at first and then harder, deeper. I would suck on your bottom lip pulling it into my mouth...biting just a little.

And this is the productive way I've been spending my evening. Now time for a cold shower.

1950's

I've always had this this interest with the 1950's. I think it might have started way back in elementary school when my parents used to take me to this local restaurant called Jim Dandy's. It was a 1950's style diner that served burgers, fries and Green River. I thought Green River was the coolest soda ever and loved that I was getting to taste a little bit of history. I thought that place was so cool with its retro decorations and 50's music playing. Even the waitresses dressed the part. Around the same time my mom made a poodle skirt for my cousin who was in some sort of musical about the 50's. I eventually got that poodle skirt and wore it whenever I could. I even wore it to a school talent show where I sang Going to the Chapel. I still cringe when I think about that....clearly not my finest moment.

I think my next big interest in the 50's was when I got into the Beats in high school. I started with Howl, moved on to On The Road and from there I was obsessed. I read every piece of fiction and non fiction I could get my hands on. This preoccupied me for the next five years or so. In college I chose two classes based on the fact that the would concentrate on the 50's. The first was an English class called Youth Culture of the 1950's. This is the class that introduced me to the David Halberstam's The Fifties which is a great book for anyone mildly interested in that decade. I also took an art class on the Visual Culture of the 1950's. We studied everything from Elvis to Abstract Expressionism. I even got to study Playboy and Bettie Page in this class which I believe was what piqued my interest in the sexier side of the history. To this day, I still find these images (from Bettie Page getting spanked to a demure housewife in her kitchen) powerfully sexy.

I think all things vintage are interesting. I love fashion and pop culture from the 20's through the 60's and have been trying to incorporate more of that passion into my daily life lately. Before I would just dabble in it every now and then for special occasions. I think that pin-up girl hair and make-up are so sexy and glamorous. I like the idea of fresh faced, curvy girls. It's way better than these waifish models we are forced to stare at every day. Nothing sexy about a girl who weights 10 pounds and has no personality. I've also decided that the Rockabilly scene is defiantly worth checking out. It's basically the culmination of everything that I'm in to from fashion to music. Plus, Rockabilly boys are super hot.

I've never been one to identify with a particular group or movement. Maybe it's because nothing really felt 100% right to me or maybe it's because I know that people are so much more than the labels we like to put on them. However, I think having a style that suits me it important. It's important to feel confident, sexy and fun and this is the way I feel when I get all dolled up. To me it's about integrating the things I'm passionate about into my life a little bit more.

With that said, I'm eagerly awaiting a shipment of pin-up and Rockabilly style clothes and accessories. I've been having fun playing with my new make up (I just love red lips!) and hair styles and have found a lot of cool resources out there. I'll post some of these in an upcoming blog so you can all add a little glamour to your lives.

Mad Girl rocks it out on 3 hours of sleep

I just took myself on the most delightful date. When I woke up this afternoon around 11am I hadn't planned on doing anything besides laying on my couch in my underwear and watching Big Ang and MobWives Chicago episodes. I went to bed at 8am today because I was doing an overnight at work. I didn't think 3 hours sleep was going to help me. However, I somehow found the motivation and went out and about.

First I had to get all dolled up. I'm still eagerly awaiting the arrival of some pin-up style clothes I recently ordered. I really wish they were here, but I made do with what I had. I selected a cute a-line rust colored skirt and a deep purple top. I threw my hair up a la Rosie the Riveter and did my make up pin-up girl style (light shadow, heavy black eyeliner and red lips). It was time to head out on the town.

My first stop was Hot Doug's. I'm ashamed to say that I have never been to this encased meat emporium. Luckily it was just a bus ride away (and not too far from Kuma's Korner, my other favortie joint). When I got there I had to wait in line a bit, but was able to find a seat at the counter. Doug was there working the register and he was a really nice guy. I opted for the bacon and sharp cheddar elk sausage with bacon-garlic mayonnaise and mahon bonvallis cheese. Sweet baby jesus was it yummy and the fries were amazing. I must go back for the duck fat fries and perhaps try the fois gras dog next. This is a great place to take out of town guests or just anyone special in your life. Nothing says I love you like encased meat.

After my fantastic lunch I did a little vintage shopping. I swung by Day and Night Vintage. What a cool shop. So many gems! I even tried on this adorable red 1950's style dress that almost fit (damn my boobs!). They had everything from clothes to vintage playboys. I ended up getting a box purse from the 1940's and a cute apron with cherries all over it. The owner was super sweet and complemented me on my look which made my day. She told me a little about the Chicago Rockabilly scene and invited me to the Big C Jamboree at Martyrs. Seems like a good place to meet some cool people (and maybe my next bachelor?)

After this I swung by Bleeding Heart Bakery's new location and bought a caramelized pineapple parfait and a mini-grasshopper pie which I plan to enjoy right now. Just needed to get laid and this would have been the perfect day. I'm so glad I motivated myself to get dolled up and enjoy an afternoon on the town.