exploring chicago

November 21, 2013 | filed in: chicago, let's eat and drink, life, photography, travel

exploring the city | palettes and passports blogexploring the city | palettes and passports blogMarc and I have lived in Chicago for five years now and have really loved it here. Lately we’ve realized that no matter how big (or small) a place may seem or how well you think you know it, there is always more to see and do and learn. So we’ve been spending a lot of time lately seeking out the new and soaking up our old favorites.

We had coffee from Big Shoulders and breakfast sandwiches from Windy City Cafe. We spent an afternoon walking around the Chicago History Museum and had drinks at Matchbox. We tried checking out the new exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center but it was closed so we went and saw Laura Berger’s mural instead. We went shopping on State Street and heard stories told at Powell’s North Bookstore. We had pies from Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder, tacos at Big Star and BBQ sandwiches from Smoke Daddy – everything lived up to the hype. We strolled around Wicker Park and Bucktown and stopped in some of my favorite shops – Brooklyn Industries and Stitch. There really are so many cool parts of this city, and I recommend checking out some of these places if you’re ever in Chicago.

photo credit kate zitzer

Leave a comment

make your own pizza party

November 16, 2013 | filed in: diy, entertaining, inspiration, life, photography

make your own pizza party | palettes and passports blogWho doesn’t love pizza night? Especially when you’re making one for yourself with all of your favorite toppings! Making homemade pizzas has become one of our favorite meals. Over the last couple of years we’ve experimented with a bunch of different combinations and really mastered our pizza making technique and tonight we’re hosting a fun make your own pizza party for a small group of friends.

Here are some tips for hosting your own pizza party –

  • Plan as much as you can in advance. This morning I set out all the bowls, plates, glassware, flatware and napkins. At our house pizza nights can be messy so I covered the table with a long sheet of kraft paper for easy clean up. I doodled some recipes on the paper but I also think it will be fun to jot down the ingredients to everyone’s pies. No need for a centerpiece, the spread of meats, cheeses and veggies in pretty little bowls will do the trick.
  • Cut and prep all the pizza toppings before your guests arrive. Have everything chopped, measured or mixed together if necessary. Tonight we have roasted tomatoes, green peppers, pepperoni, fresh thyme, onions, italian sausage, diced chicken, basil, olive oil and fresh mozzarella. One of the best things about a pizza party is that the possibilities are endless!
  • Lay everything out in separate bowls on a large table and mark each ingredient. It’s nice to let everyone know what’s available so they can build their own favorite combos.
  • Plan for a few different flavors. Marc will be making a barbecue chicken pizza and I’ll be trying one with hot italian sausage and fresh thyme. If you want to do something crazy like pineapple and anchovies that you’re not sure everyone will like, I suggest sending it our first and then following up with a classic margherita or something simple.
  • Cooking one pie (or two small ones) at a time is hard when you’re feeding a crowd so I recommend using a quick cooking recipe. We plan on making 6-8 personal sized pizzas (at least one per person) and popping them in the oven as soon as they are prepped. I bought the crust pre made but if you want to get fancy you can make your own dough. Small pizzas cook for 7-10 minutes. So by the time we get one pizza sliced and served the next one will almost be ready. Keep in mind that even a few extra minutes in the oven can make a big difference between soft crust and crunchy crust.
  • Have something for guests to munch on while the pizzas bake. Toss together a simple salad or set out a cheese plate and some olives.
  • Have a rimless sheet pan ready. We cook our pizzas right on the rack so the rimless cookie sheet makes it easy to slide the pizzas in and out of the oven. Serve pizzas on oversized wooden cutting boards right on the table so guests can dig in.

Have any other good tips for a make your own pizza party?make your own pizza party setting the table | palettes and passports blogmake your own pizza party setting the table | palettes and passports blogmake your own pizza party setting the table | palettes and passports blogmake your own pizza party setting the table | palettes and passports blogphoto credit kate zitzer

1 Comment

new custom work

November 8, 2013 | filed in: art, inspiration, kate zitzer art

kate zitzer custom painting | palettes and passports blogkate zitzer custom painting | palettes and passports blogkate zitzer custom painting | palettes and passports blogkate zitzer custom painting | palettes and passports blogkate zitzer custom painting | palettes and passports blogI wanted to give you a peek at some of the custom pieces I painted as part of the ARTober sale. A dear friend asked me to do a few paintings for her baby girl’s nautical themed nursery. I really like how the Adventure Begins turned out with the corals and the anchor – remember this orange one I did last year? The smaller ones are a series of three and are on 9×12 canvases.

If you’re interested in placing a custom order or purchasing some art for the holidays, please email me. I am hoping to paint more in the next few weeks. I have some great new designs planned!

photo credit kate zitzer

Leave a comment

starved rock

October 30, 2013 | filed in: life, photography, travel

starved rock | palettes and passports blogstarved rock | palettes and passports blogstarved rock | palettes and passports blogstarved rock | palettes and passports blogstarved rock | palettes and passports blogstarved rock | palettes and passports blogstarved rock | palettes and passports blogstarved rock | palettes and passports blogOn Sunday we escaped the city for the day. We walked and wandered for hours and hours in awe of such natural beauty. We snacked on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and got a little lost. It was quiet and calming. I needed this day.

photo credit kate zitzer

1 Comment

let’s eat and drink | chicago

October 23, 2013 | filed in: chicago, let's eat and drink, life, travel

let's eat and drink chicago old 5th | palettes and passports blogI wrote about a few of my favorite Chicago restaurants in this post, but there’s more! Make sure to check them out if you’re ever in the city –

Takito Kitchen – excellent and super fresh Mexican food focusing on artisanal tacos. The space is industrial and modern with an open bar and kitchen. There’s a little outside patio too. A fun spot to go with a group – try the pork belly tacos, try ’em all!

Siena Tavern – excellent small plates and really delicious mixed specialty cocktails. They also have interesting salads and a pizza bar. If you go here, you have to try the squid ink linguini with grilled lobster tail and spicy lobster cream sauce, its heavenly!

Jam ‘n Honey – I loved this tiny spot. Ranks high on my list of favorite brunch and breakfast places in Chicago. Top notch coffee and the old fashioned French toast was delicious – made with brioche bread and served with honey butter.

let's eat and drink chicago takito kitchen | palettes and passports blogOld 5th – a West Loop staple, affordable and laid back. Sit at one of the sidewalk tables with your pizza and whiskey – try one of their seven whiskey flights.

Cantina Laredo – modern Mexican dishes in a sophisticated atmosphere. A great spot for dinner in the heart of River North. The chicken tacos are my thing. Order the top shelf guacamole, it’s amazing and made fresh at your table.

Piccolo Sogno – fresh, seasonal rustic Italian cuisine and an amazing atmosphere. You can’t go wrong with the antipasto as an appetizer. If it’s a nice evening, sit outside – it has the best outdoor patio in the city! It’s a pretty fantastic date spot too.

Let me know if you try out any of these spots and fill me in on any of your favorite Chicago restaurants!

photo credit kate zitzer

1 Comment