Wine and Spirits Travel

My friend Jaimee and I had arrived in Lafayette, Indiana , the previous day for a quick getaway. It had been a few years since I was here and I had no idea how much there was to see – and eat. We woke up in our spacious two-bedroom accommodation at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott Lafayette . Although the hotel offers a big complimentary breakfast, we already had plans for brunch at Town & Gown Bistro. Town & Gown is much bigger than it looks on the outside. It has two floors and they were both full of patrons. Matt O’Neill, former innkeeper and chef at Walden Inn, and author of “Seasons at the Walden Inn,” has made a name for himself in this city. It was easy to figure out why after we finished eating.  Chef O’Neill uses fresh and local ingredients and puts his touch on common brunch items.  Jaimee raved about her eggs benedict, and I thought the house-made corned beef hash was fantastic, as were my latte and eggs. After we f

It’s always fun when I get to spend a day exploring with a good friend. Angela and I managed to eat our way around Chicago for this trip! I had no idea what to expect when was invited to check out and sample the foods at the  Chicago French Market . I actually thought it was outside, so I was surprised to find it inside a building. The market is actually conveniently located to the train station from the suburbs.  (it’s also only a 10-minute walk from Union Station). They’ve also got something you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the windy city – free parking (you do need to spend $20 at the market). I had set up a meeting with a rep from the market to take me around and provide us with some samples.  Before she met us, I walked around and took a quick look at the variety of shops. It seemed they covered everything among the 30 vendors. In some cases, it was the only location in the city. I saw all types of fruits at City Fresh Market; meats