Goosefoot Night

Recently, my husband Bossyboots, friend Wrigley-T, and her husband Senor Diamondback enjoyed a great dinner at Goosefoot restaurant here in Chicago.

Chicago has a major food scene, and Goosefoot is definitely hot on the radar. I am not and will never call myself a foodie (blech) but I definitely love delicious food. So whatever you want to call that...

This dinner reservation was Wrigley-T's and my project. About six months ago, we got it into our heads that we HAD to eat at Goosefoot. They offer an eight-course tasting menu, and they're located right in our neighborhood. Also... they're BYOB. Our friends Colo and Goober had eaten there and loved it, so we wanted to try this supposedly delectable place, too!

Getting a reservation was a PROJECT, let me tell you, but... all the hype about this restaurant is true. We had a fantastic time! The food was imaginative and so delicious - the people couldn't have been nicer or more gracious. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this place. We had an A+ time.

Firstly, we had to go pick out wines for our meal! I stopped off at Fine Wine Brokers in Lincoln Square, and they steered me in the right direction...

Dinner at Goosefoot takes about three hours, so plan your wine accordingly. Most of the peeps I know bring about one bottle per person. Fine Wine Brokers did an excellent job helping us select wines that went well with each course. I enjoyed each wine, but the cava was my favorite. I am known for bringing Korbel to all occasions, but Colo and Goober told me that they would de-friend me if I brought Korbel to Goosefoot, so I had to level up in the sparkling wine department (!!!!)

Finally, after a six month effort, we made it!!! If you can't tell from the smile, Wrigley-T and I were quite excited for our Goosefoot date. The owners were so kind about everything - Goosefoot has gotten so much press that people are beating down the door to get inside. The owners even apologized that it's so tough to get in - but of course, if you have hundreds of reservation requests per day... it's just tough!

We were READY to get started! First up, a small bite before the main event...

Then... it was time to get started!

Bossyboots and Senor Diamondback approve!

 And - just to prove I was there...

Operation Goosefoot was a success - we loved it. We all agreed that our favorites were the cheese, beef, and corn soup courses. We were satisfied but not overfull - the portions were perfect. If you live in Chicago or are planning a visit, you should definitely check it out!

GOOSEFOOT

Executive Chef: Chris Nugent

2656 W. Lawrence, Chicago, IL, 60625

773.942.7547

FINE WINE BROKERS

4621 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL, 60625

773.989.8166

Race Report: Pleasant Prairie Triathlon

The 2012 racing season was all about swimming for me. Or - learning how not to drown and/or get chlorine poisoning. Not as simple as it sounds.

I've been competing in endurance running for the past four years. I've completed two full marathons, three half marathons, and a handfull of other 15k's, 8k's, and 5k's. Last summer, while training for the 2011 Chicago Marathon, I was hounded by injuries. I was foam rolling, buying new shoes, changing my form - everything I could do to avoid injury. Thankfully, I had a great marathon, and PRed by 40 minutes, but... I was really lucky. My right Achilles was trying to kill me at all times.

SO, I decided that it was time I moved into triathlons, which to me are even more challenging than running because... until this year, I couldn't swim 10 feet without flailing. In fact, I have fear bordering on phobia of any water where I can't stand up. As a child, I flunked out of swim class three times, before my teacher told me I should just give up. 

Me and water = not mixing in a productive manner. I knew moving into triathlons, which... NEWS FLASH - involve swimming would be tough, but I had no idea HOW tough.

I signed up for my first race, a sprint distance at the Pleasant Prairie Triathlon. I had been swimming 3-5 times per week for several months, but I was incredibly unconfident and nervous. Race Day came too fast.

PLEASANT PRAIRIE TRIATHLON 2012 (sprint)

Swim: .75k

Bike: 20k 

Run: 5k

Lake Andrea

Look at the lake... so pretty, so serene and clear. :/

In case you didn't know, triathlons involve a crazy early start. It's normal to arrive between 4a-5a to set up your transition area with everything you'll need to swim, bike, and run.

Pleasant Prairie is really great because you are allocated a pre-race time for water warm-up. I took advantage of this, but it really didn't make me feel any better. I was still shaking in my boots.

The swim part of triathlons usually run in waves. You are assigned to a wave by gender and age. This helps space out the start and reduce how often swimmers run over each other.

I was trying really hard to be optimistic, but my nerves were in full effect.

Finally, it was my time to jump into the water... and unsurprisingly, I totally panicked.

Only about 25 yards off the start, I was freaking out. I flipped over on my back and did the backstroke... for a really long time. I was never worried about drowning. The race was so well run, and the lifeguards couldn't have been nicer. One guy offered to paddle right next to me, just to help my brain calm down. They really wanted to do everything they could to set me up for success. In the end, I just couldn't do it. I floated/did the backstroke to about the halfway mark before exhaustion set in. At that point, I couldn't even float and was going under. I knew it was time to quit. This was a really hard decision for me, because I have NEVER dropped out of a race. I have finished every single time. However, the water was 25 feet deep - and I knew I couldn't continue without being a danger to myself or the other swimmers. It was time to pack it in.

I raised my arm and called for a boat, and the lifeguard motor boat picked me up and ran me to shore. I was definitely crying, because I had worked SO HARD - and I still couldn't do it. My brain was just too powerful, and I couldn't get my nerves under control.

The medical staff checked me out and cleared me, so I turned in my chip. I ran to find Bossyboots to let him know I didn't make it, and then I went on to do the bike and the run anyway, even though I was now officially disqualified. Even though I biffed the swim, it was important that I do the rest of it anyway.

Driving home from the race, I was really disappointed in myself, but that only lasted for about a day. I had already signed up for the Chicago Triathlon later in the summer. I had two months to get it together, and I was determined to finish. More on that later... (dun dun dun)

Swimming and open water in general is my biggest fear. What's yours? How did you get over it?

Ninja Feet

So... my mother recently tested for and was awarded a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Yes, my mother has a black belt. My dad likes to joke that when they go out on dates, if anybody tries to mess with them - he just lets my mom take care of it. :)

A black belt takes years to achieve, and my mom's been working so hard for it. Two of my other siblings are also in Tae Kwon Do, so for the past four years, my brother, my sister, and my mom would go to Tae Kwon Do classes and sparring, several times a week, working their way up the belt system.  My brother made black belt first, about a year ago, and now my mom is our second family black belt!

Our family is really proud of mom, and so we all went to the test down in Texas. Bossyboots and I timed our summer TX trip to coincide, so that we could be there too...

Belt testing is not your standard sporting event. Respect and tradition are a major part of the day. You have to be quiet and do golf claps only at particular times. Otherwise.... shhhhhh.

So much is required before attaining your black belt. My mom said that often, people drop off after achieving their green belt, because continuing on after green is so much work. In addition to classes and sparring, my mom had to pass ten written exams. So, if you ever meet somebody with a black belt... they earned it because they really, really wanted it.

Black belt candidates sometimes have to spar with a partner. Since my brother is a black belt, my mom had a great option for a sparring partner! My mom and my brother have been practicing for months - it's funny, my mom works so hard to help my brother with his schoolwork (he's in high school) and my brother reciprocates by helping my mom practice her Tae Kwon Do.

Off they go!

Finally, the test ended with my mother having to break boards - which was actually really scary to watch. Then - the big moment! My mom was awarded her black belt, embroidered with her name. (We still weren't allowed to cheer, so we golf clapped enthusiastically.)

Of course, we had to throw a big party for her that night at home! Congrats, mom - you earned it.

Piano Practice

Now THOSE are some crocs.

Do They Make Floaties for Grown-ups?

So I have my very first triathlon coming up. Without a doubt, triathlon training has been the hardest thing ever for me (in the sports department.) Running? No problem. Cycling? Easy peasy. Swimming? Sweet Jesus, I sink like a stone.

I did take swim lessons about a year and a half ago, but apparently I had to keep practicing in order to retain what I learned... Right now - on a good day - I can swim one full lap of the pool. My race is in about a month, and I'll need to swim the equivalent of SIXTEEN laps without stopping aka drowning. 

I am pretty sure that the lake in which I'll be swimming (not Lake Michigan) is shallow enough for me to stand up in, so that helps me sleep at night. However, a big question I'm wrestling with is whether to sign up for the Chicago Triathlon Olympic distance... For this first race, I have to swim about a half mile. For the Chicago Triathlon, I'd have to swim .93 miles, in Lake Michigan, in 6-8 foot water, amongst hardcore triathletes that WILL elbow you in the face and crawl over you.

Cue panic. 

Today, I re-signed myself up for swimming lessons, and I'm hoping that three months will be enough time for me to get myself up to speed. I have a few more days to decide whether I'm being overambitious in tackling an Olympic distance triathlon... any of you triathletes out there have input for me?