Menu

Weekend in Chicago, BlogHer 2013

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 01
What a seriously fun-filled whirlwind this past weekend in Chicago was! I was there with some sweet foodie friends for the annual BlogHer conference. I was also speaking at the conference teaching a DSLR photography class! I’ve been going to the BlogHer conference every year since 2010 (In New York 2010, San Diego 2011, and back in New York 2012 again), and it is always a massive sea of bloggers, swag, parties, sponsors, food and fun. I love it. :) I always make new friends and I always learn something new. Plus it’s always somewhere fun, and I always love an excuse to explore a new city! :) If you’ve ever considered going to a blogging conference, I highly recommend it. Next year BlogHer Food is Miami! So excited! :) I was in Illinois Wednesday through Sunday, and here’s what all we did. :)

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 02

Okay, first things first. I saw these at my airport on the way to Chicago Wednesday morning. Potato Chips, Pretzels and Popcorn with caramel and chocolate?? Sounds like a combination of perfection to me!! Has anyone tried them? I didn’t buy them because it was like 5am, but I’m seriously wishing I had now! Will definitely have to try these next time.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 03

I arrived in Illinois on Wednesday, a day earlier than the conference, for a fun event with Aldi grocery stores. This was the gorgeous view from my room on the river at the Herrington Inn and Spa in Geneva, just outside of Chicago.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 04

After checking in and dropping of my bags, I set off to explore the city. I love walking around and exploring new cities! What a fun area downtown Geneva is. I fell in love! So many cute little shops, boutiques, restaurants, and bakeries all in one area, right on the river. Definitely wished I’d had a few more days to explore! I got there just in time for brunch, and I saw this Mexican Eggs Benedict on the menu at Nosh and couldn’t resist. Mexican chorizo sausage, tomato, avocado, and a jalapeno hollandaise. Omg. So good!!

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 05

That afternoon I met up with Ali, Jenny, and the rest of the Aldi gang for a fun blind taste-testing session. Here we are taste-testing blueberry muffins. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it! ;)

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 07

Next up was a back-to-school sandwich throwdown. Jenny and I created a strawberry nutella griddled s’more (okay, it was more of a dessert sandwich, lol!) and I also posted a few of the other entries on Instagram. This one by Piera at the Jolly Mom got lots of requests for the recipe, so I thought I’d share it here. :) It’s a sandwich thin topped with sliced tomato, fresh mozzarella, pepperoni, and salt and pepper. Yum!

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 09

Next up was dinner and dessert courtesy of the fabulous Aldi Test Kitchen chefs!! All the food was fabulous, but of course I took photos of all the desserts, lol! These were Strawberry Cheesecake Pops. Aldi shared all the recipes with us, so if you’d like to grab them, just click on the name of the recipe.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 10

Loved these flavored lemonades they had for us!

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 11

Pretty Fruity Cake Pops :)

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 12

These S’mores Brownie Cookies were amazing!! So decadently soft and chewy.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 12a

This photo from Jenny says it all. Will definitely be making these at home ASAP!!

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 13

Okay, so even though we’d just had dinner and dessert, we had to go back out and explore the city of Geneva. There were just so many cute chocolate shops! We couldn’t pass it up. :)

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 14

We walked down to the All Chocolate Kitchen to check out their gelato, chocolates, macarons, and bakery case.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 15

Is that a brownie topped with Oreos and caramel?!

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 16

I decided on this massive chocolate chip gelato sandwich. :) Good way to end the night, lol!

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 17

The next day was Thursday morning, and we made our way into Chicago where Jenny, Shelly, and I were staying at the Omni downtown on Magnificent Mile. We totally lucked out and they gave us a gorgeous suite on the 23rd floor! Thank you Omni! Five seconds later it looked like a tornado blew through with all of our stuff. I should’ve taken a before and after! No, the after would’ve been too scary, lol!

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 18

Here was our view of Michigan Avenue below.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 19

The first night was the ultra swanky Social Luxe party. It is like the Oscars for blogging, lol! Maria, Jenny, and I were presenting.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 20Love this group! Maria, me, Jenny, Jamielyn, Ali, Sommer, Shelly

I loved my pink dress from Altar’d State, but as soon as the party was over, I immediately ditched the dress and heels for a tshirt and flip flops, lol! We heard SO many recommendations for The Purple Pig in Chicago, so we knew we had to get there for dinner.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 21

We tried all the popular menu items like the roasted bone marrow, pig’s ear, and chicken thigh kebabs, but here are the two things that will absolutely make me go back. First, the Fried Manchego Cheese with Membrillo. Okay, so, right off the bat, let me just say, I was here with a group of foodies, and we could barely read the menu, lol! I am not entirely sure what Membrillo is, but it appeared to be a sweet fruit jam. Whatever it was, it was PERFECTION on top of this fried cheese!!!! Sweet jam + salty fried cheese = True. Love. 4. Ever. Seriously craving this right now. The second thing was the Turkey Leg! Love a good, huge, perfectly cooked turkey leg, lol! Oh, and the Milk Braised Pork Shoulder was good too. The best thing to do is come here with a group and order everything family style so you get to try a little of everything. :)

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 22

You know this mischievous group couldn’t get together without getting into a little trouble! ;) Especially since we were all staying within walking distance of a Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop. It had to be done.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 23

We all loved this Gold Rush Sundae!

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 24Photo via Jenny

Afterwards we walked next door to the Hershey Store. Seriously wanted to get one of each of these fun candles! The Reese’s and S’mores were amazing. They were tiny and $10 a piece though, so I passed. :)

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 26

The next morning I started the day at Wildberry Pancakes with a breakfast of champions… Cinnamon Roll Pancakes, lol! :) If you want a seriously to-die-for cinnamon roll pancake recipe you have to make Maria’s Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes. Seriously the best out there!! :) Top them with a powdered sugar glaze if you’re feeling extra sinful. ;) I crave these every weekend!

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 27

We also ordered a little S’mores Pancake on the side! ;) I needed massive amounts of sugar to distract me from my session that afternoon. ;)

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 28

We had a little time before heading over to the conference, so Jenny, Shelly, and I decided to get blowouts at the salon across the street from the Omni, Maxine Salon.

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 29

My session went great! I taught a basic introduction to DSLR photography. It was based on my Quick Guide to Understanding Your DSLR tutorial I wrote a few years ago. Not sure when this photo was snapped, I felt like I was staring at my notes the whole time, lol! I must’ve been talking fast and with my hands, though, hah. :) I think BlogHer will be providing my PowerPoint presentation along with a video of the session in a few weeks for anyone who didn’t get to attend and is interested in the session. I’ll keep you posted when it’s available. :)

Recap of BlogHer 2013 in Chicago 31

That night was one of the highlights of the trip: A dinner in the private upstairs kitchen of Little Goat Diner, prepared by Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard herself.

I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow!! Stay tuned!! :)

Click HERE for Part 2!! :)

 

You May Also Like:

29 Responses
  1. Olga

    Love the photos! Now I want some Mexican Eggs Benedict! I attended your session at BlogHer and left with some new knowledge for using my camera more effectively! (I’m still a newbie). Thanks!

  2. Stacey

    Oh Lord, are you missing out! We were in Hershey a few weeks ago and bought the S’mores candle while there…. Let’s just say that I am stocking up when we go back at Christmas!!

  3. Stephanie @ Back For Seconds

    Amanda, this was such a fun recap! I live so close to the city and was SO bummed that I couldn’t make it tho BlogHer! I am dying to go to BlogHer Food in May (still haven’t gone to a conference yet) but I will have a 4 month old baby then and would have to take it with me. Is it crazy that I’m debating going anyway?? It looks like so much fun and I would love to tag along with you and the other girls :)

    1. Amanda

      Talk to Lauren and Kristan! They did it this year in Austin and it was about eleventy billion degrees, lol! :)

  4. JenniF

    The All Chocolate Kitchen Store is AMAZING! Did you make to The Latest Crave cupcake shop? It’s right down the street from ACK. They have the best cupcakes ever!

  5. Ashley @CenterCutCook

    First, I’m so glad I got to meet you! You did a fabulous job teaching the DSLR class. They couldn’t have chosen a better teacher! You’ve got mad skills, girl! :)

    Secondly, I am beyond jealous that you had dinner in the private upstairs kitchen at Litter Goat Diner. We went to Girl and the Goat (across the street from Little Goat) in May and it was seriously one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Stephanie Izzard is amazing! I can’t wait to hear about your experience there!

  6. Madeline from Mom It Forward

    Looks like an absolute blast!! The food looked amazing and I loved seeing all the amazing pictures you took! Thank you for sharing this post. It was so much fun to read.

  7. Shawna

    My husband and I stayed at the Herrington for our 15th anniversary (that was nearly 10 years ago!) Such a cute place! If you ever get back to the area you should try Egg Harbor Cafe for breakfast or lunch – my family (my dad and my sister) opened the first on in 1985, and now have 18 restaurants in Illinois, Wisconsin & Georgia. There is one in Geneva close to where you stayed! Yummy – craving the Door County Chicken Salad right now!!

  8. Elizabeth

    I love love love when you share your foodie trips with us. What fun! What delicious food!!! These are some of my favorite posts from you. Thank you.

  9. Meghan T.

    Lovely photos! And thanks for making me drool at 10:19 a.m. for sweet treats. That Oreo- and Caramel-Topped Brownie is what dreams are made of!

    Thanks for posting about your trip and all the goodies!

    Meghan
    with DeLallo

  10. buttercream bakehouse

    Looks like fun and a wonderful place to be for inspiration and education for blogging . One of these days I will go to a conference. If only my schedule would let up. Great post.

  11. April V

    Can I second Kimberly’s comment?? ;)

    but seriously…I want to be ya’lls BFF so I can tag along, too!!
    & totally off topic..but your fingernails are always the cutest!!

  12. Haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine

    Oh wow!! BlogHer looks like so much fun! I am definitely looking into heading to Miami next year! All of the food looks fabulous. And that hotel!? Looks like so much fun!

  13. Lori @ RecipeGirl

    Wish I could have joined you all- looks like you had so much fun! Your hair looks sooo good in that photo!!! I didn’t even recognize that it was you. I’ve always wanted to go to one of those blow-dry bars. The cinnamon roll pancakes look awesome. It would be fun to try a restaurant version (it’s been the number one recipe on my website for a couple of years now!)

  14. Anele @ Success Along the Weigh

    Chicago is awesome, isn’t it? We stay at the Omni when we go and it’s the best place to stay by far if you want to be in the heart of it all. I see you hit up More Cupcakes. I hope you got something with caramel in it because their salted caramel filling is to die for! I’m bookmarking this since there are some places we haven’t been and I’m always up for pretty much anything you took a pic of! :-)

    Oh yeah and your hair looked SUPER cute!!!

  15. Averie @ Averie Cooks

    Awesome, awesome post, Amanda! I used to live in Chicago and seeing the city this time of year (with your wonderful camera skills in these pics!) makes me think back to old times! I have been to the Herrington Inn in Geneva and have had plenty of drinks at the Omni’s bar :) Great pics of all you ladies in this post!

Do you have a question or comment?

Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

READ MORE

Subscribe via Email: