Author Archive for Jennifer Dunham Luby
Jennifer Dunham Luby is a Chicago area native and hostess extraordinaire. When she's not out exploring the social scene, Jen and her husband love to entertain in their Wicker Park home. She writes SecondCitySoiree.com, a blog featuring advice, ideas, and inspiration for home entertaining. Follow her on Twitter @SecndCitySoiree
Cinco de Mayo recipes from Chicago chefs
Across the US, many people might equate Mexican food with fast food, but here in Chicago, we know better. Thanks to talented Mexican cuisine masters like Rick Bayless (Frontera), Freddy Sanchez (Adobo Grill), and Priscilla Satkoff (¡Salpicon!), Chicagoans are just as likely to choose a Mexican restaurant as they are a steak house for a [...]
Nine Ideas for Spring Entertaining
It’s been in the 50s and 60s in Chicago, and little green things are starting to poke from the earth…it must be Spring! Are you getting the itch for some warm-weather entertaining like I am? Here are nine tips to usher in the new season: DRINK Earl Grey Fizz I originally included the Earl Grey [...]
Five New Cars to see at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show
The 2010 Chicago Auto Show can be a daunting exercise in information overload. Before your eyes start to water from the sea of glittering chrome and your feet ache from too many laps around the 1.2 million square feet floor, consult this guide of Five Production Debut Cars to Watch. All are expected in dealerships [...]
The Birth of a Perfect Gift Basket
Looking for a great hostess or holiday gift? How about a gift basket…the sort filled with gourmet goodies you’ve no doubt seen in big box stores like Target and Costco. But wait, you don’t have to run out to the store to buy one of these bounteous baskets. Design Pac in west suburban Melrose Park [...]
Luxe food products at wholesale prices – this weekend!
You probably realize that your favorite restaurant doesn’t get its exotic meats, cheeses, and pastries from the local grocery store…but where do they find these culinary treasurers? European Imports, Ltd is one of the largest wholesale distributor of specialty products in the area. Chances are you’ve had some of their Spanish serrano ham or English [...]
Sample neighborhood history & cuisine with Chicago Food Tours
Whether you’re entertaining out of town guests or you’d just like to be a hometown tourist, Chicago Food Tours is a unique way to explore neighborhoods off the beaten path while sampling delicious Chicago cuisine. Earlier this month, I was invited to experience their Bucktown/Wicker Park “food tasting and cultural walking tour”. Admittedly, I’d already [...]
August Grocery Store – a shop for cooks!
It’s no secret that I love food, and that I love to cook. Despite this, I don’t enjoy grocery shopping. The fluorescent lighting, kids screaming over cereal choices, the aisles upon aisles of preservative-laden food…it’s enough to make me open a Peapod account! In a perfect world, I’d have a small neighborhood grocery store that [...]
Creating a Delicious Dessert Buffet
Want to give your guests a sweet surprise? Treat them to a dessert buffet! With an infinite number of possibilities, deciding what to serve can be a daunting task. Consider a good mix of flavors (i.e. not all chocolate…unless you want this to be a chocolate buffet!) and a variety of textures (i.e. not just [...]
A “Julie and Julia” Feast for Friends
If you love food, you’re no doubt excited about the release of Julie and Julia, the movie chronicling the early lives of chef Julia Child and blogger Julie Powell. You may be surprised, however, to find that the movie is about far more than cooking. Have you ever felt that your life is off track? [...]
Easy/Easier Brunch
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but want to know my favorite meal of the day? Brunch. There’s something about this lazy mealtime that seems a bit decadent. You want eggs and dessert? And a cocktail? Go right ahead – it’s brunch! While fabulous brunch places abound, there are times [...]
