Chicago Eats and a New Adventure
Any Chicago friends out there? I spent a whirlwind trip in Chicago this weekend as part of an exciting food blogger program with Verizon Wireless. Over the next few months I will be reviewing some of their products as part of their campaign to use technology in the kitchen.
On Friday I met up with 16 other food bloggers at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago. We spent time learning about our first product for review- the Motorola Droid Xyboard with 4G LTE. It is skinny, has a large, beautiful display, and is super fast. I am still learning how to play with it but so far I’ve enjoyed connecting all of my social media to it. (Instagram on a tablet screen is SO beautiful!) Our keynote speaker Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen shared some snazzy tech tips that she uses for blogging. After our official training a few of us went out for cupcakes. I got Vanilla Vanilla and enjoyed every last crumb!
We were treated to a dinner surprise as we dined at an eclectic old convent that was converted into a beautiful eating space just for us. Aren’t those colorful bowling balls adorable? Three hours and 8 courses later (lots of fresh picked, locally grown produce) and we left feeling very much in love with Chicago.
A long, leisurly breakfast the next day with a few new friends ended my trip. I ordered Challah bread french toast with lemon curd and blueberry compote. Thankfully I walked around the beautiful city for 2 hours after breakfast! Cassie ordered this beautiful breakfast ham and egg panini that we were all gawking at while Bree and Amanda opted for ginormous fluffy buttermilk pancakes.
Pictured: July 4th Layered Drinks – Perfect for your celebrations this week!
I haven’t had much time to spend with the new Xyboard but 5 Year Old Foodie already knows his way around it and is using the Sticky Notes to write out an app wishlist. How do they know these things?! I’m going to try my hand at photographing and publishing an entire post on the Xyboard as soon as I can sneak it out of his hands for a few hours.
You can follow along with the event and catch up with some of the other bloggers by following #VZWSG on Twitter or Instagram.
Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Midwest Savvy Gourmets program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product. I was not compensated for a postitive review.
16 Comments on “Chicago Eats and a New Adventure”
I think I'd be in love with Chicago after all that food! Looks like a great weekend.
What a fun weekend, K! That french toast looks amazing!!
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That's awesome! Your French toast looks so delicious!
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I think you're gonna have to pry it out of his hands before he sleeps and then test it lol
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Glad to have meet you! So happy you love our city. There's so much more to discover! You must come back.
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It looks as though you had a fantastic time, Katrina! And the meals…you're making me salivate!
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How fun! I've been meaning to make a trip out to Chicago.
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This looks like it was so fun! Glad you had a great weekend! 🙂
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I luuuuurrrrrve Chicago. What a fun set of events. Wish I lived in the midwest 😉 Tell Verizon that if they want to do something similar in the Northeast, I am their girl. I already use their phone and internet services!
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How much fun! what a trip!
It was great to meet you! Now that I saw the pic of your cupcake I know for sure I've been at that bakery. I wasn't sure before. Your pictures are all great! Wish I would have brought my good camera!
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Loved meeting you. You are as sweet in person as on your blog!! (if thats possible!) And thank you for not posting a picture of me. I really need to hire a stylist! 😉
Sounds like it was a fun trip!
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What a fun weekend! Love Chicago, grew up 2 hours away from there! Can't wait to see what you think of this new device, looks like your son loves it.
Well, how could you NOT love Chicago! DUH!! 😉
Glad you enjoyed your visit. Glad the heat didn't bother you. It's KILLING me!!
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This was sooo fun, so glad to meet you IRL. You are awesome. And I so wish I had another one of those panini right now!