soon but not yet

it seems like forever since we have traveled anywhere - if you have an extraordinary memory and read the posts closely you will recall our last trip was last fall... we had two trips for the wedding festivities and of course being a partial sponsor of those took an early summer trip off the books this year.  And we might hasten to add - it was well worth it to see daughter Angela and hubby Lee so happily married in such a wonderful ceremony and delightful reception. 

but now we are looking forward to getting out in the whole wide world again...... and it will be soon- at the very end of the month we leave for a safari in East Africa... for the annual "great migration"!

but of course before that comes around in roughly three weeks we have plans - many plans - many social plans... and plans for packing and getting everything done that needs to be done before the trip- for instance today I had my second Hep B vaccine (third one due in 6 months) - niggley details of travel to places far flung and less developed...

however in the ultimate display of civilization LOL we dined last night with friends Sheila & Mary at our favorite the award winning Michelin 2 ** Oriole.... another fabulous meal which had a few changes since our last visit in May... the most beautiful new course shown first followed by the entire menu and photos of all-

still an awe inspiring place- worth a visit by every traveler to the Chicago area... these folks really know how to host people in the most warm and welcoming way as well as serve food that causes swooning noises at the table LOL

We paired the meal with wines from Sheila & Mary's cellar and from ours- a 2000 Noble Cuvee from Lanson (champagne) and a 2013 Drouhin Chassagne-Montrachet Embrazees and then a terrific 1996 Arlaud Gevrey-Chambertin Les Combottes and a wonderful 1995 Berardenga Rancia Chianti Classico Riserva which was so silky smooth it reminded us all of why we wait while the wines cellar to this level of perfection! And to top off the evening we had a 1988 Rieussec Sauternes - at 30 showing well!

All in all a really fun evening with the folks at Oriole! 

And while not quite the other end of the spectrum - we did go out for burgers from Bad Apple on Sunday night after Phil came back from the Irish Music Fest and Pizza on Monday night at my personal favorite Fat Chris's Pizza

our pizza wine! LOL

so a wine dinner tonight at Publican Quality Meats featuring South African wines and then a gathering of friends here on Friday evening and another gathering of Chaine friends on Saturday at the condo of one of the officers (a celebration of Bastille Day for some Chaine des Rotissuers members - fitting as you can see from the name, the organization began in France)

so on we go- stay tuned for at least nine more (currently scheduled) dinners before we leave and you get to see something besides food photos....