We made alot of memories through the week that i will not soon forget.
We hit up the usual spots around Chicago using the CityPass. Places like the Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Sears Tower, we also just walked around the city taking it all in.
Of course where they're memories there is food, great food, talking, and drinking good beer or wine.
On one of the mornings earlier in the week of there stay, Andrea and I made pancakes. Of course a plate of pancakes is not complete without some Vermont maple syrup. The pancakes were stacked high and fluffy, with steam dancing up from them. A golden waterfall poured over my pancakes soaking it up like a sponge, enough so that you needed to add more maple syrup.
When taking that first bite, my eyes closed as the liquid gold seeps out of the pancake. it dances in your mouth as it coats your throat as you swallow, leaving a sweet, buttery flavor lingering.
The following day, Andrea had to work, so i decided to take Mark and Dad around the city of Chicago. It was a beautiful day for them to see the city and why i love it so much here. We ended the day at Mother Hubbards, a bar on Hubbard street. I told them that we needed to have the Buffalo wings, that they were #1 in all of Chicago by CBS-TV. I also requested that we get a local Chicago beer, Goose Islands 312.
While waiting we talked about the day we had, things going on in our lives and sports.
When our food arrived, the 312 was cold, crisp and felt oh so good going down.
The Buffalo wings were unique in there own way, the wing and drumstick were still connected. Mark and I began to devour or first ones. The wings were heavy on the sauce, but held up to there reputation of being the best in Chicago. Mark and i needed to stop after each one, lick our fingers one by one then wipe our runny noses. When all was said and done Mark and I must have gone through 3 napkins each.
The last great meal of there visit to the Windy City was UNO's. You cant come to Chicago and not have a true Chicago style deep dish pizza.
We all got to UNO's a little early. We were going to meet up with Andreas brother Brian and his wife Antoinette. While waiting for them to arrive we ordered some appetizers and again like earlier in the week we wrapped our hands around a pint of 312.
I began to explain to Dad and Mark that Chicago pizza is big, meaning alot of crust and toppings, so much so that you will probably only eat 2 slices. Mark and I began to have a friendly argument, Mark said he could eat more than 2 slices. Mark would soon find out how filling a UNO slice is.
We must have gone through 3 pitchers of 312, talking the time away and enjoying each others company.
Brian finally called and said they were on there way and to order the pizza. At UNO's it takes about 45 minutes to bake your pizza.
Brian and Antoinette arrived and soon after saying our hellos the pizza to arrived. The pizza was delicious as always. It's not a pizza you pick up and fold in half, no. With this pizza you need to use a knife and fork. This pizza always sits heavy in you stomach.
Come to find out it looked like my brother ate his words from earlier.
When learning we had 4 slices left, we had them wrapped and they were to be brought back to Vermont for Sherry to enjoy just as we did. We said our good-byes to Brian and Antoinette and headed home.
The last day was the hardest for all of us. Dad and Mark back to Vermont and Andrea and I back to work. The easiest thing was going to be remembering all the fun I had in that week catching up with Dad and Mark, and the memories we made will last a lifetime.
Somehow memories all seem to evolve around a table, food and most of all FAMILY.
