Karyn's on Green, Chicago

Karyn Calabrese has quite a healthy food empire in Chicago and we had brunch at Karyn's Cooked, shopped at Karyn's Fresh Corner, and had dinner at the upscale Karyn's on Green while in town.  The latter was one of the best meals of our trip, and here are some of the highlights:

This cheese plate was quite obviously comprised of Dr. Cow varieties, but that is some good stuff, so we were not complaining.  Plus, I learned I need not fear the algae variety.  Yum!  Complemented nicely by flax crackers, a carrot slaw, some apple slices, and an agave drizzle, this was a delightful way to start the meal.

This arugula flatbread was so flavorful!  With caramelized onions, thinly sliced potatoes, and herbs, it was perfectly crisp and absolutely scrumptious.  The arugula was such a nice bright and peppery addition to all the savory goodness underneath.  Will try to recreate this one at home...

The portobello mushrooms with root vegetable hash was my entree of choice, and it was wonderfully warming on a cold Chicago night.  Plus, it was topped with fried onions and the balsamic reduction - my fave - was a lovely sweet touch.  Loved this dish.  :)

Karyn's on Green has a casual upscale atmosphere and the food gracefully straddles the fine line between healthy and tasty.  It's an oasis in an otherwise junk-food-vegan landscape and I am so happy we made it there.  Highly suggest you do too should you find yourself in Chicago.

Up next, I've saved the best for last.  Find out what meal I'm still craving a week and two thousand miles later... and have a great weekend, y'all!