What an Eggsperience!

My posts in the next few days are most likely going to be about my Mom, what we did, and of course, what we ate!:-) Today was uneventful as we just shopped 'til we dropped in Wisconsin, with the intent of escaping the commotion in downtown Chicago where the NATO Summit is being held.  Yesterday, we did a little more of the touristy stuff and we also continued our Saturday routine (with my mom!) - brunch.  We're supposed to go to XOCO, but we were an hour too late as they were already getting ready for lunch.  No more chilaquiles and torrejas - booooo!:-O  Since Eggsperience Cafe is right around the corner, we decided to have our first meal of the day there... I've actually been there once, about a year ago, and it was a great "eggsperience".  Good thing it wasn't too crowded like I expected, but that was maybe because people were trying to avoid downtown for potential protester rallies and God knows what else!  Anyway, the menu was quite overwhelming - they have everything your heart desires for breakfast (with eggs of course).  Pancakes, waffles, fritatas, omelets, benedicts, name it, they have it!  

Thank God they have chilaquiles!  So that's what I had.  It was good, but the serving was way too huge and the salsa verde was way too hot! The eggs were cooked perfectly (they better be!), so I was dancing for joy (in my head) when I had my first bite.  Mom had the strawberry cheesecake pancake - the cream cheese portion was good, but the pancakes failed in comparison with the other pancakes I've tried in Original Pancake House or Maple Counter Cafe.  Or maybe it was too high of an expectation for a place that does not specialize in pancakes!  For hubby's bacon, spinach, and mushroom fritata - hmmm... not to sound conceited (a.k.a. feelingera), I could've done it better (naks X 100)!  But the presentation was top notch though - just look at the photos...

What does chilaquiles look like beneath the eggs?  Here you go - it's a mixture of salsa, cheese, and leftover (potentially stale) tortillas... I'm still a fan.

Was it still a great experience?  No.  It was just a good, safe one.

The Art of Fritata

What I love about cooking is that I can be as creative as I can be, and I can definitely mess up without people knowing. ;-) Similar to painting - my pan is my canvass and my spoon/ladle/flipper are my brushes.  The meats, the veggies, the seasonings - they are my palette.  And I can just paint over my mistakes, the same way I can water down, sprinkle a little of this or that, or maybe turn it into a whole new dish!  I can actually change my mind about how my food would come out - it may start as American, but with a dash of basil and oregano, it will become Italian in an instant.  I'm no chef, but to me, there are no rules if you know your way in the kitchen and you have a good palate.  Ahhh... the joy of cooking.  Takes out the stress, feels liberating, and gives a different kind of satisfaction (vs. satisfaction out of eating).

So... like an abstract painting itself is the fritata or open-faced omelette.  You can practically throw in anything (but the kitchen sink) in this wonderful dish.  

"Cheesy Garlic Shrimp and Spinach Fritata"

The reds: about 8 pieces of shelled shrimps (no tails please!)

The yellows: cream cheese crumbles, parmesan, and swiss cheese

The greens: a handful of baby spinach 

The blend: 3 extra large eggs, 2% milk, salt, and pepper

The finishing touch: a splash of heavy whipping cream

Our breakfast, with hot coffee and bagels.

A forkful of all ingredients and a dash of tabasco (brings out the flavor even more) = the perfect bite.