Being that Jill and I are in long term relationships, it seems that we have exhausted every date night option, especially during the winter months. At least that's what we thought, until HowAboutWe came into the picture.
HowAboutWe for Couples are experiences for two. A subscription gives you access to tons of exclusive deals on unique dates, with up to 75% off. Membership also includes one free monthly date of your choice - we're talking options like gourmet pancakes and bacon from Babycakes, couples scavenger hunt at Uncle Fun, and whiskey flights at Bullhead Cantina, to name a few. Can't make the decision on your own? Members can take advantage of the complimentary concierge service that'll plan the perfect night for you. From t-shirt screenprinting classes to couples fragrances making date, and so much more, you will never have another boring date night again!
The first date of our three-part series is my cocktail and appetizer pairings date at Red Door in Bucktown (2118 N. Damen Ave.) with my boyfriend!
This neighborhood spot has the perfect blend of coziness, tasty drinks, good food, and a great ambiance (and an outdoor beer garden for the warmer months)! We got there a bit early for the bar crowd, but it definitely picked up by the time we left at about 9 PM. The music selection was great and it was loud enough to set the mood, but you could still easily enjoy your conversation with your significant other without losing your voice.
Our mixologist Reed (who was awesome) started us off with the Ballad of Boot Hill (Buffalo Trace Bourbon, house-made cinnamon sarsaparilla) and bacon-wrapped artichokes. This cocktail was definitely our favorite of the night! The sarsaparilla is made with brown and white sugar with a taste of brewed tea for just the right amount of sweetness!
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Ballad of Boot Hill.
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Bacon-wrapped artichoke.
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Our next round included the Dark, Stormy (Cruzan Blackstrap, Don Q Cristal, house-made ginger beer) and ghost chili chicken wings with honey-buttermilk sauce. This chicken wing packs a punch, but it cooled down with the cocktail that made Reed awesome - he listened to my love for anything ginger!
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Dark, Stormy.
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Ghost chili chicken wing.
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Our last pairing was the First Bite (Bulleit Bourbon, Averna, Crème de Noisette, rhubarab bitters, herb bitters) and chestnut fried calamari with crispy lemons and tarragon aioli (our favorite dish of the night)!
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First Bite.
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Chestnut fried calamari.
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And it wouldn't be a typical date of ours without a dessert! The salted caramel pot de crème was amazing and we might be back just for that!
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Salted caramel pot de crème.
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My boyfriend and I tend to go to the same ol' places in downtown, so it was such a nice change of pace to try something new and sit down without any other distractions beside good food and drinks. We had such a great evening and our HowAboutWe date was a total success - we were giggling like two new lovebirds by the end of the night!
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Ending the night with a First Bite.
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The boyfriend browsing the menu.
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Stay tuned for the next date!
Jess
Date was paid for by HowAboutWe only, reviews and commentary are of Jess and Jill.
I have only had drinks there (that dark and stormy looks delicious) - how was the food?
ReplyDeleteThe food was really good! It feels more like a order a bunch of appetizers and share kinda place, but definitely better than your typical bar fare.
DeletePS. Love your site and your wedding!
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