We decided to check out the Beyond the Glass Food and Wine Experience by the Veraison Project, we had the pleasure of sampling food and wine from different vendors from across the states. Please be sure to like our video and subscribe to our channel for more reviews like these.
Check out the Veraison Project for the cause and future events. Link to their website here.
Hello good people! Happy Friday! Aaron and I decided to do another date night at home and tonight we cooked up a good one. Tonight we decided to base our dinner off of a wine we purchased in Holland, MI. The name of the wine is Abbondanza it is a off-dry blend that brings together locally grown Montmorency tart cherries and a trio of elegant white grapes—Cayuga White, Muscat, and Viognier—for a crisp, fruit-forward wine with just the right hint of sweetness. If you are interested in purchasing this wine you can click this link here.
We made Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter and Sage, we also whipped up a side salad, Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette.
Donna: Well, first and foremost, I must say that this dinner was incredibly easy to prepare. We managed to find all our ingredients at our local grocery store, including premade butternut squash ravioli. This makes this dinner even more enjoyable after a long workweek.
Now let’s get into the meal. The sage brown butter sauce over the butternut squash ravioli completely exceeded my expectations. The flavor was rich and comforting, savory with a hint of sweetness and that perfect touch of nuttiness. Everything came together so beautifully, it felt like something you’d order at a cozy Italian spot.
I’ll admit, I was a little unsure how it would pair with the arugula salad and the homemade lemon vinaigrette, but wow- the contrast worked in the best way. The salad added a crisp, refreshing brightness that cut through the richness of the ravioli and made each bite feel balanced and fresh.
But the real game changer? The wine. When I say it elevated the entire meal, I mean it. That cherry forward wine brought out the sweetness of the squash and deepened the brown butter flavors in a way that felt next level. I genuinely found myself slowing down, savoring every bite like the food critic in Ratatouille movie. It was that good.
If you’re planning a cozy date night in, this meal is a must. I give it a solid 9 out of 10.
Aaron: I’ve got to say, this dish is a total hit! It’s super easy to make, and it’s one of those dishes where you have to just trust the process. But when you finally take your first bite, the flavors are really comforting. I’ve never had butternut squash in any form before, but I was really surprised by how subtly sweet it was, not so much that it tasted like a dessert. The sage-infused butter adds a nice fragrance and an earthy taste to the dish. It’s not a dish that’s bursting with flavor, but it’s a combination of subtle flavors that make it really special.
The Arugula Salad was fantastic, but the Lemon vinaigrette was the cherry on top. I might just add this to other salad combinations in the future. I was a bit surprised at how little we produced when we mixed the ingredients, but it all came together perfectly. If we added more of anything, it might have ruined the dish. This side dish pairs really well with the ravioli, and I’m not even sure what goes with ravioli!
When you combine these pieces and add the Abbondanza, you’re in for a really nice experience. The wine isn’t so strong that it stands in front of any of these dishes but, instead, stands beside them. The flavors in each component are subtle, but when paired together, it’s almost like listening to music. Each instrument contributes to an orchestrated blend, creating enjoyable musical.
Will need to add this to the rotation of dished normally made. I will give this a 9/10.
If you want to make it yourself, here’s how:
Ingredients:
Butternut Squash:
Brown Butter Sauce:
Arugula Salad:
Lemon Vinaigrette:
Make the Butternut Squash Ravioli
1. Cook the Ravioli Bring salted water to a gentle boil.
2. Make the Brown Butter & Sage Sauce:
3. Toss it All Together:
4. Serve:
Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette:
1. Whisk the vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl or shake in a jar.
2. Toss arugula with dressing just before serving.
3. Top with cheese, onion, nuts, and any extras.
In the early 2000s, the PlayStation 2 was arguably the best video game console, with astronomical sales. Given the rapid technological growth of that period, it’s understandable why video games gained so much attention. However, this isn’t a blog about the greatness of video games or their history. It’s about the alarming decline of video games today.
I booted up my PlayStation 5 to play video games after a while. I’ve been playing one game, but I became uninterested quickly. As I navigated through season passes, micro transactions, and ads disguised as upgrades, I realized video games have lost their charm. They’re now in a weird place of monetization, with oversaturated upsells. With the increased exposure of season passes, Downloadable Content (DLC), and in game currency, it all boils down to one thing, MONEY!
Gaming franchises have become increasingly lazy in their pursuit of producing high-quality games with compelling stories, well-written narratives, and impressive graphics. The rise of multiplayer gaming has significantly impacted the popularity of story-driven games, although this may not be immediately apparent from the fact that story-driven games have won Game of the Year awards in the past five years. The point of my argument is that the surge in online multiplayer has led to a decline in the quality of games being released, as developers prioritize profit over quality.
Years ago, I shared my thoughts with a friend that video games are primarily marketed to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and others. These platforms provide free marketing opportunities for streamers, who in turn offer “fake” reviews to entice gamers to purchase the games. This is frustrating because owners are trying to experiment with more exploitive ways to make money from their consumers. With the rumors of Grand Theft Auto 6 being a subscription base, it leaves me wondering if that’s the direction they will go. Even with the INSANE price of the Switch 2 and the reason why they have the increase, which they confirmed that it has nothing to do with the tariffs, is just leaving me and many people in the state of grief. It doesn’t help that those who can afford it will simply purchase it so that throws the idea of any real change out the window.
There’s a solution to all this, but it’ll be challenging if everyone’s not on the same page. As consumers, we’re the ones who enable companies to make money. If we’re all united, it’ll make it easier to compel companies to change and revert to creating quality games. Simply boycotting won’t work if everyone, and I mean everyone, isn’t willing to do that. In this case, the best approach to addressing a problem is to start from the outside in.
If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, check out my gaming podcast episode where I discuss video games from your favorite games with one of my best friends. https://youtu.be/UDdAR7rDUDQ
Hey everyone! Aaron and I decided to check out a Malaysian spot in Lincoln Park called Kapitan, and let me tell you—it did not disappoint. We swung by after work on a Friday and, lucky us, arrived just in time for Happy Hour—half-priced drinks every Friday. Major win!
Appetizer: Roti with Curry Potato and Chicken
Donna: I’m honestly salivating just thinking about this dish. The seasoning was spot on—the curry had depth and warmth, the chicken was incredibly tender, and the potato just melted in your mouth. And let’s talk about that roti—buttery, slightly flaky, and the perfect vehicle for scooping up all that curry goodness. We’re already planning a return visit just for this. Solid 10/10.
Aaron: I didn’t know what to expect when this came out, from the looks of it, it appears very simple. However, this is probably to tastiest dish I’ve ever had, so far. The potato curry just feels cozy and the roti just knocks it out of the park. I was stuck thinking about this dish for a while and will definitely be back to have that. I’m even satisfied if only eat that. 10/10
Main Course: Malaysia’s National Dish – Nasi Lemak
For our entrées, we both went with the famous Nasi Lemak, often referred to as Malaysia’s national dish. It’s a fragrant coconut rice made with coconut milk and pandan leaves, served with a spread of flavorful sides—spicy sambal (chili paste), crispy fried anchovies, roasted peanuts, fresh cucumber slices, and a hard-boiled egg.
Nasi Lemak with Sambal Shrimp:
Not going to lie—I was excited to try something new but a little nervous about how my taste buds would react to such bold flavors. But from the first bite, I was hooked. The plate was a vibrant mix of colors and textures—sweet, spicy, crunchy, and creamy all at once. The heat from the sambal was perfectly balanced by the cool crispness of the cucumber and the smooth richness of the boiled egg. The roasted peanuts added a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor that tied everything together beautifully. It was one of those dishes that kept surprising me in the best way, bite after bite. I would give this an 8/10.
Nasi Lemak with Rendang lamb
Wow, this dish had me feeling like I was in a beautiful field, looking up at the clouds in the sky, I couldn’t stop savoring every bite. At first glance, it might seem like a simple dish with different ingredients, but it’s much more than that. Each flavor lives peacefully on your tastebuds and even the peanuts add a nice crunch and peanut flavor. The lamb was incredibly well-seasoned and tender, almost melting in your mouth. I consider this one of the top three restaurants I’ve visited, and it’s definitely not three. I’ll definitely give it a 9 out of 10. It’s going to be tough to go back without trying all the entrees again!
Dessert: Mango Sticky Rice
Donna: Ya’ll the coconut milk with the rice created this buttery and decadent rice. And pair with the sweet mango with the coconut milk drizzled on top, chef’s kiss. The mango was ripe and sweet but still had a bit a tartness with provided a very good contrast to the other flavors. I would give this dish a 9/10 only because it a little too rich for me. But I honestly order it again.
Aaron: This was my first time trying sticky rice, I never thought about using or having rice as a dessert. This dessert was sweet and very tart when you put these two ingredients in one bite. The rice being sweet as it was surprised me. The tart mango evens the sweetness out and creates this mouth watering combination. Again, this was my first time having sticky rice, so I don’t have anything to compare it to but this was very good. 8/10
Hey guys! We’re are back we another blog post. This time we decided to check out a Moroccan restaurant in the Chicagoland area. The name of this restaurant is Taktuka Moroccan Kitchen located in Darien. It’s a family owned business and we had the pleasure of meeting the owner when we went.
Zaalouk (Roasted Eggplant cooked with tomatoes, garlic, and Moroccan spices. Toped with extra virgin olive oil and served with warm bread)
Donna: I enjoyed the Zaalouk but I wish it had a bit more garlic in it. However, it was still very enjoyable especially with the warm bread. I’d give it an 8.
Aaron: This is a unique appetizer that I’m not accustomed to, but it’s actually a really good dish! It reminds me of a sauce that’s the base of something. The flavors complement each other perfectly, and the bread adds a nice touch of substance to the dish. I’m giving this a solid 8.
Lamb Shank Tagine: (Lamb in a Moroccan stew with prunes, cinnamon, and almonds.)
Let me just say—this was some of the most tender lamb I’ve had in a long time. No knife necessary—my fork effortlessly pulled the meat from the bone. What really caught me by surprise, though, was the flavor profile. The lamb was stewed with prunes, cinnamon, and almonds—a combination I hadn’t experienced before. But somehow, it worked beautifully.
The prunes brought a subtle sweetness, while the cinnamon added just the right amount of warm spice. I paired the dish with couscous, which I think had almonds mixed in as well. While the flavors blended well, I’ll admit the texture took a moment to get used to. Still, the overall experience was absolutely worth it.
The atmosphere of the restaurant added to the enjoyment, creating a cozy, welcoming vibe that made the meal even more satisfying. Honestly, I cleaned the bone—it was that good.
I’d give the dish a solid 8.5 out of 10 and definitely recommend giving it a try if you’re looking to explore something new and flavorful.
Lamb Kabob Wrap and Fries: (Lamb marinated in store made marinade. Served with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, hummus spread.)
This wrap might look ordinary, but the lamb inside was incredibly tender and delicious. The seasoning didn’t give it a “lamby” taste, which is always a plus, and the ingredients in the wrap come together to make it a solid wrap, one of the best I’ve had. The fries are… well, fries and are really good with the garnish on top. Overall, the entree gets an 8 from me. I’ll definitely come back and try another one of their dishes.
The restaurant is cozy and small, perfect for a romantic dinner. The decorations give you a real taste of Moroccan culture. If you ever visit Naperville or Chicago, I highly recommend this place for some delicious Moroccan food.
We’re big fans of couch co-op games, and this year, we were excited to play our most anticipated game, Split Fiction. The game launched on PS5 on March 6th, and we couldn’t wait to dive in.
The story follows two aspiring writers, Zoe and Mio, who are invited by a corporation to participate in a unique project. This project involves immersing themselves in their own written stories through virtual reality. However, they soon discover that the machine they’re using is designed to steal ideas from writers. Now, it’s up to Milo and Zoe to stop this sinister plot from unfolding.
We had played through half of the game when we decided to give a first-hand review.
Aaron:
This game is rapidly becoming one of my favorites, not just for its co-op mode, but for its overall appeal. The vibrant colors and challenging stages create a versatile gaming experience. In my opinion, the game’s retro gaming references, particularly those from the 90s and possibly the early 2000s, will resonate deeply with kids who grew up during those eras. I’ve already explored Blazing Star, Contra, Pinball, and more in the in-story, mini-game modes.
The story is exceptionally well-written, almost to the point of developing a connection with the characters and their struggles. This is one story that, I believe, everyone can relate to on some level; facing the challenge of progressing despite a blockade that is entirely self-imposed. While there are external forces that can help overcome these struggles, they are not always necessary.
Overall, I highly recommend this game to anyone and everyone. It’s worth the purchase. I give it a perfect 10/10.
Donna:
If you haven’t checked out our previous post, be sure to give it a read! I’ve always loved a good story, and Split Fiction did not disappoint. Mio and Zoe’s journey is packed with depth, emotional moments, and plenty of feel-good scenes. The game strikes a perfect balance between intrigue and silliness—one moment, we were battling enemies, and the next, we were literal hotdogs on a grill.
As for gameplay, I genuinely enjoyed most of the levels. Some were a bit beyond my skill level (cue me dying every two seconds), but overall, the experience was engaging. I found myself preferring Zoe’s fantasy-themed levels over Mio’s sci-fi sections, as they felt more immersive to me.
Visually, the game is stunning. Zoe’s fantasy world, in particular, was beautifully crafted—it felt like stepping into a movie or the pages of a book. The environments truly pulled me into the game, making the experience even more enjoyable.
If you’re looking for a solid couch co-op game, Split Fiction is definitely worth playing. I highly recommend it!
Level Up and Chow Down 