A Squared: The Tastemaker Top 10 with Erin of Loop Looks & Eri-thon

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

The Tastemaker Top 10 with Erin of Loop Looks & Eri-thon

The Tastemaker Top 10 is a collection of 10 questions asked by me and answered by some of my favorite bloggers. Here they will tell you a little bit about themselves, their blogs, and of course, their favorite foods and restaurants. Today we are talking to Erin, a Chicago blogger behind not one, but two blogs: Personal style blog Loop Looks and fitness blog Eri-thon. She's a very busy girl, so I'm so excited that she took some time out to talk to us today. Take it away, Erin!  

Name: Erin

Blog: Loop Looks & Eri-thon 

Location: Chicago

In a few sentences, tell us a little bit about your blog: Loop Looks is a personal style blog where I showcase outfits that would be appropriate for a business or business casual environment. Basically, if you only get to wear jeans on Fridays, this is the blog for you.

Eri-thon chronicles the different fitness adventures I undertake in the city. From strength training to running to group fitness classes, I've got it all.


Now, tell us about your...

1. Favorite meal, food, or cuisine:
It may be cliche but pizza is my favorite food. I will eat it with just about any topping, any crust, any cheese, any sauce. Something about carbs + dairy + veggies + whatever else just makes me happy. There are only two things I don't want on pizza...


2. Least favorite meal, food, or cuisine:
And those two things are artichoke hearts and olives. I don't eat either. They are definitely my least favorite foods. Which kind of makes eating Greek food challenging. Hilariously, I live within spitting distance of Chicago's Greektown.

I also don't like cilantro. I'm one of those people who thinks it tastes like soap.

3. Favorite restaurant in your city:
I am married to a guy who would be happy eating a burger and fries every night of the week. He doesn't want anything fancy or with too many "weird" ingredients. Which means I don't get to go out to eat very often. There are so many places I want to try, though, so hopefully I will get to at least a few of them at some point. Until then, I'd have to say that Davanti Enoteca on Taylor Street served me one of the best meals I've had in the city.

4. Favorite restaurant outside of your city:
It's technically outside Chicago since it's in Oak Park but it's right off the Green Line so it's still CTA accessible. It's Maya del Sol. AMAZING Latin restaurant that you have to try! It's one of the first places I ever went when I moved to the Chicago area and it still impresses me every time I go back.  

5. Favorite food memory. One of the very first places my husband ever took me when we were dating (in high school!) was a Thai restaurant. I'd never had Thai food before in my life and was a little apprehensive. So of course he had me order Pad Thai since it's basically the gateway Thai food. Now it's my favorite comfort food!

6. Favorite guilty pleasure food: Ice cream. Chocolate chip cookie dough or strawberry cheesecake ice cream. I literally cannot buy ice cream and have it in my house or I will eat way too much every night.

7. Favorite ingredient (something you love to cook with, or something you see on a menu and know you have to order): I am admittedly not the most adventurous cook so I tend to make the same 20 or so recipes. However, if I'm at a restaurant and the menu lists goat cheese as an ingredient? I will order that in a heartbeat. I LOVE goat cheese!

8. Favorite kitchen tool, utensil, product, etc.: Does the dishwasher count? Actually, I have to say our Calphalon pans are pretty great. Did you know they have a lifetime warranty? If they get too beat up you can send them back to Calpahlon for replacements. In fact, we have two pans out for replacement right now. I'm hoping they come back soon because we're currently using one skillet for everything!

9. Favorite recipe: One of my go-to foolproof recipes is Spinach Enchiladas Verde. The original recipe is here but I put my own twist on it by adding sauteed shrimp with the spinach and instead of pouring the salsa over the top I mix all the sour cream and salsa together and spoon it over each enchilada individually. That way the tortillas aren't swimming in liquid.


10. Favorite thing about blogging: When I moved to Chicago six years ago I knew one person. One. Now I know so many and have so many good friends that I've met because of my blogs. I honestly had no idea that starting a blog would lead to friendships and experiences like this!

11. BONUS! Five favorite blogs/blogs that A Squared readers should know about: If you're looking for additional work-wear inspiration, you have to read Librarian for Life & Style. She approaches clothing in such a fun way and finds outfit inspiration in the most unique places.

For Chicago fitness finds you'll do no better than aSweatLife. Those ladies work it hard and share it with you!

Geeks, crafters, gamers, and people who like pretty things will love Epbot. Jen, the founder of the Cake Wrecks blog, started Epbot as a way to share the things she loves and makes. It isn't always my exact esthetic, but I love seeing her finds and her DIY tutorials. She also reviews books, promotes girl geeks, and takes amazing photos.

Bethany at Accidental Intentions writes about her adventures in Chicago with such a voice that you feel like she's sitting across from you drinking tea. I always get excited when a post from her shows up!

Finally, if you're a blogger looking for tricks of the trade, I highly recommend the Independent Fashion Bloggers website. Even if you're not a fashion or a personal style blogger I know you'll get tons of useful information from them about all aspects of blogging.

Thanks so much for your thoughts, Erin!

Do you have a blogger that you'd recommend to be featured on the Tastemaker Top 10? Or are you a blogger that would like to participate? Email me at aasquaredblog@gmail.com and let me know!



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