Tastemakers and Foodies Shop Mariano's Chicago | Thriftanista in the City

3.03.2014

Tastemakers and Foodies Shop Mariano's Chicago

This sponsored post is part of a #MyMarianos grocery store Chicago #shop hosted by the social shopper media company #CollectiveBias.

One of my favorite things about Chicago is the food. We have an amazing selection of food choices to suit every palate. I don't have the opportunity to explore as much as I used to so I create foodie moments for us at home.

grocery store chicago #mymarianos #shop #cbias

With a little help from Mariano's tastemakers videos I've learned so much about food preparation and presentation. Recently, I checked out the tastemaker couple Rick and Ashley Ortiz of Antique Taco. The short video is packed with little morsels of info that were very helpful this weekend celebrating E's birthday.



Tips from the Tastemakers


Use citrus juice to shred fish. I love ceviche and never even considered home preparation simply because of the cutting fish part. It makes me a little squeamish thinking about it but shredding fish I can do. Adding homemade ceviche to my foodie bucket list. 


Tone down heat with garlic. Great tip since we have the wee one. My husband and I enjoy spicier meals but V not so much. Good to know I can amp up on another one of my favorite flavors to take away some of the hotness from spicier dishes.

marianos tastemakers #mymarianos #shop #cbias

What I Made

I wanted to prepare something a little bit more "fancy" than our regular meals so I headed to Mariano's where I knew I would be able to find quality fresh ingredients. It's the main reason I shop there. Also, if it's good enough for some of Chicago's top chefs and tastemakers then it is definitely good enough for us!

salsa salad fresh #mymarianos #shop #cbias

Still thinking about the Tastemaker video I watched, I came up with a new way to make salsa -- a salsa salad. It's sort of a hybrid between traditional salsa and kachumbari, a Kenyan salad, that is very similar to salsa but typically served as a side dish instead of a condiment.

Salsa Salad

1 avocado, halved, seeded and cubed
1 lime, juiced
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
1/2 jalapeno pepper, minced
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 bunch chopped cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced (I ended up using pre minced garlic from a jar -- a followed Chef Rick Ortiz's path and used a short cut)

Mix all of the chopped vegetable together and squeeze lime juice over the salad and done!

salsa salad recipe #mymarianos #shop #cbias

Unless you're thirsty. If you're thirsty then maybe you need a couple of rosemary margaritas. Using a quickie recipe from Rick & Ashley's tastemaker page, I purchased rosemary, limes, and freshly squeezed (by Mariano's) orange juice and tequila. Shook it all together with a simple syrup and voila. Now we are officially done!

rosemary margarita recipe #mymarianos #shop #cbias

For more tips and inspiration, you can keep up with Mariano's Tastesmakers on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

kachumbari recipe #mymarianos #shop #cbias

2 comments

Ashleigh said...

it certainly looks delicious! I'd love to work on my presentation but no one would appreciate it besides me, the kids and Husband wolf everything down!
-Ash
www.stylizedwannabe.blogspot.com

Summer @ Banana Hammocks & Tutus said...

Dang! You went all out! I'll have one of those Margaritas please and thank you. How cool is it that Mariano's juices citrus daily? I was born in Florida but raised in Alaska. When we moved to Alaska the #1 thing I missed most was orange juice from the oranges in my Papa's orchard. Shoot, I still miss it! #client

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