Mushroom Hunting in Galena

Earlier this month, I was invited to an exclusive media event at Galena's Eagle Ridge Resort. It had been a good 15 years since I had been to Galena, so I was excited for this little getaway. I had never been hunting for morels before, so it was a fun experience. We had the opportunity to be taken to a top secret spot by Eagle Ridge's executive chef and food and beverage director where we received tips on what to look for and how to spot them. Though I only found a couple, it was quite a thrill to search and finally come one.

Along with our hunt, we were treated to creative meals that featured morels (more to come on that on my food blog - chicagofoodiesisters.com)

Eagle Ridge is a top rated luxury resort with some of the most beautiful, lush surroundings for golfers. In 2014, Midwest Living rated Eagle Ridge as one of the "45 Midwest Resorts We Love." As part of the 6,800-acre Galena Territory, it includes 80 rustic, elegant rooms and over 200 homes and villas, a 6000-square foot spa, award winning restaurants and 63 holes of championship golf. For more information, go to eagleridge.com.            

Free country concerts to stream live in Chicago this week

Country music fans in Chicago are in for a treat this week as The Soundtrack of America: Made in Tennessee exclusive live streamed concert series begins tomorrow. Three concerts will be streamed live from iconic attractions in Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville to Congress Park in Chicago.

The series includes performances from country stars Citizen Cope, Jason Isbell and Old Crow Medicine Show and Ashley Monroe, featuring a two-sided video wall in a high traffic location in Chicago and will have interactive capabilities between artists and the audience as well as 360-degree panoramic camera angle, making it the first long distance concert of its kind. The concert series is being hosted by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development to give Chicago a taste of Tennessee’s music scene as well as some of the foods and beverages famous to the state.  

If you're in the area this week. Stop by and check it out.

Concert Location and Times: 

Congress Park (Southeast Side across from Congress Plaza Hotel) 

Monday: 5:30 p.m. (Live Streamed from Memphis) Citizen Cope 

Tuesday: 5:00 – 5:30 (IVE STREAMED FROM NASHVILLE) Old Crow; 5:45 – 6:30 Jason Isbell 

Wednesday: 5:30 p.m. (LIVE STREAMED from Knoxville) Ashley Monroe

Citizen Cope, known for his eclectic and versatile sound, will be the first artist to take the stage on May 23 live from the famous Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis. Two-time GRAMMY® Award winner Jason Isbell will perform day two of the experience live from Music City on May 24th at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and singer, songwriter, and member of the country music trio Pistol Annies, Ashley Monroe will come back to the city she calls home for a live performance at the historic Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville on May 25th.