Just another farewell party

In a season of never-ending farewell fetes, we rounded out the month with yet another goodbye to friends moving to sunny SoCal. I guess they could have picked a worse place. They are so never coming back.  

Wine flights, cheese and meats platters, dreamy gougeres, and presents at Bin 36... I really must toot my own horn a bit because I found the most fitting gift on Etsy, handmade jewelry from vintage Chicago maps, so that M & H can always be reminded of the beginnings of their life journey together. (I wish someone had thought of this when The Fella and I moved from Miami!)

Oh, and to top it all off, Portillo's Chocolate Cake! One can't leave Chicago for good without a final morsel (or three, whatev) of this locally-famous dessert. It just wouldn't be a proper send-off.

{ manchego, 10-year cheddar, tartufo; prosciutto, speck with juniper, Toscano salami }

{ gougeres }

 

{ and then there were two... }

 

{ necklace For Her, vintage atlas featuring Chicago, circa 1940s-1950s }

 

{ cufflinks For Him, vintage map of Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica – totally fitting because, as it turns out, H is going to road-trip it via Route 66 on his move over there! }

 

{ farewell card in Russian that I can't read, but it just goes to show the power of pretty things }

{ indulging in Portillo's Chocolate Cake, yes, please! }