@Taking Bites

Upstairs at the Gwen, Chicago Restaurants, Chicago places to eat

Welcome to Taking Bites!

Your Guide to Food and Travel Adventures

I’m Toni, and this is my space to share bites of food, travel, and everything in between. My camera roll is constantly overflowing with food, drinks, and adventures, so I’m putting those photos to good use (and saving my iCloud storage in the process).

I’m so glad you stopped by.

Let’s connect!

Referral links: Fetch Rewards, My Favorite Free Credit Card for Restaurant Points, ask about Chase!

@TakingBites on Instagram – Let’s connect!

The idea for the food blog, “Taking Bites,” was born from a simple truth: my camera roll was overflowing with pictures of food, drinks, and daily adventures. Instead of letting them take up space, I decided to give them a permanent home. The name “Taking Bites” just stuck, and I’m so glad it wasn’t already taken on Instagram. I’m excited to share my adventures with you all and can’t wait to see what we create and eat together!

Latest from the Blog

Balcony Garden Update

In late winter, I decided to try something fun and bought a bunch of seeds (tomatoes, herbs, strawberries, and peppers). By mid-March, I was fully committed. I picked up a grow light and some seed-starting soil at Ace Hardware, ordered a heating mat and starter pots on Amazon, and watched a ton of gardening YouTube…

Daily Prompt: Write about your dream home.

I’m still deciding on the exact vibe and location of my dream home, but the vision is starting to come together! Here’s what’s currently on my “must-have” list: The Exterior I’m picturing a multi-level home with moody, dark brick, large windows, and a front porch big enough for a few chairs. Out back, the focus…

Exploring the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

This past month, we headed over to the National Portrait Gallery, officially checking the sixth Smithsonian Museum off my list! One of the best parts about this museum (besides the art) is that it’s completely free to enter and doesn’t require a timed reservation. In my opinion, the museum is quite large, but doable. While…