Sip With Me

Raise your hand if Garrett Popcorn or Frango Chocolate are part of your Holiday traditions? Everyone should have a hand raised! The Holidays are here, so that means Ioanna and Aaron dedicate every waking thought to food.  

Two timeless Chicago classics that are especially relevant during Christmastime are these two iconic delicacies. Family-owned by Garrett Brands, the company is responsible for delivering high quality holiday smiles and passing down memories that have been in Chicago families for generations.

Whether you were first enticed by the smell of their signature caramel corn drifting down Michigan Ave or if Frango has been a tradition in your family since grandma first took you to Marshall Field’s, nearly every Chicagoan has a story to tell when it comes to these treats. We welcome Megan and Lindsay of Garrett Brands to pop us a bag of freshly caramelized history behind the products and to give us a peek into what they have “FRANgoing” on this holiday season.

IN THIS EPISODE:

History- Learn about how Garrett Popcorn started as a competition among family to create the best caramel corn! And discover how Frango traveled to Chicago from Seattle.

Quality- Hear about the cooking process that sets the popcorn apart. And find out some of the many flavor combinations you can get these days at a Garrett Popcorn Shop!

Tradition- Find out how Frango Chocolate became a staple in so many homes during the holidays. And hear about their gorgeous new chocolate boxes that you’ll want to display on your mantle.

Fun Facts- Did you know the famous “Garrett Mix” (also dubbed by some fans as the Chicago Mix) was created by customers!

Chicago Values- We love a family business that cares about Chicagoland. Hear about “Garrett Cares” and what the company does to give back to the city that makes them who they are.

All this and so much more on today’s episode! Megan & Lindsay are so fun so this is definitely a must-listen episode!

Garrett Brands ships nationwide! Shop, gift, or ship Garrett Popcorn and Frango Chocolate at: https://www.garrettpopcorn.com

And follow them on Instagram: @GARRETTPOPCORN

@FrangoChocolate

The Chicago Botanic Garden is the place to be, especially during their holiday “Lightscape” experience. Their 385 acres of pristine natural beauty in northern Cook County are transformed into an immersive journey that utilizes light, color, and sound to transport guests into realms of holiday beauty.

Ioanna and Aaron went and said it gave “Disney nighttime fireworks show meets virtual reality meets North Pole wonder”. With individual installations by artists from around the world, every corner you turn will have a new surprise that will make dance, laugh, or stare in contemplation.

We chat with Jodi from the Gardens to learn more about what Lightscape has to offer Chicagoland visitors this year. Plus, she gives us a BTS look into how long it takes to prep for the magnificent show. And, learn more about the Chicago Botanic Garden and all it has to offer year round.

Visit https://www.chicagobotanic.org to see pictures and purchase tickets! It is HIGHLY recommended you book early as some nights are already selling out! The show runs through January 7th and is perfect for families, couples, or friends. They’re hot cocoa for the kids and fun holiday cocktails for the adults!

Follow them @ChicagoBotanic and visit our Instagram to see our experience at Lightscape!

The Original Caramel Apple is celebrating its 75th birthday! This October, bite into one of the nation’s favorite fall treats and fill your heart with the nostalgia that is the Affy Tapple brand.

This delicious treat has filled hearts & homes since 1948, and still does today using the same caramel recipe from way back when! Dipped in everything from Christmas sprinkles to the classic peanut coating, there’s a variety for any time of the year.

The team at Affy Tapple joins us to share the rich history behind this iconic Chicago brand. Hear how the caramel apple came to be and discover why they got their unique “Affy Tapple” name.

Plus, we discuss how they make so many caramel apples, where they source their apples, and what fun products you can get Halloween, Christmas, and beyond!

You can find Affy Tapple at your local Chicagoland grocer, or visit their online store to ship them to your loved ones around the country!

Follow them on Instagram: @affytapple

Shop or Ship Affy Tapple: https://www.affytapple.com

Visit our Instagram to see exclusive footage from our behind scenes Affy Tapple HQ tour!

Come with us to Chicago’s premier antique market, a two-day event hosted by the fabulous Sally Schwartz and her team at Image Pilots. Browse indoor and outdoor vendors at this European-style vintage and antique festival.

Established well before we were born, the market has been a national favorite among tastemakers and designers. Stroll through hundreds of booths and you never know what treasure you will find!

Sally Schwartz joins us for a lively conversation about how it all began years ago, and how trends have evolved overtime.

Plus, learn about why vintage is so trendy right now and what makes antiques worth collecting.

For more info on the upcoming Holiday Randolph Street Market (November 18-19) visit: https://randolphstreetmarket.com/

Follow the Market for announcements and sneak peeks: @randolphmarket

See our experience at the market on Instagram @sipwithme_

Vibe check, Chicago!! If you're a regular on the Chicago food & drink scene, chances are you've been to one of Brad Parker's establishments, which include the popular Hampton Social, The Bassment, newly opened Nisos Prime, and more coming.

 

Entrepreneur Brad Parker is the founder of Parker Hospitality and his dining concepts are more than kitchens slinging conventional dishes —--they’re immersive portals that transport guests to dreamy destinations: you have the nautical Hampton Social which evokes an East Coast lifestyle; Mediterranean Nisos lets you escape to the Greek Islands; and live music venue, Bassment, is a one of our favorite speakeasy lounges. 

 

Brad joins us this week to discuss what you can enjoy at his immersive establishments, both in Chicago and around the nation. We learn fun facts like where the famously instagramable “rosé all day” sign came from and what theme is next on his business bucket list.

Hear how he curates each location’s high quality menu and why his spots are perfect for many young adults like Ioanna & Aaron, who want insane quality food but also sometimes want to have fun in a more sophisticated environment than a busy club or crowded bar.

Plus, Ioanna & Aaron dine at Nisos Prime Bar & Hampton Social. AND we had such a good time, we’re going back to Nisos Prime Bar this week to celebrate Ioanna’s birthday (we’re mostly going back for the homemade bread app)!

We 10/10 recommend Brad’s spots for a night out with friends, to celebrate a special event, or just to treat yourself. The food quality was superior, the staff were the friendliest in the city, and the energy, let us tell you, the VIBES truly transported us to places far far away.

See our experience and reviews on Instagram @sipwithme_

Visit https://www.parkerhospitality.com to see locations, make reservations, and view menus!

Follow Brad: @bradparker_hospitality

Follow Parker Hospitality: @parkerhospitality

This week, Celebrity Private Chef Brooke Baevsky, also known as “Chef Bae”, takes us into the kitchen to tell us all about her fascinating career and some of the viral content she’s created.

She’s known for her day-in-the-life videos, shopping at Erewhon, a viral $2000 dollar pizza, and so much more! She does it all, from shopping for her clients to crafting the tastiest recipes that meet even the most strict allergen/nutritional needs.

We chat about a day in the life of a celeb chef, what inspires her extravagant meals, and so much more! We finish the episode with a round of rapid fire where we find out her favorite food, go-to seasoning, and dream client!

For this week’s cocktail, we're featuring a fall inspired mocktail, The Magic Apple, which comes from Town & Country Mag. It’s the perfect mocktail to sip on as we make our way into our favorite season, fall! Link is in our Instagram bio!

To book Brooke’s services or find out more about what she offers, visit her website: https://itschefbae.com/

And follow her on social: @chefbae Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefbae/

Tik Tok:https://www.tiktok.com/@chefbae

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itschefbae

Put on your fave overalls and goodwill tee because today we’re getting down and dirty with Mr. Kate!

Famous design duo  Kate and Joey share everything design, decor, and DIY on their channel. You can find super helpful renovation tips, design inspo, and the behind the scenes from some of their celebrity space makeovers! They’ve earned almost 4 million subs on YouTube alone!

They have transformed the homes of YouTube celebrities like Jeffree Star, James Charles, the Dolan twins, and the list goes on!

They've launched their very own furniture line, and really inspired both Ioanna and I with design of Ioanna’s first home in Lincoln Park!

Join us as we chat their process, relationship, the ups and downs of design, and so much more! Plus, a peek into what they’ve been working on!

They’re vulnerable, they’re quirky, they’re loving, they’re Mr. Kate! Follow them @mrkate and shop their lines at https://linktr.ee/mrkate

In place of a cocktail this week, please support fellow Hawaiians impacted by the devastating Maui fires by donating: https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/maui

Bekah Wriedt is a chicago-based fashion and lifestyle photographer who shot our GORGEOUS, pink Sip with Me photos earlier this year. We feel the need to brag about how good she is by having her on the show to share her story, tips for getting your photos taken, and what it was like working with us…

We hear about how she found her passion through the lens and what her journey has been like building a name for herself. She gives us some tips to use during our next photo shoot and reveals all the tea about shooting us, a Virgo & Chaotic Capricorn.

To see her work, including our pics, and to book her for your next personal or business shoot, visit her website: https://www.bekahwriedt.com/

📸: @bekahwriedt

The day after Ioanna’s wedding last summer, we ambitiously aired an episode of Sip With Me while we were still recovering from the Greek tradition of dancing all night and breaking plates. It was iconic because our guest was an icon, Melissa Andre, Founder of Melissa Andre Design Co. and, according to our episode title from last year, a “Château Innovator”. She’s planned events for the most “A” of the “A-List” celebs and has a vision for creation that is unmatched in today’s event planning market.

Melissa is BACK to get all the tea from Ioanna & Aaron about the wedding, including the good, the bad, and the juicy drama.

Plus, Melissa tells us about how wedding & event season 2023 is shaping up when compared to the record smashing, post-pandemic social palooza that was 2022. Literally our social batteries are still fried!

And, Melissa gets a brilliant idea for a podcast, which we are manifesting and would love to invest in once we ever make a penny from Sip With Me.

We finish with a hilarious update on the Château and Melissa tells us what a pain in the a** renovations can be.

We truly love Melissa and her support of our show has meant the world! Give her a follow @melissaandre and visit the link in our Instagram bio to check out her work!

Melissa, we’ll see you soon for some Pilates reformer and gossip!!

Sheena Melwani is a media personality, but not one who went down this path on purpose. With musical roots, Sheena has always been known for her amazing voice, and in 2020, her and her husband @therealindiandad went viral, forming their iconic “interrupted series”. Today, approaching 10 million TikTok followers, Sheena and her husband continue to make people laugh through positivity and joy, and Sheena continues to bless us all with her angelic voice, including her EP “Find Your Happy” and some amazing collabs with global performers.

Sheena joins us to discuss her rise to fame, longtime passion for music, and her recent EP.

Plus, we talk about about how nerves to perform are SO real! And, we get a motivational pep talk on how to truly “find your happy”.

We end with rapid fire, during which we learn a truly iconic bagel connection between Ioanna and Sheena!

In place of a cocktail, we share our go-to bagel orders!

Follow Sheena on Instagram @sheenamelwani and visit her website to stream her music www.sheenamelwani.com