Life of The Bacon Princess

Blog world, I decided that in the spirit of making a personal connection with you all, it was time for me to share a little bit more about myself. Because ultimately, I want to foster a community of readers who share mutual interests rather than a one-sided, non-communicative blog that blends in with all the rest.

So, let’s start with the basics. My name is Analiese and I am an aspiring writer. In my eyes, there is just something special about the art of the written word that entices me and makes me feel like I can make a positive impact on the lives of others. Prior to about a year ago, I was a dedicated musician, having played the flute ever since the young age of five. Music is a powerful thing and I am absolutely an advocate, but nowadays I feel more alive hearing the clacking sound of the keys on my laptop rather than the keys on my flute.

Currently, I am enjoying life in Chicago, where the cold temperatures and intense snowstorms don’t phase me one bit. It’s easy for me to get over the weather conditions when I am constantly surrounded by beautiful architecture, several vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, and, of course, hundreds of spectacular restaurants serving high quality and unique food that prior to moving here had only appeared in my most vivid of dreams.

As far as who to thank for getting me into food writing, the answer is undoubtedly Spoon Magazine. I can clearly remember my very first editorial meeting Fall of my senior year at Northwestern, and how excited (and nervous!) I was to be part of such an amazing team. I started out writing relatable recipes geared towards college students, and since graduating this past June have come to expand my writing projects to things like interviews with influential figures in the Chicago food industry and restaurant reviews. Oh, and of course, articles about bacon.

This past January I started writing for Examiner.com, where I focus on bars and nightlife in Lincoln Park, one of my favorite little nooks of Chicago. So far I’ve written about where to get the best gluten-free pizza, and where you can go to escape from the college crowd. Next up is an exclusive interview with Leah Caplanis, CEO of Social Enjoyments, an amazing new beverage geared towards women set to launch in March.

Besides writing, I work at Fat Rice, one of Chicago’s hottest restaurants, serving dishes that fit their unique fusion cuisine inspired by Portuguese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian foods. This impressive, 40-seat restaurant has been riddled with awards and nominations despite only being open for just over a year. Bon Appétit named Fat Rice the #4 Best New Restaurant in America this past August, and just yesterday, the head chefs received a James Beard Nomination.

This morning I awoke to an email from WordPress notifying me of a comment from one of my favorite blog personalities, Jhuls of thenotsocreativecook…and baker! To my surprise, this sweet lady nominated me for The Sunshine Award, a sort of People’s Choice award among bloggers. This blog is my pride and joy and there is no better feeling in the world than knowing other people love something you put a lot of time, effort and love into.

If you’ve made it to this point in my monologue, I applaud you for your dedication and deeply appreciate you taking the time to read a little bit more about who I am and what I stand for. With all of this said, I encourage you all out there to keep reading, of course, but more importantly, to ask me any questions, share any opinions of my work, or provide any constructive criticism you may have. I wouldn’t be anywhere without my audience, and genuinely value your opinions and especially your life experiences unbeknownst to me that drive your unique points of view.

Lots of love (and bacon),
Analiese