Postcards from Bunny: More Pret A Manger Chicago Exclusives

Though she often can't stay as long as she might like, Bunny does stop into Chicago quite often these days, if only to transfer flights between her globe trotting adventures.  One of the benefits of these quick trips is that Bunny can stop into one of her favorite fast service food destinations, a Pret a Manger, to see their latest offerings.  Recently, all the Pret a Manger's across Chicago brought some more Chicago exclusive dishes to their shelves, and while on a brief snow delay, Bunny and was able to stop in and test out all of them.

In the Hot Pots and Soups section, Bunny spotted the return of an old favorite, Turkey Chili.  The chili was loaded with lots of succulent ground turkey and red beans, which made it hearty and filling enough for a quick dinner.  The spice was just right for Bunny and was even balanced out by a little sweetness in the tomato base.

Under the salads, Bunny spotted the Pret's Chef Salad.  It's colorful mix of ingredients, like cherry tomatoes, sliced avocado, hard boiled egg, sliced turkey, and crisp strips of bacon made every bite exciting and full of texture and flavor.  Bunny found the mix so appealing that she was half way through the salad before she realized she'd forgotten to put any dressing on it!

Browsing the cold sandwiches, Bunny found the Turkey and Wisconsin Cheddar, which was also dressed with fresh tomato, crisp romaine, mustard, and mayo on a soft grain bread.  Though this sandwich was a classic flavor combination, since it was made with top notch ingredients, the flavors shone through individually instead of melding together in a mushy mess, like what can often happen with other such lunch box staples.

Lastly, Bunny picked up the Chicago Super Club, a meaty mix of turkey, bacon, and ham with lettuce, fresh tomato, roasted tomato, and mayo on soft granary bread.  Though quite unassuming in person, this sandwich was substantial because of the combinations of the meats and pretty bold flavor wise.  Bunny really liked the little bursts of roasted tomato, which added a bright sweetness to the sandwich.

Pleasantly full with Pret a Manger goodness, Bunny was once again on her way to her next exciting adventure, though part of her longed to stick around Chicago long enough to wait for the next wave of deliciousness to hit the Pret a Manger's shelves.  "Oh, and it would be nice to see Brandy, I suppose," she smirked.

The writers of this blog were provided with items from Pret a Manger at no cost to facilitate the writing of this post.

Postcards from Bunny: Warm Comfort Foods at Pret a Manger

Bunny tends to pick the worst possible times to visit Chicago.  Recently, she was merely meant to be passing through between trips between Crete and Guam, but the surprise blizzard of 2015 grounded her flight and she found herself in a posh hotel room in the Loop and nothing to do.  "I do love you, my dear, but there is no way I will be going out in this snow," Brandy told her dear friend when she phoned her, "I mean, I might get stuck in a snow drift and never be heard from again!  And then where will Chicago get their brunch recommendations?!"  "It's perfectly understandable," Bunny sighed, "But how am I to pass the time?"  "Well, if memory serves, you're within walking distance of a Pret a Manger, and I've heard they are serving lots of new dishes.  Why don't you go try some of those?"
"Good idea!" Bunny grinned, instantly cheered.

First, Bunny took a look at the new Hot Pots, which came in Korean BBQ Pork and Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Curry.  Bunny most certainly would have gone for the curry, but sadly, a friendly worker let her know that he had just sold the last one, so she gladly settled for the BBQ Pork.  She found the bowl to be a hearty mix of the aforementioned meat, which was melt-in-the-mouth tender and smothered in a sweet, tangy sauce, with red peppers, and black sesame seeds, all topping a bed of red quinoa.  Bunny was instantly warmed by the Hot Pot, just as her tongue was tingled by the mix of spices in the sauce, and so smitten was she with the flavor that she found it hard to believe that the entire things was under 500 calories.

Another day stuck downtown necessitated another trip to Pret for more warm goodies.  This time, Bunny went for the Tomato Spinach Mac and Cheese, another shockingly low calorie option that also came in under 500 calories, having had it's creamy cheese sauce cut with cauliflower.  Bunny had seen that Brandy had sampled the Bacon Mac and Cheese last fall, so she knew she would love the rich, creamy dish, but she hadn't expected the delightful pops of sweetness from the slices of cherry tomato that really made each bite come alive.



On the last day of her snow confinement, Bunny's eye was caught by one of the new sandwiches called the Posh Cheddar, which came on a multigrain baguette with arugula and a tomato chutney.  Even though it wasn't hot, Bunny thought she wouldn't have minded if the sandwich was placed in a toaster oven briefly, which would have just slightly melted the sharp white cheddar, wilted the peppery greens, and brought out the flavors in the sweet chutney even more, but that being said, she actually quite enjoyed the sandwich cold as it was.  "Ah, this reminds me of home," she sighed, thinking of the Ploughman's lunches she used to enjoy as a child.

Luckily soon after that, Bunny and able to continue on her merry way to Guam for some sun and excavating with her husband, Benedict, though she did wish she could have stayed just a little longer in Chicago in order to track down that elusive curry Hot Pot.  "Ah well," she thought, "I'll just have to come back to Chicago sooner rather than later.  I wonder when the next blizzard will arrive..."

The writers of this blog were provided with the items mentioned above by the restaurant free of charge in order to facilitate the writing of this post.

Food News: Pret a Manger's Fall Menu and Chicago Exclusives

There are many reasons Brandy has grown fond of Pret a Manger over the last few years.  Everything they offer is freshly made, the ingredients are local and top notch, the service is always amazingly friendly, and the menus are ever changing to keep things exciting.  "Places like Pret have spoiled me a little when it comes to fast, casual dining," as Brandy likes to say, "Even on the days I'm not going to some elaborate brunch, I know I can pop into one their shops and find something to satisfy any craving I've got."

Though she couldn't be more pleased with Pret a Manger as it is, Brandy was pleasantly surprised to learn that new items were starting to appear in locations across the city which are Chicago exclusive items.  Feeling as though she is some sort of super hero guardian over Chicago's food scene, Brandy felt compelled to try some of these items out for the good of the city's citizens.

The first Chicago exclusive item she tried was the Angus Beef Melt Toastie, which consisted of thick slices of roast beef, red onions, Swiss cheese, mushrooms, and mustard mayo on a hearty artisan bread.  Brandy loved this combination of flavors, but thought the sandwich was a touch on the dry side on the whole after it had been toasted.  A little cup of beef broth to accompany it would not only have solved this problem, but added a nice little touch of Chicago to the beef.

Next, she sampled the Chicago Meatball Hot Wrap with pork and beef meatballs smothered in marinara sauce and loaded with lots of melty cheese.  The packaging on the wrap was pretty ingenious, as it opened in such a way that one could hold the wrap without getting one's hands messy.  The wrap itself was pretty typical for a meatball sandwich, but done well, and the substitution of the tortilla for the bread meant there was nothing to interfere with the meaty goodness.  Brandy couldn't quite decide what was so Chicago about this Chicago Meatball Hot Wrap, but she liked it just the same.

Deciding to stick with the cheese theme, Brandy then went for the brand new Mac and Cheese, which came in a vegetarian variety with spinach and tomato, and a carnivore variety with bacon (of course, she decided on the bacon one).  The normally rich dish had been cut with cauliflower to make it a little healthier without sacrificing the creaminess, which Brandy surprisingly liked, as it added a bit of crunchy texture as well.  The bacon was nice and smokey and in big enough chunks that any true bacon fan wouldn't be left wondering where it was.

Lastly, Brandy sampled the Sweet Potato Falafel Flatbread, which is a new item in locations all across the country.  The wrap consisted of lots of Middle Eastern flavors with not only the falafel, but a drizzle of tzatziki sauce, pickled cabbage, and fresh herbs.  Though expecting the falafel to be a bit crunchier, Brandy found this version to be soft and sweet, but still with a good amount of texture to it.  The fresh veggies and herbs ensured that every bite was bright and exciting.

There were many more new dishes on the Pret a Manger menu, like the BBQ Pork Hot Wrap, the Spicy Chicken Toastie, and the Chicken Caesar and Bacon Baguette, but Brandy had to put those off for another day.  With what she had sampled so far, she felt she had done her duty and protected the masses from bland, wasteful food for another day, so she was off to another exciting adventure (in other words, she was full, so she went to her knitting circle meeting).

The writers of this blog were invited to dine free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Postcards from Bunny: Pret A Manger 5 Grain Oatmeal + GIVEAWAY!!!

If you've been a fan of Bunny and Brandy for a while now, you might have noticed that their culinary choices rarely have anything to do with the healthiest options.  Generally, when you get to Bunny and Brandy's age, the more bacon, butter, and/or bourbon a dish is laced with, the more likely it is to get ordered.  But that's not to say that Bunny and Brandy are opposed to healthy dishes.  "If it tastes good and its made to the finest standards, I couldn't give a flying monkey's what it's fat or calorie count is, nor if its gluten free, sugar free, caffeine free, sodium free, or hydrogen dioxide free," Brandy says.

So it was with great skepticism that Brandy read in one of Bunny's postcards (sent from the very tip of Argentina) that she was going to start making an effort at eating a healthier breakfast each morning.  "Traipsing through these ancient burial sights after Benedict is quite trying on me," Bunny wrote, "Its been brought to my attention that a few more nuts, grains, and seeds in my morning routine could help to boost my energy, so I'm giving that a go."  "Poppycock," Brandy barked, rolling her eyes at the postcard, "Nuts and seeds.  She's not a canary, for goodness sake!"

But something about Bunny's words must have stuck with her, because Brandy found herself one morning stuck in the Loop after a snow related train malfunction.  With nothing else to do, she decided to seek out a little breakfast at one of her favorite convenience food stops, Pret a Manger.

The first things Brandy took notice of were the delectable breakfast croissants in Bacon and Egg and Mozzarella and Tomato, both of which would normally have been the kind of thing she went for: freshly baked, packed with rich flavors, and highly portable.

But on this morning, for some unknown reason, Brandy was drawn to another section which housed cup of Pret's freshly prepared oatmeal in two different varieties: the Traditional Steel-Cut Oatmeal and the brand new 5 Grain Oatmeal, which came packed with chia seeds, flax seeds, amaranth, and quinoa in addition to the standard steel cut oats.  A variety of toppings were also on offer for both oatmeals, which included cranberries, raisins, granola, cinnamon, brown sugar, and sliced almonds.  Intrigued, Brandy decided to sample both the traditional oatmeal and the 5 grain.

Much to her surprise (and chagrin) Brandy found herself really loving the 5 grain oatmeal!  Its variety of textures just edged out the more traditional oatmeal in her mind (thought the traditional oatmeal was pretty tasty as well), and especially when combined with the sweetness of cranberries and the warm spice of cinnamon the oatmeal provided a brilliant combination of flavors.  Brandy was also surprised to find that the oatmeal did indeed provide her with a sustained energy throughout the day as she went about her errands (that is to say her her knitting circle, her quilting society meeting, and the gathering of associated embroiderers).  "Maybe there is something to this whole grain thing Bunny was so taken with," she mused, and then quickly promised herself she'd never let Bunny know she might be right about something.

Intrigued about Pret A Manger's 5 Grain Oatmeal?  Well, you are in luck, dear readers, because Bunny and Brandy are giving away a $25 gift card to one of their loyal fans so they can sample the goods for themselves!

The contest begins immediately and will run through midnight Tuesday February 11th with the winner being announced on Wednesday February 12th right here in this very post!  The rules are simple:  Leave us a comment here on the blog, on our Facebook page, or on our Twitter page simply stating what your favorite topping for oatmeal is!

You can comment once through each page and the winner will be decided using Random.org.  Feel free to email us at bunnyandbrandy@gmail.com with any questions!  Good luck, brunchers!

>>>>>>>>>>>Update!!!!!<<<<<<<<<<<<

Congratulations to @D_Chehab on winning the $25 gift card to Pret A Manger!  Please email us at bunnyandbrandy@gmail.com with your name and address in the next 24 hours to collect your prize!

Postcards from Bunny: Pret a Manger Holiday Menu

At this point, Brandy is pretty used to her regular postcards from Bunny, which usually arrive tattered, torn, water marked, and muddy from every mysterious corner of the earth.  So when something other than a postcard showed up on her doorstep on the day after Thanksgiving, Brandy was more than a little surprised.

Opening her door that chilly morning Brandy was greeted by a group of smiling, handsome young men in fuzzy hats and brightly colored rugby jerseys.  "Brandy?" one of them asked cheerily.  Brandy gave a stern nod and he handed her a muddied and water marked envelope, which upon opening revealed the following note:

Greetings dear girl!  These gentlemen are part of the Portuguese Handball team and have come to Chicago to play in a tournament.   I met them in a pub in Uruguay and had a lovely chat with them about American foods and holidays.  They seemed very interested in the traditions behind Thanksgiving and asked me to refer them to someone who could show them the ropes.  As you're practically an American now, I thought you could oblige them.  Much love to you!     -Bunny

Brandy looked up from the flowery stationary upon which the note had been written to see the still smiling faces of the Portuguese Handball team looking at her expectantly.  "Turkey?" one of them said, cocking his head to the left like a curious puppy.  "Turkey, right, see the thing is," Brandy began, "I didn't make a turkey this year.  We had a potluck at the Quilting Society meeting and I was in charge of the green beans and..."  But her explanation didn't seem to be making any headway as the young men continued to smile and blink at her.

Not sure what else to do, she ushered them all inside her parlor and sat them down around the television set.  "Alright, you want a traditional American Thanksgiving?  Well first you have to watch Miracle on 34th Street," she said as she flipped on the tiny wood framed screen.  Once she was quite sure that her unexpected house guests were occupied, she stealthily collected her coat, hat, and bag, and slipped out the door.  "Where on earth am I to find a Thanksgiving dinner?" she grumbled on her way to the train, and after riding the Red Line as far as it would go, she came upon an answer.

Having visited Pret A Manger this past summer with Bunny, Brandy knew they had lots of options that would at least be freshly prepared (every Pret a Manger location prepares their wears on sight on a daily basis, donating whatever is left at the end of the day to a local shelter).  "Perhaps I can cobble together something," she mused.  But once arriving at the Pret in Evanston (there are also several Prets in the Loop and a new one opening up inside Merchandise Mart this week), Brandy was simply delighted to find that they were carrying a whole range of flavorful holiday favorites and treats.  Loading her arms full of everything she could find, Brandy headed home to divvy up the treasures just as the Handball boys were finishing their movie.

There were three sandwiches to choose from: the Holiday Lunch, the Holiday Cranberry and Goat Cheese, and the Holiday Ham and Fig Chutney.  The Holiday Lunch consisted of a mix of traditional Thanksgiving flavors with moist slices of turkey, a crunchy nut roast stuffing, cranberry sauce, and spinach on soft granary bread.  Brandy really loved the mix of flavors and textures in this sandwich and especially that the turkey remained the star of the show.  The Holiday Cranberry and Goat Cheese turned out to be a vegetarian version of the Holiday Lunch with smooth, creamy goat cheese spread replacing the turkey.  Brandy felt that the cranberry was given more room to shine in this sandwich.  The Holiday Ham and Fig, which came served on a hearty baguette, provided a more Christmasy contrast with a smokey, tender ham, sweet fig chutney, and crunchy almonds.

There was also the Holiday Turkey Dinner Wrap, which came served hot.  Sharing a lot of its flavors with the Holiday Lunch, the wrap also included sweet potatoes and crispy onions in addition to the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.  This was probably Brandy's (and three out of the four handball players) favorite, as it combined all the best bits of the sweet and savory side dishes that really define a great holiday meal.

For dessert, Brandy had purchased an army of Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies and Holiday Fig and Almond Yogurt Pots as well as a special coffee concoction, the Gingersnap Latte.  The yogurt pots, which had a sensational sweet fig spread on the bottom that could be swirled through the rich Greek yogurt, were also topped with dried cranberries and toasted almond slices.  The Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies were a true rich delight with their soft interior, deep chocolate flavor, and melty white chocolate chunks, which had been ever so slightly kissed with a cool minty essence.  They made the perfect combination with the Holiday Gingersnap Latte, which boasted a more subtle sweetness and a nice spicy kick from the ginger.

Though it may not have been a typical Thanksgiving meal, the Portuguese Handball Team seemed mighty pleased with their impromptu feast, so much so that they all fell asleep, strewn across the various sofas and chairs in Brandy's parlor.  "Well then," Brandy sighed, "I suppose they discovered this little Thanksgiving tradition on their own."

The writers of this blog were provided with gift cards from Pret a Manger in order to sample the holiday menu and give an honest review.

Postcards from Bunny: Pret A Manger

Being that dear Bunny is only in Chicago for such a limited time, Our Ladies have been doing lots of running about this past week, trying to hit all of Bunny's favorite spots (The Lincoln Park Zoo, Millenium Park, Wrigley Field, etc.) and some that she has missed since moving away from the city (like Glazed and Infused and 2 Sparrows, both of which she had been wanting to try ever since Brandy raved about them).  Finally, on one particular day, this constant running left Our Ladies with an afternoon in the Loop and the realization that they hadn't planned anywhere for brunch!  "How could this have happened?" Bunny asked, half laughing and half crying.  "Don't worry, I've got a little ace up my sleeve," Brandy assured her.

Brandy lead Bunny to the nearest Pret A Manger, the perfect sort of spot to grab something fresh, delicious, and on the go, and as they had seven locations in the Loop (and one in Evanston), this proved to be a very convenient option for Our Ladies.  Bunny, who has never been a fan of "fast food" but was very familiar with Pret, as they have locations spread all throughout the UK, was happy enough to grab a few things and then set on their way once more.

Pret A Manger (French for "ready to eat") prides themselves on making all of their sandwiches, salads, wraps, and other goodies fresh in house every day.  You'll not seen an expiration date on most of the food because everything is made and sold on the same day, and the goods that do not sell are donated every night to charities that help the hungry and homeless.

Brandy went for the Avocado and Pine Nut Wrap, which boasted a refreshing mix of creamy avocado, crunchy pine nuts, tomato, spinach, basil, cucumber, and Mediterranean Dressing all wrapped up in a tortilla, as well as some freshly squeezed Honey Tangerine Juice (the ingredients list says "100% Tangerine Juice.  Nothing Else.").  The wrap was so crisp and fresh on such a such a hot day that Brandy ended up tucking the second half of it back into its resealable packaging to save as a burst of refreshment for later in the day.  

Bunny picked the Beets and Berries Salad as well as the Chilled Pea and Mint Soup.  The soup was a real revelation, having a creamy, yet light base, succulent butter poached peas, and a hint of freshness from the mint (Bunny found it so delicious, she considered dispensing with the spoon all together and just drinking the concoction).  The salad also proved to be light and refreshing, yet filling, with sliced strawberries, shredded beets, walnuts, and goat cheese over a bed of mixed greens and spinach.  Bunny found the mix so well balanced that she forgot to even add any dressing to it!

And so with their bellies comfortably full for the time being (and their wallets also comfortably full, as both Our Ladies meals only totaled about $25 combined), Bunny and Brandy once more set off into Chicago.  Stayed tuned for more adventures with Bunny while she's still in town!

*The writers of this blog were given the all the food mentioned compliments of Pret A Manger in exchange for an honest review