Unexpected & Delicious Meal

I was on the phone with Afsan, while trying to put together dinner. I found the following ingredients in my refrigerator: chicken breast, cremini mushrooms, onion, garlic, a red russet potato, and fresh basil. I mentioned something about not knowing what to do with these ingredients and just like that I was given the following idea that was both healthy and delicious.

The following recipe was made for one person, but can be easily doubled, tripled or quadrupled to make more.

Ingredients:

1/3 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast - cut into bite size pieces
1/2 c. of small yellow onion - diced
1/4 c. mushrooms - white, cremini, or shitake
1-2 cloves of garlic
1 small-medium red russet potato - diced
1 tblsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 c. good tomato sauce
fresh basil
some white wine (I used Charles Shaw - Chardonnay)
sprinkles of kosher salt
fresh ground pepper

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over low to medium heat. Once warmed in non-stick pan, add yellow onion. Stir with a wooden spoon until golden. Add minced garlic cloves and mix together with onions. After a minute or two, add the chicken and turn the heat up to medium-high. Once the chicken is lightly browned, add the potato and mushrooms. Allow enough time for the mushrooms to release its natural juices and then sprinkle some salt and a generous amount of pepper on top. Stir the contents once or twice and cover for about 5 minutes. Add the white wine and tomato sauce, lower the heat, and cover until potatoes are tender to the bite. Uncover and toss fresh basil slices in the pan. Lower heat and serve.

I ate this on its own, but it would taste great served with rice.

A Lovely Way to Spend a Saturday Night

One word comes to mind when I think of my experience at this new restaurant-bar in North Park. Comfort.
When I first see Urban Solace I am reminded of the south of France because of its charming pastel yellow hue and delicate, rod-iron balconies. It is the one building, on the up and coming 30th street, that stands out as warm and inviting.
Once I enter the solace I am again comforted by the atmosphere, but this time for a multitude of reasons. The interior design is simple, yet contains subtle and beautiful intricacies such as stained glass windows, a narrow, softly curved, elongated bar, and rectangular cut-outs in the back wall that span from the ceiling to the floor with down lighting that draws my eyes to the gradation of its burgundy color.
We sit at the bar and the people surrounding us are exactly the kind of people I want to be around - mature adults of all ages, out enjoying a glass of wine and some good conversation. This brings me a lot of satisfaction and throughout the night conversation is flowing in many directions. The 40-something couple to our right could not be more comfortable in their own skin as they tell us their story about how they met and the humorous realities of their five year marriage. Attentive is an understatement to describe the bartender, and it is clear she genuinely cares that we enjoy the experience.
The food is good and not overpriced. However, it is not the highlight of the night and at the same time does not take away from it.
Without a doubt I would, and will, go back there any time.