Soft-mouth-watering-warm-stuffed pretzels and delicious foods served in tea form are not places that are easily known to most people. So when one of my friends, Amanda Green suggested these places to me, my response was, "I never heard of it, but let's go check it out."

Gnarly Knots

27W570 High Lake Road,

Winfield, IL

United States

630-473-043

After what seemed to be an awfully long car ride, we arrived at what looked like an ordinary house with a sign that said Gnarly Knots. What's unique about this place is that creative stuffed soft pretzels they serve. Each day they have a different stuffed soft pretzel along with a soup. We ordered the three cheese stuffed pretzels along with the 'Creamy Tomato Basil' soup, and I remember daydreaming about the pretzel hours later.

Besides the stuffed soft pretzels that they have, they also have other pretzels like the pretzel dog and cinnamon sugar dog. While they have the main soup, Creamy Tomato Basil, their soups change from day-to-day too.

Another unique aspect about this place is that you eat the pretzels and soup outside behind the house at picnic tables. They took the whole 'eating-out' experience literally.

Gnarly Knots can't be compared to store-bought frozen soft pretzels.

Photo by Amanda Green

Tea'se Tea Shoppe

5755 W Irving Park Road

Chicago, IL 60634

(773)-599-4136

Sweet Watermelon, Chocolate Cake, Tiramisu, Blueberry Mango, all these foods sound delicious. But have you ever tried them in tea form? Tea'se Tea Shoppe on Irving Park Road in Chicago showcases various teas and lets you choose what tea you want to be brewed and whether you want it to be served hot or cold. The first tea I had was the Sweet Watermelon served cold. This place has a friendly and relaxing atmosphere, but the hardest part is deciding what tea you want to try.

Sometimes the places we never heard of, are worth the trip to check it out.