Boston Brunchies at Friendly Toast

After a busy couple days in Boston with the family and celebrating multiple Thanksgivings it was time for some kick a$# brunch. My sister-in-law never disappoints and always find the best places on the planet to eat and especially have brunch. Check out the last spot she recommended: Abe and Louie's which turned out to be delicious on so many levels.

She found Friendly Toast a couple months ago  and raved about it saying it was the best atmosphere, most unique brunch combination and quite delicious. So she gave me three options and the menu and website sold me on Friendly Toast in Cambridge. Okay the Food Network, Boston and the Today show also raved! :)

We headed in on a Saturday with a party of 6 which included the cutest and happiest baby ever and the most beautiful 2.5 year old. :) We didn't have to wait and were pretty much seated immediately. As soon as I walked in I knew this place was going to be amazing because of the diner atmosphere. As soon as we sat down I went through the menu like a mad woman... and couldn't wait to order. I choose to order something completely bizarre and so did the boy. But my sister and brother ordered typical dishes which equalled the best opportunity ever to try pretty much everything on the menu.

Lindsay
Sunrise Scramble: I mean listen to this amazing combination corn chips topped with eggs, jalapeno jack cheese and corn salsa. And don't forget a ridiculous size piece of their homemade bread and serving of spicy potatoes. Everything was top-notch... I don't think I would ever order the same thing twice because their are so many amazing options.

Kelly
Coconut Cakes: She loves this dish and has ordered it on both occasions. Pancakes made with chocolate chips, coconut and cashews topped with coconut sauce Note: get the heavy/sweet sauce on the side and only order one cake because they are ginormous... and delicious.

Nick
King Cakes: Two "mini" pancakes with bananas, chocolate chips and peanut butter in between topped with whipped cream and paired with bacon. This dish made my mouth drool and I have to admit I was a bit jealous. Another great thing about Friendly Toast is that they have gluten free options.

Dave
Ole Miss: Homemade cayenne-cheddar toast topped sausage and mashed chipotle sweet potatoes, two scrambled eggs and mango sour cream. All I can say is "holy moly' this combination is a winner. All the flavors melded into one delicious bite after another.

I think I probably had 1000+ calories but it made me so happy and being around my family is the best! I couldn't have asked for a better brunch... the laid back atmosphere, crazy and delicious combinations of flavor and ingredients and the best company a girl could ask for.

 I am truly the luckiest girl in the world. Below is my new best friend: Ella. Adorable, sweet and doesn't say no to me!

I am so thankful my brother, sister and two beautiful nieces Lily and Ella. I can't wait to visit them again and try another unbelievable brunch!

New Review: Barolo Ristorante

Tonight's Dine Around Seattle choice is Barolo Ristorante. I have heard great things about this spot and was so excited to meet up with my girl Tassoula who loves to dine in style on a budget. :) Earlier this month Tassoula and I hit up the Stumbling Goat Bistro and were well beyond satisfied with our entire experience... it was one of the best meals and experiences I have I had in months. So we were both really excited to check out Barolo and have a similar experience.

Let's just say we were really happy we called in early and made reservations. This place was crazy busy at 7pm on a Wednesday... standing room only in the bar and all the tables were taken. The decor was beautiful and super trendy I really thought I was walking into an episode of Sex and the City which made me happy. Tassoula and I started off the meal right with a glass of wine and the server was really nice and helped us pair our wines with our dinners. Super helpful!!

My first course was Octopus Carpaccio with sweet greens and grilled peppers. Let me just say this octopus was so thinly sliced and was topped with a light tasty sauce... it was so delicious and the presenation was beautiful. Almost licked my plate clean. :)

Second course was Seared Muscovy Duck Breast with a Black Cherry-wine sauce. Let me just say this sauce was the perfect pair to with my tender duck breast. The duck was tender, juicy and delicious especially when you get a cherry in a bite. :) The mashed potatoes were just an added bonus to this amazing entree. Cabbage was also served with my entree and I even liked that. Pretty much licked my plate clean... again.

Third course was a Cannoli. It was pretty darn tasty but I will always compare Cannoli's to Mike's Pastries in Boston. And nothing really can compare to those monsters. :) I enjoyed this Cannoli and... again I pretty much licked my plate clean. Tassoula ordered the Pumpkin Brule and said it was amazing... if you love pumpkin of course and a huge serving size.

Tonight's meal was quite a feast. I enjoyed the loud and trendy environment that Barolo offered. It was perfect way to get over hump day! Barolo is a must for all Seattlites and Foodies. I am so glad I have a friend like Tassoula who is down to try the hot spots on a budget. I would recommend valet parking because its only $7! :) I can't wait to try another fancy restaurant because Dine Around Seattle lasts until the end of the month.

REVIEW: Pomegranate Brunchies

This week's brunch of choice was Pomegranate Bistro in Redmond. This is a neighborhood favorite and always a busy spot on the Eastside. Today the boy and I met up with one of our favorite couples Tiana and Cameron. We got there around 11 am and there was about a 25 minute wait to get in. The boy and I decided to get a coffee while we waited... I stuck to my ususal Americano but he tried their Hawaiian Joy latte which featured macadamia nut flavor. It was delicious I definitely recommend trying it! :)

Pomegranate Bistro is a splash of home with some flair... a mixture that is perfect for me! Their menu has comfort food favorites with a dash of sassy and new creations that just make your mouth water. For my brunch I ordered the Croque Madame, the boy ordered Huevos Rancheros and Tiana and Cameron both ordered The Pom Benedict. As we waited I sipped on my bloody mary that had the perfect amount of spice... loved it!

To begin our brunch right we ordered the Savannah Hot Puffs which are basically beignets smothered in sugar that melt in your mouth and make you smile.

Next up the real brunch. Check out our spread below:

Croque Madame

The Croque Madame was delicious and it was paired with a spring salad with sun dried tomatoes. The bread was pretty thick and a little hard to cut through but the flavors were to die for. The ham, egg and cheese were yummo.

Huevos Rancheros

The Huevos Rancheros were delicious. It had a great flavor and was surprisingly light. I have never had huevos rancheros so this was the perfect introduction. I can't wait to try it again. :) The ranchero sauce and lime crema were super tasty.







Pom Benedict with Smoked Salmon

This was a great twist on the traditional eggs benedict. The smoked salmon and eggs were cooked to perfection and placed on top of a biscuit. Again the subtly changes in traditional menu items is quite unique. I definitely this neighborhood favorite the atmosphere is great, the service is good, the value is terrific and the food is full of flavor. Next time you are on the Eastside check out this sassy bistro. :)



New Review: Beach Cafe Brunch

This morning I headed to meet my friend Jill at her favorite yoga place Balance Yoga in Woodinville. I am not usually a yoga person because it is so incredibly hard for me! My flexibility is quite ridiculous... meaning I have no flexibility. :)

But I decided to buy their Two Weeks Unlimited Package for $18. I figured if I just went once or twice it would be worth it. I wouldn't say I love yoga but I do love Balance Yoga. The location is always clean, the instructors are always super helpful and the classes always leaving my saying "I hate yoga!" I say I hate it because I am just not very good at it, I am always sore the day after and in some weird way I can't wait until the next class. I guess you could say I am a masbchistic when it comes to yoga. :)

I think I am coming around to almost enjoying yoga and I think a big reason is because of the amazing instructors and studio at Balance Yoga.

After yoga it was time to head to The Beach Cafe for brunch with my girlies... Mary, Tassoula and Eleana. The Beach Cafe is located on Carillon Point in Kirkland and is known for having good grub. When we all finally arrived with all decided to order a Brunch Happy Hour cocktail for $5... Bloody Mary please! I know that is pretty predictable.

Next up was ordering time and I decided to go with the Open Faced Bagel Sandwich included smoked Idaho trout, a fried egg, pistachio cream cheese and topped with pancetta pesto. I mean this the pistachio cream cheese and pancetta pesto sold me. :)

Look at that spread above. As I took a bit with all the flavors I was in heaven. The pistachio cream cheese, pancetta and egg were the perfect pairing to the trout and bagel! The potatoes were also amazing... I didn't even add ketchup. My brunch was tasty, the price was even better and the company topped everything. There is nothing better than eating brunch on Sunday with your girlfriends.

The Beach Cafe's menu has a great variety, the prices are very reasonable, the service was good and the food was pretty darn tasty. My bill totalled less than $20... I mean that is a great deal.

We took a few photos to capture the memories. We are a fine group of ladies!! Great memories, great food and another great date with the girls.

I can't wait until our next brunch adventure... where to next?

Bacon Vodka... Umm Yes Please!

Today is packe8d with things to get done! First run 6 miles in the freezing cold... surprisingly the run was pretty enjoyable. Elise ran my butt into the ground, I swear we were running 8 minute miles... that is probably not true but it sure felt like it. I was definitely surprised at how sore I was.

Next a movie date with my dad! The Ides of March is an excellent flick but really how can you go wrong with both George Clooney and my love Ryan Gosling. The only downer in the mover was that Mr. Gosling kept his shirt on the whole time... such a let down. The movie was entertaining and very relevant! After snacking on popcorn and a delicious Honey Crisp Apple during the movie (which my dad couldn't believe I brought in) I was ready for a snack.

Next stop Palimino for some Happy Hour because it is all day everyday! As we arrived I spotted one of my favorite things in the whole world, A Bloody Mary Bar. My dad at I looked at each other and said "Looks like Bloody Mary's are on the menu."

This bloody mary bar was the best I have ever seen! First I had to choose my vodka which was pretty easy once the waitress said they had bacon vodka. I mean I had no idea that is existed but its makes me really happy to know! I got my glass filled with bacon vodka and headed to the bar. I chose the spicy tomato juice and then topped my glass with a lemon, shrimp, green beans, asparagus, gherkins, olives and peppers. Everything just seemed so right!

The bacon vodka is the perfect pairing to a spicy Bloody Mary! I think I prefer bacon vodka from now on. Seriously you have to try it and let me know what you think. Bacon Vodka Bloody Mary's topped with every veggie make my heart so happy! :)

NEW REVIEW: Stumbling Goat Bistro

As soon as I heard that Dine Around Seattle was happening this month... I rushed to the website and scanned the list. My first choice is Stumbling Goat Bistro, Seattle's Best Kept Secret. I was really excited to try this place because their menu looks amazing and I absolutely love that they support the community through using local ingredients and posting artists work on the walls.

I headed to Stumbling Goat Bistro after to work and got there a bit early and decided to enjoy a cocktail before Tassoula my fellow foodie arrived. Check out our other adventures Seattle Restaurant Week & Portage Bay.  When I walked in I was in love with how quaint the atmosphere and decor was. As I sat at the bar and looked over the menu I feel a little deeper in love with Stumbling Goat because of how unique their cocktails were. I decided to go with the Pomegranate Basil Cocktail... vodka, lemon, pomegranate juice and bruised basil. This was by far the most beautiful and delicious cocktail I have had in a long time. The basil and promegranate complimented each other perfectly.

Right as I was finishing my cocktail Tassoula arrived. I was so excited to see her and eat my face off. We sat down and immediately looked over the wine list and ordered a glass... this is one of the many reasons I love her. We then got down to business looking over the 3 course meal options. I have to say the waitress was amazing and answered all our questions with a smile and knew the menu inside out.

My first course was Mushroom Bisque. It was the perfect texture and the flavors were amazing. The presentation was beautiful and the chives on top were the perfect flavor to mix with the bisque. First course = delish!

My main course was the Duck Confit with beluga lentils, watercress and glazed figs! The duck was amazing and the lentils and glazed figs were the perfect pairings. I loved eating all the flavors in one bite... because they complimented each other so well. Again look at how amazing the presentation is. Main course = Mouthwatering Goodness!

For dessert I ordered the Devil's Food Cake with bittersweet chocolate ganache, spiced figs and tawny port reduction. This cake was deliciously moist and the figs were amazing! The cake wasn't overly sweet, I would say it was just the right amount of everything. Dessert = Sweet Perfection.

My experience at Stumbling Goat Bistro was top notch. I have no complaints about the service, food, quality or location. This was the best dinner I have had in a long time. Like I said before I just love the quaintness of the restaurant, I really felt like we were the only ones in the restaurant. Loved every moment of our dinner and I can't wait to go back and pay for price! :)

Dave's Gourmet Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce

Tonight I actually got home before 7pm and I decided that I was going to cook a feast.. okay maybe not a feast but definitely an upgrade. :)

On tonight's menu Whole wheat pasta topped with tofu and Dave's Gourmet Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce. My side of choice is edamame. :) My mom bought me Dave's Butternut Squash Sauce... cause I have alot of issues paying $6 to $8 for pasta sauce... her secret to making it even better is adding some sriracha!

And my mom was right the pasta, butternut squash pasta sauce and tofu were the perfect ending to my night of quietness. The sauce is a must try for everyone this fall! :)

The best part of homecooking is left to the overs! Pretty sure the meal above with be my lunch of choice for the next 3 days. Dinner was so yummy, I guess sometimes splurging on good products is a good thing once in awhile.