Location:
2403 Bull Street
Savannah, GA
31401
One thing at the very top of my Savannah list of places to visit was the Back in the Day Bakery. I'd seen it on Jamie Beck's blog and she highly recommended it on the list of must-sees she gave me.
On a rainy day it was an amazing, indulging breakfast pit stop.
I mean, biscuits and jam? I could have those every day.
(Also, who knew that I could have been sitting so close to one of my Instagram connections - wow, small world!)
Location:
318 3rd St, Cambridge, MAI had the pleasure of having tea with these two lovelies recently, after a wonderful afternoon at this place.
Here we are at Tatte Bakery, one of the cutest bakeries in Kendall Square. A bakery that is not new to my Instagram feed!
As part of a new series, here I am having tea withAna and Alaina.
You know how much I like it hot, right? And it's so rare that pepper jelly is actually spicy.
Stir It Up is something else entirely. Packs a punch!
Patricia Kiernan, the creator of the stuff, is a Jamaican native who has been using her family's recipes to offer deliciously spicy (or mild, there is also mild) catering. Their event planning is one aspect of Stir It Up, the retail side has this incredible pepper jelly, that even my Mom loved. The lime-zest may be for you if you like it a tad less hot. Great to try as a marinade, too.
I enjoyed it for breakfast one morning....
Location:
Zoto's
It was the same place where we got the gelato. This time around it was for the magnificent and ENORMOUS sugared puff pastry.
YUM!
Location:
Perissa Beach, Santorini
The ocean combined with time in the sun never fails to cause the biggest rumbling stomach, wouldn't you agree?
Souvlakis and beers all around, I say!
And while it certainly wasn't the best souvlaki in town, being right by the beach having a cold beer is more than one could ask for.
Location:
1428 6th Ave, New York, NY
Sometimes you just want simple bacon, eggs n' toast for breakfast. Add pototoes in the mix and I'm in heaven.
For $6?
Can't beat that.
I love NYC.
Location:
20 Spring Street, New York, NY
We celebrated N's cousin's birthday with her friend at Bread in Soho. Great venue for brunch and, well, bread.
A very cosy spot that was fully jam packed. The service was excellent as were all the dishes. They even threw in a tiramisu cake on the house.
Location:
212 West 57th Street New York, NY
www.brooklyndiner.com/menu.htm
On our way to the hotel in NYC, we passed by the Brooklyn Diner and immediately decided to try it out sometime. Turned out our hotel was only a few blocks from it, so we walked back for lunch. The place was packed with what looked like business men with heavy mid-sections. After seeing the menu, then our dishes, it was easy to know why. The portions are massive, quite like their prices. $18 for a sandwich? Um. Okay. Tourist trap, likely.
I chose their "famous tuna sandwich", mainly for the Ezekiel bread which I've always wanted to try.
N got the turkey sandwich, which was basically Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich.
The tuna sandwich was greasy, yes, but good. Ezekiel bread was delicious, although covered in butter, taking away it's health factor. The fries were perfect. I don't eat turkey, but the mashed potatoes and gravy were divine.
It's easy to see why this place is so popular, but if I were to eat here everyday, the Ezekiel bread won't help none.
Heart shaped pizza? How about some breaded love?
This is how NYC does Valentine's Day.
Location:
904 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
Location:
900 Boylston Street
Boston
towneboston.com/
I had a lunch date with fellow Boston Blogger Style'N at Towne earlier this week. I didn't realize until I saw the building again that it was the same place I'd spotted one evening in the myriad of street lights, after shopping at the Prudential and thinking, what is that place, I want to go to there.
Huge and cosy interior. Friendly, unintrusive staff. Really tasty meal.
I had the daily pasta - rock shrimp in a red sauce.
Style'N had the cheese & bacon sandwich with tomato bisque.
After the disaster at Kashmir (review coming soon), this was a welcome change.
Location:
(Yorkdale Mall) 3401 Dufferin Street, Toronto
www.michelsbaguette.com
One of my favourite "go-to" bakeries in Toronto is Michel's. It's an European-inspired cafe/bakery and there are several locations in Ontario. It reminds me of Paul's in Paris. No nonsense pastries, sandwiches and cafe lattes.
It's the perfect spot for a giggly group of girls women to go without bothering anyone.
The pastries are delicious.
Perhaps not as good as in Paris, but when you're with a group of good friends, who knows where you really are?
Location:
449 Jarvis St Toronto
www.theblakehouse.ca
Open only three months, one of the last standing heritage structures (built in 1891) in Toronto has been converted into a restaurant called The Blake House (previously, The Red Lion).
One of the three owners and brothers, Jim Vasilakakos sat down and chatted with us as well. He described The Blake House as being "comfort contemporary"; a feeling we instantly felt when we arrived, as Jim himself greeted us at the door.
The interior is gorgeous...all dark wood, warm lighting and lined with giant black and white photographs from Jarvis Street in the 1800's.
We were blown away by the food; everything was so fresh and so tasty! As Jim told us, they only buy local, fresh ingredients and everything is house-made. So, our compliments to the Chef David Araya; thank you for a wonderful meal!
We started off with a local beer, Mill Street Original and an Okanaagan Shiraz...which was delightful.
10oz $3.75 - 20oz $5.75 - 60oz $15.95
Mill Street Original
Prospect Red Willow 8 / 23 / 35
Shiraz, Okanaagan
Had to try the poutine; how could you not?
Poutine 8
Hand Cut Fries and Cheese Curds.
Topped with Bourbon Beef Gravy.
We were warned about the large size, but were blown away by it in reality. It was huge! For $8?! And not drenched in gravy, we could actually taste the hand-cut fries. I've personally decided it's a keeper.
Then, arriving smoking hot, we had the Chicken Pot Pie which I was dreaming about ever since checking the menu prior to arriving at the restaurant.
Chicken Pot Pie 13
Root Vegetables and Roasted Chicken Smothered in
Herb Cream Sauce. Served with Green Salad.
It was one of the best pies I've ever had, not to say I eat a lot of pies, but the very best pie I'd had was in Edinburgh from the Pie Maker. That's, Maker of pies and THIS was on par with THAT.
It was flaky and oozing with such a delicious filling, atypical from the usual potato and rubbery-and-questionable chicken filling. You could actually taste the vegetables (and distinguish them!) from the chicken. The green salad wasn't doused in dressing, either.
The bread and butter are both house-made, the butter changing every night or week according to the chef's desire: Roasted red pepper butter one night (what we had), sage butter, citrus butter... Brilliant and well executed!
Maple Glazed Salmon 18
Roasted Atlantic Salmon. Served with Smashed
Seasonal Potatoes, Braised Leeks with Bacon Burre Blanc.
I found it refreshing to get potatoes (smashed, at that, with salmon, 'cause usually you get salmon:
"seasoned with crushed black pepper and salt served on a bed of basmati rice with vegetables"
OR
"seasoned with a dash of dill and served on a bed of wilted spinach"....
I question a restaurant when they consider salt and pepper SEASONING.
This maple glazed salmon we likened to the way we cook at home: with flavour! The crispy top and break-away center of the salmon was exactly the way I like it. The sweetness of the leeks with the potatoes brings makes me salivate even as I write, as it was just melt in your mouth delicious.
Market Crumble $6.00
Seasonal market fresh fruit and homemade oats baked
golden brown and topped with ice cream (ask your server)
How to describe this market crumble, made to order with blueberries and arriving smokin' hot and so fresh? Oh, I think I just did.
Crème Brulee $6.00
Baked vanilla custard topped with a crusted layer of
caramel and fresh berries
I don't usually order crème brulee, but lately have had cravings for it, and this was a remarkable one and unforgettable. I'd get it again.
The place was packed, even when we were leaving, a group of 25 showed up; but it was no issue to seat the large crowd as the open concept of the interior allows for big as well as intimate gatherings. Our server Kaitlyn was gracious and efficient as well, not missing a beat.
We met with the other two brothers, Nick and Mike, as well; it was so nice to talk to each of them and learn how much it meant to them to preserve the history of the building.
It's evident in the interior design that the original stained glass windows and wood burning fireplace only add to the ambiance of the restaurant. Their patio is possibly the largest in the city, as well.
With an upscale environment serving upscale food but with a down-to-earth vibe and certainly down-to-earth prices, we'd have to agree with Jim and his expression of The Blake House being "your home in the city". Afterall, three hours later, we still weren't ready to leave.
I was recently sent a large box filled with Pita Break products: a variety of One Bun pitas and Lavash "Flax and Honey" crackers.
Now, it's no secret that I like to eat, so it was almost instantaneous that I broke into the Lavash cracker box! It just so happened that I'd just met up with some friends for after-work beers, and these crackers were the perfect snack for the walk over to our Chinese restaurant for dinner.
Slender maybe, but quite "Lavash" in size, the nutty, natural, fibrous flavour would appear to be rather tasteless, but instead is quite the opposite.
Full-mouthed and double-fisting the crackers, all of us agreed they were addictive!
The pitas?
Are quite simply, fabulous. And the variety that they have is astounding!
My favourite is the Breakfast Pita: Cranberry Orange. They were so good in the morning and as a snack (of which there were many while these babies were around) they were perfect with a bit of almond butter and/or jam (usually both, who am I kidding?).
My hubby preferred the Apple Cinnamon.
And because we often like making breakfast egg sandwiches the Breakfast Muesli was perfect for this.
And let me just say, what an ingenious idea to make hamburger buns THINNER!!!
What's better than the thin hamburger bun? The OneBun Hot dog bun - not only thinner, but like a taco, sits neatly on it's side. Love it. And multigrain, to boot!
We can't get enough of these pitas..they're all -natural, preservative free, kosher and made in Toronto. And they even won the Best Lunchbox Item and Best Snack for the Canadian Live Foundations LIVERight Awards.
Congratulations you guys, I'd have to agree.
Location:
77 avenue Kléber, Paris (16th Arr)
This was my First Taste of Paris:
I think I did well.
We stopped by this bakery on our way to our hotel...and they line-up was huge! Am not surprised at all. We wanted to go back again, but got distracted by some sort of tower in the area. ;)
