Food & Wine

#TastyTuesday Spotlight on @BoneFishGrill delicious #SundayBrunch @VisitNorthHills 

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Bonefish Grill https://www.bonefishgrill.com/ has been a mainstay of mine over the years. I used to live on the road almost 200 days a year. If I was working/living in a city then as long as they had a Bonefish Grill, I would be okay !!

The only thing Bonefish Grill was missing was my favorite meal of the week. Brunch. Spending the past 18 years living in Miami Beach, FL { the defacto king city of brunches} I became a expert at this meal. This past Sunday, my family and I headed to the always chic area of Raleigh called North Hills to do brunch the Bonefish Grill way. https://www.bonefishgrill.com/brunch-menu/brunch-favorites

Brunch without mimosas is just a sad breakfast! I am happy to report their mimosas/bellinis are just $5. What a great price for the crown jewel of brunch libations. They also have specialty drinks for a nominal price. I had the mimosa and hubby tried their blackberry sangria. It was out of this world. So we were well hydrated so food was up next.

 

Besides their inventive fresh seafood menu, Bonefish Grill also has stellar service. Our waitress was informative, cheery and efficient. Good service means I will return. Bad service means no matter how good the food is, I will be a one time guest.

They had a myriad of sweet and savory options on their menu. For some reason hubby and I both were in a eggy mood ! I ordered their crab omelette. It came with asparagus and a generous amount of REAL LUMP crab meat on top. Being from Maryland, I take my crabs serious so needless to say, my omelette vanished promptly !

Hubby ordered their twist on the crab benedict. They took traditional crab benedict and instead of ham/canadian bacon they used their uber popular Bang Bang Shrimp and put on an egg benedict ! Yes, it was as good as it sounds. Their hollandaise sauce had a little kick to it and it worked perfectly. I should thought of that !!

To sum it all up, Bonefish Grill is now in the Brunch game. The only question is are you coming to play ? You should.

#FoodieFriday Spotlight on New Winter Menu @SimplyCrepes #Raleigh @LafayetteVill

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“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”. This Valentines day instead of just reciting poetry, why not recite it in the charming old world atmosphere of Simply Crepes restaurant in Lafayette Village in Raleigh http://simplycrepes.com/

They are having a special romantic Valentines Day dinner that is not to be missed. Multiple courses at one reasonable price.

According to their website ..” For The Héroux Family, with a French Canadian background, the wondrous scent of crêpes cooking is one of the simple joys of life. The recipe used in their home and now at their restaurants has been passed down through many generations.

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What makes it special is its versatile ability to translate such a wide variety of foods to the plate. Whether its breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert, the crêpe works as the medium to serve you a delicious meal!

Simply Crepes hosted Sobesavvy.Com to try some entrees from their new Winter Menu http://simplycrepes.com/Portals/5/Menus/Winter_Menu_-_Raleigh-2.pdf

During these cold days in the peak of winter come on in to Simply Crepes and be amazed by this new menu.

They have 9 awesome choices from the appetizers section. You can choose them a la carte or order 3 for a flat $20.

My daughter ordered a crock of the creamy potato chowder from their list of Pantry Soups. She loved it.

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Brussel Sprouts

Hubby and I shared an order of the Brussels Sprouts & Chevre. Served crispy in a sweet balsamic dressing with a “dollop” of chevre cheese. Hand down this was one of the best dishes I have had in a long long time. It was perfect. Just order it.

Wine Menu 

They have a delightful wine menu. Lots of familiar and not so familiar choices. Every Wed they have a “Wine Down Wednesday”. It is 50% off all wine by the glass or bottle.

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I ordered the wine flight, which is the only wine choice excluded from that special.

A Rose’, Chardonnay and a Pinot Grigio. A great way to sample different wines!


Entrees

The first entrée we had actually came from their Morning menu

Shrimp and Grits ! The grits were creamy and of perfect consistency. Served with jumbo shrimp chorizo, Andouille sausage and bacon. It disappeared in a matter of moments !

The Winter Menu entrée we had was the Creamy Cajun Chicken and Rice Crepe. It comes with a bell pepper cajun sauce. It had the right amount of kick and flavor. The chicken was of outstanding quality {and quanity}

Desserts

It was now time for what my 5 year old calls.. ” THE MAIN EVENT”..Dessert !

We decided on 3 out of their numerous choices of dessert crepes. You can order them standard or “petite” sized !

I fell in love with crepes on the streets of Paris, France. Crepe stands in Paris are as ubiquitious as hot dog stands are in NYC !

Oreo Cookie Crepe

This was outstanding. If you like Oreos then you will LOVE this. Filled with sweet vanilla cream, this was my little ones favorite.

Banana Walnut
This was simply decadent. Filled with Crème Brulee cream and sautéed bananas, candied walnuts and vanilla bean ice cream.

Cinnamon Apple Crepe
Cinnamon apples, sweet cream and caramel. This was like if the best apple pie came inside a crepe !!

Keep in mind if you are anyone in your dining party suffers from Celiac Disease, crepes here can be made Gluten Free using buckwheat batter.

They also have a curtained off area that can be utilized as an event space for up to 40 people {30 to 35 comfortably !}

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*Simply Crepes Tip #344 Sign up for their exclusive birthday club and get a very nice discount off of a meal during your birthday month !!

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Ps …this restaurant is kid friendly!

#WineWednesday Tips for Making Mom’s #ValentinesDay Special From The Makers of @MomsTimeOutWine

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Sometimes, it’s hard to find a romantic moment when you’re a parent or to feel appreciated by your significant other.  So this Valentine’s Day, the makers of Mommy’s Time Out™ and Dad’s Day Off™ Wines have a few suggestions:

Book Your Sitter Early!  Don’t wait for the last-minute to arrange a sitter if you’re planning a night out.  They’re in high demand on Valentine’s Day.  Having trouble sourcing a sitter? Set up a babysitting cooperative with other parents in your neighborhood.  Each couple/parent can volunteer one evening a month to watch the kiddies…this “no cost” option ensures you get at least one night a month to keep the romance alive!

Stay In & Include the Kids.  If you can’t manage a night without the kids, find ways to include them.  Have them help to set a pretty table, make a special treat and create their own cards.  This is a great time to show the kids how to express their love for each member of the family, as well as to set an example of how mom and dad love and appreciate one another.

Give Thoughtful Gifts. For busy parents, romance isn’t always about sex, so skip the negligee and give a gift they can really use! For Mom’s it might be a coupon for a foot rub or a relaxing day without the kids.  For Dad, it might be a certificate for a day on a fishing boat with friends or taking the kids out so he can watch a game without any interruptions.  Pair the gift with a bottle of Mommy’s Time Out Delicious Red or Dad’s Day Off Chianti!  I have tried their Garganega Pinot Grigio before and I love it. It is refreshing..not too sweet, not to dry~just right!  Put it in a basket along with some other favorite things and it will make the perfect personalized gift!

Focus on Love!  Valentine’s Day is all about love, so it’s a great time to teach your children about how love is important in their lives.  The ancient Greeks had different words for different kinds of love.  You may want to research and teach their meaning.  Each can provide a wonderful lesson on love, especially when a child can relate it to people they know.

About Our Wines:

Selective Wine Estates, Inc. imports Mommy’s Time Out Delicious Red and Dad’s Day Off Chianti.  The wines are made from select grapes from some of the finest vineyards in Italy. Each blend is fresh, crisp, and fruity, with a wonderful berry aroma. The structure and character of these great Italian wines makes them easy to drink with or without food. Both wines are fresh, fruity and well balanced. 

“The suggested retail price for both wines is around $10. Adults over the age of 21 should enjoy these wines responsibly.

For more information, please visit www.mommystimeoutwine.com. 

*Mommy’s Time Out is a registered trademark of Selective Wine Estates, Inc.

Hosting a #SuperbowlParty? Pick up a Party Pack of delicious BBQ & more from @CityBarbeque #Durham

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 Photos courtesy of City BARBEQUE unless otherwise stated

*Thanks to our friends at City Barbeque Durham , we here at SobeSavvy got a chance to do some pre-gaming and sampled a Party Pack to facilitate the following review.

Ready for the big game? My team didn’t make the Superbowl this year so I will soak my tears in what else ? BBQ of course !

Kickoff your Superbowl Sunday with my favorite local BBQ restaurant.. City BBQ https://www.citybbq.com/

They offer the best BBQ in the Triangle and beyond. Sliced to order Brisket, Pork BBQ and Ribs just to name a few. Their menu is quintessential BBQ.

According to their website..” All of our meats are smoked on-site at each restaurant, hand rubbed with spices, and take upwards of 18 hours to become pure barbeque perfection. Our employees prepare our sides throughout the day from scratch in the restaurant and give it the same attention they would give to their own family. This is barbeque in its truest form, created by people who are dedicated to doing it right ”

The love shows through and through. The beautiful smoked meats have a flavor that can only be described as, well indescribable !

Since the Superbowl is usually watched in a party atmosphere, City Barbeque can cater to any size crowd small or large.Check out their Party Pack

We chose pulled pork and brisket. Both are scrumptious. I fell in love w/brisket many years ago when I had my first taste in West Texas. City BBQ does not like to say they are Memphis, Southern or western BBQ. What they do say and I can attest to is that they are AWESOME BBQ !!

They also have shareables which are large size appetizers.We had their REAL hand cut french fries..with cheese..and bacon..CHEESE BACON FRIES! Enough to share, enough to keep to yourself..your choice !

We got also got full slab ribs. It comes in a special “rib sleeve” which while not microwaveable can be used heat them back up in the oven inside the sleeve.

Sides 

We tried peach cobbler. It’s made in house every day. I wanted to try it w/some ice cream but it disappeared so quick. Everyone said they loved it so I never got a chance !

We washed all this goodness down with a few of the craft sodas. The Bruce Cost Ginger Ale is made with 100% fresh ginger!

Put it all together and what do you get?  TOUCHDOWN…A plate full of goodness! 

Don’t forget sign up for their City Rewards https://www.citybbq.com/rewards/ where you Earn 1 point for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases when you scan your City Rewards app, or let us look you up via phone number when you visit City Barbeque. Special offers for those who download and use the app: Free Drink right away, Free piece of Triple Chocolate Cake on 2nd visit when you use the app, Bonus $5 reward on 3rd visit when you use the app, did we mention “use the app”… use it for maximum rewards!

So let City BBQ be the MVP of your SuperBowl Party!

5 ways to Wine & Dine Your Valentine on #ValentinesDay @BrioItalian #myBrio NEW menu items

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**DISCLAIMER** Thank you BRIO for sponsoring this post. Although the meal was on them, the opinions are 100% all me ! 

I have always loved BRIO Tuscan Grille for their high quality cuisine that has it’s foundation based on the cuisine from the Tuscany region of Italy. Having spent some time in Italy a few years back, I can attest that REAL Italian food is much more complex and nuanced than spaghetti & meatballs {although I like that dish also}. BRIO (means lively or full of life) has an atmosphere that I like to call casual elegance. Most of their ingredients are made in house, like their sauces, pasta, fresh whipped cream and baked bread.  

We sampled some dishes off of their limited time only “Flavorful Features” menu. Chef Mario, whom I met at the Raleigh, NC Crabtree Mall location, was very passionate and informative about the skill and love put into each dish. These recipes were created exclusively by the executive chefs at the company and lived up to the expectation of being flavorful!

In honor of the upcoming Valentine’s Day, I wanted to review these offerings in a unique way to assist our readers who are looking to impress their dates on that special night {or any other night of the week at BRIO’s Tuscan Grille.

Here are 5 ways to Wine &Dine your Valentine at BRIO’s ~

1. Order a unique cocktail, such as an Italian Mule.  If you love a classic mule cocktail, this one will not disappoint as it has a limomcello twist! Pucker Up!

2. If your date is wanting a light dinner or a healthier option, BRIO offers a variety of salads. Try this Kale Ceasar (the kale is marinated which gives the salad wonderful layers of flavor) or Grilled Salmon Salad (underneath those crispy shoestring potatoes lies a nice portion of salmon making this salad a meal all by itself).

3.Get a few appetizers that are not only great for sharing, but will allow you to feed your date!  We loved the Bruleed Parmesan Creme served with Balsamic roasted grapes and grilled ciabatta. Or spice things up with their Spicy Shrimp & Eggplant. You’re gonna want to put that black pepper cream sauce on everything! It’s that good. 

4. Seafood is a known aphrodisiac and BRIO offers a plethora of options for the seafood lover like Scallop Risotto and Crab Stuffed Shrimp and Lobster Tail.  The portion is sized to share but it is so fresh and delicious, you may not want to. The scallops were prepared to perfection and I appreciated the size as well as the taste. Loved the plating of their dishes as well. We eat with our eyes first they say. Just look how beautiful the lobster tail is! 

5. Impress your date by speaking Italian and ordering dolce {that is the Italian word for dessert !}. Try this Dolchino Trio: Creme Brulee, Caramel Mascarpone Cheesecake, Butterscotch Budino (which is Italian for pudding). This was a sweet ending to an amazing meal!

Make your reservations now because these flavorful features are only on the menu for a limited time thru 2/28/17. And for Valentine’s Day weekend,  Brio Tuscan Grille Crabtree Valley Mall is offering this two-course prix fixe menu special from 2/10/17 to 2/14/17:

If seafood isn’t your favorite, I highly recommend the Chicken Saltimboca. Three tender chicken breasts with provolone , fried sage, crispy pancetta and butternut squash risotto. Both tender and tasty , this entree is definitely not your average chicken dinner. 

Visit http://www.BrioItalian.com for a list of locations and to make reservations online.

Epic Eats @WashingtonDuke Fairview Dining Room @wadukechef @TriRestaurantWeek $35/3 courses

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On a cold winter evening my family and I decided to dine at Fairview restaurant https://www.washingtondukeinn.com/durham-fine-dining/fairview-dining-room/ It’s located inside the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club on Duke University’s campus.

Walking into the lobby one could tell this was a place steeped in history and tradition. Roaring fireplaces and museum like busts of some of the original family founders of Duke University.

Once at the restaurant we were warmly greeted and shown to our table. The atmosphere was refined, but not stuffy. Make no doubt about it, this is fine dining but accessible fine dining.

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The big draw for us was to try out their special dinner in conjunction with Triangle Restaurant Week https://trirestaurantweek.com/ This promotional event is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary. Guests get to choose from a 3 course dinner for a flat rate of $35 at various participating restaurants throughout the Triangle Jan 23-29th.

Fairview’s menu offered various choices for appetizer, entree and a pre selcted dessert sampler platter. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable.

Amuse Bouche of Halibut came out. Nice touch to start a meal!
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Hubby and I both chose their Waduke Shrimp, Corn and Bacon Chowder as an appetizer. Perfect hot chowder on such a winters night.

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I had the crab cake entree and he had the Herb Grilled Ribeye. Both dishes were as advertised and prepared as high quality entrees. Lots of pure crab meat and the ribeye was tender and flavorful.

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Dessert was a trifecta of mousse, cake and sorbet.

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My little girl picked her favorite hot dog w/goldfish off of their “Little Devils” kids menu.

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Great food in a great setting. What else could one ask for ?

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Prepping for Game Day? Here are some #Recipes for your #SuperbowlParty snack spread !

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Next week is Superbowl Sunday and althought my team (GO Baltimore Ravens) is not playing,  I still look forward to Game Day fun with family & friends and let’s not forget the snacks! 

I got the opportunity to sample Jarlsberg® Cheese®, Moore’s Marinades and Sauces and Farm Rich easy -to-make snacks (#gotitfree, thanks to BzzAgent). As you know from prior posts, I love entertaining and hosting Happy Hour at home. So I put these products to the test last night to see if it would be game day worthy to serve to family and friends. Here are the tasty appetizers I served:

Cheese Nachos with Jarlsberg Cheese

Jarlsberg® Cheese®, the nationally recognized premium brand of cheese famous for its characteristic mild, sweet and nutty taste and its large round holes,  wants you to celebrate the Big Game with their array of cheeses that are perfect for any palate, and what better way to enjoy it than with winning recipes for your party like some delicious, mouthwatering cheese Nachos! I made some with Jarlsberg® Cheese , paprika, cilantro, black beans, sour cream and salsa. We enjoyed the unique, nutty mild flavor of the cheese and thought this cheese would go great in any nacho recipe. Enjoy this special Jarlsberg® Cheese Nacho recipe for your Big Game party, and let the games begin!

Jarlsberg® Cheese Nachos
Ingredients:

2 cups shredded Jarlsberg® Cheese

1 bag tortilla chips

1 Broccoli head, grated

2 green chilies, diced small

2 garlic cloves, diced small

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 limes – juiced

Fresh pepper to taste

Dash of coriander

How to Bake:

Spread tortilla chips on flat pan (use parchment paper to avoid clean up). Top with cheese, and baked for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. While chips are cooking, toss all other ingredients in bowl.  Remove from oven and top with all tossed ingredients.  

#MooreFlavor Wings

February 5th brings football, the best commercials and of course, WINGS! This year,  Moore’s Marinades and Sauces wants you to go easy on yourself and do the work for you. They have a ton of delicious flavors (and recipes!) to get those wings going. If you want seriously delicious wings on game day, Moore’s Sauces and Marinades offers the best tasting sauces to kick off Super Bowl Sunday like a champion. 

Based in Alabama, Moore’s is a family owned business that pours their heart into their marinades and sauces to give football fans a taste of true southern flavor. Whether you crave a sweet, sticky taste or a hot, tangy flavor, Moore’s has a stellar lineup of products for you to indulge in the best half-time wings you’ve ever had.

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As seen on Instagram, I made some #MooreFlavor Wings by simply marinating the wings in their Creamy Ranch Buffalo sauce and baking it in my oven. It definitely is a winning game-day snack that is super easy to make and guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Once your finger lickin’ wings are beautifully glazed don’t forget to garnish your plate with celery, carrots, and EXTRA dipping sauce.

Be sure to follow Moore’s Marinades on:
Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Pinterest

The company is continually expanding its line and has recently added Spicy Habanero Wing & Hot Sauce, and Zesty Garden Herb Marinade to their collection. Check out their website at www.mooresmarinade.com for tons of yummy recipes that only require 30 minutes or less !

Barbeque Chicken Bites/Loaded Potato Skins by Farm Rich

Need a simple football party snack or something quick to eat anytime? Then try Farm Rich’s line of easy to make appetizers. I first heard of this brand by participating in a campaign with BzzAgent and was impressed by their snack products. 

Yesterday,  I chose to combine two of my favorites from that line: Barbeque Chicken Bites and Loaded Potatoe Skins …and served as one amazing appetizer !

I recommend visiting their website to see other recipe hacks like putting a fried egg on top of the potato skin or serving the barbeque chicken bites on a toothpick with mini cornbread squares! 

I hope you are inspired to include  any or all of these quick, easy and tasty items on your Super Bowl Sunday snack spread or anytime you host your next gathering. Let me know what you have planned to eat/serve on Game Day ?! 

#FoodieFriday Spotlight on #CLTFood | Where to Eat & More #Charlotte #CLT #charlottesgotalot 

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Note: This post was sponsored in part by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority. All opinions and photos are my own.

To celebrate the end of 2016, my family and I went on a road trip down to Charlotte, NC. Besides all the great cultural and sports attractions that North Carolina’s biggest city encompasses, I was there for a more basic reason: to eat !  Charlotte has quite the cuisine scene and this foodie was focused on eating like a Queen in the Queen City! 

American Girl Dining SouthPark Mall

First, I made plans to have lunch with my little princess and her favorite doll at the bistro inside the American Girl Store at SouthPark Mall. It was quite a unique experience, which you can read my full review here. Not only was it a fun time, but the kid friendly menu had tasty options for us adults too. A reservation is definitely necessary as this place is popular. Be sure to end your meal on a sweet note and order dessert. They’ll even bring a cupcake out for your child to decorate for their doll to enjoy!

Dinner at Sea Level NC  

Since it was NYE, an early dinner in Uptown was the perfect choice. I love fresh seafood and Sea Level NC delivered just that! Service was friendly and professional. Never underestimate how important southern hospitality is to a restaurant experience.Their decor is modern and understated stylish. Lots of exposed brick and wood. 

They have a incredible farm to fork raw oyster menu sourced from North Carolina and all over the country. It changes constantly depending on the season and what’s available. All fresh and delectable. 

Ooh baby I like it raw..in my ODB voice..lol, but if you dont’t and prefer something steamed, try the mussels. Plump and tasty. Mussel rule #108 don’t forget to use the bread for sopping up the mussel broth made with white wine and garlic butter !

Wash them down with a beer or glass of wine from their extensive drink menu or a  order craft cocktail called Melting NY Sour. It was what my husband called a “man’s drink”.

Their daily seafood catches and delicious dishes, like their classic Lobster roll make this restaurant a must try for visitors and locals. Huge hunks of lobster on greens and a remoulade sauce on a lightly toasted bread was fantastic. They let the lobster just be lobster. Why mess with perfection?!

Midwood Smokehouse Ballantyne

Midwood Smokehouse has quickly become a BBQ institution in Charlotte. We had the pleasure of dining at their Ballyntyne location in Charlotte on New Years Day for dinner. North Carolina and Charlotte in general have a lot of BBQ restauarants, but when restaurateur Frank Scibelli toured barbeque joints in Texas, he picked up invaluable tips.For starters, they burn hickory logs 24 hours a day to smoke their meats in a one of a kind ,old school manual commercial smoker. The general manager was kind enough to give me a tour of the kitchen where all the magic happens. Someone has to feed the smoker constantly to keep the fire going and maintain a even temperature in the smoker at all times. That takes a lot of work . More art than science and it shows in their food.We started with some smoked wings. Dry on the outside but moist and flavorful inside. 

I had a new years special that is not normally on their menu. Pork shoulder, collard greens, black eyed peas and jalapeno cornbread. This is traditional meal to be eaten for good luck to start 2017. They should start a tradition and keep this entree on the menu! It’s was that good.

One side dish you can always find on the menu is the mac and cheese. I do not know what cheeses were used but there was plenty of it throughout ! I have no doubt this was made with love.

Service was prompt, informative and friendly. The manager demanded we try some brisket before we departed , so we managed to try a few bites. WOW ! tender, tasty and perfect mix of lean and fat.Midwood is now our “GO TO ” spot when we are in Charlotte and craving REAL BBQ . Take it from their mascot, the Notorious P.I.G ..they smoke the good stuff!

After a great dinner, we headed back to our hotel at Homewood Suites by Hilton in Ballantyne. It is conveniently close (within walking distance) to the restaurant and a great choice of lodging when staying in Charlotte. Check out my video to see why : https://youtu.be/YqoCw2QHhuk

Holidays on Ice at the NASCAR Hall of Fame Plaza

Although it rained most of our visit, on our last day, I got to work off some of that good eating by ice skating. Located outside the
Nascar Hall Of Fame, Charlotte’s outdoor ice rink is perfect for families, date nights or fun outings with friends. 

None of us had ever been ice skating before so this was an exciting family first! Skates on.Stand up. Let’s skate. If it was only that easy !! Luckily a few kind teenagers helped us onto the ice. We all held on to the bannister and laughed alot. Holiday on Ice is definitely a holiday tradition that both skaters and non-skaters can enjoy. Afterwards, we celebrated by having our picture taken with the giant polar bear and next to a NASCAR sign of course!

Thank you to our friends at Homewood Suites by Hilton Charlotte Ballantyne, American Girl brand and a very special thanks to the CRVA for the warm welcome to Charlotte! We made great memories, discovered amazing places to dine, learned that the Queen City is a haven for foodies and that Charlotte’s got a lot.

Holiday Dinner Made Easy with @KreuzMarket Smoked Turkey + Side Dishes from @CityBarbeque #NC

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Christmas is a few days away and New Year’s is around the corner!  Whether you are celebrating with family or friends, chances are there will be alot of food involved. But for those of us who don’t feel like cooking a feast for the holidays, let me share with you two great options for making your for your holiday meal easy! This year, don’t stress. Instead, impress your guests by serving a smoked turkey from Kreuz Market with some delicious sides from City Barbeque. 

I have never had smoked turkey before, let alone have one delivered to my door. So when I learned that Kreuz Market makes whole smoked holiday turkeys and can ship it, I had to try it! In Texas, Kreuz Whole Smoked Turkeys are a seasonal fave available November and December. It’s cooked low and slow in brick pits over post oak sealing in that smokey goodness. Hot Turkeys are available for pickup while Cold turkeys can be ordered online and shipped to you fresh and ready to prepare. The turkey arrived vacuum sealed and comes with some simple reheating instructions. After a hour and a half of having your home smelling like the best Texas barbeque, it’s ready to be carved and served.It was so moist, full of flavor and I could taste the devotion to the tradition of barbeque. Hats off to the Pit Boss and everyone at Kreuz Market for making this a holiday meal to remember !

Photo Credit: Kreuz Market

You can’t have a tasty turkey without delicious side dishes and I knew just where I wanted to order from. My favorite barbeque place here in the Triangle, City Barbeque. Whether you need a foolproof dish to take to a potluck or hosting a holiday dinner , they have a lot of options available for catering or takeout. Because our dinner was for a small group we opted to go to the Durham, NC location and pick up some quart sized sides which serves 5-6 folks! 

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Here is what was served:

Gumbo for the first course of course. It comes with a side of brown rice and has just the right amount of spice.I loved it! It’s perfect for when you want something delicious to warm you up on a cold, winter’s evening.

Photo Credit: City Barbeque

Mac and Cheese, Green Beans w/Bacon (which are prepared by City Barbeque’s employees throughout the day from scratch in the restaurant. These classic side dishes were so good and easy to serve. Just reheat in the microwave and Voila! )

..and last but not least, aseasonal item, which was everyone’s fave: Sweet Potato Casserole   If I had to choose one word to describe it: YUM ! There are nuts in it but also a whole lot of deliciousness. Try some before the season ends.

Photo Credit: City Barbeque

While the adults had my homemade rum cake (check out recipe), I was happy to learn that City Barbeque offers their own homemade desserts made daily from scratch and served my daughter her own big girl piece of their Triple Chocolate Cake. 

It was a sweet ending to a wonderful holiday dinner with family & friends! I highly recommend letting both City Barbeque and/or Kreuz Market take care of you this holiday season and make your holiday dinner easy & delicious! 

Happy Holidays!

#FoodieFriday Last Minute Holiday Gifts + Giveaway @gmtgiftbaskets Gourmet Gift Baskets Review

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Disclosure: I received products for review and promotional giveaway in exchange for my honest opinion
​It’s the holiday season. Christmas carols being sung, Celebrating Kwanzaa and Menorah’s being lit. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. No matter your faith, there is one binding force that we all love… GIFTS !! There is only one thing more rewarding and gleeful than receiving a special gift, and that is actually GIVING a unique gift to that special someone. 

Finding that unique gift for that particular person on your list is always a challenge — especially as the clock counts down to the holidays. But given the huge selection of offerings that GourmetGiftBaskets.com and KingOfPOP.com provide for every member of the family, the office, or even the neighborhood, it makes sense to take a good look at their latest and greatest items. Hundreds of choices abound, including: 25 different cheesecake flavors, almost 100 different popcorn flavors, beer buckets, cake pops, wine suitcases, towers, upscale baskets, and more. And there are many new and updated items for the holidays and beyond!

My husband is the King of Brunch as he loves to cook breakfast for me and our daughter. So I thought the perfect gift for my Top Chef would be the Christmas Breakfast Gift Basket . 

This basket defies description. Imagine you wake up one cold morning with a bear’s appetite. Well this basket literally has the making of a breakfast for champions. All the items are what makes this part of our nation so special. Their website describes it as the following: “Inside a gorgeous basket, your recipient will discover delicious foods, like Maine’s juiciest blueberries, New Hampshire’s sweetest maple syrup, and Broadbent’s hickory-smoked pepper bacon, creating a lovely gift that’s guaranteed to make any morning unforgettable. ” The basket also had pancake/waffle mix and coffees, scone mix and jams. Simply incredible. Here is how it looks out the box:

I can’t wait for Christmas morning to unwrap and make a fantabulous Christmas breakfast with my family as my little one shreds gift wrapping all around the living room ! I’ll be sure to share some Christmas Brunch pics via @SobeSavvy !

With Christmas almost here and New Year’s around the corner, the perfect gift for anyone ready to celebrate is bubbly! 

I received this Toasting to the New Year Gift Basket and was impressed by how quick the shipment came and how beautiful the handcrafted basket was.This basket came in a keepsake steel wired basket filled with La Marca Prosecco , gourmet crackers and cheeses and Dolcetto Chocolate Wafer Bites. This would make a great hostess gift and today I am giving one away for 1 luck winner to enjoy!

Simply comment below and share what items you would like to receive in your dream gift basket! Winner selected at random 12/20/16 at noon. Good Luck !