Photographs of The Grand Opening of the Bohemian Garden @Boheme_Durham #beergarden

July 11, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

On Sunday July 10, 2016, SobeSavvy.com joined guests for the official grand opening of the Bohemian Garden courtyard at Boheme , Durham’s newest farm-to-table restaurant .

The event, which featured an all you can eat Luau BBQ and live music in a dog friendly environment, took place in its lush garden patio area. A casually stylish crowd showed up to enjoy a beautiful late afternoon in their zen like outdoor space.

Beer, wine, and liquor beverages were available for purchase as well. The bar also had tropical cocktails to go with the polynesian cuisine themed spread. A jazzy quartet kept the mood fun while all the guests and their four legged friends had fun. A true sanctuary and the perfect place to enjoy a warm summer evening as seen here in my video montage :

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHs_LuQjGfF/
Hope your enjoyed the photos and make sure Boheme and their garden patio are on your must to do list this summer !!

#FoodieFriday spotlight on #Brunch in #Baltimore at @Bar_Clavel ! #CLAVEL #mezcaleria #taqueria

July 1, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

As food days goes, some days during the week are for happy hour, others call for a long dinner but Sunday is THE day for brunch. When we got the brunch itch last Sunday in Baltimore we wanted to try something different, something new. We opted for a mexican brunch. Mexican brunch you say ? Si, Mexico has a very rich Desayuno {breakfast} tradition. Most Americans are not familiar with TRUE Mexican breakfast. I now know where to send them ..Go to Clavel mezcaleria and taqueria . They are located in the Remington neighborhood in Baltimore.

Every Sunday between 10am -2:30pm they offer their special brunch menu.

This restaurant is set in a simple space with outdoor communal seating available for those wanting to eat al fresco.

The star here is the food and the people who create and serve it. Awesome vibe of friendliness and warmth permeated our entire experience there. We opted to sit outside on such a beautiful morning and tried a few dishes and drinks.

Executive chef and Clavel partner Carlos Raba grew up in capital of Sinaloa, Culiacan. He is passionate about serving up these classic dishes. He told us these recipes have their foundation in recipes passed down by his great-grandmother and grandmother. Simple and fresh.

We started with a Mimosa and a Sangre De Kahlo. The word “Clavel” means carnation in Spanish ,so naturally the Sangre De Kahlo is topped with one !!

This is the Buenas Dias, which is a trifecta of fresh fruit, housemade Conchita Bread and a small carafe of juice. The bread disappeared in a few minutes courtesy of my daughter !! It had a semi sweetened crust on the outside but soft on the inside. Usually good bread bodes well for the rest of a meal and I am happy to report this was accurate in this case.

Next, we enjoyed ‘Volcan De Cochinita’, which is served warm in a cast iron skillet. The picked onion was a great touch to a tasty dish !

Clavel prides itself on using local sources for their food when available. Their eggs are from Little Gunpowder Farms http://littlegunpowderfarm.civicworks.com/, which is a local farm that according to their website ,”providing high-quality vegetables at an affordable price, while prioritizing environmental stewardship of the land.

The Huevos Rancheros were a delicious dish. Two eggs over Fresh Tostadas W/Salsa Ranchero Crèma and queso fresca. It was mouth watering good with subtle flavors.

This was a fantastic and different take on brunch that we won’t soon forget. We can’t wait to do it all over again next time !

My July 4th ‘Red Bottom’ #Cupcakes Recipe @DixieCrystals #BLU16 #SweetandSouthern #TastyThursday

June 30, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

This weekend we celebrate America’s Birthday and I wanted to share my favorite Sweet and Southern Dessert Recipe which would be a hit at any BBQ you may plan to throw or attend!
‘Red Bottom Cupcakes‘-Inspired by the name of those infamous shoes, is a semi homemade recipe that combines 2 favorites of mine: Red Velvet Cupcakes with a Black Bottom Cream Cheese Filling.

Nothing says southern desserts like Red Velvet but this non traditional cupcake offers a bit of a surprise in the middle under my almond cream cheese frosting! That ooey goey center of cream cheese and chocolate chips will elevate your red velvet cupcake for a truly unique dessert!

Here’s my recipe:

Cupcakes -1 box of Red Velvet Cake mix (I use Duncan Hines) Follow directions to make 12 cupcakes- fill baking cups half way with mix. Then add a dollap of black bottom filling before baking in the oven.

Black Bottom filling-Mix together 1 pkg,8oz of cream cheese- 1 egg- pinch of salt- 1/2 cup of sugar (I use Dixie Crystals)-Fold in 1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips into the cream ceese mixture. Then using a spoon,place a dollap of this in center of red velvet cupcakes mix, now it’s ready to bake.

Bake for 20 mins. Once cupcakes are completely cooled its time for the frosting. Here’s what it looks like before:

Almond cream cheese frosting– add 1 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract to any store bought cream cheese frosting found in the cake aisle. It gives it a unique taste!

What sweet and southern dessert do you look forward to having this July 4th weekend. Please share below!

*Also wish me luck as I plan to enter this recipe in the Sweet and Southern Desserts Recipe Contest for Blog Life University Conference in Atlanta!
Dixie Crystals is Giving Away the ULTIMATE Conference Package Giveaway! PLUS, winning recipe will be recreated by Chef Eddy Van Damme, professionally photographed, and featured on the Dixie Crystals website….with attribution to the winner!

Happy 4th of July everyone! Make it Sweet!

Photos of the 3rd Annual Chesapeake #Crab & #BeerFestival #MDCRABFEST @drinkeatrelax #RashField #InnerHarbor #Baltimore @jospicecompany

June 26, 2016SobeSavvy 2 Comments

Summer’s here and it is a Baltimore tradition to celebrate the season with friends/family, crabs and beer!

SobeSavvy.Com joined other crab lovers at the Chesapeake Crab & Beer Festival for the Baltimore’s Largest Crab Feast June 25, 2015 at Rash Field – Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD.

Guests chose between either SESSION ONE: 11am – 3pm or SESSION TWO: 5pm – 9pm to join this Maryland Tradition! The festival is an ALL-YOU-CARE-TO-TASTE extravaganza complete with over 30,000 crabs, lots of beer, arts & crafts, live music, family fun and so much more! Here is what over 22,000 people have come to enjoy:

• LOTS OF SUMMERTIME FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
• ALL YOU CARE TO TASTE Over 50 beers and wines and a few spirits. All of your favorite craft beers and some great wines were served to highlight the summer afternoon on-hand.
• ALL YOU CARE TO TASTE CRABS. Enjoy all the crabs you can handle during the four hours of the show. The crabs vary in size and was offered at 6 crabs at a time, per person.
• OTHER GREAT FOOD. There are Crabs and MORE CRABS and MORE CRABS and even MORE CRABS – but there was other great food options as well available for purchase. There are no vegetarian options available. Unless outlined – all food is sold ala carte.
• ALA CARTE CRABS OPTION WILL BE SOLD 6 CRABS (1/2 dozen) AT A TIME PER PERSON FOR $35 – CASH ONLY. (WHILE SUPPLIES LASTS)
• LIVE MUSIC. Enjoy fun summer sounds from area bands.
• THOUSANDS OF TABLES AND CHAIRS AND HUGE TENTS for crackin’ to your heart’s content. They even ordered enough crab paper to stretch all the way across Inner Harbor and back.

All SHOW FEATURES are covered, so rain or shine – we were all fine!

Many options were offered to enjoy this experience but the best option was the VIP CRAB & BEER TICKET: For $89 Advance This option offerered guests an ALL YOU CARE TO TASTE experience. Guests enjoyed a souvenir mug and mallet, unlimited tastes of the beer and wine on-site. This included ALL YOU CARE TO TASTE Crabs, Corn on the Cob, Cole Slaw and Potato Chips.* Ticket purchasers are GUARANTEED communal seating under a tent.

Be sure to Follow on Facebook and Twitter to get information @DrinkEatRelax. And you can also follow on Snapchat!

We had a crackin’ good time at the festival. As a native of Baltimore, it gets no better than crabs in the summertime! Here are some of my fun event photos from the 2nd session (5pm-9pm) of #mdcrabfest! Enjoy!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHGnybaheYy/

As you can see my mom and I like to spice things up..lol..we had a crackin’ good time !

#Baltimore ,Feast Your Eyes on FEASTIVAL~Photos of #Feastival4CF @FSBaltimore @CFF_Maryland

June 13, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

On Saturday, June 11, 2016, SobeSavvy.com joined fellow foodies for an afternoon filled with food and fun at an event called FEASTIVAL – A Food Adventure for a Cure benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – Maryland Chapter.

The Waterfront Promenade at the Four Seasons Hotel Baltimore was the perfect setting for this unique culinary experience. Guests had the chance to feast on delectable bites by Baltimore’s hottest culinary talent, including Harbor East’s newest restaurant, Loch Bar, as well as Wit & Wisdom, Azumi, Colette, Encantada, and many more. Sunshine, blue skies and beautiful waterfront views were also on the menu while sipping stylish cocktails and craft brews! This epicurean adventure was held for a great cause allowing foodies, chefs, mixologists and philanthropists to join in the fight to finding a cure for CF.

AMBASSADOR KATHARINE SCRIVENER says “Advances continue to be made in finding a cure, but your help is needed now – more than ever – to help keep up the momentum.” The public’s continuing support are needed to help accelerate efforts to pursue a lifelong cure for this fatal disease, develop lifesaving new therapies and help all people with CF live full, productive lives.

See here to make a donation and be sure to follow on Facebook
and Instagram @Feastivalbaltimore @cff_Maryland to stay up to date.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGmCepeCXL3/

Feast your eyes on these photos taken at Feastival ..as seen on the scene by SobeSavvy.com !

Happy #TastyTuesday @MyMasalaWrapNC @TriRestWeek #TriangleRestaurantWeek #masalawrap

June 7, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

There’s a newly opened, unique and tasty, Indian-American restaurant called Masala Wrap in Morrisville, NC located on 9825 Chapel Hill Rd.

The uniqueness of Masala Wrap greets you immediately as its dining concept is much different than the typical Indian dining experience in the Triangle. Instead, Masala Wrap more mirrors the experience and offers foods as one would find in India – wraps or bowls sold in open markets. They offer wraps, salads and rice bowls using quality ingredients that include proteins, vegetables, spices and chutneys in a casual dining environment. Masala Wrap also caters events of all kinds and is a great place to stop on the way home from work for quick takeout or a wrap for lunch.

I was excited to learn they were participating in Triangle Restaurant Week (a celebration of culinary excellence thru out the Triangle and a chance for foodies to dine on 3 courses at a prix fixe price). So I made lunch plans to give this new restaurant a try!

As per their website, here’s how you order in 3 simple steps :
*1. Pick a Base

*2. Pick a Protein

*3. Pick a Flavor

Then customize to your liking with a variety of fresh veggies, homemade chutneys!

Finally, Masala Wrap also offers some non-traditional items like their Masala fries, which are a great accompaniment to any of their main dishes.

I found the food and the flavors to be quite enjoyable and authentic! The staff was friendly and ready to answer any questions. I was happy to learn that they have a kids menu and Anamika kindly suggested a potato rice bowl for my daughter which she loved! My husband, our daughter and I even had the pleasure of talking with the owner, Kunal who shared some insight on how the food is prepared: “All of our proteins have been marinated in different spices. We can customize any meal for a customers spicy tolerance preference and all sauces are made in house every day”. Be sure to follow Masala Wrap on their social media posts at:
Instagram @mymasalawrap
Twitter @mymasalawrapnc and
Facebook @masalawrap !

Feast your eyes on my foodie photos from my lunch at Masala Wrap!

Mango Lassi and Masala Fries

Up close and personal..Brown Rice Bowl with Potato and Veggies

Chutneys available are Cool Mint Yogurt, Savory Garlic, Sweet Dates, Spicy Mint

#FoodieFriday spotlight on @KamadoGrille ‘s New #HappyHour in #Raleigh ! #Cocktails #Appetizers

May 27, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

Clay vessels have been used by humans to cook food for many thousands of years. Clay cooking pots have been found in every part of the world and some of the earliest dated by Archaeologists to be over 3000 years old have been found in China. It is believed that in these circular clay cooking vessels are the origins of the modern Kamado albeit the clay finally being superseded by ceramic materials

Now that the history lesson is over, I can tell you where you can go dine by food prepared using the above ancient method. That place is Kamado Grille in North Raleigh.

They already have a devout following for their dinner scene but now they want to do the same for their new Happy Hour.

Between the hours of 4-6pm, Monday thru Thursday, you can get specially priced drinks and half-off mouth watering appetizers. My family and I went there on Tuesday to enjoy their signature Backyard Cocktails, their great food, and their lawn games that sit out front of the restaurant. Since it was a gorgeous late afternoon we opted to sit at one of their attractive patio tables.

We started with two cocktails from their backyard cocktails menu. A Spiked Blueberry Lemonade and a Dirty Shirley( think Shirley Temple but the adult version). On such a warm afternoon they both were cold and refreshing.
*complete list of backyard cocktails as seen on their electronic menu

A Sips & Selfie moment =)

The appetizers menu offers a delicious variety of tasty options. Oysters Kamadofeller were first up. 4 Oysters on the half shell topped with Andouille Sausage and Spinach cream sauce. AWESOME !!

My little one (did I mention Kamado Grille is family friendly?!) was getting restless so we played a few rounds of bean bag throw on their lawn before our second appetizer arrived.

Grilled Shrimp Scampi arrived and promptly disappeared ! The garlic foccacia bread that accompanied it was mouth watering as well.

Tip: Order the Crab Cakes and Lamb Chops(which come with cheese grits) together, both offered on the appetizers menu, and have yourself a surf & turf meal at deal. The portion size is great and the taste even greater! All for 50% off during happy hour.

It was time for another backyard game (this time table tennis ) and a cocktail break. I ordered the KG Spiked Palmer at the suggestion of our server, who advised it was his favorite out of all the cocktails. It became my personal fave as well and I think helped me win the game !

We worked up a bit of an appetite after playing these games and ordered two entrees: Ribs {Which are slow cooked for 18 hrs} & Miso Salmon.

Needless to say this duo left us full and satisfied. No room for dessert, but plenty of memories of our early evening of foodie fun!

Sip,Sip Hooray …
Cheers to Kamado Grille, their new Happy Hour and always delicious food !
https://www.instagram.com/p/BF66kZJCXJP/

#FoodieFriday spotlight: @ToriiNoodleBar #ToriiNoodleBar #NationalShrimpDay #Mochi

May 13, 2016SobeSavvy 2 Comments

National Shrimp Day is an annual food holiday celebrating the jewel of the sea: SHRIMP ! On Tuesday May 10, 2016, we decided to celebrate at Torii Noodle Bar By Kanki which is upstairs from their sister Habachi Restaurant Kanki located at Crabtree Valley Mall.

On their website they describe themselves as- Kanki’s freshest new concept, the Torii Noodle Bar offers a Japanese dining experience made with love, spirit and harmony. Traditional Japanese fair, as well as to-go sushi to enjoy alongside great sake, and carefully selected wines and beer.
I really agree with their self description. Inside the decor is what I call Japanese chic. Lots of light wood and natural sunlight streams in the intimate dining area. On such a delightful day we opted to eat alfresco on their patio.

The variety of shrimp ,shrimp and more shrimp items on the menu would make Forest Gump proud. We dined on the following:
*Appetizers: Shrimp Tempura ( batter-dipped,lightly seasoned,served with tempura dipping sauce)
Ebi (shrimp sushi), Hot Rockin’ Lava Shrimp (tender large shrimp, fried to a golden brown and tossed in a not too spicy but tasty lava sauce)

*Entrees: Lunch bento box (served with fresh tossed salad with ginger dressing, west coast roll, steamed rice, Tempura shrimp and vegetables with homemade dipping sauce and stir fried shrimp teriyaki style and Shrimp Tempura Udon Noodles. The buckwheat noodles were delicious and I loved the hon tsuyu broth! The lunch was served quickly and reminded me that healthier options can be served fast and for a better quality and value.

My little girl loved the Japanese soda and the more than personable Director of Operations, Gee Dararouksa was happy to show my daughter how to recycle the chopsticks paper into a holder !

They have a great cocktail and sake menu. Their sake flight was amazing and it complemented the cuisine perfectly. Instead of a fast food lunch, you can come here and get REAL food for roughly the same price and in a efficient ,timely manner.

Enjoy these photos from our wonderful dining experience at Torii Noodle Bar!

*Pictured here : Gee Dararouksa, Director of Operations ~ Reuben Rodillas, General Manager ~ Alex Cordova, Corporate Executive Chef

For a sweet ending , try the Japanese Ice Cream known as Mochi Ice Cream. Available in Vanilla, Chocolate, Green Tea, Red Bean, Strawberry, and Mango, my personal favorite !

We enjoyed lunch and had fun dining at Torii Noodle Bar! Its definitely my family’s favorite place for japanese food in Raleigh, NC ! Next time in Crabtree and want a Asian cuisine fix ? Go to Torii Noodle Bar. They will take good care of you and your tastebuds!

#TastyThursday: Best #Sushi & #FriedChicken @BlueRibbon_west @theGroveLA #blueribbonsushi

May 12, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

California. People think of many things when conjuring up images of the golden state. Beautiful beaches. Movie Stars. Mountains and huge Sequoia trees.

When I hear that word, only one thing comes to mind. Sushi. Not just any sushi mind you, but world class sushi. California {besides Hawaii} is the closest an American can get to the Asian origin of sushi while still being on the mainland. Los Angeles has a plethora of sushi places, but only one caught our eye on this swing out to the left coast: Blue Ribbon Sushi !

Located in the The Grove shopping area adjacent to the famous Los Angeles Farmers Market , Blue Ribbon Sushi did not dissapoint. With hubby and 4 yr old in tow, we were promptly seated inside their attractive dining room. In addition to a classic sushi bar, they also have a full liquor/Sake bar area in the rear of the restaurant.

Usually restaurants kids’ menu leaves a lot to be desired but not here. Tiger shrimp, black vinegar glazed ribs just to name a few of their sophisticated, yet kid friendly choices.

My little one choose the filet of beef. It came with a side of sticky rice. High quality tender filet literally disappeared from her chop sticks in no time at all.

We decided to start with a bowl of miso soup (miso served on the side so that one can add as much or little paste as they want) and hamachi yellowtail w/Jalepeno & Ponzu Sauce. It was fresh and the jalepeno gave it the perfect “kick”.

Next up was a unique small plate of grilled avocado. It melted in our mouths with various salts and spices. It was warm to the touch. Pure heaven.

Crispy Rice Shrimp Toast w/Spicy Wasabi Mayo was also scrumptious.

Next up was their famous fried chicken. Yup, you read that right. They are known to have a unique type of fried chicken. The batter is hard to describe ,other than to just say it is a MUST have when dining here. It was a Bucket O’ Wings with delectable Wasabi Honey and House Chili Sauce. INCREDIBLY GOOD !!

We finished our incredible meal with their version of a Key Lime Pie a la mode. It tasted as good as it looks !

Next time you are in the City Of Angels make plans to dine here! We chose to sit inside but they do have outside seating, perfect for people watching or catching the musical fountain show. With locations in New York and Vegas, I am sure to dine here again and suggest you treat your tastebuds to their delicious cuisine!

Photographs of @GreatGrapesFest #NCWine @DrinkEatRelax ~A #soNCsavvy Recap by SobeSavvy.com

April 25, 2016SobeSavvy Leave a comment

We here at SobeSavvy.com love food, wine and a good time! If you do too, this festival was for you!

The 13th Annual Celebration Great Grapes! Wine and Food Festival returned to Town of Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre on April 23, 2016 from 11am-7pm. People come from all over to North Carolina’s premiere casual NC wine festival with HUNDREDS of wines available. The show has seen hundreds of thousands of happy guests over the years who have the chance to enjoy the following:

220 Wines from 20 Wineries
Great Live Music
Fun Festival Eats
Arts and Crafts and Gourmet Items
FREE Kids Area *Free Parking

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEjykSWiXNu/

Many choose to enjoy The VIP Area with The VIP Ticket option which offers early entrance into the event at 11am, a souvenir glass and lanyard and access to all the show tastings and access to the VIP area which features specialty wine selections not available elsewhere, free water and soft drinks, and featured food tastings (served Noon – 3pm).

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEj0jJiCXCC/

Guests came with lawn chairs, blankets, family (it’s kid friendly) and friends to take a day to UNCORK THE FUN ! Here are some photos from this fun -filled day for wine lovers! Cheers and hope to see you next year!

SobeSavvy

Sharing The Savvy Of My Life|Family,Food,Travel,Fun

Menu

Widgets

Search

Food & Wine