Need a #ValentinesDay gift idea? Visit @townofapex #PinotsPalette art studio to Paint, Drink, Have Fun!

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Looking for the perfect night out? Well Pinot’s Palette , a newly opened paint & sip studio in Apex, NC is the perfect place to disconnect to reconnect. 

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to learn what it is like to be in their studio painting, drinking and having fun. I chose to attend a lovely painting event called “Paris Rendezvous” for several reasons: Paris is one of me favorite cities, the colors of black/white/red would fit perfect in my bedroom, and my cousin who has an upcoming birthday this month happens to be named Paris! I thought this would be a great girls night out.  

Paris Rendezvous is one of their “Paint and Sip” events. I was invited by the owners to come experience what they have to offer. You pay a flat fee for a 2 or 3 hour event. They supply everything you need to make your own personal masterpiece. The canvas, paints and brushes. There is a expert artist to guide guests through every aspect of the portrait of the day.

A novice like myself was very relieved to know I would have someone to hold my hand through the whole process. The paintings change depending on the event and date. This week it was to paint a Parisian scene. Two lovers gazing at the Eiffel Tower in a rain shower was the objective. We were shown what the finished painting should look like and followed the artist who was front and center to guide us.

My nerves were soothed also by the wide selections of wines they have on sale for a nominal price. Reds and Whites. Sweet wines and dry and everything in between. They also have a great beer menu for those that prefer suds over grapes.

The expert artist never once made anyone in attendance feel less than adequate for their painting {or lack thereof} skills. It was lighthearted and fun. The studio had excellent lighting and I actually managed to being home a painting that I felt proud to hang in my home office. It will make for an excellent conversation piece.

Pinot’s Palette is the perfect place for date night, family night or for hosting a private corporate team building event !

Ever wanted to paint ? Do you enjoy wine ? This is THE place for a unique outing that produces results !

 

Click link to experience Pinot’s Palette:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=0isuvcW_v9c&app=desktop

Savvy Tip: Receive a special offer to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your best friends and receive $10 off your reservation! Visit http://www.pinotspalette.com and use code VDAY-SCFRCC at checkout*

* code valid for one reserved seat, one time use. Expires 3/14/17  Redeemable on regular, public events only. Not redeemable for merchandise,food or beverages. Cannot be combined with any other offer.*

Enjoy these photos from yesterday’s event and be inspired to reserve your date!

#FashionFriday ‘Red & Black’ #Amiclubwear #ValentinesDay Look and SALE !

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Disclaimer: Product from Ami Clubwear featured in this post was sent complimentary to facilitate this review. The opinion of SobeSavvy will always stay honest and true for our readers.

Ladies, be prepared this Valentine’s Day with a dress that will make you feel flirty and fun! AMI Clubwear has a variety of dresses that will look great on you no matter what plans you have! This affordable and show stoppin’ line will get you excited to strut your stuff on Valentine’s Day! I’m attending a black and red affair this weekend and knew that a dress from AMI Clubwear would be the perfect place to shop online for a V-Day style. Here is what I ordered:

Sexy Red Black Glitter Mesh Paneled Short Sleeve Bodycon Party Dress Rock this eye catching dress for a date night out! Featuring; two tone, glitter, round neckline, short sleeve, mesh panels.

I love how comfortable and fun this dress is.The back is sheer so be prepared to strut your sexy when you turn to walk away. Whether you’re going out on the town with your sweetheart or having a girl’s night, AMI Clubwear’s got you covered and has something for every woman including plus sizes. Make sure to check out their selection of sexy shoes to add the finishing touch to your Valentine’s Day look, like these hot heels!

Strappy Open Toe Platforms: Strut your stuff in these classy pumps, featuring a bold strappy design, open toe and back zipper closure. Match it with your favorite little black dress and your date will be loving your look!

Savvy Tip: Today only, use code RED55 and take advantage of their RED HOT Friday sale!

Go out and get your perfect Valentine’s Day outfit all from AMI Clubwear! With all their seductive heels, platforms and boots, you can match it with just about any outfit. Get ready to make everlasting memories with the one you care most for while looking more desirable than ever. To shop for the perfect Valentine’s Day vibe, visit https://www.amiclubwear.com.

~Here’s a special Valentine from me to you~
What plans do you have this Valentine’s Day weekend and what do you plan to wear? Please share below and thanks for stopping by!

With Love, SobeSavvy.com 💋

#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.

#outandaboutAva gets creative with her @American_Girl #GOTY2017 Gabriela McBride #AGdoll #Fun 

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​Disclosure: We received the doll for review and the opinions are that of my own/DD

We were excited to hear the news of American Girl’s debut of its 2017 Girl of the Year – Gabriela McBride, which became available January 1, 2017. Why were we excited ? As a mom, I love to see representation and diversity in dolls and it was another opportunity for my daughter to bond with a doll that as she would say “looks like me”. 

We learned that Gabriela is a true talent who uses her passion for the arts—specifically spoken word poetry—to overcome personal obstacles and create positive change for her community. Gabriela launched with a beautiful 18-inch doll, plus several performance-inspired outfits, accessories, and toys. We’re also happy to hear that, unlike past Girl of the Year characters, Gabriela will be available throughout 2017 and beyond!

After unboxing her, my daughter was most impressed with her outfit. She liked the layered top & jeans and commented that the shoes are easier to put on and take off in comparison to some other dolls. It also comes with a book that shares how Gabriela focuses on expressing her true feelings when speaking up gets scary. Gabriela is inspired to use her talents and be creative for a cause. 

The doll comes with clear rubber bands and a pink headband. My daughter squealed in delight over the brown curls and could not wait to style it ! (as seen in this YouTube video). 

Coming in March, American Girl is partnering with Scholastic to create and distribute Express Yourself, a program for classrooms that empowers students to use the arts as a tool for self-expression ,to connect students with Gabriela’s inspiring message and to bring awareness to spoken word poetry. The classroom resources will give teachers the tools to encourage students to find their creative voices, just in time for National Poetry Month in April.

Learn more about Gabriela here-and get ready to imagine, dream and create! After reading her inspiring story to my daughter, I told her “May her Dreams be as Big as her Smile~Always! “

Old School Hip Hop & RnB lives! Thanks to “Back 2 the 80s’ Tour ~#Raleigh Recap @decRaleigh

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Yo Baby, Yo Baby, Yo!!!! Old School ruled and packed the house last night, Saturday February 4, 2017 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium for the Back 2 the 80’s Tour ! 

Fans came out ‘funky fresh dressed to impress ready to party’ to see this show featuring Doug E Fresh, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Whodini, Al B Sure, Cherrelle, Hi Five and Chubb Rock! 

The music was great, the vibe was nothing but a Generation X party y’all and I would definitely recommend seeing this show if you love old school REAL Hip Hop and RnB.

Cherrelle opened the show. She became legendary with a myriad of solo hots and also with Alexander O’Neal. Father time has done nothing to slow her beauty or vocal chords.

Followed by Chub RockChubb had great interaction w/the audience as he hosted an old school hit after hit review !

Hi-Five sang a melody of their greatest hits including “The Kissing Game”, They also paid homage to New Edition, with “Can You Stand The Rain” .

Here is a short clip of Al.B.Sure working his way thru a crowd of lady fans singing RnB classic “Secret Garden”. It was an uplifting experience for one lucky fan!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQHQr4_D4MY/


Whodini: The trio of Jalil Hutchins, John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, and Drew “Grandmaster Dee” Carter filled the early ’80s with memorable jams such as “Magic Wand” and “The Freaks Come Out at Night,” which they performed while escaping from straitjackets underwater.  They were in all their glory onstage with their infamous wide brimmed hats and all.

Big Daddy Kane: The Grammy-winning rapper and former member of the Juice Crew’s mix of rapid-fire rhymes and swagger inspired generations of MCs, including former hype man Jay-Z.Big Daddy has not lost once ounce of his iconic swag. He is still the ultimate “smooth operator”. He took the crowd through a playlist of his biggest hits culminating with his number one smash “Ain’t no Half Steppin”

Slick Rick: Allmusic dubbed the Grammy-nominated rapper “hip-hop’s greatest storyteller” for reasons that become obvious when listening to hits such as “La Di Da Di” and “Children’s Story”. This UK import has a unique way of weaving a tale while keeping a rhythm all of his own. It took me back to middle school and just had me smiling from ear to ear.

Doug E. Fresh was as always was the MC extraordinaire. He kept the crowd grooving with his unique blend of rap, beat box.He is literally a walking encyclopedia of hip hop. One of the originators of the genre. His icon status was on full display as the crowd went wild during his set !!

Look out for the Back 2 the 80s Tour coming to a city near you ! Check your local listings and Ticketmaster to buy tickets here ! 

RECAP ~ #NuSoulRevivalTour let the #RaleighNC fans know #GoodMusicStillLives ! @DECRaleigh 

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In celebration of drawing over 10,000 soul and R&B music lovers, from all over the U.S, to the largest annual Soul Music Festival in the SE region, the producers of the ATL Soul Life Music Festival are expanding on that successful concept. The 22-city NuSoul Revival Tour is boasting a lineup of some of the genres’ finest who have been quite busy in 2016. The tour kicked off last night in Raleigh, NC at the Duke Energy Center of the Performing Arts.

SobeSavvy was lucky enough to witness this great event. I was joined by my cousin who admitted, ” I came for Musiq SouldChild” ! Although I love ALL of the artists on this tour roster, I also could not wait for the headliner Musiq Soulchild to do his set. But before we get to that let’s talk about who was up before him.

Opening up on stage was beloved Grammy Nominated and; Multi-Award Winning Artist, Avery*Sunshine whose loyal fan base includes music icons Aretha Franklin, Baby Face, Teddy Riley, Jazzy Jeff, and Patti LaBelle. Avery has the vocal chords and stage presence that any real music fan could appreciate. The crowd included hundreds of folk who came there just to see her. She.is.amazing.Whether bllads or uptempo james Avery is a force to be reckoned with !

“First Couple of Soul”, Kindred the Family Soul came out first.Since their debut with Surrender to Love which charted #29 on Billboard R&B and received a Soul Train Award and a BET Award nomination, Kindred the Family Soul continues to show fans why they are fondly known as the First Couple of Soul.  Their lead Single “Where Would I Be (The Question)” from their second album hit top 10 on urban AC radio and they celebrated critical success with the 2014-released, A Couple Friends.  “Their albums are filled with a level of substance rarely found in popular music, and they combine that with great grooves and vocals. It is for that reason Kindred has been one of the most important acts of the 21st Century.

I had been wanting to see this husband and wife duo for forever and they did not disappoint. ” Far Away” was my favorite song of theirs and it just took me back to when I first heard it with my husband many moons ago. They were so energetic and just plain uplifting. The love they share in their union definitely came through with the warm interactions they had with each other on the stage.

Chester Jermaine Jennings better known as Lyfe Jennings took the stage and the crowd {ladies}went wild.The cautionary tale spinner who is well-known for his superior lyricism and signature ballads -Lyfe Jennings – has been delighting his fans since his critically acclaimed platinum-selling debut album, Lyfe 268-192 Jennings continues to raise his own bar.  In 2013, he covered Michael Jackson’s classic hit, “Human Nature” exclusively for Grammy.com’s Reimagined series. And, in 2015, the raspy-voiced singer released Tree of Lyfe, which he has described as his most personal work to date.

His singing and acoustic guitar skills are a rare blend. I discovered my love of this artist some years back when I was mesmorized by his smash hit ” Must Be Nice” It’s now iconic music video which to date has over 44 million views stands as proof that he is a visual artist himself.. Judge for yourself below:

https://www.youtube.com%20/embed/GkpN3uiZ-Ew

When he sung Must Be Nice this arms were swaying and we all were harmonizing {some better than others} to the beat !

Finally, what alot of us had been waiting for..MUSIQ !! The man who has had two platinum albums, two gold albums, and seven hit singles, and continues to amass industry nods such as awards from Billboard, BET, ASCAP, BMI, and Soul Train.&nbsp was coming on stage.

He has also earned award nominations from MTV, the American Music Awards, the NAACP, and 11 Grammy nominations since arriving on the scene over 15 years ago. The singer who enjoys fusing soul, R&B, funk, jazz, and hip-hop has also enjoyed notable collaborations with Carlos Santana, Mary J. Blige, Ice Cube, tour mates Kindred the Family Soul, Ceelo, Bilal, Swizz Beatz, Estelle, and India Arie – perhaps some of them will make an appearance on the tour.

His appeareance last night followed an exciting 2016 which includes his seventh studio album, Life on Earth entering the US Billboard 200 at #27, his single “I Do” reaching #3 on Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and performing in the highly anticipated musical adaptation of the cult classic, Love Jones.

Musiq took control of the audience and played a compilation of his many many hits. “So Beautiful” sounded so great. After so many years Musiq has not lost a step or a vocal chord. I simply loved it . Great night. Great company.Great Concert.

This tour is also a party for a cause , per their press release…The NuSoul Revival Tour seeks to send the message that “Good Music Still Lives! “while continuing to support artists whose music is the soundtrack, and in some cases, a blueprint of areas of our lives.  It also seeks to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease which affects over five million individuals in the United States.

Here is a short video clip from last night’s concert in Raleigh of Kindred the Family Soul singing one of my favorite songs “Far Away”

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

 

 

To the NuSoul Revival Tour, style:initial;vertical-align:baseline;font-weight:bold;font-size:13px;line-height:normal;font-family:"color:rgb(70,70,70);text-align:justify;”> 

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#NuSoulRevivalTour     #GoodMusicStillLives

Coming to a city near you!

 

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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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