Crabtree Valley Mall

Where to Dine in #Raleigh for @TriRestWeek Jan 21-27th 2019 | @Seasons52 @shopcrabtree

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Seasons 52 Dinner Menu Preview for Triangle Restaurant Week Jan 2019

Foodies get ready! Triangle Restaurant Week is starting Monday (Jan. 21-27) and we get to enjoy menu deals for lunch and dinner at some of our favorite restaurants. This is a good time to make your reservations at places you’ve always wanted to try. Or perhaps return to a restaurant you may have been to before but can now try something new and different from the menu. Since there are so many premier places to choose from, I thought I would help by giving you a preview of the special menu from one of my favorite restaurants, Seasons 52.

THE MENU

Known for their seasonally inspired menu and wine bar, Seasons 52 is all about bringing out the natural flavors of food. You can expect food that is fresh, beautifully prepared and full of flavor. They use rustic cooking techniques, like brick-oven roasting and open-fire grilling over oak and mesquite wood, to give their dishes a fresh grill taste. Triangle Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to experience a better way to eat from Seasons 52 at a great value. For $30 p/p, here is what is offered on their special dinner menu:

•First Course

Although my guest & I had dined at Seasons 52 before, our server Devonte was helpful and ready to answer any questions about the menu. The items being featured on the Triangle Restaurant Week menu are the same from the regular menu. We were happy to see our favorite Garlic Pesto Chicken flatbread as a choice to share in the first course. Their flatbread is the perfect first course as a shareable appetizer because it’s light, and there is great flavor in every bite. I could not believe it was only 460 calories!

GARLIC PESTO CHICKEN | mozzarella, balsamic cipollini onions, roasted red peppers, arugula

•Second Course

Salads may seem mundane to some but not here at Seasons 52! I ordered the Romaine and Baby Kale Caesar Salad which came with plenty of shaved parmesan and a light, creamy dressing. It was good but the star salad was the Seasonl Spinach Salad (Spinach and Caramelized Bosc Pear). The combination of pears,spinach, gorgonzola, toasted walnuts and a delightful sherry-walnut vinigrette dressing was amazing!

•Third Course

Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon -Crushed Potatoes, Caulilini, Dill-Mustard Sauce

For the third course I ordered the Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon and my guest went for the Wood-Grilled Filet Mignon. You couldn’t go wrong with either one. It just depends on whether you want surf or turf. The salmon was prepared and served on a cedar plank, which gave it a wonderful flavor that only cedar can bring out. The steak was mouth melting with a incredible sauce and mushrooms. It came with yukon mashed potatos and caulilini (not to be confused with brocollini)! It was my first time having that vegetable. It tastes like sweet cauliflower and looks like broccolini. I love discovering something new to enjoy. Thanks Seasons 52 for the introduction.

•Dessert

Whatever you do remember the following 4 words: SAVE👏 ROOM👏 FOR👏 DESSERT. Seasons 52 has iconic status when it comes to it’s Mini Indulgence Desserts. They are served in single serving shot glasses filled with all sorts of goodness. Carrot Cake, Key Lime Pie, just to name a few. No need to feel guilty because after 3-4 spoonfuls, it is gone but not forgotten! The perfect sweet ending to an amazing dinner at Seasons 52!

SobeSavvy Tip: Did you know Seasons 52 offers 52 wines by the glass? If you are a wine lover like me, take the opportunity to try some of the wine pairings on the Restaurant Week menu. I recommend the Harvest Sun Chardonnay with the garlic pesto chicken flatbread and the salmon.

Overall our dining experience was a great one! Not only did we enjoy our 3 course meal but left feeling good after eating healthy, full-flavored dishes from Seasons 52!

HAVE YOU DINED AT SEASONS 52 BEFORE? WILL YOU BE DINING OUT FOR TRIANGLE RESTAURANT WEEK?

Seasons 52 Raleigh

Crabtree Valley Mall

4325 Glenwood Ave

Raleigh, NC 27612

Enjoy #NationalNoodleMonth Eats in #Raleigh @ToriiNoodleBar @shopCrabtree #Ramen #dineCrabtree

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SobeSavvy.com Celebrates National Noodle Month at Torii Noodle Bar

There really is a holiday for everything and in case you did not know the month of March is National Noodle Month! Looking for a place to celebrate in Raleigh? May I suggest you go to Torii Noodle Bar at Kanki in the Crabtree Valley Mall. If you read my last feature on this restaurant, then you know it is one of my favorite places to dine especially with my daughter who loves noodles! This past weekend, we were hosted to try some of the noodle dishes on their menu and here are some highlights from our mother and daughter lunch date!

MENU

Leslie, Founder of SobeSavvy.com and her daughter, #outandaboutAva enjoy Japanese soda at Torii Noodle Bar

Torii Noodle Bar has a menu that as soon as you open it you can see the mouthwatering noodle entree bowls available. Appetizers, entrees, beverages, and dessert are served at this intimate & modern noodle bar.

APPETIZERS

SobeSavvy Tip: If you use code “SoBeSavvy” at Torii, you can receive a free appetizer with purchase of an entree!
O

ffer is good through May 14, 2018 and Please limit one coupon per party.

We started with some edamame and dumplings before ordering our entrees. Edamame is good for you and great for sharing for only $3.95 on the menu. If your little dumpling loves dumplings as much as mine does, order the Gyoza. It’s flavorful and fun to dip into their signature ponzu sauce.

Edamame or Gyoza for an appetizer..which one would you choose?

ENTREES

My little one is having fun mastering the art of chopsticks and Torii Noodle Bar has a nice variety of noodle entrees that gives her the practice she needs! Not a pro yet? No worries, they will adjust the chopticks for little hands. She ordered the Yakisoba stir fried noodles and opted to get the sauce on the side. I love that you can customize the noodles to you or your childs liking. Hers was lightly tossed in soy sauce instead which she enjoyed!

Yakisoba Stir Fried Noodles are kid-friendly and flavorful at Torii Noodle Bar

At the wonderful suggestion of our server and being the seafoodie that I am, I was eager to havr the seafood scampi ramen. The portion of this is huge, which quite frankly I did not mind. It was chock full of fresh veggies, seafood and served in this amazing broth.

DESSERT

SobeSavvy Tip: You must save room for dessert and try the Japanese Mochi Ice Cream. We had the strawberry and mango flavors, however you can try a sampler of all the Mochi flavors offered. It was so yummy! A sweet ending to our tasty lunch.

SERVICE

All smiles after our delicious lunch with great customer service at Torii Noodle Bar

Sure, we ate and slurped and drank some fun Japanese soda, but what made the meal most memorable was the service. Our server named Lily, who is also a mom to a daughter named Ava, was simply wonderful. She was patient, knowledegable and pleasant. My little foodie has a lot of questions and is quite curious about things like wanting to know what Torii means in Japanese? Here is what we found out: The entrance of the Jinja (a Shinto shrine) has a traditional Japanese gate called a Torii (鳥居), (literally ‘bird abode’). A Torii is built to show the beginning of a sacred place. It symbolically marks the transition from mundane to sacred.

I think the name of the restaurant is a perfect fit because you will not get mundane service or food once you walk thru the doors at Torii Noodle Bar. The next time you are at Crabtree Valley Mall, treat yourself and your little one to oodles of fun while enjoying a bowl of noodles at Torii Noodle Bar!

Torii Noodle Bar At Kanki

Crabtree Valley Mall

4325 Glenwood Ave

(919) 782-9708

Part I #MyVioletValentine Shopping Picks + Fun #ValentineGift Ideas ~ CrabTree Valley Mall @ShopCrabtree

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#MyVioletValentine Shopping Experience at CrabTree Valley Mall

If you have been following my Instagram @SobeSavvy, then you may have seen my instastories and posts about a new series I am starting just in time for Valentine’s Day called #MyVioletValentine. 💜

In honor of the Pantone Color of the Year: Ultra Violet, I want to inspire you to switch up from the usual color red and make violet purple purchases this Valentine’s Day for yourself or loved ones. With over 200+ stores and restaurants, Crabtree Valley Mall is the perfect place in Raleigh to kick off this series! There are so many great places to ‘SHOP in the name of Love’ just like the sign outside of Bevello says…so let’s get started!

Here are a few ideas for Girls:

Accessories from Claire’s

New Athleta Girl fashions at Athleta

Hallmark for cards + candy

There’s also Purple Disney characters like Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, Rapunzel available at The Disney Store and fun fashions like this graphic tee from The Children’s Place!

Speaking of fashion, everywhere I looked in the mall there were awesome sales on purple clothing,shoes..take your pick! You must remember to gift yourselves ladies this Valentine’s Day. Check out these gift ideas for HER:

Purple Sweater, Violet Floral Top from American Eagle Outfitters

Find February’s gemstone, Amethyst and other purple gemstones in any of the jewelry stores including Swarovski at Crabtree Valley Mall. I found a beautiful cocktail ring at Sears, which is one of three anchor department stores at the mall.

You can also find Handbags from Coach or Michael Kors, purple candles from Yankee Candle, and shades of violet at your favorite cosmetic stores: Bare Minerals, MAC or Sephora.

Loving this MAC matte lipstick, color: Heroine

As I began to look for things my husband would like, I noticed there were quite a few His & Her Options throughout the mall. Got yours eyes on gifts for a special guy? Here’s some ideas for HIM:

Cool Shades from Aeropostale

..and Sunglass Hut!

Everyone loves a good smelling man right?! Pick up a nice smelling fragrance for the both of you at any of the anchor department stores, Sephora and these from Aeropostale.

Remember those tops I saw at American Eagle Outfitters? While there, I noticed boxers that were perfect for #MyVioletValentine! I plan to box up these (along with a few other surprises) and present on Valentine’s Day, which is just 9 days away!

SobeSavvy Tip: Still can’t decide what to get for him or her? Give “The Gift of Choice”, a Crabtree Valley Mall Gift Card available for as little as $5 or as much as $500! Gift Cards are available at Guest Services.

We had so much fun shopping for #MyVioletValentine at Crabtree Valley Mall and hope you are inspired to make your way there soon!

CRABTREE VALLEY MALL

4325 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27612

shopcrabtree.com | @shopcrabtree #shopcrabtree

#VisitBrio for #ValentinesDay and enjoy delicious made-from scratch risotto dishes and more! @BrioItalian

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Having spent time in Europe I realized quickly that risotto is to Italy what rice is to Asia! An Italian staple for centuries, risotto done right is now available at Brio Tuscan Grille for all! Located in Crabtree Valley Mall, this restaurant is a great place to enjoy lunch, bar bites, dinner or weekend brunch.

Per their press release, “It’s a Risotto Celebration” menu, available now until Sunday, March 25, 2018. This limited-time selection includes four chef-inspired risotto entrées, which all feature high-quality ingredients and are made from scratch. In addition, the menu includes three original cocktails, created to compliment BRIO’s new risotto dishes, and a decadent dessert.

The ‘It’s A Risotto Celebration’ Menu

I am a big fan of this restaurant because although a chain, it never feels like cookie cutter cuisine and this limited time only special should inspire you to make plans to dine there soon! We went at lunchtime and entered their bright and airy dining space. Only fresh good food comes out of their open kitchen and it shows. But before I get into how great the food is, let me tell you about their amazing cocktails!

Left to Right: Maple Bourbon Smash, Bulleit Rosa

There are three distinctive cocktails that are included on this special menu. My husband and I tried The Maple Bourbon Smash (Maker’s Mark, Monin Maple, lemon juice, rosemary simple syrup, dash of bitters, orange garnish) and Bulleit Rosa ( Bulleit Rye whiskey, lemon juice, simple syrup, 19 Crimes Red Blend, lemon twist garnish). They were the perfect start to what was to come.

Of their four risotto themed dishes, we had the following:

Shrimp Risotto & Broiled Lobster Tail: mushrooms, red peppers, asparagus, and basil

Sea Scallop Risotto: pan seared sea scallops, ratatouille vegetables, basil, and red peppers

Although hard to choose among four great dishes, we opted for the Sea Scallop Risotto and the Shrimp Risotto & Broiled Lobster Tail because we are seafood lovers. WOW is the word that comes to mind when speaking of these dishes. Risotto is all about the cooking method. Not cooked well enough and it is hard. Overcooking risotto and you end up with nothing but mush. Brio got it exactly right! The scallops were in a red sauce and the shrimp & lobster in a light oil sauce. We actually exchanged plates halfway through because neither of us could decide which one was best! Only YOU can be the judge, but the shrimp & lobster was my fave.

We ended lunch with the featured dessert, a molten chocolate cake with mascarpone cream, white chocolate raspberry gelato. It was as good as it looks too and wonderful to share with that special someone!

SobeSavvy Tip: BRIO Tuscan Grille’s tempting Valentine’s Day menu features this decadent dessert, along with enticing cocktails, delicious starters and entrees. This offer is available during lunch/dinner, Friday, Feb. 9 – Sunday, Feb.18.

Brio Tuscan Grille

4325 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27612

Brunching & Celebrating #NationalFrenchToastDay @BrioItalian #MyBrio

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Disclosure: I had the opportunity to try Brio’s Brunch menu in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% mine.

Brio Tuscan Grille | Berries & Cream French Toast, SobeSavvy.com

November 28th is National French Toast Day! A day to celebrate a breakfast and brunch dish that is a favorite in my family. Recently, I learned that Brio Tuscan Grille has an amazing brunch which features french toast, so I made plans to get a jump on celebrating National French Toast early this past Sunday.
THE MENU

Brio Tuscan Grille | Brunch Menu

Brio Tuscan Grill has savory and sweet dishes on their Brunch Menu to satisfy the whole family. The restaurant has done a great job at elevating brunch classics and giving it their own twist. For example, their Berries & Cream French Toast is stuffed with cream cheese and made with love. Seriously, the Chef admitted he loved this dish and would eat it daily if he could! You get six slices and its served with bacon, and warm syrup to top off this brunch masterpiece. Flavorful, creamy and delish. Everyone at the table loved it!

Brio Tuscan Grille | Berries & Cream French Toast

I am a Shrimp & Grits fan so my expectations were high when I order their version of this famous southern dish. Black pepper shrimp, creamy smoked Gouda polenta, poached cage-free egg and ciabatta. The shrimp were cooked perfect and the Gouda polenta were MIND BLOWIN’ good. I enjoyed breaking open the egg and using the bread to sop up all that goodness on a plate!

Brio Tuscan Grille | Shrimp & Grits

We also tried their Sicilian Omelette. An oversized omelette filled with ham, bacon, sausage, caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes, mozzarella and brunch potatoes on the side. I appreciated how the potatoes were cooked just perfectly and had the right amount of cajun spices dusted lightly on them. This was very flavorful and extremely filling!

Brio Tuscan Grille | Sicillian Omelette

Brunch is not complete without boozy cocktails to toast to the weekend right? Brio Tuscan Grille has Brunch Beverages on their menu to choose from. I recommend their Italian Mule served in a traditional copper mug, White Peach Sangria if you enjoy a fruity,sweet cocktail or a classic Mimosa.

Brio Tuscan Grille | Brunch Beverages

Dessert is not to be missed! You won’t have room but make room or do like I did and take it to go. The White Chocolate Berry Bread Pudding is everything I desire in a dessert..warm,creamy and has a sauce that goes with it. It was housemade, fresh and so delicious!

Brio Tuscan Grille | Dessert Anyone?

Brio also offers a Kids Menu, which our 6 year old ordered from and enjoyed the pasta. While our daughter waited for her meal, she enjoyed playing with dough given to her by our server, Doug (who provided great customer service and made our family dining experience enjoyable).

Brio Tuscan Grille | Play ‘Dough’ at Brio !

SobeSavvy Tip: Now thru 12/31/17 Recieve a $25 Bonus Card when you purchase $100 in Brio Gift Cards. Free shipping on all gift cards thru Fri Dec. 1st! Show your favorite foodie some love this holiday season! For more info, go to brioitalian.com Also follow Brio on Twitter (@brioitalian) and Facebook (facebook.com/brioitalian)

Brio Tuscan Grille | Holiday Gift Idea~ Brio Gift Cards

Although National French Toast Day is today, Brio Tuscan Grill only offers Brunch on Sat & Sun, so go this weekend and remember to try an order of their Berries & Cream French Toast or any of their amazing brunch dishes!

Brio Tuscan Grille

4325 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC 27612

*BRUNCH: Saturday/Sunday 11am-3pm

4 Places to Brunch on Mother’s Day in #Raleigh |@seasons52 @simplycrepes @bonefishgrill @ncartmuseum 

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Raise your hand if you think Mimosas and Moms go together like Sundays and Brunch! Eating brunch is one of my favorite activities no matter what the occasion, so I have compiled a list of some of my favorite brunch spots here in Raleigh, NC. No matter your tastes, there is sure to be something on here that Moms will like. 

SEASONS 52 ~CrabTree Valley Mall                4325 Glenwood Ave- Raleigh, NC 27612

Head to Seasons 52 and experience the wonderful flavors of the season from their a la carte Mother’s Day Brunch Menu. Check out my review here to see more of what they have to offer. Don’t forget to toast to Mom with any of their amazing Brunch Sips! Then take her shopping at Crabtree Valley Mall since the restaurant is conveniently located there.

SIMPLY CREPES~Lafayette Village          8470 Honeycutt Road, Suite 110                    Raleigh, NC 27615

Breakfast is being served all day at Simply Crepes and seating is first come, first served at Raleigh. If the sun is shining, grab a seat on the patio and watch the kids play on the courtyard lawn at Lafayette Village. This place is a family favorite, which I shared in my past restaurant feature. I highly recommend the chicken and waffles on a crepe entree. So good!

IRIS RESTAURANT~ NC Museum of Art 2110 Blue Ridge Road                     Raleigh,NC 27607

Sunday Brunch here is popular on any given weekend partly because people enjoy the food as well as the beautiful atmosphere. The cuisine is innovative and the setting is an expression of art and nature. Read here how I spent the whole day with my family at the North Carolina Museum of Art and what we ate at #NCMAIris. Reservations to dine at Iris Restaurant are a must. Call 919-664-6838

BONEFISH GRILL~North Hills                4421 Six Forks Rd.                                 Raleigh, NC 27609  

If your Mom is like me and loves seafood, along with Brunch cocktails and libations, then I suggest your Mother’s Day Celebration be held at Bonefish Grill. Take a look at my Sunday Brunch review here and hopefully you are inspired to go this Sunday. Afterwards, walk off that brunch and go shopping or catch a movie at North Hills! 

Have you made Mother’s Day Plans? Where do you enjoy Sunday Brunch?

Hope you enjoyed my list and now have some ideas where to take Mom to eat on Mother’s Day for Brunch in Raleigh, NC ! 




#Raleigh, Plan your Mothers Day Brunch NOW @Seasons52 @shopcrabtree #Seasons52 #SundayBrunch 

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This past Sunday, although rainy outside, my family and I found sunshine and the flavors of Spring inside Seasons 52. Located at Raleigh’s Crabtree Valley Mall, SobeSavvy.com was invited to review their Sunday Brunch menu. Disclaimer: My husband and daughter joined me for this complimentary dine, however the opinions are our own.

Since we arrived after 12pm, we thought we’d start off trying their “Brunch Sips” Seasons 52 is well known to be a top notch spot for creative craft cocktails, so we were not surprised by how refresing their Sangria is..(yes it is as good as it looks)

…and how unique their Bellinis are. He ordered the white peach and I tried the rasberry Bellini for the first time. It was really good. Cheers!

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Our daughter had her own kid’s brunch menu to review. Take a look at all these tasty choices for children under 12!

I am glad she chose the Brick Oven Brioche French Toast because that meant we could taste as well. She opted to have the pecans on the side and even ordered extra as those brown sugar pecans were so good, so addictive!

Before our brunch entrees came out, the Chef sent out an amuse bouche of their housemade orange marmalade, greek yogurt mousse with granola. It’s available also a mini starter and a great way to get your tastebuds ready for more amazing flavors.

On the Sunday Brunch Menu, there’s an array of creative entrees suited for anyone. Whether you choose sweet or savory, breakfast fare or lunch, Seasons 52 has one of the best gourmet menus that is very health conscious. I like how they actually list the calorie content of their dishes. Its good to know that the dishes we had not only taste good, but were good for us too! Here’s what we ate at Seasons 52 during their Sunday Brunch.

STARTERS

Hi my name is Leslie and I love Shrimp & Grits. So when I saw this listed on the menu, I knew I had to order it. I was not disappointed. The combination of cheesy grits, chorizo sausage and large shrimp were amazing! Warning it is not a shareable if you really love shrimp and grits. You are gonna want it all to yourself!

If you are looking for a shareable try the Meditteranean Hummus ……Duck Lollipops (my least fave of the 3 only because it is a bit too gamey for me)

…or one of their flatbreads.  Lox on bagel lovers should definitely order the Smoked Salmon Flatbread. Our server Amy advised that it was one of her favorites and I really enjoyed Seasons 52 remix of this classic dish.

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ENTREES

Even though Sunday Brunch starts at 10 am and ends at 1pm, dishes from the regular menu are available to order. My foodie family loves variety and Seasons 52 definitely serves up an array of “whats good now” emphasizing on fresh, seasonal ingredients. We tried two of their recommended egg based dishes. First up was their S52 Eggs Benedict. They put a new twist on this classic dish by replacing the traditional ham/canadian bacon with..wait for it..poached lobster ! Yup, it tasted BETTER than it sounds!!

Next we tried a beautiful dish served in a  ceramic dish called ShakShuka . This is a arabic middle eastern breakfast recipe of  of eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, and onions, spiced with cumin. They added chorizo and feta cheese. It was so flavorful and just such a pretty dish to look at {prior to eating it !}

Seafood lovers must try the seabass. Mine was cooked to perfection. It’s served on “Forbidden Rice”  which I had for the first time. I don’t forbid you in trying this sticky black rice at all. It went well with snap peas and other asian flavors used to prepare this entree. Absolutely loved it!

Another fave dish that all of us enjoyed is the Lamb Chops. You get a nice sized rack of lamb that my daughter called the rack of love because she loved the lamb chops. We all agreed that it was tender, well seasoned and simply delicious. Just check out the pic below that I shared along w/others via InstaStories on my IG @SobeSavvy

DESSERT

We were full but still had room for dessert. They serve dessert in shot glass sized portions. Little glasses of heaven. Key Lime Pie, Pecan Pie, Red Velvet Cake..got your attention yet. Pick your favorite. All made in house daily. Incredible ending to an incredible brunch experience.

SobeSavvy Tip: At some of their locations, they have a secret cocktail that is not advertised, nor is it on any menu but can be made upon request. But here in Raleigh, it is listed and goes by the name “Botanical Buzz”. We tried it and I will say its for the bold and not the faint of heart. After enjoying it, join the fun by sharing your reaction on Twitter and Instagram using #BotanicalBuzz

Still looking for a unique place to take mom on Mothers Day then look no more. Seasons 52 is the kind of place any mom would love to spend time at on her special day. Make reservations now to reserve your spot.

Seasons 52
4325 Glenwood Avenue
Crabtree Valley Mall
Raleigh, NC 27612