sobesavvy

#FoodieFriday Feature | Where to Dine in #Baltimore Inner Harbor PART II @MissShirleys #ShirleysLove

1 Comment

When seeking a family friendly brunch while in Baltimore, make sure to place Miss Shirley’s Cafe at the top of your list. I was visiting family and friends during Thanksgiving and wanted to enjoy non-traditional Thanksgiving food during Brunch where I could indulge in some regional cuisine featuring my fave: SEAFOOD!

Miss Shirley’s Cafe | SobeSavvy.com shares #ShirleysLove for Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch

During our stay in Baltimore, we dined at two restaurants that not only feature delicious food, but served as the perfect family friendly places to fuel up for holiday shopping. Phillips Seafood (which you can read PART I of my #FoodieFriday here) and Miss Shirley’s Cafe are both Maryland favorites that should be on your Where to Dine in Baltimore list. Here’s what my experience was like at Miss Shirley’s: 

Upon arriving at Miss Shirley’s Inner Harbor location at 750 E.Pratt St. you will see that this place is popular for breakfast, brunch and lunch. The original location in Roland Park was started in 2005 so Miss Shirley’s simply spread their perfection here {and an Annapolis location}.

After being warmly greeted, we were seated at a booth where the hostess handed an old school etch-a-sketch to my 6 yr old. What an awesome throwback for the kiddos to occupy themselves with while waiting for their food! I absolutely loved their kids menu. My little one ordered the silver dollar pancakes and they come served in a cute bento box! We adults occupied ourselves with Mornin’ Cocktails. I recommend the Miss Mimosa & Southern Ruby Crush.

My Mom started with the “Loaded Southern Fried Deviled Eggs” which she LOVED! I ordered their soup of the day, which was a gumbo that was packed with shrimp, sausage and plenty of flavor.

For entrees we feasted our eyes on the Miss Shirley’s House Favorites like “Get your Grits On” which is their take on Shrimp {Or Salmon} and Grits. It features Blackened Shrimp on top of Grits + Fried Green Tomato and tastes as awesome as it sounds and looks! 

Hubby opted for the “Crab Cake & Fried Green Tomato Eggs Benedict.” Jumbo lump crabmeat with poached eggs & Old Bay hollandaise sauce. He said it tasted EXACTLY like he imagined actually … BETTER!

The “Crab Happy Chesapeake Chicken Sammy” was what my Mom ordered. Here is what’s on it per the menu ..

She thought it was AMAZING and even though it had alot going on, it all surprisingly went well together. This dish definitely fit the Miss Shirley’s motto: Southern Inspired with a Maryland Twist!

Service was very good as well as the entire meal. It was a great way to bond with my family over good food in a locally owned, upscale-casual, yet kid-friendly restaurant.

SobeSavvy Tip: Miss Shirley’s Cafe has a special called “Family Time Tuesdays“. All Miss Shirley’s Cafe locations are offering 50% OFF* Kids Bento Boxes ALL DAY on Tuesdays from November 7th – December 12th, with the purchase of an entrée of $11.99 or more. Make sure to mention this ad to your server while dining, to redeem your discount!

Holiday Promotions

Make sure you make Miss Shirley’s Cafe a favorite of yours and also your company. This holiday season Miss Shirley’s Cafe is offering a special party promotion that’s available for a Limited Time Only! Book your upcoming Holiday Party or Event for a WEEKDAY between Monday, November 27th – Thursday, December 21st & receive a $20 Bonus Card* for every $200 spent during your event!

Missed Cyber Monday?! No worries at Miss Shirley’s, it’s Cyber Monday all season long! Order Miss Shirley’s Cafe gift cards online & receive a $10 Bonus Gift Card* for every $100 in gift cards purchased! *Promotion valid through 1/2/18. See website for restrictions.

Digital E-Gift Cards are also available online throughYiftee.com.

Remember to Follow @MissShirleys #ShirleysLove on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and make plans to dine there soon and taste the award winning breakfast, brunch, lunch dishes for yourself! 

 

#FoodieFriday Feature | Where to Dine in #Baltimore Inner Harbor PART I @PhillipsSeafood #PhillipsSeafood

13 Comments

Recently my family and I spent Thanksgiving in Baltimore and stayed in the Downtown/Inner Harbor area. We enjoy visiting ‘Charm City’ mainly because there are plenty of things to do and great restaurants where we can enjoy my favorite food: SEAFOOD! During our stay, we dined at two restaurants that not only feature delicious food, but served as the perfect family friendly places to fuel up for holiday shopping. Phillips Seafood and Miss Shirley’s Cafe are both Maryland favorites that should be on your Where to Dine in Baltimore list. Here’s why:

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD

Phillips Seafood Baltimore Inner Harbor | #outandaboutAva is ready for Lunch at Phillips Seafood

Phillips Seafood | Lunch in Baltimore means seafood to my family. And seafood means a visit to the world famous Phillips Seafood Restaurant. Located at the
Inner Harbor, Phillips has been a Baltimore iconic brand for decades. It had been a little while since our last visit so we were excited about trying their seasonal specials.

One Winter special we ordered was an appetizer called “Local Oysters and Crab Claws“. For THE  low price of $5 we received a platter with 4 raw
oysters and a cluster of individual crab claws. Fresh and good are two words to
describe this wallet friendly appetizer that promptly disappeared.

Our waitress Z recommended I try one of their new cocktails on the menu. I was glad that I did because their “Crabby Tea” was both refreshing and a great drink to toast to the holidays with! 

We dived into the main portion of their menu and so many things looked SO
GOOD it was hard to decide on a nice steak or continue with the seafood theme. The good news is my husband chose something that was the best of both worlds. 

For a limited time they have a Surf & Turf special. For only $19.95 they served a 6 oz. broiled lobster tail and a tender 6 oz. filet mignon cooked to order. The lobster and filet were both superb! No sides are included, however my hubby was pleased and glad he ordered it. 

Did you know Phillips has a special kids menu? Our daughter, #outandaboutAva loves their kid sized crabcake slider. It comes with fries and a drink in a fun, keepsake cup. 


A visit to Phillips would not be complete without ordering one of their infamous crabcakes. I ordered the “Ultimate Crab Cake“, described as.. “the
best of the best, made with 100% jumbo lump crab; with crab macaroni &
cheese & asparagus. 

IT WAS BEYOND GOOD!!  Delicious is even an understatement. I wanted to kiss the Chef…not just for the oversized crab cake but also the scrumptious Crab Mac & cheese.

  

Saving room for dessert is a must when dining at Phillips because they have a variety of choices that will satisfy your sweet tooth and your soul! Take a peek at this menu and the spread:

Taste a bit of history and order the ‘Smith Island Cake‘ -an 8 to 11 # layer cake with fudge frosting, a Maryland recipe you must devour! In 2008, it became the official dessert of the State of Maryland and available at Phillips Seafood Restaurant. 

SobeSavvy Tip : Be sure to visit phillipsfoods.com to stay informed with recipes, promotions, specials and more. Dont’t forget the holidays are upon us and the best gift for a foodie would be a gift card from Phillips Seafood! 

PHILLIPS SEAFOOD



601 E Pratt St
Baltimore, MD 21202


Brunching & Celebrating #NationalFrenchToastDay @BrioItalian #MyBrio

18 Comments

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

#NC Holiday Happenings | #NCChineseLanternFestival @BoothAmp #KokaBooth in Cary Opens Nov 24 -Get Tix Now! 

4 Comments

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival Guide

Looking to experience something magical with your family this holiday
season? Look no further than the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival at the Koko Booth Amphitheatre in Cary,NC. Back for it’s third year, SobeSavvy.com attended a media preview of this delightful exhibition and enjoyed learning what it takes to make these larger-than-life holiday lanterns! 

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival |CHINESE LANTERN-Traditional Lamp and Palace Lanterns are very distinctive to the handicrafts which represent happiness.

Hundreds of artistic hand-made lantern displays are spread throughout the expansive grounds, including the spectacular 200-foot Floating Chinese Dragon on Symphony Lake. Each of these magnificient lanterns are shipped from China where artisans hand make the silk fabrics that cover a steel frame. These frames are then lit underneath to give them a bright colorful and warm lighting
effect that is spectacular to see up close! The color red is found throughout most displays due to that color in particular means good fortune in Chinese culture.

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival | THE CHINESE LANTERN GALLERY – Since lantern handicraft appeared 2000 years ago, every year before and after the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese lunar calendar, people would hang up the red lanterns, which symbolize reunion and happiness, to create a festive atmosphere

Last year, my family and I attended the opening night in 2016 and was amazed at the beauty and artistry of Chinese cutlure displayed in an authentic way. There are hundreds of all-new lantern displays for the whole family to enjoy! Our daughter really enjoy seeing the animals, flowers, shapes and even Santa all aglow! Some of them even spin, twirl and move! Her favorite was the PANDA PARADISE, which we learned that pandas are a symbol of peace in China.

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival | PANDAS !

Festival Admission includes Chinese cultural performances, martial arts as well as artisan craft-making. Three performances take place each night where visitors will get a chance to see traditional dance, acrobatics, drum performances and more. We got a chance to have a sneak peek of Chinese Cupe Diablo, which is a form of juggling that has evolved from 12th Century Chinese yo-yo, consisting of an axle and two discs spun using string attached to two hand sticks. Check out my short video clip below : 

SobeSavvy Tip: See Daily Chinese Cultural Art Performances: Tuesday thru Sunday 6:30P | 7:30P |8:30P    

EVENT DATES/TIMES

November 24, 2017 – January 14, 2018
Tuesdays – Sundays: 6pm – 10pm (Closed Mondays. Except Dec 25 & Jan 1)

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE!

To purchase tickets over the phone, call ETIX at 1-800-514-3849

In person at the venue Box Office:

BOX OFFICE HOURS
Tuesday-Friday 12 p.m.-6 p.m. EST
On Festival Days (Nov 24 – Jan 14):  Tuesday-Friday 3 p.m. – 9 p.m. EST
Saturday-Sunday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. EST
Closed Mondays

Ticket Prices
Kids 2 and under FREE
Ages 3 – 17 – $10.00
Adults ages 18+ – $15.00

PARKING IS FREE at the venue

HOLIDAY TREATS
Venue Concession Stands will be open selling a variety of food, beverages & Holiday Treats.


DISCOUNTS
Discounts available on SELECT nights only: TUESDAY-THURSDAY & SUNDAYS:
$12.00 FOR SENIORS 55+, COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH ID & MEMBER OF THE MILITARY WITH ID
We offer no discounts on Friday, Saturday & Holidays nights. (Holidays are December 24, 25, 31 & January 1) 

North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival | Media Preview Recap by SobeSavvy.com

I definitely recommend you adding this to your holiday to do list of events to check out on the Triangle. Go see why the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival has quickly become a popular holiday tradition. Bring your family, tell your friends and see this wonderful display of Chinese culture before it ends! 

Check out my video photo recap here from the media preview night! Enjoy and be sure to tag your photos including #KokaBooth and #NCChineseLanternFestival ! 

“Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair” @ncartmuseum Upcoming Events + Giveaway #NCMAEbony

9 Comments

Have you seen the new exhibition at NCMA yet? Recently, I shared with you my Top 5 Reasons To Visit North Carolina Museum of Art Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair Exhibition and I wanted to follow up with some related events you do not want to miss! I also have a #SobeSavvyGiveaway for one lucky reader to win a girls night out to a special event that I will share at the end of this post. 

Here are some upcoming events that I wanted to make sure you had on your radar to go check out. These popular ticketed events sell out quickly, so reserve your spot early! Visit mcartmuseum.org/ebony for more details.

NCMA Fashion Show Ensembles on Display at Crabtree Valley Mall ~ Opening Reception Sat. Nov 11, 12-2pm

Opening Event-Runway Fashion Show in Celebration of Inspiring Beauty | Photo Credit : NCMA

The 12 ensembles from the opening night fashion show event in celebration of the NCMA’s fall exhibition Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair is on display from November 5th thru 17th at Crabtree Valley Mall.

You’re invited to an opening reception to celebrate this pop-up on Saturday, November 11 from noon to 2 pm, where the designers will be floating around to talk and answer questions, as well as representatives from the NCMA.

Shoppers will have the chance to see the ensembles and snap a photo in front of a life-size magazine cover. You’ll be able to get an up-close look at the looks, including the three winners of the evening, in a pop-up fashion show! Whether you missed the opening event or were able to attend, this is a great way to see those fabulous ensembles from North Carolina’s rising designers again.

Located on Lower Level A near H&M, the looks will be on view each day during mall hours (Monday through Saturday, 10am-9pm; Sunday 12pm-7pm). This is a FREE EVENT and open to the public.

Desiree M. Hendrick, North Carolina A+T State University – first place winner | Photo Credit : NCMA        

Family Fun Saturday: Ready to Wear Art ~ Workshop Sat. Dec 9, 10 am-12p, 1-3pm  

#outandaboutAva enjoys Family Fun Saturday: Couture Cloth workshop at NCMA

There is something for everyone to enjoy and themes to explore while viewing this exhibit. Because I am a mom of a young fashionista, I was happy to see that NCMA had youth/family programming and workshops developed for Inspiring Beauty. On November 4th, my husband and our daughter enjoyed a Daddy-Daughter date at NCMA for Family Fun Saturday: Couture Cloth. Inspired by the colors and patterns found in the clothing on view in Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair, families with children ages 5-11 created their own patterned and printed fabric to make a dynamic work of art! Our little one had so much fun using materials to stamp, write, iron and paint onto her own masterpiece.

In December 9’s workshop, participants will cut, shape, and build a wearable artwork fit for the runway. This family friendly workshop is $5 for Members, $8 Nonmembers and held in the East Building, Education Studios.

Young Artists at Work – Family Fun Saturday at NCMA

SobeSavvy Tip: Let your college student know there is a Free College Night on Friday, November 17, 7-10pm. Admission is free with college ID. No ticket required. This event will pay homage to the five decades of fashion on view in Inspiring Beauty and will feature student work, contemporary dance, and a DJ. Students are encouraged to dress for the runway!

Behind the Seams–Girls in Gowns in the Gallery ~ Special Event 

Girls in Gowns in the Gallery at North Carolina Museum of Art exhibition ‘Inspiring Beauty’

Grab your girls and get ready to twirl in your best gowns on Thursday, November 30 at 6:30 pm in the East Building for a special event~ “Behind the Seams–Girls in Gowns in the Gallery”.  You’ll have a chance to stroll the galleries, enjoy a cocktail, have your lip print analyzed, tour Inspiring Beauty and much more! . Cocktail and treats included. Event ends at 9pm.

#SobeSavvyGiveaway: Behind the Seams–Girls in Gowns. One lucky winner and her guest will enjoy an ultimate girls night out! Enter SobeSavvy Giveaway>>>HERE. Winner will be chosen randomnly on November 16, 2017. GOOD LUCK! 

Be sure to follow @SobeSavvy, @NCartmuseum and share your experience on social media using hashtag #NCMAebony. I am excited to attend the ‘Behind the Seams–Gurls in Gowns in the Gallery’ and will be sure to share some highlights with you. Stay tuned and remember to support the arts!

*UPDATE-CONGRATS TO MARTAMIQUE A. WINNER OF THIS #SobeSavvyGiveaway!*

North Carolina Museum of Art

East Building

Meymandi Exhibition Gallery

October 28, 2017- January 21, 2018

Top 3 Reasons to Visit @NCZoo this Fall! #FamilyFun #NCZoo #VisitNC

9 Comments

Leslie Heigh, Founder of SobeSavvy.com and daughter, #outandaboutAva enjoy their first visit to the NC Zoo

The North Carolina Zoo has been on our list of family fun things to do since we moved here a couple of years ago. It is located in Asheboro, NC., which is just a short one and half hour ride from Raleigh, making this the perfect place to spend a Sunday Funday with my husband and our 6 yr old daughter. Take a peek at our visit to the zoo on YouTube here. We had a blast!

North Carolina Zoo | Grab a map ~Get ready to explore! 

Before you go, know that this zoo is HUGE! This conservation park has 500 acres to explore making North Carolina Zoo the World’s Largest Zoo. The map showed us that there were two areas to see- North America and Africa and it was suggested that it would take two to three hours to tour each region. In total, your trip to the zoo could be 4 to 6 hours of fun! We did not see everything, but that’s ok since we do plan to return in the spring when the zoo hours are longer and the seasonal attractions are open daily from April-October. The Park is open all year except for Christmas Day.

North Carolina Zoo | The World’s Largest Zoo!

Besides the obvious reasons of lesser crowds and cooler weather, here are my Top 3 Reasons to Visit NC Zoo this Fall ~

  • Gorgeous Fall Foliage and over 52,000 plants throughout the zoo!Not only am I an animal lover but I love nature. The autumn leaves were a sight to see when we arrived at the zoo! I was really impressed with the upkeep of the grounds and enjoyed the beautiful environment. With hiking trails thru swamp-like areas, streams, prairies, gardens, and grasslands, North Carolina Zoo in the Fall is such a scenic experience.

    North Carolina Zoo | Tropical Plants – Aviary

North Carolina Zoo| 52,000 plants throughout the 500 acre conservation park

  • Discover more than 1,600 animals ..and maybe take a selfie with one! This zoo has major animal habitats and you can find animal feeding schedules posted on the website, at the plazas or even at the animal habitats. Meet the keepers and find out about conservation efforts. This zoo’s mission is to help protect animals around the world and a visit here supports efforts to save endangered species. There are such a variety of animals here that you are sure to see your favorite! 

    North Carolina Zoo | Elephants

    North Carolina Zoo | Giraffes & Zebras 

  • Learn and Play ..all in one day! This zoo is definitely kid-friendly and educational, which makes this a great activity to do in the Fall because your child may reflect on this for school assignments. With a dedicated Kidzone and playground, there were many opportunities for my 6 year old to enjoy just being a kid. Inside the Forest Aviary, we enjoyed stopping by the cart and learning about birds. Did you know that birds bones are hollow?! It’s one of the reasons they can fly and we can not. There were many interactive areas, hands-on activities and informative fun for everyone! Check out more photos on my Facebook page.

    North Carolina Zoo | #outandaboutAva enjoys Playdoo fun in the KidZone

    North Carolina Zoo | Stop by the NC Zoo Smart Cart

​SobeSavvy Tip: In celebration of Veterans Day, NC Zoo is offering Veterans & Military free admission Nov. 10-12.

Be sure to visit NCZoo.org for a complete listing of family-friendly weekend activities and find out how to become a member of the NC Zoo Society! We had so much fun and look forward to more future trips. Tell me…

Have you ever been to the NC ZOO? 

NORTH CAROLINA ZOO

4401 Zoo Pkwy

Asheboro, NC 27205

Hosting a #Hallowine Party on #Halloween ? Try wines @MercerEstates @santacristina46 + more🍷

8 Comments

Happy Halloween everyone! This past weekend, I thought it would be fun to combine my love for wine and good times by hosting a HalloWINE tasting party! Costumes were optional but having an open mind to trying new wines was a must. Thank you to the wineries who provided free samples to facilitate and share my review with you. 

THE INVITE–

I sent a simple text with the above graphic to my wine loving girlfriends to come out and enjoy. I picked up some fun Halloween decor from Dollar Tree and Walmart, like these “Don’t Be A Basic Witch” cocktail napkins for just .99 cents !

THE WINES —

  • Barrymore by Caramel Road Pinot Grigio 2015 (SRP: $13.99)
  • Barrymore by Caramel Road Rosé of Pinot Noir 2016 (SRP: $17.99)

Carmel Road winery partnered up with Drew Barrymore {Yes, THAT Drew Barrymore} to produce some delightful light and crisp wines known as Barrymore Wines. We tried their Rosé and Pinot Grigio. On their website, Drew speaks of growing up in California with some of her fondest memories were around the table.
The Pinot Grigio (with flavors of lemon drop, Asian pear, honeydew melon alongside the “wet stone” minerality) was fantastic with a mixed greens salad and vinagrette dressing. The Rosé (with flavors of fresh red fruits, notes of peach and apricot with floral and light citrus aromas) went perfect with spicy shrimp cocktail. It was perfectly balanced; not sweet and not dry. This wine was an instant hit with everyone there. Final thoughts: Barrymore Wines by Carmel Road are a match made in vineyard heaven!

#SobeSavvySips HalloWINE Tasting 2017

  •  Santa Cristina 2015 Rossa Toscana IGT (SRP: $13.00)

Four cheese ravioli with red sauce was served with Santa Cristina 2015 Rosso Toscana IGT. This Italian wine is a blend of 60% Sangiovese and 40% Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. Soft and approachable, the Rosso (with flavors of cherries,plums and notes of spice) is the perfect everyday house wine! I can’t wait to try it with fall-inspired dishes like Slow Cooked Pork Loin with Apples and Prunes.

  • Mercer Estates 2015 Chardonnay Horse Heaven Hills Reserve
  • Mercer Estates 2014 Syrah Horse Heaven Hills 

Two wines from the popular Washington State winery, Mercer Wine Estates, also was shared amongst my girlfriends {and my hubby who was our official somellier for the evening !} I thought a deep,dark mysterious red wine such as their RESERVE Syrah and a “Shining” {..get it} white wine like RESERVE Chardonnay would be great with our Halloween theme.

We could not wait to see what mysterious wine our HalloWine Sommelier would present & pour next!

Hubby served up the Chardonnay (with aromas of lemon cream pie, caramel apple and toasted butterscotch) while we had some crackers, cream cheese and speciality jams. This wine had the right amount of oak and butter, which went well with this party snack. Angus meatballs paired well with this Syrah (with aromas of blueberry preserves and complex notes such as tea tree,coffee,sage,rosemary). Wine often changes on the palate when paired with food and this wine is deep and dark. It has many complex layers to enjoy. If you enjoy a red with great body and weight, this is one to enjoy!

Error
This video doesn’t exist
  • Mommy’s Time Out Prosecco 
  • Mommy’s Time Out Moscato      (SRP for both $9.99)

It was wonderful learning about and tasting some amazing wines. Sharing it with my husband and a couple of friends made this intimate HalloWINE gathering even more special! However, today on Halloween, after getting my lil one in her costume and going trick or treating, this Mom plans to have a moment to relax by myself with Mommy’s Time Out Wine. I’m gonna grab a few pieces of chocolate from our daughter’s trick or treat stash, and pour me a glass of either Mommy’s Time Out Moscato or Mommy’s Time Out Prosecco. All of their wines are made from grapes grown in Italy and have fresh, fruity, well balanced undertones. 

For more information on any of these wines, please visit:

Mommy’s Time Out http://www.mommystimeoutwine.com

Mercer Estates          http://www.MercerWine.com                  Facebook: MERCERESTATES             Twitter: @MercerEstates

Santa Cristina         http://www.Santacristina.wine

Barrymore by Caramel Road http://www.barrymorewines.com

Remember, these wines are not just good for Halloween but for enjoying anytime! 

Do you plan to enjoy some HalloWINE this Halloween? What are you doing to celebrate? 

Cheers🍷 and Happy Halloween !! 

5 Reasons You Should Visit @ncartmuseum “Inspiring Beauty” Exhibition #NCMAebony #Fashion

11 Comments

Leslie Heigh, Founder of SobeSavvy.com at Media Preview for Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair | North Carolina Museum of Art

A few days ago I attended a media preview for a brand new exhibit at North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh,NC and decided to dedicate a “Five for Friday” post sharing with you my 5 Reasons You Should Visit NCMA “Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair” exhibition. The exhibit, which starts October 28, 2017 thru January 21, 2018, is the first Fashion exhibit at NCMA and is making its last stop here in Raleigh. You do not want to miss the opportunity to see an extraordinary level of creativity and innovation that this amazing exhibit shows and participate in the upcoming events. Here’s why: 

  1. The HISTORYThe exhibition explores the 50-year history of the Ebony Fashion Fair (1958-2009), an unparelled charity fashion show event that redefined the concepts of beauty, style and empowerment for African Americans. Learn about the dynamic Eunice W. Johnson, who was determined to show fashion is for everyone and revolutionized how Black women are seen in the world of fashion.

    Eunice Johnson at work, 1970, Photo courtesy of Johnson Publishing Company, LLC

  2. The FASHIONSee 40 stunning ensembles by designers such as Pierre Cardin, Vivienne Westwood, Givenchy, Bob Mackie, Patrick Kelly, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior and many more! The fashion selections from the exhibiton are innovative, glamourous, colorful,revealing, bold, sassy, dazzling and powerful works of art. To see the attention to detail up close is a beautiful sight to behold! 

    Emmanuel Ungaro, Bridal Gown, Haute couture, fall/winter 1996-97. Photograph by John Alderson, Chicago Historical Society

  3. The JOURNEYInspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair takes you on a journey thru five decades and explores “..the impact on African American identity, style, and success,” explains Jennifer Dasal, NCMA associate curator of contemporary art and co-curator of the exhibition. The traveling Ebony Fashion Fair grew out of the pages of Ebony magazine, which the exhibition includes archival photographs and memorabilia from both the magazine and fashion show.
  4. The MISSION

    Linda Dougherty, exhibition co-curator and NCMA chief curator and curator of contemporary art

    Just like the original fashion show that inspired the exhibition, this exhibition has been traveling around the country for the last 5 years. NCMA is the last and final venue, so this is your last chance to see it! Linda Dougherty, the NCMA’s chief curator and curator of contemporary art and exhibition co-curator says, “we hope that by hosting the exhibition, we continue the mission of positive change and community empowerment and encourage our visitors to rethink their own concepts of beauty.” 

    Bloggers with NCMA’s Public Relation Manager, Kat Harding (3rd from left) enjoy the Media Preview of Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair

  5. The FUNTrying on clothes can be fun but especially when it’s haute couture right?! Step into the Virtual Fitting Room, one of the in-gallery experiences, which allows you to have some high fashion fun. I jumped into a ready-to-wear Cocktail Dress designed by Fabrice and was ready to celebrate! Ebony Fashion Fair was a true agent of change and its legacy continues to inspire beauty. That in itself deserves to be appreciated and celebrated by everyone.

 

SobeSavvy Tip:  In November, plan a Friday night group outing to the exhibition and save! Every Friday evening ( 11/3,11/10, 11/17, 11/24) Buy three tickets and get a fourth ticket free!  

I hope you are inspired to go see this fabulous exhibit because I plan to tell everyone I know to go! Be sure to follow @SobeSavvy, @NCartmuseum and share your experience on social media using hashtag #NCMAebony. I am excited to attend Opening Night festivities tomorrow and will share some Fashion Show highlights with you. Stay tuned and remember to support the arts!

North Carolina Museum of Art

East Building

Meymandi Exhibition Gallery

October 28, 2017- January 21, 2018

Event Recap|Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival @drinkeatrelax @theyardsdc #oysters #beer #fun

5 Comments

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC | Photo Credit: SobeSavvy.com

Hi, my name is Leslie and I am a seafood lover. Considering I was born in Maryland and lived there for 23 years of my life, seafood from the Chesapeake Bay is most likely in my DNA! So when I heard about the Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival, I knew this was going to be a shucking good time!

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC -Capitol Riverfront/The Yards DC

It all went down on October 21, 2017 from noon-6pm at the Capitol Riverfront, next to Nationals Stadium at The Yards Park in Washington,DC . It was the perfect day..sunny skies, high 70s..for an outdoor festival filled with seafood and libations. There were over 30 wines, beers, and spirits to sample along with over 15 types of oysters. The motto of the day was SHUCK. SLURP. REPEAT..oh and watch out for the Angry Mermaid!

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC “Shuck,Slurp,Repeat” ..and 1 Angry Mermaid

FOOD

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC | Oysters served Raw, Grilled, Steamed

Whether you like oysters raw, grilled, or steamed (or if you are like me and enjoy them in all ways), then this festival is for you! Some of the world’s best shuckers were there handling the 1000’s of bivalves with care at this All You Care To Taste event. If oysters are not your thing, there were food truck options, restaurant samplings and other types of seafood such as mussels, clams, shrimp and lobster*(if you were one of the lucky ones to get some). 

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival | New England Clambake, Charleston Seafood Boil & Lobster Steam

Per the Oyster listing, these were served at the festival:

Double T’s ● Shore Things ● War Shore Oyster ● Battle Creek Oyster ● Rocky Shores ● Tatamaguche ● Malpeques ● Fire lakes ● Caribous ● Blues points ● Delaware Bays ● Shooting points ● Bullseye’s ● Salt ponds ● Well fleets ● Duxburys ● Naked cowboys ● Sugar shacks ● Arrow heads ● Caraquets

If I had to choose one (which is a blasphemy to a seafoodie like me) the Blue Points were my favorite served raw. There was a condiment station with lemons, cocktail sauce and horseradish to add to the taste of those briny beauties. The Grilled Oysters with Goat Cheese +BBQ and Garlic +Parmesean were also amazing! I hope to recreate those at home to serve sooner than later.

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival | Freshly shucked Blue Points and Oysters from the grill

DRINK

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival DC | Souvenir Glass

Upon arrival, VIPs and General Admission guests received a Souvenir Glass to taste over 30 Beers, Spirits and Wines.  That’s right, the event is not all just beer. Included with the ticket price was access to the wine pavilion, where attendees could enjoy pairing with Champagne, Chablis, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and many more!

Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival | Wines,Spirits,Beers

 FUN

Friends enjoying the Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival

If you have ever been to a Drink Eat Relax event or festival then you know their goal is to provide a fun, value -oriented experience that wows you and is worthy of your valuable weekend time. I can say after attending this one, between the games, music, drinks and flavorful seafood, I left feeling like the world was my oyster! 

If you saw my Twitter, Instagram, Facebook , I shared more photos from this fun event!  You can also click below to see the following: 

Watch “2017 Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival” on YouTube

Fun Times at Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival

Be sure to follow Drink Eat Relax on Facebook , Twitter , Snapchat, Instagram and drinkeatrelax.com to find out where their next event on the East Coast (from NYC to Tampa) will be! You don’t want to miss it!

Event Recap|@Whiskey_Kitchen #SupperClubNo2 #JapaneseWhisky + #WhiskeyKitchen Eats!

10 Comments

On October 18, 2017, Whiskey Kitchen hosted a private (SOLD OUT) event -‘Supper Club No.2- featuring curated selections of Japanese whisky paired with inspired dishes created by Whiskey Kitchen’s culinary team. SobeSavvy.com was there to capture the celebration and give you an inside look of Japan’s finest offerings at this wonderful event!  

THE INVITE

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 Invite

THE SETTING

Located in Downtown Raleigh, Whiskey Kitchen is the perfect restaurant for hosting group & private events. Guests who attended Supper Club No.2 sat in reserved seating at long communal tables, which allowed for talking and sharing dishes family-style. The table was nicely decorated and each chair had a Japanese paper fan as a keepsake!

Whiskey Kitchen | Guests seated for Supper Club No. 2

THE WHISKY

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No. 2 Reception Cocktail made with Suntory Whisky Toki      

When we arrived, we were advised to head to the bar to receive our reception cocktail which was hand-crafted and curated especially for the evening. In this video, bartendar legend Johnny Berry explains how this refreshing cocktail was made!

Error
This video doesn’t exist
We all received a menu which listed the selection of whisky we would be tasting along with notes for proof, color, nose and finish. In addition to the reception cocktail, there were four types of whisky to try. My favorite was the Suntory Whisky Toki , which is a blended whisky that has hints of vanilla. I just happened to be sitting next to two reps from Beam Suntory who shared that Suntory Whisky Toki is a blend of 3 different Japanese Whiskies aged in different casks.

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No. 2 ‘Suntory Whisky Toki’

THE FOOD

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 Menu

The culinary team at Whiskey Kitchen did an excellent job at creating Japanese inspired cuisine with a southern touch. We enjoyed 8 dishes created specifically for this event, but some of them may make its way onto the permanant menu because it was that good! Everything was AMAZING….just feast your eyes on the following food pics from the event (which I also shared on my Instastories on Instagram) :

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 ‘Onigiri’ Rice Ball w/Andouille Sausage and Pickled Plum

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 ‘Takoyaki’ – Savory Cake w/ smoked octopus,scallion, vesta aioli, bonito flakes

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 ‘Roasted Cauliflower’ w/Shishito, Wakame Butter, Crispy Garlic and Edible Flowers

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 ‘Green Tea Soba Salad’ w/edamame, mushroom,radish,seaweed, ginger/whisky dressing

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 ‘Tuna Tataki’

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 ‘Smoked Lamb Shank’

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 ‘Mochiko Pork’ w/Tonkatsu Sauce, Oriental Sweet Potato, Kohlrabi, Turnip

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No.2 ‘Koshian Cake’ Hakushu Poached Golden Pear, Red Bean Cake, White Chocolate, Yuzu Ganache, Miso Caramel


THE NEXT EVENT

Whiskey Kitchen | Supper Club No. 2 =Whisky+Food+Fun

This was Whiskey Kitchen‘s second large scale celebration of whiskey and food and I highly recommend going to their next event. You don’t have to be a big fan of whisky to appreciate the experience with other foodies. This renowned Raleigh restaurant has already made plans to host Supper Club No. 3! More information about more event happenings can be found out by visiting this link.

Error
This video doesn’t exist

I had an amazing time meeting new people, trying new things and learning about a variety of whisky from Japan. The food was really good as always with Whiskey Kitchen. You should definitely make plans to visit Downtown Raleigh and dine at this restaurant or hang at their beautiful bar, which serves not only whiskey but wine, beer and uniquely crafted cocktails! Hope to see you at the next event. Cheers! 

WHISKEY KITCHEN

201 Martin Street

Raleigh, NC 27601