Sunday Brunch

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas, Deals and Giveaways from Local NC Businesses

14 Comments

Hello May! There is no doubt that we are thankful for each month, each day but as Mother’s Day rapidly approaches on Sunday, May 10, I can only wonder how to celebrate. My Mom is in another state and with the Stay at Home order, we are staying safely away from each other while sending many virtual kisses and hugs and making the most of online chats. In the midst of it all, it is important for us Moms to celebrate our hardwork and dedication as we all try to balance work life, married life, homeschool life, and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though this Mother’s Day 2020 will undoubtedly be different, we should take the time to recognize us Moms! I am happy to share these fun and budget-friendly ways to celebrate Moms while taking the opportunity to show appreciation to our local NC businesses throughout the Triangle and beyond! Check out these discounts, deals and giveaways to help you make it a special day (see details below and enter on IG @SobeSavvy) ! Mother’s Day Gift Ideas, Deals and Giveaways from Local NC Businesses

• Serve her breakfast in bed and “Build Your Own Brunch Box ” from kõ•än

• Tired of cooking? Get Sunday Brunch to Go at STIR + use special discount code SOBESAVVY10 for 10% off your order

• Take her on a Pizza Picnic with Coronato Pizza + enter Giveaway for Mom to win FREE pizza

• Treat her to some selfcare with organic skincare products from Nailah Shea + use discount code SOBESHEA2020
for 15% of purchases of $30 or more

• Schedule a Front Porch Portrait Session by Images by Amber Robinson and take advantage of the Mother’s Day Special ..available until May 10th!

❤ A family portrait would make the perfect gift for Mom. Buy Gift Cards for Images by Amber and Redeem Later:

https://www.honeybook.com/widget/imagesby_amber_robinson/cf_id/5ea8cee464d6201d9d22e9e6

• Light up her life with a scented candle from Bright Black Candle + get free shipping & 10% off with code “happymoms” on all orders through Mother’s Day 5/10

• Enter to win her a $100 National Pawn Gift Card

Mother’s Day is Sunday May 10th. I encourage you to support local businesses and celebrate your Mother, your Mom friends and the Mom in you too! Know of any local deals, discounts or giveaways happening and want to share? Please do in the comments below. ❤ Thanks for reading and sharing!

CONNECT WITH ME @SobeSavvy
Facebook|YouTube|Instagram |Pinterest | Twitter

5 Reasons You Go To #SundayBrunch at @PhillipsSeafood in Baltimore MD AGAIN & AGAIN!

16 Comments

All You Can Eat Crabcakes on a #SundayBrunch Menu …..
Where can you find that at? 🤷🏽‍♀️🤔
Phillips Seafood – Baltimore!
•
Every Sunday, 10 am-2pm
Adult #brunch buffet (includes Bottomless Bloody Mary Bar) cost is $35.99 and $14.99 for kids 5-10 years of age. Kids four years and under eat for FREE!
•
The variety of food: CARVING STATION | RAW BAR | HOT BAR BUFFET | OMELET STATION & so much more was amazing plus the service was great! Here are my 5 Reasons You Should Go To Sunday Brunch at Phillips Seafood in Baltimore, Maryland AGAIN & AGAIN!

1.GREAT VALUE, GREAT PRICE

Get ready to feast with Phillips Seafood’s new all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch buffet which started on Sunday, November 11, 2018. Adult brunch buffet cost is $35.99 and $14.99 for kids 5-10 years of age. Kids four years and under eat for free. Available every Sunday from 10am to 2pm.

2. A VARIETY OF MENU ITEMS ON THE ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BUFFET

From made-to-order omelets and classic breakfast favorites such as bourbon french toast and waffles, to fresh griddled crab cakes and carved prime rib, to their extensive raw bar featuring freshly shucked oysters, crab claws and peel-and-eat-shrimp, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. They also have all the classic breakfast sides like applewood smoked bacon, sausage, roasted potatoes, biscuits and gravy, plus some special lunch items such as baked salmon, clams, mussels, fried chicken and glazed honey ham. Round out your brunch with selections from the bakery bar with assorted bagels & cream cheese, breads, croissants, danishes, muffins and cereal.

3. BOTTOMLESS BLOODY MARY BAR

The Bottomless Bloody Mary bar is fully stocked and ready to give your morning a bit of a kick! Choose a Traditional or Spicy Bloody Mary base, then add in your favorite condiments to build your perfect drink – they’ve got olives, pickles and veggies, plus pepperoncini, pepper jack cheese, pepperoni and bacon. Finish it all off with a stalk of celery and keep ‘em coming! A big fan of the bubbles? Order up a Mimosa in classic orange, cranberry, grapefruit or pomegranate for $6 each. Sangria is available for $4. Juice, coffee, and tea are free.

4. RENOWNED CRABCAKES + SEAFOOD GALORE

“Sunday brunch is the perfect time to indulge and treat yourself to something special, and our kitchen team has developed a menu that really delivers,” Steve Phillips, CEO of Phillips said. From its roots on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay to its worldwide seafood processing plants, Phillips Seafood is anchored in tradition and remains family owned and operated by the Phillips family. Renowned for award-winning crab cakes and an unwavering dedication to quality, Phillips Seafood has served millions of families, vacationers and seafood lovers since 1956. Being a seafood lover, I was quite pleased with the fresh variety on the raw bar as well as the steamed mussels and especially the handmade,cooked to order, griddled crabcakes! Full traditional à la carte lunch menu also available. Read my family dining lunch review of Phillips Seafood>here

5. CONVENIENT LOCATION

Within the world famous Inner Harbor, Baltimore’s premiere dining and entertainment destination, Phillips Seafood Restaurant is located at 601 East Pratt Street. You can find street parking, or park at Pier V garage parking for a discount for dining at Phillips. Nearby are lots of family fun attractions to enjoy. Need some ideas? Check out my Top Sunday Funday Activities To Do in Baltimore MD. Phillips is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.phillipsseafood.com. Questions? Give them a call at 410-685-6600.

👀WATCH my YouTube video for a tour of Phillips Seafood Baltimore Sunday Brunch.

Phillips Seafood Restaurant

601 E Pratt St.

Baltimore, MD 21202

410.685.6600

http://www.phillipsseafood.com

Recap of the #Easter Festivites at Mandarin Oriental Atlanta @MO_Atlanta #EventsbyMo #EasterBrunch #Atlanta

11 Comments

Yesterday my family and I attended the Easter Festivites event at the fab Mandarin Oriental in Atlanta. Last week I wrote about what to expect there on Easter Sunday and as always, they delivered on their promises. It was a warm and beautiful spring day in Atlanta for Easter. Picture perfect for my family to spend the afternoon with Floppy the Bunny, who was a special guest at the Mandarin Oriental.

This luxury haven had so many special Easter events wrapped in a few hours. But first we ate. Ate very well actually. We were seated in their bright dining room looking out at their English Garden courtyard. They had every imaginable food choices at station after station. Omelette station, Assorted Pastries,Salads,Charcuterie & Cheeses, a Carving station and chilled Seafood Station featuring an Easter Egg Ice Sculpture in the center of jumbo shrimp, raw oysters, crab legs and claws.

An enormous ice Easter Egg along with a roaming Easter Bunny are just some of the whimsical touches that could be found everywhere. My 6 year old stated she wanted to eat fast so she could start on their incredible dessert station! When is the last time you’ve seen a macaron Ferris Wheel?

We also loved the Champagne Cart making the rounds serving premium brunch cocktails tableside. The servers were on their “A” game. That is standard for the Mandarin Oriental but it allowed us to relax and simply be taken care of.

The English Garden was where the Easter Egg Hunt and Petting Zoo took place. All the kids seemed to have fun looking for the eggs as well as petting the adorabe sheep. It was a toss up deciding who had more fun, the kids or us parents watching!

There were so many awesome Easter memory made at this beautiful luxury hotel. Watch this video for more highlights of the Easter Festivities at Mandarin Hotel Atlanta and see why we are #MOFoodies + #FansofMo!

Thanks to our friends at Mandarin Oriental Atlanta for hosting my #HeighPartyof3 for Easter. It was truly an experience we will never forget!

MANDARIN ORIENTAL ATLANTA

3376 PEACHTREE RD. NE

ATLANTA, GA 30326

Hey #Atlanta, Looking for fabulous foodie fun with your little ones this #Easter ? Check out #EasterSundayBrunch at Mandarin Oriental Atlanta @MO_Atlanta #MOFoodies #pettingzoo #EasterBrunch #egghunt #EventsbyMO #SundayBrunch

12 Comments

Every year at Easter many families like to celebrate this holiday with a special brunch. Although there are a myriad of brunch choices in the great city of Atlanta, there is only one that stands above them all. That my friends would be the Easter Brunch event at the Mandarin Oriental Atlanta.

Having stayed at quite a few of their properties (including our luxury family travel stay at their Atlanta location last Spring), what brings me back time and time again is their consistency of a high level of service. Somehow this brand excels at anticipating needs, sometimes before I even realize a need exists. Last visit to this property we were heading out to the mall and the valet suggested he get their house car to take us instead of walking in the summer heat. See what I mean? Their restaurant is no different. Mouth watering farm fresh dishes of every type and a wine list to envy. Located in the upscale Buckhead area, this world renowned luxury hotel pulls out all the stops Easter Brunch on Sunday April 1, 2018.

Besides incredible food and service, we are looking forward to seeing our little one and all the children enjoy their special Easter Egg Hunts. They have one at 12:30pm and another at 2pm. From 3-5pm there will be a visit from Floppy the Easter Bunny! If that is not enough, they will be having an actual petting zoo too from 3pm to 5pm. Our daughter loves animals and will be so surprised to see the petting zoo on Easter Sunday!

This Easter Brunch event is from 11am to 3pm. For one price, guests enjoy a buffet of appetizers, entrées and scrumptious desserts. Prices are $75 per adult and $38 per child up to age 12. To make your reservations, call (404) 995 7500 or you can email to moatl-restaurants@mohg.com. We plan to hop over to the Mandarin Oriental Atlanta and share with you some highlights from this event. Stay tuned for more and hope you are there to make some great family memories this Easter at Mandarin Oriental Atlanta.

MANDARIN ORIENTAL ATLANTA

3376 PEACHTREE RD. NE

ATLANTA, GA 30326

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

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

9 Comments

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 

11 Comments


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!

Error
This video doesn’t exist
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.

Error
This video doesn’t exist

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

#FoodieFriday Spotlight on #NasherCafe ~ Weekend Brunch in #Durham #NasherMuseum

1 Comment

Yesterday, I shared highlights from my recent visit to the Nasher Museum with my family. Well no visit is complete without dining at the Nasher Cafe.

Winner of Open Table Diners Choice 2015, it did not disappoint. It’s set in a open bright area adjacent to the museum lobby with patio dining available.

The restaurant is one of the many culinary dining experiences of the Giorgios Hospitality Group. A native of Greece, Giorgios Bakatsias has been the creative force behind more than 25 restaurants, food venues and gourmet markets in the Triangle.

KIDS MENU

My daughter ordered off the kids menu for fruit plate and her own little deconstructed sandwich.

Crayons and coloring options to spark your lil one’s creativity

Hot Chocolate Smiles..no whipped cream but the staff customized with steamed milk foam and chocolate drizzle. How fun!

The kids menu is for ages 12 and below. All kids meals are served with choice of fresh fruit or kettle chips. #outandaboutAva loved dipping her apple slices in the nutella. Finger foods are a hit with kids!

BRUNCH MENU

They have a special weekend brunch menu on Sat and Sundays. It was hard to choose when so many items looked appealing. We finally settled on the Steak and Eggs and the Fajita Omelette. Both were done to perfection.

BRUNCH COCKTAILS

We had one of their specialty blackberry cocktails and a classic mimosa. These always mean “BRUNCH TIME” !!

DESSERTS

Two cookies almost bigger than her face !

Molten Lava Cake was GOOOOD !!!!!

We all really enjoyed everything. Service was awesome and our waitress couldn’t have been better.

Perfect spot for culture and food in a stylish comfortable setting.

 

#TastyTuesday Spotlight on @BoneFishGrill delicious #SundayBrunch @VisitNorthHills 

5 Comments

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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