tea with Rose and Laura | the Duck and Bunny

This month Hillary and I decided to mix up the tea tour a little bit - we went out for brunch and invited our friend Laura along, too. The Duck & Bunny was our destination of choice, and it was a beautiful fall morning so we chose to sit outside on the patio. Sitting outside always makes me feel better with a toddler in tow... Ezra can climb on the chairs and jabber incessantly without it being disruptive to other diners, which is always a good thing. I ordered a personal pot of pomegranate pear tea and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was sweet and flavorful even without the addition of sugar, and the pretty pink color didn't hurt either. You should know that I'm a sucker for tea in a little teapot, too.

My meal consisted of the most delicious truffled pomme frites (better than any I had in Paris!) and brie with fig spread and pecans on multigrain bread from Olga's.

The toast points were delicious, but I could have done with another order of fries and been plenty full and perfectly happy.

Random shot, I know, but I had to share it because when I saw it I laughed - Ezra took it when he was fiddling with my camera. He has quite the eye for detail, don't you think? Like his dad :) Before you read on, don't forget to click over to read Hillary's account of our morning. 

I don't know about you, but I'm enjoying our tea tour immensely. The tea is always nice, but it's even nicer to have time set aside to spend with friends. It's so easy to get busy and complacent going about our lives, but I'm beginning to realize how important it is to make the time. Do you feel like that, too?

croissants and baguettes | where to eat in Paris

Tell people you went to Paris and the first thing they ask you about it the food. We didn't do too much fine dining, but we enjoyed plenty of bakery type meals. Give me a chocolate croissant for breakfast and a sliced baguette with brie and veggies for lunch and I'm a happy girl.

Here are some of our favorite bakeries...
Paul, 77 rue de Seine - expect a line out the door, but for good reason. Delicious brioche sucre, croissants, palmiers, and macarons.
bread & roses, 7 rue Fleurus - organic breads made with whole grains, nuts, and seeds
Banette, 2 rue de ces Commines - a chain, but I had the most perfect little chocolate and raspberry tart here
Arnaud Delmontel, 39 rue des Martyrs - beautiful styling, and our breakfast treats were still warm!
Le Grenier de Félix, 64 avenue Félix Faure - our neighborhood bakery, perfect for a quick snack any time of day

For lunch or a light dinner...
Pink Flamingo, 105 rue du Vieille du Temple -  a funky pizza parlor serving up unique topping combinations like fresh fig, honey, and goat cheese called the Brangelina (and it was fantastic!)
Le Pain Quotidien, 2 rue des Petits Carreaux - I had such a delicious artichoke heart and white bean salad here
L'Ebouillanté, 6 rue de Barres - cute patio seating outside an old church on a cobblestone path; we had crêpes, quiche, and fresh juice.
La Ferme, 55-57 rue Saint Roch - order your meal at the counter, choose a drink from the cooler, and sit where you like. We liked the laid back atmosphere, and everything is made in house!

For sweets...
Ladurée, 75 avenue des Champs Elysées - macarons, of course. 
La Maison du Chocolat, 8 boulevard de la Madeleine - we bought a teeny box of chocolates, but they'll offer you a sample! Seriously, it's worth checking out for the sample alone.
And get a palmier at every boulangerie you walk by. I did.

tea with Rose // Brewed Awakenings

My friend Hillary and I have recently decided to guide ourselves on a tea tour of Rhode Island, sampling steaming mugs of the stuff all over our little state. We started a couple weeks ago at a place in Johnston called Brewed Awakenings, somewhere I used to go all to all the time in high school and college. It's a great place to meet friends, catch up on some reading, hear live music, and of course, have a cup of tea. They also serve lots of pastries, breakfast sandwiches, wraps, and even cheesecake from none other than The Cheesecake Factory. I'll admit it - I was tempted to have a slice for breakfast.

We ventured out early on a Thursday morning and Brewed was pretty busy with lots of people crowded at the tables, lounging on couches, and standing at the bar. Ezra and I arrived a little earlier than Hillary so I placed my order - a small spiced chai - and it was ready by the time I had Ezra buckled into a high chair and situated at a table. My chai was really good, but I must confess that it turned out to be made from one of those mixes. Boo. Hillary got there soon after (she chose ginger peach tea) and we talked about lots of blog type things - ideas for posts, gaining readers, what our husbands think about our online ventures - stuff that most people aren't interested in, so it was nice to have someone to relate to. I'm looking forward to the next stop on our tea tour already.

Be sure to check out Hillary's post today over at tello & rose...

a morning in the city // breakfast at tazza

Breakfast is one of the easiest meals to make for yourself at home, but there's just something about eating out in the morning that makes paying $8 for fried eggs feel worth it. Plus then you absolutely must get dressed and brush your teeth before nine. In the spirit of approaching the day with a "go get 'em" attitude, that's just what Ezra and I did one day last week. We got dressed, brushed our teeth, and met Laura and Hillary in Providence for breakfast at tazza last Thursday.

The breakfast menu is pretty limited with only a few egg type dishes, oatmeal, and maybe one or two other items, but that was more than enough for me to choose from. I ordered a sandwich with two fried eggs, cheddar cheese, and pesto on a bolo. Now I know you're wondering what a bolo is and I confess I was, too, until Hillary asked the waitress. A bolo is a Portuguese sweet bread roll. I don't know about you but I call that a Portuguese sweet bread roll. I've never heard it called a bolo before and we have our fair share of Portuguese bakeries around these parts. Wait just one second - okay, a quick google search tells me that bolo is the Portuguese word for cake. Can anyone confirm this?

Okay, enough semantics. The bolo egg sandwich was wicked good, and Laura and Hillary enjoyed their meals, too. Hill got eggs with a bolo on the side (and bacon - yum!) and Laura got the same sandwich I did except her bread of choice was a bagel. 

Aren't they so cute? They don't even have any food in their teeth even though I insisted on taking this picture mid-chew.

This one was looking very cute, too, but he was in a huff because I wouldn't share my hot chocolate with him. I did let him play with the little spoon that came with it though. The spoon was so cute I was tempted to take it home with me. Not really, but it was a really cute spoon. Really. 

I still want to have brunch at tazza. I mean, would you look at this menu?! Shrimp and grits? Buttermilk beignets? Malted Belgian waffle with Chantilly cream and BACON ALMOND BRITTLE?! Sorry for yelling but I just think that sounds amazing. Let's go on Saturday.

Geoff's on Benefit

Geoff's Superlative Sandwiches is nestled along historic Benefit Street, a couple blocks from the Courthouse where my mom works.  A couple weeks ago Ezra and I went to visit her so she could show off her grandson to the Judge, the bailiff, and her other coworkers, and after introductions were made we went to lunch at Geoff's. 

The menu is extensive and lots of the sandwiches are named after local celebrities, like RJ Heim and Don Carcieri.  Probably the best part about the Geoff's dining experience is the giant barrel of brined pickles in the middle of the shop.  I love using the tongs to fish out the biggest one I can find.

I ordered Saarin's Choice - bean sprouts, shredded carrots, and lettuce, with melted muenster, cheddar, and swiss cheeses on wheat.  I probably don't have to tell you this, but the cheeses were my favorite, followed closely by the bean sprouts.

My mom had a classic Reuben, and although the guy who made it was chastised for not letting the cheese melt enough, she said it was still yummy.  We dined outside, and Ezra enjoyed watching passersby while grabbing for stray carrots falling from my sandwich.  Next time maybe I'll even let him eat some of them.

moondust macarons

Since macarons are the new dessert of choice (at least according to the internet) I've been wanting to bake a batch, but they're intimidating so I haven't tried yet.  Matt knew this and surprised me with a box of Moondust Macarons last week for my birthday.  Hooray for thoughtful husbands!  

Matt purchased a box of assorted macarons from Foodies of Wickford on his way home from work last Friday.  I almost couldn't wait until after dinner to dig in, but I managed to control myself.

The box included one of each current flavor - pistachio, coffee, vanilla, raspberry, lemon, and chocolate, each one delicious in its own way.  

My favorite was the chocolate with chocolate ganache.  Now how to recreate it... any tips or proven recipes?

cupcake love

{chocolate coconut crunch}

The Bakery Boutique is located in Smithfield, RI near church. That means it's easily accessible on Sundays and Wednesdays if I can convince Matt to drive in the opposite direction of home for a couple of miles.  The Bakery Boutique is home to these yummy creations, but the good news is that they can go home with you.  That is, if you can manage to not eat them in the car.

 

{classic white wedding cake}

{Nutella swirl} 

{key lime pie}

{red velvet}

What cupcakes would you want to try?  Any cupcake bakery recommendations?

free ice cream? I'm there.

It's that time of year again and tomorrow's the big day.  Go here to find your local Ben & Jerry's to get your very own free cone!  I'm thinking some mint chocolate cookie is in order, but I may need to wait in line a second time to get my money's worth.  Oh wait.  I'm not paying.  Well, I still want two cones.  Find me and Matt on Meeting Street (off Thayer), whether it's raining or not.

Luxe

 Last night we went to Luxe Burger Bar in Providence for the second time since Ezra was born.  I'm not sure but I think it's his favorite restaurant. 

I love building my own burger - you choose a burger, how it's cooked, cheese, toppings, sauce, bun, and a side.  I ordered the gorgonzola tots to go along with my burger - delicious!

 Here's Ezra as we wait for our dinner.  Last time we were here he spent the majority of the time laying in my lap and/or breastfeeding, but now he's a champion sitter.  Well, not quite, but he's getting there! 

My delicious dinner pictured above - aged cheddar and dill pickle heaven.  Next we want to try Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and I hear that Red Robin is moving into the Warwick Mall parking lot.  Any other good burger places in RI that we should check out?

I heart Sundaes

 Top three reasons why Sundaes is my favorite ice cream shop:
1. It's 1.2 miles from our house so we can walk there.
2. You can print coupons directly from the website like this one which allowed us to buy one cone & get one cone free on Friday night.
3. Most importantly, they have the best selection of flavors in the free world.  My favorite is chocolate peanut butter cup.  It's the only flavor of ice cream I have ordered since the summer of 2009.  Really.  It's that good.  (Side note: it started out as a joke between our friend Matt (who is not to be confused with Matt) and me... we each had a "flavor of the year" in 2008.  Coffee oreo for me and chocolate peanut butter cup for him.  In 2009 I became jealous of his chocolate cone of peanut buttery goodness and a new flavor of the year was born.  Chocolate peanut butter cup is so delicious that it became the flavor of the year in 2010 as well, and it looks as though 2011 will bring more of the same.  And I couldn't be more satisfied.  Thanks for the tip, Matt!)

And three more reasons why Sundaes is my favorite.  Because I realized the first three reasons weren't enough.
4. They have pink jimmies!  They also have Falcon jimmies for all you Falcons out there.  I'm looking at you, Western Cranston.
5. It's conveniently located right on the bike path so when Matt and I are out for a Saturday afternoon spin we can stop and get a cone.  
6. You can carry a Sundaes card which gets stamped every time you make a purchase.  Trade your stamps in for free jimmies, a Sundaes tee shirt, a gift card to Sundaes, or my favorite, a free kiddie cone.  Get two stamps if you're there when it's raining!  That's right... it was raining on Friday so we started the season off with two stamps.
All this talk about ice cream is making me want a cone right now.  Lucky for me, Sundaes is just over a mile away...

tazza with Elsa

Since Ezra has been here I haven't gone out to lunch or breakfast unassisted like I used to.  That's not to say that Ezra hasn't been to any restaurants because he has.  He's actually patronized three restaurants to be exact.  There just haven't been as many opportunities to go out to eat with an infant due to their very demanding schedules.  So since I don't know when I have my next lunch date with a friend, I will reminisce about one that took place a few months ago...

My friend Elsa and I visited tazza on Westminster Street in downtown Providence for lunch a while back, just to catch up.  Elsa usually lives in Boston but moved back to RI for a couple of months while she was making some decisions about her career.  She's decided to take a transfer to California next month so I'm glad we got to spend some time together before she leaves!

Anyway, back to the food!  I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken salad wrap which included cranberries and walnuts.  I have to admit that the pickle on the side was one of my favorite parts.  I don't know why I like pickles so much.  (Geoff's has the best ones in town.)  

Now that Elsa is moving to Cali it looks like Matt and I have an excuse to fly across the country.  No doubt Elsa will find some where cool for us to eat lunch.

olga's cup + saucer

One of my favorite things to do during school vacation is go out to breakfast and lunch.  Savoring a mid-day meal at a local bistro or cafe beats scarfing leftovers in the teacher's room while small children walk by and stare at us any day.  On Tuesday Ari and I decided on a late lunch at Olga's Cup and Saucer on Point Street downtown.  After browsing through the menu in the morning I decided I was in the mood for soup and a sandwich.  My craving lasted through the morning and I ordered a cup of minestrone soup, a tuna melt, and a bottle of Orangina.  

Ari had a hankering for a Cuban sandwich (one of the adorable mini sandwiches served at her wedding to Matt) and devoured half of it and her cole slaw quickly...

Olga's also serves amazing breakfasts on the weekends.  Last time Ari and I ate there we shared French toast and a yummy breakfast sandwich.  Read more about Olga's here in the Providence Phoenix.

nutella ravioli

Have you ever tried Chocolate Hazelnut Ravioli?  If you haven't you must because they are absolutely delicious.  Get yourself some wonton wrappers, a jar of Nutella, cooking oil, and confectioner's sugar and you're good to go!  Last time I made this sweet treat I garnished them with sugared mint leaves, but alas, my mint plant didn't make it through the winter.  This time I used some fresh raspberries and they did the trick, too.  What are some of your favorite ways to use Nutella?  Besides eating it right out of the jar, of course...

i love me some dutch baby

It's important to start the week off right with a yummy breakfast so I present to you one of my all-time a.m. favorites, the Dutch baby.  It's a light, buttery treat that never fails to make my day, whether I'm enjoying it for breakfast, an impromptu dinner, or as a late night snack.  In fact, I could really go for one now.  Martha Stewart Living ran an article a few years ago about cast iron and recipes to make using cast iron and one of the suggestions was a German pancake.  I had never heard of one before but set out to make one the night I read the article.  It's made of ingredients I always have on hand so it was quick and easy to whip together and I LOVED IT.  My recipe is written on a tiny monogrammed piece of note paper and I can't find the original on Martha's website so here it is - 
Dutch Baby
Ingredients
3 large eggs
1/2 C flour
1/2 C milk
1/4 t salt
1/2 t vanilla
2 T butter
Directions
Heat oven to 400°.  Whisk eggs to combine.  Add flour to eggs and whisk until smooth.  Add milk, salt, and vanilla and mix to incorporate; set aside.  Add butter to a cast iron skillet and transfer to oven until melted.  Remove from oven and quickly pour batter into the skillet.  Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.  At this point you can add whatever toppings you like, such as freshly squeezed lemon juice, confectioners sugar, or preserves.  I'm usually too impatient to bother with any of that so I eat it plain... delicious!

ready for the oven

This one and this one are similar to my recipe.  I think I'd like to try the second - honey and cardamom with apples sounds heavenly.  Check out TasteSpotting for more variations here and here.  Someone even had the fantastic idea of making Dutch babies in mini muffin tins... genius!  Can't wait to try that next time I host a brunch.  Deb over at Smitten Kitchen has a version that she refers to as loopy breakfast goodness.  I would have to agree with her on that description.

Other pancake-like breakfast foods I would like to sample - ebelskivers!  I need this pan and this cookbook for my birthday.  And these would be quite helpful, I'm sure.  Matt?  Mom?  Are either of you reading this?