Private: Celebrate Fall

Cooking with the Kids: Flat Bread Pizza

August 1, 2017

As much as I dine out, people are often surprised when I tell them I cook regularly too. On most days I like to make quick easy meals, because with a full time job and two young children, it’s the only way to get a meal on the table. This weekend I decided to get my little ones in the kitchen with me. They love helping me cook and it can be fun activity for them. I wanted to keep it simple so we decided to make flat-breads. I also wanted to show off these cute apron and chef hats I found in my local Dollar Tree. Lets get cooking with the kids!

I used the mini naan bread because they are the perfect size for a personal pizza. I keep these on hand in my freezer. They taste great toasted. I’ve served them with hummus as a snack; or brushed with a little olive oil, and served with a pasta dish.

We topped our flat-breads with:

store bought marinara sauce
shrimp
pineapple basil
mozzarella cheese

Of course the possibilities are endless with flat-breads. Pick your favorite toppings and set them up and let your little sous chefs get creative.

We baked this pizzas for 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove pizzas from the oven and let cool before serving.

These flat breads make a great lunch, dinner, or even an appetizer. I served my flat bread with side salad.

Once I got over my kitchen getting a little messy I enjoyed cooking with my kids and the flat-breads were delicious. Here is a dessert recipe you can make with your kids if you want to keep the fun going.

Girl's Night Out at Earl's Kitchen

July 18, 2017

The Canadian franchise, Earl’s Kitchen is the latest restaurant to open in Legacy West, Plano. My friend and I attended the grand opening event and it was so fun. I can tell already, that Earl’s is going to be #lit. The opening event was a cocktail party of sorts, where there were different drink stations set up, each station featuring one of Earl’s signature drinks. My favorite was the remixed mimosa (big surprise right?!) The Spanish gin and tonic was also good and so instagramable (that’s a word right?). It was a refreshing summer drink that featured rosemary and cucumber.

IMG_20170613_203736 — The Spanish gin and tonic

We sampled tasty bites like sliders, avocado toast, sushi rolls, skirt steak skewers (hands down, my favorite), shared a bowl of queso and chips, and had a yummy mini coconut pie for dessert. Everything was delicious.

The restaurant has a retro’s 50’s vibe. The booths and chairs were covered in leather and tweed and had exposed wooden legs. There is a nice patio space with tables and lounge chairs. Inside there is a wall featuring framed art work , and the back wall has a beautiful mural created by a local artist. Although Earl’s is a franchise, each restaurant is unique in that it features decor and food common to the location. Hence the chips and queso bowl. I can’t wait to return to Earls and check out their brunch. I was told that they will have a DJ on hand during brunch and with those mimosas, it’s sure to be a good time!

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored. All reviews for items gifted to me are my own honest opinion.

Mocha Moment: Cafe Mila

July 11, 2017

New series alert! Mocha Moments will be coffee shop and café reviews as well as a review of what I’m reading and or listening to.

A few weeks ago I visited Café Mila in the Austin Ranch area here in Dallas. It’s a casual café where you place your order at the counter and they bring your food to the table. There is indoor and outdoor seating. I met the owner and she was so nice. I found out she is originally from Trinidad (one time for my Caribbean massive) and relocated to Dallas from New York. I ordered the strawberry banana French toast with a side of turkey bacon and a chai tea latte, my café beverage of choice. The French toast was tasty and not too sweet. I was so happy they had an option for turkey bacon for us non-pork eaters. But let me tell you about this chai latte. It’s served in this nice big mug and I had the option of sweetening it with honey, which is how I make mine at home. It had a nice cinnamon and vanilla flavor. I will sipping on their lattes while on their computers or

I am an avid reader. However, once I had children my kindle got shelved for Hello Moon, and Where the Wild Things are. This year one of my goals was to get back into reading. I recently discovered the OverDrive app. and it was a game changer. If you have a library card, the OverDrive app. allows you to download e-books and audio books straight to your e-reader or phone. No shade to Audible, but I canceled by subscription after getting into OverDrive ;). I love audio books for my commutes and even when I’m cleaning around the house or going for a run walk I’ll put my headphones on and listen to my book. I still do most of my actual reading when I travel for work and have time on the plane. My taste in books ranges from chick lit (is it PC to say this), suspense, romance. Sci-fi is probably the only genre that I haven’t really gotten into.

Americanah, by Chimamada Ngozi Adichie

Chimamada Ngozi Adichie is probably most famous for her voice over on Beyonce’s Flawless, which was a snippet from her Ted Talk. Americanah is the story of Ifemelu and Obinze, childhood sweethearts who are separated when Ifemelu moves to the U.S. for college. The story is told from both Ifemlu and Obinze’s points of view in alternate chapters. The book deals with race and what it means to be American. It talks a lot about the immigrant’s struggle to find their place in America, specifically the Black African struggle, and how different the American experienceis for Black Americans versus Blacks from other part of the world. However, at the heart of Americanah is a love story. The author writes beautifully and has a way of conveying a sense of familiarity in just a phrase. There were many points in the book when I laughed because her description was so poignant to a familiar person or feeling. As a Black immigrant (I was born in Jamaica and moved to the US with my parents when I was a 2 years old) I could so relate to the description of leaving a country for a better life and opportunity but having to live with family members, work odd jobs, go back to school, all in hopes of creating something better for yourself and your children. Especially with (illegal) immigration being a hot button issue these days, it humanizes the immigrant story. I can’t wait to read her other books.

Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert

I’m not generally big on self –help books, but every once in awhile I come across a book that is more inspirational or what I like to call “Get Yo Life”, than actual self-help. Well, Big Magic is such a book. Elizabeth Gilbert, the same lady who wrote Eat Pray Love, gives anecdotes and her own real life experiences as a creative person and how to tap into your creativity. She talks about creativity as something we all can possess but just need help bringing forward. My biggest takeaway from this book is that creativity is something you need to consistently work at to bring forth and that it is okay to be afraid when you are on the verge of a breakthrough. In fact she talks about how to be comfortable with your fears and that you actually need to make space for them in your life.

Rather You Than Me, Rick Ross

My taste in music is as varied as my taste in books. In heavy rotation is the latest Rick Ross album. I grew up in South Florida, so it’s no surprise I’m a Rick Ross fan. This album is so Miami. It’s full of songs that will have you milly rockin and head boppin. I reminds me of the glitz and glam of South Beach, but the grittiness of Miami.

Date Night at North Italia

July 4, 2017

I had the pleasure of being invited to the North Italia, Plano's opening event a couple of weeks ago. Legacy West is home to the first North Italia in the Dallas metroplex. The restaurant serves traditional Italian cuisine, with a twist. As we stepped into North (that's what the cook kids call it) I noticed the huge bar, globe hanging lights, and the exposed kitchen. The seating is a mix of high top tables near the bar, and leather booths and chairs in the dining area. There is also a covered patio with colorful chairs.

Appetizer

The hubs and I started off with the mussels, which were delicious and the garlic toast served with it, is perfect for dipping in the flavorful broth. The crispy calamari was fried tempura style which made you get a real taste of the squid since it wasn’t coated in heavy breading.

Salad

For our salads, I ordered the heirloom tomato salad which was a beautiful array of colorful tomatoes, chunks of avocado and roasted corn. The salad that stole the show (yes, it is entirely possible for a salad to steal the show) was the Tuscan salad. I could have had this as a meal it was so good. Ribbons of kale (and I typically don’t like kale salads), charred red grapes (don’t ask me how you char a grape, but they did and it was great!) pistachio, cheese, and bits of bread crumbs so you got a nutty crunch with every bite.

Entree

The hubs had the short ribs which he said were tender and falling of the bone. I had the filet, which was cooked perfectly. The filet was served over sauteed mushrooms cooked in a red wine reduction and it was served with crispy smashed potatoes.

Drinks

I had the red sangria and the apricot limonata, both were fruity refreshing summer drinks. The hubs went with the Sicilian margarita and the strawberry mule and he enjoyed both of them.

Dessert

The hubs kept it traditional and had the tiramisu. I went for the lemon donuts which were divine! They were light and the lemon curd was the perfect accompaniment. We tried two dessert wines with our dinner (which I did not get pictures of). I had the raspberry limoncello which taste like summer. The hubs had the Montenegro which we both agreed tasted like Christmas.

North Italia is a solid spot with delicious food and creative cocktails. I can’t wait to try their brunch.

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored. All reviews for items gifted to me are my own honest opinion.

Girls Trip: Vegas for the weekend

June 26, 2017

Vegas is the ultimate destination for a weekend girls trip. There is literally something to do for everyone, no matter what your interest is, you can find it in Vegas. I'm sharing how you can experience, fun, sun, great food, and still relax with your girls if you are in Vegas for the weekend.

My friend and I took a trip to Vegas to get some girl time and much needed rest. I know when you think of Vegas chilling and relaxing is not what initially comes to mind. However, that was on our agenda, and for that reason we booked a hotel that was not on the lit part of the Strip.

Since both of us had been to Vegas before and have done the whole walk-the-strip-visit-every-hotel/casino-and-party-hard thing, we had other plans for this trip. Our objective was to get some good meals, catch a show, and do lots of relaxing.

IMG_20170608_185001 — Seven Magic Mountain

Visit Seven Magic Mountains

We arrived on Thursday afternoon, grabbed an Uber, and headed straight to Seven Magic Mountains. It’s about a 30 minute drive from the airport. Our driver was so kind, he agreed to wait for us while we had a mini photo shoot.

The mountains are an art exhibit by artist, Ugo Rondinone. It’s seven colorful “magic rocks” stacked high, some as tall as 25ft, placed in the middle of the desert. The juxtaposition of the mountains, the deserts and the colorful strategically placed rocks is a great backdrop for some amazing pictures. We had so much fun snapping away. Our feet/shoes were so dusty and filthy when we finished. If you visit, I advise wearing closed toe shoes that are easy to clean or shoes that you give no efs about getting dirty.

Where to stay in Vegas for the weekend

After our shoot we headed to our hotel to check in and get ready for dinner. We stayed at the W hotel, located at the North end of the strip. The W is one of the newest hotels on the Vegas strip, it was opened in March 2017.

In true W fashion the rooms are modern and have an Avant Garde décor. So chic! The W does not have a casino but it is connected to the SLS hotel, which has a casino, restaurants, and a second pool. The W has a rooftop pool and spa that only W guests have access to. Because the hotel is located at the far North end of the strip it is much quieter (which is what we wanted), but a bit of hike to the center of the action. There is a Monorail located on site that can take you to the other parts of the strip.

Where to eat in Vegas

For dinner we went to Sake Rok which is near the Park's area, close to the Monte Carlo hotel. It’s a Japanese restaurant with an eclectic vibe. There was a DJ playing great music. The food was delicious and beautifully plated.

I had sea bass with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts. My friend had the spicy rock shrimp. My only complaint with this restaurant and why I am hesitate to recommend it, was the service. It was horrible. It took so long for us to get our food. I had to remind the waiter that I ordered a drink, and we had to request refills of water. We were so over it after the dinner situation, and were tired from traveling so we headed back to our hotel for bed.

The next day we went to the Paris hotel for brunch at Hexx. I had the chicken and waffles. The waffles are unique in that the batter has apples and cheddar cheese, so it’s more of a savory waffle. The food was good and there is a decadent sweets shop connected to the restaurant.

Plus you have a great view of the Bellagio fountain and water show if you sit on the patio. After brunch we returned to our hotel and hung out by the pool. It was so nice to relax and sip frozen Moscow mules, which became our signature drink for the trip, because we ended up ordering them everywhere.

What to do in Vegas besides gamble

We returned to our room to get ready for our Cirque Du Soleil show and dinner. I am a huge Cirque Du Soleil fan. I make it appoint to catch one of their shows every time I’m in Vegas. They are so amazing.

We watched Zumanity, which is a sexy risqué show. There were topless women, simulated orgies, it was hot! I’m just warning you so you can be ready. The show ended in time for us to catch the last half of game 4 for of the NBA finals, Cleveland vs. Golden State and we wanted to watch the game, so we opted for a casual dinner at Tom Urban's, in the New York hotel. There were TVs everywhere so we could watch while we ate. The portions were huge and everything was tasty. After dinner we hung out in the W Library bar.

On our last day we had brunch at the Neighborhood restaurant in the SLS hotel. I had blueberry pancakes, they were so fluffy, with a side of chicken sausage. After brunch we lounged by the pool and just soaked up the last bit of “me time” we had before heading home to our loves and the chaos of life.

Other Trip Ideas

Miami Girls Trip

Napa Valley Trip

San Francisco Trip

Eating Clean at True Food Kitchen

May 25, 2017

I am on a constant quest to achieve balance, and that is especially true when it comes to my nutrition. It’s hard out here for a food blogger who is a foodie but wants to be fit and fine (all Summer '17). I really try to live by the 80/20 rule, by eating clean 80% of the time and giving myself some leeway the other 20% . I couldn’t be more excited when I found out True Food Kitchen was opening in Plano (my hood!). The menu is a fit foodie’s dream. I attended the soft opening with my MIL(Mother-in-Love), who is a pescatarian and this menu was perfect for her as well.

True Food Kitchen was started in Phoenix by physician Andrew Weil who wanted to create a restaurant that featured nutrient rich foods that did not sacrifice flavor. The menu features lots of organic and gluten free options. And most of the dishes could be served vegetarian or vegan . Not only is the food amazing, but the setting is beautiful.

The restaurant has rich oak tables, and wood beams on ceiling. Mint green booths and pops of canary yellow chairs look into the huge open kitchen, and the windowsills are lined with green potted plants, creating a fresh and inviting space. Our servers Claire and Charles were very attentive and knew the menu well. They offered great suggestions.

Appetizers

We split the sweet potato and poblano soup. It had a very Southwestern flavor with the pico de gallo. I couldn’t even tell it was sweetpotato because it had a smooth creamy flavor. For an appetizer I ordered the charred cauliflower and my MIL got the Torched Avocado. The cauliflower was savory but had a hint of sweet since it was tossed with dates and pistachios. It sounds odd, but these two flavors paired well together. The torched avocado was served cold with cucumber "noodles” that were crunchy and fresh. This is a perfect summer salad.

Drinks

True Food Kitchen has craft cocktails and a juice bar where all the juices are hand pressed and made to order. I got the Hangover RX juice which is made with pineapple, orange, honey and coconut water. It was fruity and refreshing. For my cocktail I got the Blueberry Royal because it has Prosecco and you know your girl loves bubbles. It was crisp and fizzy. My MIL got the Kale Aide juice, which looks like the perfect green concoction for breakfast or after a tough workout. It has kale,ginger, apple, celery, and cucumber. My MIL loved it. She got the citrus skinny margarita for her cocktail and said it was good and not too sweet.

Entree

For the main course my MIL ordered the spaghetti squash casserole. It came out bubbling with fresh mozzarella and chunks of ripe tomatoes. I got the Scottish Steelhead trout served on a bed of greens with roasted red and yellow beets, and farro. It was delicious. The fish was grilled perfectly, crisp on the outside and tender and flaky inside.

Dessert

We barely had room for dessert, but still managed to sample the chocolate cake which was my favorite. The key lime pie, was not as creamy as I prefer mine, and that may be because it is dairy free. However, the flan which is also dairy free because it is made with almond milk, was delicious. It was creamy and full of caramel and vanilla flavor in every spoonful (and let's just say I had a few spoonfuls).

My MIL and I truly enjoyed True Food Kitchen. Although we ate enough for the entire New Edition (just watched the biopic...again;) , we did not feel heavy and weighed down by our meals. I cannot wait to return and try the pizzas and the bowls. True Food Kitchen also has a Dallas location if you don't feel like venturing to the burbs. If you're not in the Big D, there are locations nationwide, so find one near you.

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored. All reviews and opinions for items gifted to me are my own.

Plano Art& Wine Walk

May 17, 2017

Last Thursday the Hubs and I attended the Downtown Plano Art and Wine Walk. This is the second year Plano has had the Wine Walk. The Walk takes place the second Thursday of the month and runs from April - December, so there is still plenty of time for you to check one out.

Once we got downtown Plano, we realized there was complimentary valet parking, but we were able to secure a spot on our own. We made our way over to Event 1013, an art gallery, where we checked in and receive wrist bands, a souvenir wine glass and a map of the 25 participating businesses with the wines they were featuring. Yes, you heard that right 25 samples (pour it up, pour it up!), and you know your girl loves wine see here too.

We visited a few galleries like Ten20 and The Boyer Gallery and took in the Plano art scene. There were some really beautiful and conversation inducing pieces.

There were also some eclectic boutiques that included women and kids clothing, and home accents. I discovered Pipe and Pallet art studio that looked like so much fun. I plan on going back, now that I’m on my crafty kick. The XO Coffee Company was so cute, you can bet there will be coffee shop review coming soon from there.

We sampled chocolates at Dude, Sweet Chocolate and met some interesting folks there. We bought some bars and truffles to take home.

All that wine sipping had us hungry so we walked over to Urban Crust for dinner. I heard great things about Urban Crust but this was my first time visiting. Let me tell you, it lived up to all the great reviews. The Hubs and I split the Urban chop salad(green olive, pecans, feta, cranberries and oregano vinaigrette) and the Black and Blue Pizza. The crust was thin and crisp and the steak, mushroom, and blue cheese flavors melded so well. Next time I visit I want to try the calamari and the frozen sangria. I was eyeing these items at the table next to us. The restaurant was busy with all the wine walkers so we were seated by the bar where we got a front row seat of the pizza artisans at work. Urban Crust has three levels for dining. The 3rd floor has a sports bar feel, with TVs at each booth and an ice top bar where you can rest your drink and keep it cool. There is also a nice rooftop patio.

I have been sleeping on downtown Plano. There are so many eclectic shops and restaurants I plan on visiting soon. Do yourself a favor and make sure you don’t miss the next Wine Walk. Each month has a different theme and features different wines. I promise you’ll enjoy it!
*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored. All reviews and opinions for items gifted to me are my own.

Brunch Review: Warwick Melrose Hotel and DIY Gift boxes

May 10, 2017

Mother’s Day is this weekend and if you’re still trying to decide what to do or what gift to give a mom in your life I have just the thing for you.

For our last brunch, my brunch club decided to have a Spring Fling themed brunch. I made a reservation for us at the Warwick Melrose Hotel and everyone was encouraged to wear a Spring outfit (think floral dresses and tea length skirts).

The Warwick Melrose is a beautiful historic hotel located in Oak Lawn, Dallas. The lobby was in full bloom and seem to be celebrating Spring too. We were promptly seated and started off with an order of deviled eggs for the table as well as a round of mimosas. The mimosas were served in big goblets and they were mixed perfectly. I ordered the chicken and waffles. My fellow brunchers had the eggs Benedict, and strawberry tart. The chicken and waffles were solid. I sampled the strawberry tart and it was good. The crust was flaky and the custard filling was creamy and not too sweet. The egg Benedict got a thumbs up as well.

Since we were doing a Spring Fling theme, I decided to make some Spring inspired boxes to give as gifts to my brunch club members. I’m a huge fan of beauty subscription boxes, where you get sample items of different products to try. I really enjoyed the Essence Beauty box (unfortunately they discontinued them) because each month had a different theme, that’s the direction I was going in with these boxes. I found every item for my box at guess where??!---Dollar Tree (I’m telling you, they help me get it right every time). I found the cutest floral print boxes and filled them with items that you can use for Spring: hand lotion that fits perfectly in any size purse (because friends don’t let friends walk around ashy), a nude lip gloss, and a lemon meringue scented candle. The ladies loved their boxes. I think this would be a great gift for Mother’s Day as well. And the beauty of it is you can cater it to the person you’re gifting.

I used the same idea last week for my son’s teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week. That box contained: a sangria scented candle, hand sanitizer (because kids are germy), hand lotion, chocolate truffles, and a Target gift card (isn’t this everyone’s happy place?!). His teachers loved them as well. If you’re looking for a cute, thoughtful idea for a Mother’s Day gift, this is super easy and can be inexpensive.

I’m pretty sure (if he knows what’s up he better lol) the Hubs has some things planned this weekend for his Mom and I for Mother’s day. Be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see what goes down. If you’re a Mom I’m wishing a you a moment of peace and a few extra hours of sleep this Mother’s Day!

Crafting and Brunch at Smoke Plano

April 25, 2017

Hey my fellow brunch babes! I had all intentions of getting a post out last week, but life. Last week was a crazy week of work travel for the Hubs and me, so blogging had to take a back seat. However, since I have so much love for you I’m bringing you two posts this week to make up for it.

This past weekend a friend invited me to her birthday event and it was so cute and creative, I had to share it with you. We did crafts and cocktails at Paper Source and brunch at Smoke. When I initially heard that we would be getting crafty, I was a bit nervous, because I am not crafty--at all. Craft cocktails is as crafty as I get. But to my surprise it was so much fun, and there were no hot glue gun casualties.

Our big group separated into two groups with an instructor for each group. We created two birthday cards and two thank you cards as we sipped on mimosas and nibbled on fruit and muffins. The instructors were nice and very helpful. I have to say, I’m pretty proud of how great my cards came out. Now I have to decide which special person will get one of these.

Paper Source offers different classes during the week and on weekends. There are also classes for children if you want to get crafty with your little ones. Since my friend did her event there, we each received a 10% off coupon for any items we purchase. I have my eye on some stationary. In this era of virtual cards and texting Happy Birthday, I still like to send Birthday and Thank you cards because it means so much to people; and who doesn’t like receiving a personalized card?

After all of that crafting we headed over to Smoke for brunch. I’ve been to the Dallas location before and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was so excited when I found out they were building a location on the North side. Smoke, as you may have guessed is known for their smoked meats. I don’t eat bacon (lips of swine will never touch mine!) but everyone raves about her great their bacon is. I usually get their homemade chicken sausage with my brunch and it is flavorful and juicy. My favorite brunch item on their menu is the blueberry pancakes. The pancakes are fluffy, loaded with blueberries and topped with a blueberry apricot compote and whipped cream. It is so good. This time I stepped outside my comfort zone and order the chicken and coconut waffle. It was delicious, but I don’t think anything can top the blueberry pancakes. Other popular items at our table were the eggs Benedict, the brisket hash, and the shrimp tacos. The grilled avocado salad was also a good option if you're trying to keep it light. Everyone at our table really enjoyed their meals. Check out Smoke in Dallas or Plano, I promise you will not be disappointed.
Happy Brunching!

Wine Down Weekend:Napa Valley

March 27, 2017

https://mochasandmimosas.com/wine-down-weekend-san-francisco/If you missed Part 1 please give it a read and find out how it went down in San Francisco.

On the day we were going to Napa it was raining in the morning and I was a little nervous that our plans would be ruined. However, by the time we got to Napa, the rain subsided, thankfully! Our first stop was Trefethen Vineyard. When we got there we were told, their large tasting room was under renovation, but the smaller tasting room was open and they were able to squeeze us in. Tyson and I did a shared tasting of 3 wines. We knew we were going to visit more vineyards so we were trying to pace ourselves. All of the wines were good, but the chardonnay was my favorite.Our next stop was the Cliff Lede Family Vineyard. I wasn’t familiar with this brand, but I think that’s part of the beauty of driving along the vineyards and discovering a new wine that’s not commercial. The tasting room was decked out with funky guitars and music memorabilia but the landscape was so beautiful we ended up hanging out on the patio to enjoy our wine. Our tasting included six different wines. My favorite was a tie between the pinot gris and the pinot noir.We were hungry after those tastings and needed to refuel before our next tasting so we went to St. Helen for lunch. I had the fish and chips with a glass of sauvignon blanc and Tyson had steak tacos. Both were solid dishes and the wine was delicious. I’m telling no lies when I say I did not have a bad glass of wine on this entire trip.

Next was my most anticipated vineyard, Mums. I made a reservation for this tasting, which included a tour of the vineyard, 4 full glasses of champagne, and a souvenir flute. I mean you can’t have mimosas without Mums! For this one, I told Tyson he needed his own glass because I wasn't sharing! The tasting started outside where we took in breath taking views of the vineyard and learned all about the history of Mums. We were then lead inside the distillery and got to see where all the Mums magic happens (if you haven’t caught on by now, I kinda have a thing for alliteration). Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. I felt like I was ready for the sommelier exam after our tour. I really enjoyed all of the champagnes we tried but the rose’ was my favorite. You also get 10% off any wines you purchase after a tasting. I found the most fragrant soaps at the vineyard that I could not stop inhaling. These are great gifts to bring back for non-wine drinking friends (yes, these people exist). They smell divine.

We wrapped up our tour of Napa and headed to Sausalito for dinner. The drive to Sausalito is picturesque. Seeing one beautiful house after another perched in the mountains along the crashing waves of the Pacific, really had me reconsidering my life goals and trying to figure out how I can retire early and move to Sausalito. We had dinner at The Trident. We were seated next to the window and took in the gorgeous view as we enjoyed more wine (hello!) scallops, and sea bass. I was so full but could not pass on dessert after our waiter brought the dessert tray. Tyson and I split the creme brulee. I highly recommend the Trident. The view alone is enough reason to visit. Just being able to relax, sleep in, and not have to tend to our regular obligations made this trip enjoyable. We ate, we drank, we conquered!

Wine Down Weekend: San Francisco

March 20, 2017

Hey loves! I didn’t post last week because I was hanging out over at Hey Girl Hey. Please check out my post where I discuss how my brunch club began and why it’s so necessary to have a squad. While I often talk about hanging with my girls, today I’m talking about hanging with the Hubs. I figured it was about time he was formally introduced.

A few years ago, when my husband, Tyson, and I were approaching our 1 year wedding anniversary we decided to plan a trip to San Francisco and wine country to celebrate. We had both been to San Francisco before,but never together, and I had never visited wine country (shocking I know) and you know how much I enjoy wine. Well, in the midst of planning our trip we were blessed with the news that I was pregnant with our son. I figured visiting wine country while pregnant would just be cruel, so the trip was cancelled and San Francisco was put on the bottom of the vacation list. Fast forward to last month I suggested to Tyson that we visit San Francisco for my birthday. My Mother-in-Love agreed to hold down home base so Tyson and I could enjoy a much needed kid free weekend. The objective of this trip was to eat (of course), drink(I mean it's wine country), and, relax.

We took a Friday evening flight on SouthWest. We opted to get a rental car because we wanted the freedom to explore at our leisure. However, I strongly advise that if you decide to rent a car, you consider the fact that parking in San Francisco is expensive. Most hotels in the city charge $50 and up daily for parking.

Our home for the weekend was the Pier 2620 Hotel. When we were planning our trip I was looking for a fun boutique hotel,and Pier 2620 did not disappoint. The hotel is located near Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghirardelli Square. The room was spacious and had an open loft feel with a contemporary design. It also included a continental breakfast every morning. The staff was friendly and helpful.

By the time we arrived, got our rental car, and made our way to our hotel, it was pretty late. We were starving and most places were closed. Thankfully, the concierge recommended The Pub, which was opened late and within a few blocks of our hotel. Of course I had to get Wine Down Weekend started off so I order the house red wine and the baked wings, both were really good. We were tired after a busy day of travel so we called it a night after dinner.

The next day we explored the city. We visited Fisherman’s Wharf and saw the famous Alcatraz Prison from the pier. I had to get clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Boudin Bakery for lunch. It was delicious! We got souvenirs for the kids as well. This is a very tourist friendly area, with lots of shops and restaurants. We drove down Lombardi Street, the crookedest street in the country. It was pretty cool. We also drove by the house that was on the TV show Full House and now Fuller House. I loved that show growing up so I was really geeked about seeing the actual house. I just knew Danny Tanner was going to come out the door at any minute. We also checked out Union Square. A visit to San Francisco is not complete without visiting the Golden Gate Bridge.We drove over the bridge and took in views from both sides. It is such an impressive structure. The views of the city from the top of the mountain are simply beautiful.

We headed back to Fisherman’s Wharf for dinner at Fog Harbor Restaurant. I had the lobster roll and pinot grigio. I think I had wine with every meal on this trip. I mean I had to accomplish all of my objectives, remember: eat, drink, relax. After dinner we headed over to Ghirardelli square for dessert. The brownie fudge sundae was everything! Before turning in we hung out at the bar in our hotel for a night cap. It was laid back and chill, which is exactly the kind of ending we needed to our day, because the next day we were heading to Napa Valley.

Be sure to stop by next Tuesday for all the details on where we ate, what we drank, and why I feel like I’m ready to become a sommelier after visiting Napa.

Currently Crushing

March 7, 2017

Every now and then I come across a product or a gadget that I’m really feeling and I want to tell everyone about it, and since you are my new BFF I must tell you all about what I’m currently crushing on.

Peach Cobbler Tea

I love a flavorful tea. See this post to see how much I enjoy a good pot of tea. Truth be told, although the blog is called Mochas and Mimosa. I actually prefer tea over coffee. I generally start and end my day with a cup of tea. It may be because I am Jamaican and growing up tea was the cure all in my house. If you had an upset stomach, drink mint tea; can’t sleep, drink chamomile tea; broken leg, drink some ginger tea. There was no ailment a cup of tea could not cure.

The other day I was perusing the tea aisle in my local grocery store and stumbled across this Tazo Organic Peach Cobbler tea. It sounded like a good after dinner drink on those days when I skip dessert. It’s described as a melange of black tea with peach notes. It’s really more of a black spiced tea and not very fruity. There is just a hint of the peach flavor. I drink mine hot, with honey and sometimes I add a splash of milk. Delicious!

Grill Mates Sweet & Smoky Rub

My favorite salty snack is popcorn. My love for popcorn is so serious that I had a popcorn bar at my wedding. It’s to the point that I base the movie theater I go to, around how good their popcorn is. Yes, I am serious about my popcorn! I buy popcorn kernels by the pound at the grocery store and make it at home, old school style, on the stove or with my air popper. I like to drizzle olive oil and sprinkle a little sea salt on it. So tasty! I was feeling fancy one day and was rummaging through my spice rack in search of something different to top my popcorn with. I decided to try this Grill Mates Sweet & Smoky Rub, which I initially bought to season chicken, but it has become my official popcorn seasoning. It has a sweet, salty, smoky barbecue flavor. Now, when you start seeing BBQ popcorn in the store you can say you heard it here first.

Rose Pinot Noir

In true Olivia Pope fashion I have to have something to wash my popcorn down with, and this Rose Pinot Noir is it. My go to wine is pinot noir and when I’m in a celebratory mood (which could be any given Friday), or at brunch, I like to sip a little bubbly. A friend of mine gifted me this bottle of Rose Pinot Noir for my birthday this year. It was like my two favorite wines got together and had a baby. Hey baby Rose, you are just the cutest thing! I’ll admit the bottle alone had me swooning because it’s so lux and girly. I’m a sucker for cute packaging, but it taste good too. It’s crisp with an underlying flavor of red berries and pears.

Have you tried any of these? If so, drop me a line and let me know what you think. I would also love to hear what you’re currently crushing.

Brunch: Cedar Grove Dallas

February 24, 2017

Brunch in Dallas is definitely an event and there are no shortages of restaurants to choose from, each one offering something different. It’s no wonder brunch is my favorite meal, I mean when else can you drink alcohol in the middle of the day and not get the side-eye from someone?! My love of brunch coupled with my quest to tackle the never ending lists of brunch spots in Dallas, birthed the Mochas and Mimosas brunch club. I started the group last year with some friends of mine. We meet for brunch at least once a month for food (mimosas too) and fellowship. I will be sharing our brunch adventures in no particular order.

Cedar Grove, Dallas was the pick for our final brunch of 2016. Cedar Grove is located in Oak Lawn in the same building that Dish(if you didn't know about Dish, don't worry, you weren't missing much) used to occupy. The decor is a huge display of white trees that go from floor to ceiling and tower over each table, creating the appearance of a grove of trees throughout the restaurant. The restaurant was decked out for the holidays. The trees were decorated with ornaments and lights. The restaurant features high top tables and large oak tables with bench seating.

The popular drink at our table was the fruit forward mimosa. The champagne is paired with a hibiscus infused juice. I like that they serve you a glass of champagne with the mixer on the side. This is especially good for those of us who like only a splash of juice with our champagne. Our group shared an order of the homemade donut holes. They were light, and crispy on the outside, chewy and moist on the inside. The donuts were served with a warm caramel dipping sauce, if you need an extra kick of sweet.

I ordered the honey butter chicken biscuit. This is not your average fast food chicken biscuit. It is a whole chicken breast, lightly battered and fried crisp. The chicken is served between a flaky, buttery biscuit drizzled with honey on top. It is the perfect combination of savory and sweet all in one bite. I may have dabbed once or twice while eating it. If you’re bad and bougie you may want to eat yours with a knife and fork, but I went all in and used my hands. The other ladies at my table had the hot chicken sandwich which was served with homemade chips, and the build your own omelette which came with home fries. Everyone enjoyed their meals.Our server was friendly and attentive and the hostess was sweet enough to take a group photo for us when we were leaving.

Cooking with Class: Bourbon Street Cooking

February 6, 2017

In addition to trying new restaurants and visiting the latest brunch spot, I also enjoy cooking and trying new recipes. I get excited about trying a new dish and get the utmost satisfaction from creating something and seeing the glee on my family’s faces when they see it’s not meatloaf again for dinner on Wednesday. If I get a seal of approval (which usually consist of finishing his meals, and the Gold is if he asks for seconds) from my 4 year old, then I know I’ve done something right. When one of my brunch club member suggested that we take a cooking class in lieu of doing our traditional Sunday brunch, I was down for the cause.

We decided to do a class at Central Market,. If you don’t have a Central Market in your area, my condolences, because it is one of the most amazing grocery stores. I can do a whole post on the fabulousness that is Central Market, but that’s not what we’re here for today. The menu was titled Bourbon Street Cooking and consisted of a three course meal and included 2 glasses of wine (red or white, your choice). We would be preparing: Bourbon shrimp over white cheddar grits with corn and Tabasco, buttermilk hush puppies, creole dirty rice blackened tilapia with spicy remoulade, and pecan praline bread pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce. They had me at pecan praline bread pudding!

When we arrived at the class our group was assigned to a table.The ingredients for each dish was already measured out in little containers. Our Instructor Ms. Jackson was witty and sweet. She stood at the head of the class and helped us prepare each course.She made sure we kept stirring and didn’t burn the grits.

The food was delicious. The spice and acidity of the shrimp balanced the rich creaminess of the grits. The hush puppies were crisp and light. The dirty rice and the tilapia were spicy but not overpowering, both were full of flavors that had me doing the zydeco shuffle (I’m not even sure that’s a real thing but just roll with it) with each bite. Sweetness is my weakness so the bread pudding was my favorite part. I kept sneaking pieces of praline when we were cooking. The bread pudding was made with challah bread and homemade pralines. Yasss!

We ate and still had leftovers to box up and take home. We also left with a booklet with all of the recipes.