Private: Celebrate Fall

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.