Tag Archives: brunch

Brunch at SeaLegs Wine Bar

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A couple of months ago Karla and I decided that the only way to proper celebrate our last long run of half marathon training was to treat ourselves to a delicious brunch.  We decided to have our celebratory brunch at SeaLegs Wine Bar after stumbling upon a groupon that included an entrée and bottomless mimosas for $15.

Our brunch was set for 11 AM, and after running 11 tough miles that included a strong headwind, almost getting attacked by poodles and aggressive transients on PCH, we were more than ready to get our grub on.  And apparently we weren’t the only ones as the line to have brunch at SeaLegs Wine Bar was out the door when we got there.  Thankfully Karla made reservations and we were seated right away.

brunch at sealegs wine bar champagneAs promised, our meal started with champagne and orange juice, which was a nice way to start brunch while we perused the menu.

The Englishman (who is also training for the Big Sur Half) decided to get things started on the right foot by ordering the “donut of the day” which was a chocolate maple bacon donut.

brunch at sealegs wine bar donutSince I have such a high standard for donuts (thank you Sidecar), I didn’t end up sampling it but he said it was tasty, however not on the same level as Sidecar’s donuts.  Noted.

For my entrée, since the runger (it’s a word I swear) was in full force, I went with the Vegetarian Omelette which came with kale, mushrooms, and truffle oil with a side of roasted potatoes.  I also ordered an extra side of avocado and fruit, because why not?

brunch at sealegs wine bar veggie omeletteI was pleasantly surprised at the portion size of my dish.  The omelette was cooked perfectly and was nice and filling, and the potatoes were a great compliment.

Karla followed suit and ordered the shrimp omelette which I did not try but will seriously consider ordering the next time I have brunch at SeaLegs Wine Bar.

brunch at sealegs wine bar seafood omeletteKarla’s boyfriend Jesse got the Chilaquiles, which included braised chicken and a poached egg over tortilla chips.  I couldn’t partake because of the corn component, but everyone else raved about them.

brunch at sealegs wine bar chilaquesI had told the Englishman there was a chicken and waffles dish which he immediately ordered.  The verdict was it was good and possibly better than famous Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles which is a pretty high compliment.

brunch at sealegs wine bar wafflesThe only knock I would give SeaLegs is that the service was a little slow and it looked like dishes were coming out at inconsistent times.  I do love the venue and their extensive wine list, so I think I’ll be back for happy hour and some tapas.

We all left brunch feeling pleasantly full and then proceeded to have post run/brunch naps, which is one of the best things about half marathon training.

Thanks Karla and Jesse for being such fabulous brunch companions!

Brunch at Searsucker

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This past weekend I had my bachelorette party in San Diego.  Drinks were consumed, shenanigans ensued, and by Sunday morning there was nothing I was looking forward to more than a delicious brunch at Searsucker in the Gaslamp district.

Brunch at Searsucker EatSearsucker is Top Chef Season 3 finalist Brian Malarkey’s restaurant and focuses on New American Classic dishes with a twist.  When I first had a look at the whimsical brunch menu, I knew I needed to eat there.  I emailed my Maid of Honor and asked her to make a reservation and before I knew it we were set for brunch at Searsucker.

Since I didn’t bring my Canon Rebel to my bachelorette festivities, all of my brunch photos were taken with my point and shoot camera and don’t really do the food justice.  Just trust me when I say it was delicious and I can’t wait to return to Searsucker again soon!

I’m also very fortunate to have friends that love food as much as I do and who were game for trying a lot of different things off the menu.  The minute we all saw One Foot in the Grave on the menu we knew we had to order it.

Brunch at Searsucker One Foot in the GraveOne Foot in the Grave is a fried potato dish topped with sour cream, bacon, cheese, and crispy onions.  Of course with a name like that I was expecting this dish to be incredibly over the top.  While it was on the decadent side, I found the dish to be quite flavorful and not overly greasy.

We also ordered one of the homemade sticky buns to share among the group.

Brunch at Searsucker Sticky bunNow this was decadent.  I almost found it to be too sweet, but I did really love the cinnamon glaze on top of the soft sticky bun.  I haven’t had a sticky bun in ages so this was a nice treat.

For my main brunch entrée I went with the Boring, which is just scrambled eggs, potatoes, bacon and toast.

Brunch at Searsucker BoringThe name might be boring but this dish was delicious.  I was craving bacon in a bad way so this definitely hit the spot.  Sometimes there’s nothing better for breakfast than some good ol’ fashioned bacon and eggs.

A couple of the girls got the Sunday Bloody Sunday which was poached eggs with bacon and grits.

Brunch at Searsucker Sunday Bloody SundayI didn’t get to taste this dish because of the corn, but I heard nothing but rave reviews from my two lovely friends.

My maid of honor got the McPuffin (sans sausage) which I had to steal a bite of.

Brunch at Searsucker McPuffinThe McPuffin biscuit was super light and flaky and I loved the melted cheese and fried egg underneath.  I am most definitely a carnivore so I would’ve ordered it with meat, but this is a great meatless dish if you are vegetarian.

Another friend ordered the Green Eggs and Ham that came with pork belly and brioche.

Brunch at Searsucker green eggs and hamI love pork belly and her dish looked (and smelled divine).  Next time I go to Searsucker I am definitely ordering that.

Brunch at Searsucker Truffle EggsThe final dish that was brought to the table was an egg white scramble with truffle, Parmesan and mushrooms.  I didn’t get to taste this one either but my friend had nothing but great things to say.

At the end of brunch our sweet waitress brought out a lemon tart as a congratulations for my upcoming wedding.  Well played, Searsucker!

Brunch at Searsucker Lemon tartAnd for the record, the lemon tart was delicious.  If I hadn’t been so full from all the other brunch food I would’ve devoured it.

I’m already planning my next brunch at Searsucker (and lunch and dinner).  Now if only I can convince them to open an outpost in Orange County next!

What’s your favorite brunch food?  Sweet or savory?

Mother’s Day Spa Day

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Is it just me, or is spring totally flying by?  I feel like we just finished March, and now we are about to leap into May.  April basically just came and went/

May is one of my favorite months because the weather starts warming up (ok, going from 70s to 80s in SoCal), the days are really starting to get longer, and summer is right around the corner which means delicious food on the grill, fresh watermelon and drinks al fresco.

May also means Mother’s Day is right around the corner.  Traditionally my family goes to brunch on Mother’s Day and we enjoy delicious food, drink champagne, and have a great time.  But in addition to a yummy brunch I was thinking of doing something else for my mom to help her relax and enjoy her Mother’s Day weekend.  I’m a big fan of spas (who isn’t?), and Burke Williams is offering some awesome Mother’s Day spa packages this year for Mother’s Day throughout their locations in Orange County and Los Angeles.

I have only been to Burke Williams a couple of times, but every time I have went it was an enjoyable experience and I always leave telling myself that I must do this more often.

If you are a spa fanatic like me, then definitely check out the deals below – they are just too good to pass up this Mother’s Day!  And I think it’s the perfect thing to treat mom to before enjoying that brunch and champagne!

 Burke Williams Mission Viejo Deals:

 Relax Package: Just $159 (regular price $205)

Enjoy a 25-minute Sugar Glo with your choice of a 50-minute Burke Williams Massage -or- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

Escape Package: Just $259 (regular price $335)

Indulge in a 25-minute Sugar Glo with a 50-minute Burke Williams Massage -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

For Two – A Special Mother/Daughter Experience: Just $289 (regular price $370) *I think I need to do this one with my mom!

Each of you will enjoy a 25-minute Sugar Glo with your choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation Massage or a 50-minute Spa Style Facial.

Mother’s Day Deals at Burke Williams Orange, West Hollywood, Torrance, Santa Monica, Pasadena and Sherman Oaks:

 Relax Package: Just $145 (regular price $180)

Enjoy a Spa Pedicure with your choice of a 50-minute Burke Williams Massage -or- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

Escape Package: Just $245 (regular price $310)

Indulge in a Spa Pedicure with a 50-minute Burke Williams Massage -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

For Two – A Special Mother/Daughter Experience: Just $275 (regular price $360)

Each of you will enjoy a Spa Pedicure with your choice of a 50-minute Burke Williams Massage or a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

All of the spa deals above will be available until Sunday, May 13th.  Visit a Burke Williams location nearest you or reserve online at www.burkewilliamsspa.com.  Be sure to mention this deal when making an appointment!

Brunching at Le Pain Quotidien

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This past fall I had the pleasure of dining at Le Pain Quotidien for lunch.  The Englishman has heard me go on and on about my lovely lunch, so finally I decided to take him to Le Pain Quotidien, only for breakfast instead.

We started out our meal the true french way with a coffee and a croissant.  The croissant was light, flaky and buttery, and reminded me of the delicious croissants I enjoyed when I was in Paris a few years back.

The menu had lots of tantalizing breakfast items, but I decided to keep it simple and ordered a bowl of steel-cut oats topped with fresh berries and milk.  It may not be the most exciting breakfast, but it sure did hit the spot.

The Englishman ordered a ham and gruyere omelette that came with a slice of wheat bread and a baguette.  I took a few bites of his dish and loved the delicious melted cheese inside the omelette.

Le Pain Quotidien is a perfect little breakfast/brunch spot if you are looking for something light and tasty.   The pastries are definitely the standout at this spot, and I highly recommend the buttery, flaky, croissants.  Get a croissant and a coffee, sit outside on the patio and you will feel like you are sitting on the Champs Elysses in Paris, at least for a little  while.

Le Pain Quotidien

401 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660