Tag Archives: Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day Brunch, or is it Lunch? At Il Fornaio

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A few weeks back my mom asked me to find a delicious brunch spot for the family to gather for Mother’s Day.  After much deliberation and visits to Open Table, I finally decided on Il Fornaio in Irvine as the perfect brunch spot that was centrally located and would appease everyone’s palate.

When we sat down to brunch we immediately ordered a bottle of prosecco for the table (because why not?) and began perusing the menu.

We quickly realized that there were no brunch items at all listed on the menu, but just the traditional restaurant menu items such as pizza, salad and pasta.  My mom and I were quite confused since we had both been informed when making the reservation there would be a more traditional “brunch” style menu with eggs, etc.  After consulting with the manager it turns out there was no brunch menu this year due to a last-minute decision on the restaurant’s part, and instead they were serving their lunch menu.  While I appreciated him explaining this, it would’ve been nice if the restaurant had informed me of this fact prior to me making a reservation, especially since I had my heart set on a delicious brunch feast!

With eggs and muffins out of the picture, I decided on a margarita pizza to split with the Englishman and the house salad with Gorgonzola dressing (they were out of antipasto which broke my heart a bit).  The salad came with avocado, cucumber, tomato, cannellini beans and lettuce.

The salad was good and the dressing complemented it nicely.  It was light and refreshing and definitely went well with the second glass of prosecco that was being poured.

The margarita pizza had a nice thin crust (which I love) and was dripping in delicious cheese, this was great because then I found out that the restaurant also offers a pizza delivery service.

I only had a few slices of the pizza and the Englishman and my dad helped to finish it off.  While it was good, I think next time I’ll order the vegetarian version which came with eggplant, zucchini, mushroom and artichoke.

My favorite dish of the day was the Englishman’s breaded chicken sandwich.  I was happy he was so nice about sharing his sandwich with me because I definitely found myself wishing I had ordered that instead of the pizza.

The sandwich was pretty simple – breaded chicken on a ciabatta roll with a nice spread of aioli.  But since the chicken was prepared so well, it came out nice and juicy and the aioli really helped to enhance the flavor.  My aunt got the sandwich as well, and it was clearly a winner among the group.

Overall, brunch/lunch at Il Fornaio was a success.  Even though I didn’t get my traditional brunch with an omelette station, I still enjoyed a nice lunch that left my tastebuds happy.  And I got to spend the day surrounded by loved ones, which is really all a girl could ask for.

Il Fornaio – Irvine

18051 Von Karman Avenue

Irvine, CA 92612

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!