Birthday Dinner in NYC

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So, yesterday was my birthday. We usually make a big to-do of our birthdays with either a trip or fun activity (last year I was at Disney with my family, and we recently saw Warhorse for my husband's special day...) But this year, being as massively pregnant as I am, my main goal was to relax. I slept in nice and late, did some writing, attended a prenatal yoga class, and then we went down to the West Village for an upscale dinner (and to experience the first night of NYC's Restaurant Week!). Here's all about the restaurant spot I picked...

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Maryland Crab Dip

A few weeks ago my friend Holly and I met up at Pusser's in Annapolis, Maryland. It's a cute, Caribbean-inspired bar & grille, right on the waterfront in the historic downtown area... A great place to meet up for a drink & watch the boats cruise by on the Chesapeake Bay. They have a fabulous Maryland crab dip and lots of drink specials during the week – visiting Pusser's is a little local escape to the islands.

Check out the menus.

Visit Pusser's Caribbean Grille.

Discover Maryland crab dip recipes.

Read more travel posts.

P.S. Did you enter the @Starrybluesky Travel Polaroid giveaway yet? It ends tomorrow at midnight. I am so in love with all of her images... especially the orange VW Bug and swan pics.... Wouldn't they be perfect in a home library or office?

Krog Bar + Great Friends + Sunset = Recipe for an Amazing Night

When my husband and I moved away from Atlanta six months ago, I met the girls up at Krog Bar to say our goodbyes. So naturally when I arrived in town last week – my first trip back to the old stomping ground – we visited this same fabulous urban wine bar. Partially-owned by the famous Chef Kevin Rathbun, this watering hole is a fusion of indoor and outdoor dining, seating about 55 people in total. Krog Bar's extensive wine list, delicious Mediterranean-inspired small plates and unique atmosphere have warranted positive press from Travel & Leisure Magazine and the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The outside patio is the perfect place to unwind during the warmer months.

And have I mentioned how much I adore my friends? They are all such talented, intelligent, beautiful, loving women – inspirations to me on a daily basis. It was so great hanging out with them again. You might recognize these ladies (below) from Unblocked and Homemade Grits....

Check out Krog Bar online.

See the drink & food menus.

Go there.

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The Potted Geranium Tea Parlor

While we were visiting the lake country area of Georgia last weekend, my sweet mother-in-law took me out to the lovely Potted Geranium Tea Parlor for an afternoon excursion.

The antebellum home was originally built in the 1840s and has been restored to maintain the lovely historic details. There are six individual tea rooms as well as a screened porch. The house and surrounding gardens make the Potted Geranium Tea Parlor a charming complement to the area's antique shops, art galleries, custom homes and beautiful lakes.

We ordered small plates of delicious shrimp, chicken and spinach salads. We sipped peach and apricot tea, each fresh-brewed in a cozy-cuddled pot.

We enjoyed a long conversation over a refreshing summer Bellini, and finished off our meal with a homemade cream puff. Delicious!

My mother-in-law is such a loving woman. I am so thankful to have her in my life. We had a wonderful time at the tea parlor together, and I would highly recommend the Potted Geranium to anyone visiting the central-east Georgia area! There is also a gift shop for those who wish to purchase the tea pot cozies, loose leaf teas, antique cups, and other fun tea-related trinkets.

Learn more about the Tea Parlor.

View the menu.

Visit the Potted Geranium.

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Chattaway Drive-In Eatery

The Chattaway Drive-in is a relaxed, inexpensive eatery located in St. Petersburg – a bit of a hot spot among locals. It's been around for over seventy years.

Tables and chairs are painted bright green and yellow. Customers (and their dogs) can choose their own seats – picking from seats in the full sun or shaded spots beneath umbrellas or a mature rubber tree.

Quirky quotes are hung throughout the outdoor space.

Bathtubs are used as planters, and rubber duckies float in the koi pond. Plastic fairies and gnomes live in the surrounding trees. It's a bit of a tacky treasure trove.

While it's recognized as a hamburger eatery, we opted for a BLT sandwich and salad with fried chicken strips. But don't have high expectations for the service and food – this place is more about cheap eats and outdoor ambiance. However, some online reviewers swear by their dripping, juicy burgers. 

Read more reviews. 

Visit Chattaway's.

Outdoor Dining at Pia's Trattoria

We discovered the most adorable restaurant in Gulfport, Florida – Pia's Trattoria – and have since dined there twice.

It has a casual Old World feel throughout. There's both indoor and outdoor dining available, but who doesn't want to sit outside on a beautiful day? When we arrived at Pia's it was an off-peak hour, but these tables were filled by the time we left!

This cozy eating house is the perfect spot to relax on a nice afternoon. The doors and windows are swept open. Tropical-styled ceiling fans spin overhead. Antique table lanterns emit a soft glow. Eclectic tablecloths are welcoming pops of color.

The menu features a variety of homemade appetizers, entrees and desserts.

We ordered three specials – the scallops, lamb and sweet potato raviolis. Delicious!

After dinner, we were having such a good time that we weren't ready to leave Pia's quite yet – This welcoming place encourages lingering conversations. I can't wait to take my husband to Pia's Trattoria when he visits us in two weeks.

Check out the full menu. 

Read more reviews.

Visit Pia's Trattoria.

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Old World Italian Cuisine at La Cucina Ristorante

I know, I know, you're probably wondering why we eat so much Italian food. Well the simple answer is that there are about twenty restaurants near our home, and the majority of them are Italian restaurants. Also, neither of us enjoy cooking at home. And the Italian food here is really, really good. So, if you're also wondering how we keep off all this carb-loaded fare, we do this and this (but not nearly as much as we should!).

So, we hadn't been to La Cucina since Bobby's 30th birthday, and since last night was date night, we made a reservation at one of our favorite local spots. This restaurant has a cozy brick interior, attentive staff, and delicious food. Just an added note for local foodies, this is not a place where you can pop in and score a table – at least, in our experience – best to have a reservation.

Our appetizer order was a new one for us – sautéed artichoke hearts in a butter, lemon and white wine sauce.

They make a fabulous penne with peas in a vodka creme sauce. I opted for no panchetta. 

My husband ordered the shrimp scampi special...

And what's date night without dessert? Of course we got a cannoli.

 

On our way to the car, my husband threw a snowball at me. We like to do that sometimes.

 

Check out La Cucina's Dinner Menu.

Visit La Cucina Ristorante.

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Brews & Burgers at Triumph

During our little Princeton excursion last weekend, my husband and I stopped in Triumph Brewery. We sampled some fresh-brewed amber ale and ate casual fare. This chain bar & grill restaurant has a contemporary loft-like feel, and is a favorite spot of university students. The Olympics were on every television, so we watched a hockey game while we relaxed from our long day of walking.

 

 

 

Bobby ordered the fried calamari appetizer.... do you see a trend here? :)

 While I got a cup of the butternut squash soup... 

 

Bobby went for the Kobe beef sliders...

 

I opted for the Iceberg wedge salad...

 

Triumph Brewery is a good, low-key spot to watch sports, sip a beer, snack on something tasty and just hang out. Also, everything on the menu is affordable, so it won't break the bank.

Visit one of the three Northeast locations.

Check out the full menu and beer selection. 

 

Hang out at the Princeton Triumph:

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Romantic Ambiance, Fine Italian Fare at La Campagna Ristorante

For Valentine's Day, my husband treated me to a fine Italian dinner at the romantic La Campagna Ristorante. We stuffed our bellies pleasantly full at this Zagat-rated spot with Calamari Fritti, Pan-Seared Diver Scallops, Herb-Crusted Chilean Sea Bass and Canolis.

The restaurant is a cozy space with high-end flare. La Campagna is a perfect place to go for a special occasion.... couples seeking a romantic dining experience or perhaps looking to treat friends/parents/family to an upscale restaurant with authentic Italian dishes. Reservations are recommended, as tables fill quickly – and note that reservations during peak periods may also be the noisiest in the dining rooms.

Another thing I love about dining in New Jersey? Because it's so difficult for restaurants to obtain a liquor license, many spots are BYOB – with no corkage fee! 

We enjoyed a very special bottle we've been holding onto:

View the entire restaurant menu here.

Visit one of La Campagna's locations in New Jersey:

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Tinga Night

About once a month, we head over to the delicious Tinga taqueria for a casual dinner. The atmosphere has an eclectic decor, the place is always lively, and the fresh, Mexican dishes are reasonably-priced.

The restaurant was full last night, but I was careful to time my photos to avoid unsuspecting diners, so you won't be able to tell from the photos.  ;)

We shared our dishes: taco salad and an avocado-bacon-shrimp wrap. Yum.

View the entire menu here.

Visit Tinga Taqueria:

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