Matt and I both have meetings downtown this afternoon, so he asked me out on a lunch date to add some excitement to this rainy day. We both walked here in the rain – I refuse to drive downtown when we live so close [with the exception being a massive thunderstorm with sideways rain, in which case I probably would just wait until it was over and then walk.]
Our destination was Eppies, one of my favorite lunch spots with a menu of healthy comfort foods.
I alternate between the vegetarian plate (you pick 4 sides plus cornbread!) and the Santa Monica salad that comes with Corn, Spinach, Dates, Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and a Champagne dressing. I added some chicken today.
The best part is the pumpkin loaf that comes on the side!
Matt got the veggie plate with collards, beans and mac and I was a little jealous, but he shared a few bites and I gave him about a quarter of my chicken
HIs best part – cornbread here is like cake!
I’m using the free downtown wifi to work here for a bit – and procrastinate the cold walk home! Perhaps a decaf cappuccino is on the agenda?
Happy Hump Day!
{ 82 comments… read them below or add one }
THAT SALAD LOOKS AMAZING!!! And the cornbread! Oh yum! I don’t think you can have cornbread without corn..and even better – add a can of rotel, too! Scrumptious!
Oh Eppies <3 <3
Now I want their pesto … their cheese tortellini … their turkey meatballs … curry chicken salad …
Let’s meet here for lunch soon!?
YES!
Next week or the next? I’m pretty flexible
I miss Eppie’s so much
And I think I would call my ideal cuisine “healthy comfort food.” Sounds so good on a drenched and cold day like today!
Eppie’s misses you! I love how the food here tastes homemade
I would eat anything that came with pumpkin bread on the side! What a good idea. I love the little loaf, so cute
That salad looks awesome, I love fresh corn.
Your meals look so incredibly good! Wow, why don’t we have anything that looks that delicious in california, I surely don’t know!
I would have a hard time deciding between those two meals too!
That salad looks delicious! I always vow to eat more salads, but when I make them at home they just never taste as good
What awesome meals! It’s super rainy here too..can’t wait to put on some sweat pants and curl up with a nice nourishing meal with my husband tonight!
Matt’s lunch looks so perfect for this dreary day!
Dang that looks like a great comforting lunch! The chicken looks perfect too! Those are huge chunks of real chicken. It’s nasty and pouring in Atlanta today too…just gross out. I think it’s coffee time!
that pumpkin loaf looks amazing! and the cornbread… man, i would have a hard time picking out just one thing to order on this menu!
I want that pumpkin loaf! And free downtown wifi?!?
Your lunch looks delicious! I wish my salad at lunch would have looked like that!
Yum! I love comfort food. I used to live in Jackson, MS and every restuarant had good comfort food. Here is Florida it is hard to come by. I need a trip to the real south soon.
Wow, the food at that restaurant sounds great! That pick-4-sides deal sounds like exactly what I’d need – I can never decide!
Still haven’t gone there! Must do sometime…
This restaurant looks amazing! Your lunch looks absolutely delicious. I want that pumpkin loaf! Stay dry
Love that I’m not the only one with places I refuse to drive — and how you would handle extreme weather events
My hubbie and I are having a lunch date on Friday followed by some Christmas shopping. Giddy with excitement! Speaking of ‘dates’ I just finished making my Dairy, Egg, Soy and Peanut/Tree Nut Free Date Squares! My sweet indulgence!
Oh wow–both meals look totally awesome!!
The little pumpkin loaf is adorable. It’s so nice that the two of you were able to meet for lunch on a Wednesday afternoon.
Love home-style healthy comfort foods. Your meals look comforting and tasty.
I want Eppie’s here! Everything looks homemade and super delicious. Please tell them the Hudson Valley NY would make a great second home.
That looks SO delicious! My stomach is now growling…
Pumpkin loaf! Sign me up!
Seriously, cornbread makes anything about a million times better.
Cornbread is a great side to anything…especially if it is cake like. Way before I got into nutrition, I used to love making those little boxes of Jiffy corn muffins. Then I read the ingredients.
Now, I make it from scratch. That means we enjoy them less often. Hmmmm, maybe veggie chili with cornbread on top for dinner…you always inspire!
What a cute little pumpkin loaf! Mini food is too cute!
Oh MY all of that looks delicious!!! And cakey cornbread is my favorite!!!!
I think that would be my favorite lunch spot, too! Yum!
That food looks delicious! Makes me want to go get a salad for dinner!
Cornbread is my fav-or-ite! I love the sweeter ones. TJ’s has a mix that I actually lick the bowl when making!
That salad looks awesome! I love Charlottsville..it’s so pretty. My cousins work at South Street Brewery.
That’s where Matt was heading (he and the magazine sales guy have beer meetings – go figure) to try the new Espresso Porter but he didn’t remember it’s closed mid-afternoon!
HAHA!!! That’s so weird! Bummer they were closed! They are lucky to have beer meetings. My cousins are twin bartenders- Katie and Jenny. That place is amazing!!
Your downtown is beautiful, regardless of the weather. Pumpkin loaf = adorable. So glad you had a good lunch date!
YUMMY!! Those meals look awesome!
I almost went there for lunch today but packed a giant salad topped with a no bull burger so had to resist the temptation. I did venture outside for a quick walk to the downtown post office and got back to the office soaking wet
no bull burgers…best ever!
Agreed!! Would have been fun to run into you Kelly!
Mmmmm lunch looks perfect! And how much, and impromptu lunch date
Yum! Sounds like a great place! The salad looks delish
Aw what a nice way to break up the day
Both the pumpkin loaf and cornbread look AMAZING.
what a perfect lunch spot!
Fun way to break up the week! We’ve been all rain and gloom here also lately, hoping it breaks up soon. I need some vit D in my system.
It’s nice to have a little lunch date in the middle of the day! Too bad it was raining. It’s terribly late today here in NJ.
The cornbread does look like cake! I bet I’d love it.
And that’s great that you two make time for dates. I haven’t been on a date (alone no kiddo) with my husband since maybe when i was pregnant? like 5+ yrs ago! Whoops
It’s all good though.
Mmmmm delicious food here! I can’t believe they give you mini pumpkin loaves!! That’s really smart of them to do that.
Dates = my heaven on earth. In salads. Stuffed with almond butter. Stuffed with chorizo and wrapped in bacon. Plain. I could go on and on…so delish!
Yum– what an interesting combo of flavors!! Sounds great!
I so wish we lived in an area where walking to work/shopping/downtown etc was feasible but it just isn’t so for us.
Your salad looks awesome and that cornbread is making my mouth water. Have a great Wednesday!
I’m in Ohio and the rain stopped yesterday and turned into snow flakes! I’ll take light snow over rain anyday…but I’ll take 60′s and 70′a over that! haha. Lunch looks delicious…like a healthy cracker barrel. Have a great evening
Wow.. looks beeaautiful
champagne dressing sounds interesting!? And I looove dates in salads – yum!
I am on the search for the perfect corn bread. Meghann and Anne said Bobbie Flay’s restaurant in Vegas had the most epic blue corn bread. I need it.
That’s a really great picture of the two of you! And that lunch looks delicious.
I wish I had more pumpkin-y things in my life. I only had pumpkin pie at thanksgiving and that was almost two months ago (I’m Canadian).
That pumpkin loaf is the cutest little cute ever!!!! I’m now going to search for a pan that makes those…
That pumpkin loaf and cornbread is enough to make me want to move.
The cornbread looks amazing–I wish I could have a piece of it right now!!!
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Just wanted to let you know that I am a new reader of your blog, and I think it’s really great!
I just moved to Charlottesville a few months ago, and have yet to make it to Eppie’s. It’s on my list of places to go. The food looks fantastic!
Welcome Julie! If you’d like, we should be friends
I’d love that! Still working on the whole ‘new network of friends’ thing in Cville!
That’s such a nice picture of you guys.
That lunch really is full of comfort foods. Cornbread with actual corn pieces in it is the best!
Only in the south is mac and cheese considered a veggie. I think that is so funny for some reason.
I love when I can order a salad in a restaurant and it looks as healthy and delicious as something I would put together at home!
Or wait. Maybe I love to put together salads at home that look like those you would get in an amazing restaurant!
I envy your date. You guys are so cute!
I totally thought that was some kind of bug on your corn
I love how healthy you and Matt eat. And I really love being able to comment on blogs right through Reader – thanks for the tip!
His meal looks fab! I love greens like that!!
yummmm, dates are the bees knees
I want Matt’s lunch!! Everything looks so delicious..and fresh !
The chicken on that salad looks delicious! Is it roasted chicken?
Yup
Yum! That reminds me of the cafeteria at Whole Foods
I am SO excited to try this salad. I live in Denver and am in C’ville only temporarily for work and this salad looks exactly like one from a great restaurant in Denver. I can’t wait to try it!
I should add that I’m in C’ville until Jan12th and am loving your website for ideas of things to do and places to eat! Thank you!
Thanks for the nice post, Kath. Glad to see you’re such a fan. I hope we cross paths soon.
For the record, Great Harvest’s Sunflower Whole Wheat is definitely one of my favorite breads. I love it with both sweet (honey, jam) and savory (hummus, peanut butter) toppings.
Hey Dan, thanks for stopping by! I’ve already got a lunch date to come back in 2 weeks – getting the veg plate then!
Yummy; what a fun meal! You look so pretty in that purple/blue coat. Love it!
It’s so cute that you and your younger brother are so close!
You guys look so much alike, how cute! I’m also loving this blog, Kath! And I can’t wait to try some of your recipes.
Do you mean my husband!?