Afternoon adventures!! I met up with my mother’s group after a very long hiatus. So fun to see all the babies getting so big, new faces and to be there with a large bump out front! I enjoyed a mint tea, followed by a small Carpe Donut at the bakery, followed by some reading up on breastfeeding before dinner.
Plus this yogurt + Hungry Bar snack!
Our dinner adventures tonight took us a stone’s throw outside of town to the most beautiful bucolic setting. I am always amazed at how quickly we go from city to countryside here.
New friends, blog readers and fellow local business owners Kara and Andrew invited us over for dinner. They are the team behind Mellow Mushroom Cville, which we have YET to go to here but have loved in other cities, and Boylan Heights, one of our top burger bars! [And they serve organic local beef – 10 fingers up!] Given that we are both running food businesses and they have two cute kids, we had lots to talk about : )
Kara and Andrew own on a stunning plot of land on which they built a cottage that they rent out by the night. Let me know if you are looking for a special place to stay in Cville!
In love with this textured metal sink!
We started the evening with mocktails – pom juice and seltzer with a fun straw –
And then enjoyed a lovely dinner on their porch. So lucky the weather was perfect!
Latin-inspired flank steak soft tacos and all the fixins’
Peppers, steak, guac, black bean + corn salsa, cheese and more. Yellow rice on the side –
Los chips!
We ended the evening with a doubles game of ping pong and slices of Kara’s Key Lime Pie!
This pie was amazing – and the crust!! Oh my gosh, the crust was the best pie crust ever. It was a sticky toffee health bar crunch! Kara reported that this was the Southern Living Magazine recipe, although I’m not quite sure which one – likely this one given the crust recipe. I had a second sliver it was that good : )
AC is still off – wish this weather would stay forever!
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m pretty sure my brain shorted out at the thought of toffee crust on a key lime pie! My two favorite things as one! All it needs is a little Biscoff whipped cream
Biscoff whipped cream?! Can you share your method?!!
Sure! http://eatingchalk.com/eats/desserts/biscoff-banoffee-pie/
I wish this weather would stay forever too – I’m in HEAVEN!
I had a slice of key lime pie for the first time earlier this year and it was so wonderful. I want to make some myself sometime. Love the combo of sweet and tart. Those tacos look out of this world too!
May the awesome weather continue!!
Both the tacos and the pie looks absolutely delicious!!
Wow! Looks wonderful!
Would love to get a possible contact for a future getaway at the cabin! Have wanted to visit Charlottesville for awhile now!
Kelly, we would love to have you!
Here is the website for the cottage
http://www.vrbo.com/315794
The weather in PA has been incredible as well, I could definitely handle it all year around! With a little snow in the winter just once or twice haha. LOVE the cottage, sounds like a great vacation idea for the hubby and I for an anniversary getaway someday when the kids are older (like next year!! haha)
Your hosts sounds fantastic! Dinner and dessert looks absolutely delicious. Great natural lighting in the taco pics!
Omg. I would rent that place PERMANENTLY. Love the loft!
omg your dinner looks so good! as does the cottage — very quaint.
Looks like you must have bought an e-reader/tablet
YES – Samsung Galaxy Tab (7″ smaller one) and I LOOOOVE it!!
Cool! I have the Nook tablet & couldn’t live without it
key lime pie with homemade crust is like no other — soo good!
and those beams/ceiling in that cottage and that sink! Oh gorgeous!
Can’t wait to see your baby on the blog. Everytime I see pics of babies in your Blog I see how will be soon! Sooo cute!
That lime pie looks tdf!
I’ve always disliked how people try to boss you around in comments- like when people gave you grief about using straws, so you bought a metal one. Well, now I am here doing the same thing, but it’s regarding humans and civil rights. Before I could read read this post, I noticed your sponsor- Cub Scouts. You’re making money off of this organization?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/18/us/boy-scouts-reaffirm-ban-on-gay-members.html
Now c’mon Anne! I don’t hand pick the ads, nor did I know about their stance. But I can look into this.
I’m so sorry for assuming. I don’t know these things about the big-time blogging world! I just got that impression from super cute blogs like Cakies where she introduces sponsors like this: http://mycakies.com/2012/08/sponsor-welcome-68/
I’m sorry too – didn’t mean to be rude. I have an ad network that goes the negotiating and placements on my behalf, so I never know what’s going up until it’s there.
I love places with lofts! I have no use. but I would find something to do with it. I’m thinking it would involve the biggest fort ever.
the pie looks delicious! my coworker made the best crust I’ve ever tasted on her apple pie. this thing would be delicious all by itself. I can only imagine with key lime pie…
Ahh I saw a copper sink like that on a show on HGTV. I forget which one but I’m totally in love with it!
ac OFF?!?!! Being that it is 114 degrees here in Scottsdale, AZ, this is SO hard for me to imagine. Oh, how I miss that weather. I’m from Chicago and Fall is my favorite time of year. Their backyard resembles Fall!
Ah that cottage, that sink is awesome, isn’t it!?
Also those tacos look absolutely to die for!! Honestly, you guys eat the BEST food!! Really inspires me to up my game in the kitchen! 
Kaci & I are still waiting for an opening at South Street Inn. If a room does not become available for our trip, then perhaps this place would be nice! Do you know how much they charge per night? Also, how far is it from downtown? It looks like y’all had a wonderful evening!
Here’s the link!
http://www.vrbo.com/315794
Love Mellow Mushroom pizza! With its perfectly thick, cheese-dusted crust, it’s one of my favorites. I think that pie could become a favorite as well….
wow, that looks like an amazing meal! cute cottage. i’ll have to make a reservation!
That place looks amazing! Love the dark wood beams and that sink!
Sounds like a great night
I neeed that crust!
We loved hanging out with you guys last night!! Thanks so much for the bringing the bread and Matt’s delicious beer! We are all chowing down on the honey whole wheat right now!
Have a great day!
We look forward to a rematch in ping-pong one day
Thanks so much for hosting us!! (And thanks for the link to the cottage – I’ll put it on my Cville page!)
Haha – we need to practice a bit more on the ping pong!!
Wow, that steak looks amazing. I never cook steak at home because I always seems to butcher it and it’s charred on the outside. Looks good. Maybe I’ll try flank steak next time. And that pie, wow. Looks decadent.
YUM! That soft taco looks delicious & so healthy!
What a gorgeous house! I’d love to live out in the country
What a beautiful house! And those tacos look amazing.
We’ve recently discovered the Mellow Mushroom locations (we’ve been to two, but I think there are 3) here in Az and LOVE it! It’s become a fave with us and our kiddos!
You must eat Mellow soon. My hubby is a Georgia Tech grad, and the founders of Mellow were GA Tech students, so it is almost like religion among tech grads (well…that and the Varsity). Kosmic Karma pizza + a pitcher of Yuengling = Good times and great food!
In our college days we relied on Mellow Mushroom pizza to clear up many a hang over.
Curiously, despite your mouthwatering description & photos of food, landscape, and cottage, I was most attracted to that pitcher on the table. A work of art! I’d love to have one just like it.
It’s TAG brand – was an OpenSky sale. Found it here! http://www.amazon.com/Tag-Whiteware-Porcelain-Ceramic-Pitcher/dp/B002DR4COI
Thanks!
I love the textured metal sink!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
LOVE Mellow Mushroom!!!