Back to my roots in Hillsborough aka Hills Bura or The O. C.
Upon arrival, mom and I had to move fast to make our lunch reservation downtown
Luckily it’s just a 5 minute walk to the Saratoga Grill aka "The Toeg"
This is perhaps the best ladies lunch spot in all the world. The atmosphere is charming, the food is exquisite and the prices are very reasonable. And the staff – always nice!
The best part is the scones…crumbly cookie biscuits. Yum!
My favorite item on the menu – lunch or dinner – is the broiled seafood platter
One each of salmon, stuffed shrimp and scallops. I love to tastes multiple tastes!
Plus the strawberry salad dressing is to-live-for good
And it comes with yet another SCONE! I had 1.5 of these babies and if I weren’t so full I’dve had more!
Mom and I struck up a conversation with Colleen, the owner, and she asked if I would mind photographing the special salad – seared scallops with spice pecans, feta cheese, strawberries, roasted tomatoes and a herby dressing with parmesan points on the side – while i was there
I was honored to!
And extra excited when she said mom and I could share it to taste. It was awesome!! Loved the smoky tomatoes and sweet pecans
[And it’s why I was too full for scones!]
Back at the house, I uncovered this catalog on the kitchen table
Biscoff has a whole catalog!?! Imagine getting this tin of cookies on Xmas morning
In other news, Lillian the wonder cat has been sick with a kidney infection 🙁
She has been getting the special treatment over here
Here she is getting her medicine
Mom, Dad and I went on a walk this afternoon to see some sights, including the new Depot restaurant
Dad got a Cheerwine slushie that we all shared. I haven’t had Cheerwine in years – maybe 10 of them!?
Kissing Lillis goodbye while her family goes out to celebrate Dad’s birthday!
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
The strawberry dressing and scones look great together with that gorgeous salad.
What does you mom think of you photographing your plates et. al, all the time? My husband gets a kick out of it and tells our friends, “you never know when you are going to be on the internet.” 😉
Hope Lillian gets well quick. Not easy having a sick kitty.
KathEats says
She doesn’t mind!
Johanna B says
I will say a kitty prayer in honor of Lillis. May be she be all well soonest.
Hillary says
Those shrimp look outrageous. Shrimp and scones? Yes, please.
[email protected] Broken Cookies Don't Count says
Scones are the best! I haven’t made them in months, now I want some!
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
there is nothing better than GOOD seafood and nothing worse than BAD seafood!
glad you enjoyed your name with mama KERF 🙂
Angel7 says
The scallops look phenomenal!
What is Cheerwine?
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Logan says
Cherry flavored soda, definitely born in the South.
Angelea says
Love, love, love the picture of your folks and kitty on the couch. Your Mom has such a happy glow!
Lauren says
Those scones sound great-and that special salad too. Scallops are yummy on salads. I think it is so cool that you were asked to photograph it by the owner! I hope you know how wonderful your photography is because it is! PS: In case you were wondering, I was the person who friend requested you on FB yesterday! 🙂
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Pictures for free food? sounds like a good tradeoff to me!
Julia says
Is Saratoga Grill above the antique shop? They have the coolest jewelry there!! I go to Duke but I love visiting Hillsboro-especially in the spring when they have their arts and crafts festival =)
KathEats says
Yep!!
Caitlin says
That food looks AWESOME. I love tasting platters too b/c I can never decide! Those scones as well as the little toasts with the salad look crunchy and blissful. And now I’m dying to try scallops with strawbs…
Cait's Plate says
That biscuit/scone looks INCREDIBLE!
I literally just learned what Cheerwine was over the summer. Haha. I had never even heard of it before!
Glad you got some family time! There’s nothing better 🙂
Julia H. @ The Petite Spiel says
Get well soon, Lillian!
Those scones look mmm mmm good. I could have had those alone and been happy! (Well, maybe not..that seafood sounds great, too!) Scones always make me think of St. Patrick’s Day, actually. I hardly ever have them, but growing up, my mom always baked scones and Irish soda bread on St. Patrick’s Day. It was a holiday treat!
Amanda says
Awww, I hope Lillian feels better soon.
I’m a big fan of strawberries in salads. It reminds me of summer! 🙂
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
Ahhhh! So pretty and homey 🙂 I would die for some seared scallops right now. And goat cheese. I vote you come up to upstate ny and visit mmmmkay
lynn @ the actor's diet says
ha ha the biscoff catalog looks like a good one to read while soaking in the tub!
erica says
poor lillian! hope she gets better soon! i’m sure she’s loving the extra lovin’!
Maria @ Sinfully Nutritious says
Strawberry dressing, okay, I am ready for summer again!
Looks like you are having a lovely time. I hope you kitty gets better.
Molly @ RDexposed says
I apoligize in advance…
I started snickering as I pictured Lillian on dialysis. Hope the infection goes away to avoid diaylsis, but should this cat be on dialysis, I need a picture!!
(People, I know cats don’t do dialysis.)
Mom says
Let’s hope not! The last vet bill was high enough! But you’re right, she would be cute!
Marie says
Sorry…this just seems a little rude/insensitive….
Molly @ RDexposed says
It would be if I had been serious about it.
Morgan says
I’m so curious what cheerwine is. I feel like I’ve heard of it before but have no idea of what exactly it is. I feel like it’s a Southern thing?
SkinnyRunner says
you’re a professional photographer getting jobs on the side!
and cheerwine?! never heard of that.
Rosa - Fitness, Food, Fulfilled says
I love seafood platters! Those scallops looks so good and is shrimp wrapped in phyllo dough? Either eay, it looks delicious!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
That looks so yummy!!! And now I really want a scone…there may have to be some baking in my future. 😉
Emily says
Can you believe I’ve never had a scone? Crazy, I know. I must get to baking some soon! Scallops are my favorite seafood, I’ll have to have some soon! Have fun celebrating!
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
That lunch looks delicious! And I LOVE cheerwine! I discovered it when I was in SC for college but I haven’t found it outside the south!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
Getting paid in food to take pictures? That’s sounds pretty good to me! 😀
Savannah @ Sweet and Savvy says
I’m not a seafood fan.. but your mom’s salad looks DELICIOUS! Glad you had a good day back home! 🙂
Susan H. @ the food allergy chronicles says
I also have to add…what is Cheerwine? What a divine looking lunch! I love seafood, so your lunch made my mouth water…even after I just finished a supper of Norwegian Salmon! I love my scones with raisins and homemade strawberry jam…not so keen on the clotted cream most ‘tea houses’ serve with it. I know I am odd that way…not a whipped cream kinda girl. Hope Lillian recovers.
Josie says
I want to know what Cheerwine is too!
Logan says
It is a cherry flavored soda. Made in the South, for sure!
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
So cool that you were asked to photograph the salad. You’ve got mad skills girl :).
Looks like a great time!
Hope says
That’s awesome that she asked you to photograph the salad! It looks beautiful! Your lunch looks really good too. It sounds like you had a great time with your family! I hope kitty gets well soon! 🙂
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
Aw, poor Lillian. Hope she gets better soon!
jenna k says
i had never tried cheerwine, although we had it in grocery stores, until we got cookout at the beginning of the semester. it’s the first place to have in the soda fountain. i love cherry coke, so of course i adore it!
Kelsey says
Lillis Billis! Get well soon please! Pretty pretty pretty please! Happy belated birthday Dad Younger!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
When I moved to NC a decade ago I had no idea that things were pronounced, Hills Bura..or Car Bura. Rather than Hillsbourough or Carrboro. Shows you what I knew. So I cracked up at your opening line.
And the strawberry salad dressing AND the Biscoff catalog…oh boy, yes please!
Redhead in the Kitchen says
I adore the Depot! I love all the locally made crafts and goodies. Looking forward to my next visit!
Clare says
Lillian is gorgeous, hope she feels better soon! 🙂 And that seafood looks SO good.. and scones too? ahh yumm!
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes says
Yum! Those scones look amazing! I definetly would lovee those 🙂
Hilliary @ Happily Ever Healthy says
The food looks amazing! I would love the seafood platter!
Leslie says
I love the antique kitchen tools your mom has displayed on the wall of her kitchen. I collect green wooden handled kitchen tools and saw a few great ones in her collection.
Mom says
Thanks! Just a bit of this and that. A fun thing to collect as usually they aren’t too $$. Love the green handled tools. I’ve seen red and yellow, too. Fun you collect the green.
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
Much love and wellness to Lillis kitty!
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
OH wow–those salads/seafood platter look super delicious!
Mom says
Thank you for the good words about Lilly. She was one sick 17-year-old cat. She is purring now and sends best wishes to all of you.
Khushboo says
Alll that seafood looks so fresh, even better with the scone thrown in 😀
katie @KatieDid says
yay for photography jobs! Its always good to spread the word and talk about your passions you never know if an opportunity can come from it!
Candice says
I did my RD internship in Raleigh, NC, and LOVED cheerwine!!! And Sundrop 🙂 Miss those.
Laurie says
Sending get well wishes for Lilly!
KathEats says
Cheerwine is a Southern (North Carolina) thing and is kind of a hybrid between Dr. Pepper and Cherry Coke
Anne P says
Awww poor miss Lilly! She is the cutest. Must try this place for lunch/dinner next time I’m in Hillsborough!
Kathy says
One of my best friends is a waitress there and has been for years. She had always talked about how good their food is. I will have to let her know that you had the “Grill” on your blog! I will second that they do have excellent food and their clam chowder is out of this world!