Lucky Charlotte!!! We have the most gorgeous fall day here (although it’s still quite hot out…).
After a pretty typical trip to the gym and back on bike (elliptical and lifting), we met some new friends for lunch: Amanda, who lives in Charlotte with her husband Justin, and Jaclyn, who is visiting Amanda from Manhattan. I had planned to wear rain boots today, but we were able to eat out on the patio at Brio and had a beautiful lunch.
Amanda, Me, Jaclyn in good blog photo lighting!
Some delicious crackers (parmesan, flax and rosemary!) plus some good sourdough–ish bread were delivered to the table. I. Love. Bread. I had one more cracker after this 😳
I was really impressed with Brio. The menu was awesome with lots of variety and my favorite, huge salads. I ordered the Grilled Salmon Salad with asparagus, tomatoes and feta. The balsamic dressing on the side was amazing!! I think it had maple in it. (I ate most of the salad and left some lettuce.)
The salmon was perfectly seasoned, but could have been more rare.
My salad came with crispy potatoes on top but I got them on the side to try them first. They were just OK (too oily). I had about 3 pinches.
I had 2 bites of the husband’s panini and really good crispy chips –
And a sip or 2 of his bloody mary. A really good one!
I thought I was through, so I had another small piece of bread for “dessert.” I love having a little bread at the end of a meal.
But then Jaclyn pulled out the most beautiful box of chocolates she brought all the way from NYC!!
Of course we had to try them
I had the classic ganache (and a bite of the PB and chili pepper ones that the husband ate.)
She also brought some dark chocolate almond bark – yum!! (I had a nibble of that as well.)
All in all, a fantastic lunch!! I really enjoyed meeting both ladies and I think the husband and Justin have plans to get together and home-brew some beer (Justin has spent the past year making his own!)
I’ve got to cram in some studying before we head up to the Greek Festival later on.
Teddy says
i need some of that chocolate!!
have a good weekend
Teddy
VeggieGirl says
Beautiful chocolates + great company = fabulous Saturday lunch outing! 🙂
Good luck studying; and have an AWESOME time at the Greek Festival!!! My family and I usually attend the one that occurs here, every summer.
KatieTX says
I love Brio!! They have great quality food! Last time I got the lasagna. Probably not the healthiest but really amazing. I have gotten the salmon salad and other healthier options too. Love it!
Also I read a portion of Skinny Bitch the other day and can’t decide if I liked it or not. I liked the general message of not eating crap but I just thought it was a bit extreme and vulgar at some points. I think you mentioned you read it. Curious to know your thoughts on it.
Laurel says
Looks like a fun meal! The chocolates looked especially good.
KatieTX, I also read Skinny Bitch. I liked the overall message too but that way of eating is too restrictive for me. At the end of the book the authors wrote that they’re really not bitches, etc. and used that type of language to get people’s attention.
Something I’ve noticed lately: when I drink something sweet (usually lemonade made from a powder mix and water) I get a strong craving for something sweet soon after. I get bored drinking plain water all the time (once in awhile squeezing lemon juice in is OK but not the sweetness I’m craving, and I don’t like carbonated beverages) so sometimes at dinner I’ll have some lemonade. I know from low carb, no sugar diets I’ve been on that the cravings for sugar and flour decrease dramatically (for me at least). Is there some way I can enjoy sugar in moderation without getting these cravings? Does anyone else experience this?
ModelBehavior says
Those chocolates are adorable!
Did anyone catch the 20/20 that was on last night about Orthorexia? It was extremely interesting and sad. It’s a form of anorexia where people eat WAY too healthy and eat only “pure foods”, it’s crazy how people can take a wonderful movement such as healthy eating and twist it into something deadly! Just wondered if anyone else watched it.
p.s. I completely agree about skinny bitch, it was over the top and not realistic!
Cyclist Kate says
Salmon on salad is my definitely one of my favorite meals! Chocolates don’t hurt either…
I’m not a fan of Skinny Bitch and I don’t quite understand why they’ve gotten so much attention. I’m all pro veganism and I think it’s great that they got the word out on animal farming practices, but so many other people have done that in a more thorough, less sensational way. I also don’t like their encouragement of processed foods (their cookbook is awful!). Much better are The China Study, Eat to Live, and Going Vegan. All more balanced, science-based books.
Biz319 says
What a fun way to spend a Saturday!
I am going to have to try salmon again, it looks so good when I see in your salads, but like ahi tuna, I can’t get over the thought that it looks like raw fish.
Christie I. says
Looks like you had a lovely lunch. Brio is one of the places on my to try list. And those chocolates looks great!
JD says
Modelbehavior,
I saw 20/20 last night… absolutely frightening. I had a giant overly processed, fatty grilled muenster cheese on WHITE bread while watching it and for once felt pretty good about it. Ha.
Maureen says
Oh my gosh, that chocolate looks amazing–I don’t know how you resisted eating all of it. It’s like a work of art!
Jenny says
that lunch looks fantastic! and those chocolates are adorable–NOT too pretty to eat though! 🙂
Amyswim says
Kath,
I’m in the ‘maintenance’ phase of weight loss but feel that I’ve gained a few pounds recently. I already eat mostly ‘whole, healthy’ food but I think that after-dinner ‘healthy food’ munching has made the pounds creep on.
I was thinking of trying the ‘fat smash’ diet to kind of jumpstart my efforts to get back to my happy weight, and was wondering what your opinion on it is?
Here’s the link to the list of ‘acceptable’ foods in each of its three phases:
http://diet.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Smash_Diet
*Blog readers, if you’ve heard of/tried this, I’d love to hear your thoughts too!
Thanks!
Amy
Jaclyn says
I had a great time at lunch this afternoon.
Glad you enjoyed the chocolates!
Bree says
Yum, on a recent trip home I went to Manhattan and dragged my fiance to that chocolate shop to bring a bunch home. They are my favorite and have some great flavors (I like the Earl Grey one especially!)
Amanda says
my first comment! 🙂
it was great hanging out with you and the husband today! such beautiful weather! hope the projects went well and you were able to get a lot done in a short bit of time…
Kath says
KatieTX ,
I have Skinny Bitch but I haven’t read more than a few chapters. I think I agree with you 100% that it’s got good intentions but the vulgarity is unnecessary. Caffeine is not going to kill you.
Amyswim ,
I don’t believe in diets, so I could tell after about 1 minute of reading the website that this diet is mostly just exaggeration. Yes, smashing bad habits is probably going to help you lose weight, but you don’t need to give up whole grains, lean protein and low-fat diary in order for your body to “clean itself.” The body is great at detoxing when it’s fed proper balances of nutrients, gets lots of water, exercise and sleep. Some people might want to follow this Smash because they don’t what healthy food is and the lists help define that, but there’s no need to do it in steps. It sounds like you know exactly what to do to get back on track: nix the late night snacking! I’d focus on eating superfoods and eating intuitively and you’ll start feeling better without any deprivation of food groups.
Jaclyn + Amanda,
Thank you guys so much for the nice lunch!! Hope you had fun at Discovery Place. Let me know where you went to dinner too!!
Kath
Kate says
Ooh, I love Brio. My friends and I went there for dinner before prom last year =] I ordered that same salad!
Kim says
I’m surprised to hear all of the Brio love… I went once and thought the food was really mediocre! Like a glorified Carrabba’s or Olive Garden 🙁 Maybe I’ll have to give them another chance.
What a beautiful box of chocolates!
lainb says
I’ve never even heard of Brio, but I’m happy to see there’s one coming to Raleigh so I can try it.
Erin says
I totally recognize the Jacques Torres label on that chocolate! He’s the best! 🙂