Breakfast at Early Girl Eatery

We had a delicious breakfast at Early Girl Eatery. The farm-to-table establishment is laid back and sunny. The breakfast menu contains all of the traditional Southern favorites (and Benton's bacon!), but also features vegetarian and vegan fare.

Enjoy the pictorial.

Early Girl Eatery located in downtown Asheville

Early Girl supports a whole host of local producers

Wildflowers, salt, and raspberry jam

Traditional country breakfast

Breakfast scene at Early Girl

Since we arrived on a weekday and after 8 AM, we were easily able to snag a table. I've heard tales of lines on the weekends.

Slap Yo Mama Silly Chicken Biscuit at Saison Market

Saison Market serves up the definitive breakfast (and now also for lunch) biscuit.

Slap yo mama silly good!

Corned Beef Hash with Eggs, Grits, and Toast

Corned Beef Hash with Eggs Grits and Toast a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

Available everyday at Brook's Diner. They also have tasty Sausage Gravy Over Biscuits.

Biggest Breakfast in Town at McLean's

BBIT a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

Three eggs your way, choice of breakfast meat, choice of sides (I have to have the home fries!), choice of toast or biscuits, choice of juice, and grits if you want 'em. No wonder this place is packed!

City Diner

Last Sunday we got up before the sun came up over the James River to explore some of the more interesting parts of the Mayo Bridge area. Interesting jaunt, but cold. I promised hubby to take him wherever he wanted for breakfast.

As we cruised up Broad Street we passed City Diner and promptly made a u-turn. I appreciate a diner with the fire department sitting in one corner, the loner drinking coffee and reading the paper, families sitting down to  a hearty meal, and the waitstaff greeting the knowns and unknowns with a steaming pot of coffee. We enjoyed a couple of artery-clogging platters: Bertha G: 3 scrambled eggs with ground beef, onions, and garlic with home fries and toast; and Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs: the steak was smothered in sausage gravy, the eggs - over easy, with home fries and toast.

Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs at City Diner

Such down-home decadence.

Here are some pics from our early morning photo safari, too.

Turning Basin just before dawn

Good Morning Richmond

Southern States

Where I'm Coming From - Richmond Edition

Last Friday we and a few others celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary at Lemaire. A very memorable evening. Before Lemaire's renovation a birthday celebration had gone decidedly sour. On this night they were spot on. Chuck, our waiter extrodinaire, took care of our party of eight and made everyone feel special. Highlights included a wonderfully priced 2006 Grgich Hills Cabernet from Napa, Jumbo Scallops with White Beans and Ham Hock Broth, Ahi Tuna Martini, Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cakes, and Grilled Beef Tenderloin. Thank you, Lemaire!

Breakfast at The Black Sheep. The Bay and Barn Breakfast Sandwich. Scrambled eggs mixed with crabmeat, country ham, green onion, and Swiss cheese on griddled Texas toast. We had not eaten here in a coon's age. We need to get our asses back soon for more scrumptiousness.

Bay and Barn at The Black Sheep

Last week a girlfriend and I went to Tastebuds American Bistro. While walking between my house and sitting down to dinner I lost an earring. This week Tastebuds contacted us to say they had found my earring! And get this. I had not told them I had lost it. This particular piece of jewelry was special. Hubby had given me the earrings on my 21st birthday. To reunite the pair was particularly sweet. And what a great excuse to have dinner. We enjoyed a black bean encrusted chipotle cheese cake that was stunning! And paired extremely well with the Millsreef Merlot/Malbec. The only possible improvement, according to hubby, would be to throw some crab into the mix. He also enjoyed the Pan Roasted Salmon while I had the Duck Spring Rolls. We always have a good time here.

Black Bean and Chipotle Cheese Cake

Pan Roasted Salmon

Duck Spring Rolls

I have finally joined the Twitter universe (@pjpink101). Still trying to figure things out. I started following Arcadia and mid-week they were offering a free Braveheart Beef Carpaccio. Wow! Twitter was already paying off. We went, enjoyed the carpaccio and went on to dine on rockfish and roasted onion soup. Very lovely. And the wine list is impressive because of the pricing. They feature a $20 list and a $30 list (they have a few higher-priced reserve items, too). We ordered an Alexander Valley Cab from the $20 list. This price is just a buck higher than retail. All of you restaurants charging exorbitant prices, listen up! Why would I want to patronize you if Arcadia has great food and much more wine reasonable prices? Speaking with the owner, who visited each table to check on the meal, he said because of his wine prices, most tables order a bottle and he has a constant turnover of wine.

Purple Rice Crusted Rockfish with Spinach Absinthe Cream

Last night after visiting the opening of Simply Photography 8 at Art Works, we headed over to Aziza's on Main for wood-fired oven pizza. We always like the Pepperoni and Peppers Pizza. It reminds us of the pizza we had in Florence, Italy. Yum. We also ordered a White Pizza and replaced the fontina with mozzarella and topped it with prosciutto. So. So. Good.

White Pizza with Prosciutto

Breakfast at the Silver Diner

Surry Sausage, Potatoes, Eggs, Biscuit a photo by pjpink on Flickr.

The Silver Diner in Innsbrook has Surry sausage on the menu!

Daylight Donuts

Richmond BizSense posted a piece on Daylight Donuts a little over a week ago. This is a new doughnut franchise that just opened on Broad between Gaskins and Cox. Part of their mission is to train and employ persons with disabilities.

Last week I picked up some goodies on the way to work. They were delightful.

I was particularly partial to the cinnamon roll.

Frittata

Cracked eggs

Leftover roasted potatoes, Italian sausage discovered in the freezer, a shallot, grated Romano cheese, oregano, salt, pepper AND a fairly new non-stick Calphalon pan

Adds up to a frittata

Yum.

This was my first attempt at a frittata. While I frequently used a non-stick electric skillet, I did not have a non-stick pan for the stove. Until I tried the Calphalon Unison non-stick pan (slide version). So far, I am impressed. And today the pan went from stovetop to broiler and delivered up a scrumptious dish.

For my technique, I consulted Marcella Hazan and her Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking. She never fails me.

Post Thanksgiving Joys - Potato Cakes

Sometimes the best things in life are leftovers. We had potato cakes for breakfast along with scrambled turkey eggs.

Stir Crazy

There's a lot to be said for Stir Crazy, the Northside coffee spot - walking distance from my house, Rostov's coffee, featured artist (check out the quilts currently on display - truly amazing!), a lounge area in the back, meeting space, dinner now being served with a selection of wine and beer, etc., etc.

On the flip side the prices are high for morning fare. We went for breakfast this morning. A medium mocha, medium latte, a bacon and egg biscuit, and a sausage and egg biscuit - $15. And while we really liked the coffee, the biscuits were not wonderful (very dry, pre-made). We would have ordered bagel sandwiches, but they were almost $5 a piece if one wanted bacon or sausage. I did like the fact that we were served our coffee drinks in mugs since we were dining in.

I know that this is a favorite Northside spot for many residents. And I'm glad we have local businesses in the area. Unfortunately, it's tough to make this place a regular daytime habit. Maybe we should check out dinner one evening - the prices seem more in line with some of the wine bars in the area.

I did see on the website that Stir Crazy is having a contest to rename the place. Could this mean other changes are on the way??

Krispy Kreme and Herbs Galore

Before embarking to Maymont for Herbs Galore we breakfasted (or sugared up) at the sign of the double K. I love this place! Watching the doughy blobs converyer belt their way through proofing, rising, frying, and glazing continues to fascinate my wee brain. And then the hot fried goodness encased in way too sweet icing is killer (sadly, in more ways than one). My hubby also likes the apple-cinamon filled confections. Somehow given a choice between a hot or cold doughnut, I will choose the hot one every time. Yummy, yummy!

And then we picked up a few herbs at Maymont including a flight of thyme - orange blosson, lime, and lemon -

barbeque rosemary -

purple ruffled basil -

Valentino basil -

Recipe for an Early Spring Getaway

First, conjure up a sunny weekend with temperatures in the mid-60s. Next, head west on I64. Exit at Charlottesville. Go downtown and eat lunch at Tastings, a small wine shop, bar, and restaurant. Don’t let the appearance of the restaurant deter you. Even though the ~50 person area looks a bit like an out-dated seafood establish, the food is killer. Order a bottle of 2005 Chateau Ferrande Graves. Sip. Note the tart cherry in the front of the tongue. Luxuriate in the dark cherry as it hits the back of your throat. Remark upon how the wine changes as the meal progresses. Order cassoulet with duck confit and steak frites. Delight in how the meat on the leg falls off the bone with the slightest touch of the fork. Cry hurrah that the small white beans are actually cooked! Enjoy the char grilled tender beef and how it pairs so well with the Bordeaux. Peruse the wine shop after lunch. Drool over the extensive collection of Burgundies.

Bid farewell to Charlottesville and continue west to Staunton. Check into the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. Unpack. Amble through the tiny, but quaint downtown checking out possible early dinner spots along Beverly Street (the main thoroughfare). Select Emilio’s, a large multi-room Italian spot. Order a 2007 Borgo Thaulero Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, ricotta gnocchi with Bolognese sauce and Chicken Franchese with a side of pasta (all decent, but not extraordinary). Finish dinner and head over to the American Shakespeare Center and the Blackfriars Theatre to view The Comedy of Errors. Laugh your ass off (get thee to see this play! The troupe is fantastic!!). Retire to the hotel king-size bed and retire for the evening.

Wake up! Walk to The Beverly for breakfast. Order coffee and chocolate milk, corned beef hash, chipped beef on toast (homemade bread!), and home fried potatoes. Walk around town. Check out the dazzling sunlit buildings of Mary Baldwin College. Stroll around the myriad churches in the area. Be sure to notice the copper-roofed Episcopal Church. Adventure to the fringe of town and eat a bacon cheeseburger at Wright’s Dairy Rite. Don’t forget to order a soft serve milkshake or float or sundae. Return to town, roam around the old railroad station and enter Sunspots, a wonderful hand-blown glass establishment. Check out the glass blowing demonstration in the back. In the afternoon wander in and out of the shops on Beverly – an eclectic blend of old, hip, funky, cute, and handmade. Stop by the Irish Alley for a Guinness or a whiskey sour. Go back to the king-size bed and take a nap.

Get up and dress for dinner. Stroll over to The Staunton Grocery Store on Beverly and check in early with the hostess. Tell her that you want a drink at the blond wooded bar first to give her time to clear the prime dining room table for your dinner. At the bar have an engaging conversation with the bartender who came to this place from Atlanta on vacation and never left. Order specialty drinks, Dr. Gonzo (Wild Turkey, house-made cherry syrup, fresh-squeezed lime juice) and Pimm’s Cup (Pimm’s #1, ginger syrup, soda water). Examine the chalk board at the bar listing all of the locally sourced producers. Finish the most excellent drinks. Be seated at the table that looks directly into the stainless steel-laced kitchen (separated by a huge glass picture window). Strategize over the extensive wine list. Make a bold move and order two half bottles – 2001 Cafaro Merlot Napa (blackberry and dark fruit) and 2005 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (black cherry with a full mouth feel). Drool over the deceptively simple, ever-changing menu. Delight in the amuse bouche – duck confit wrapped in rhubarb accompanied by pea shoots. Select first courses – fettuccini + sapring garlic + arugula + Meyer lemon + chive oil + chili thread and Spiedini meatball trio – pork + lamb + beef + fresh herbs. Order main courses – NY Strip(the leanest I have ever had) + black trumpet mushrooms + wild ramps + creamed leeks + parmesan and Roasted Haddock + truffled risotto + Swiss chard + roasted turnips + sorrel + orange sauce. Finish with a trio of pastries, coffee, and Sambucca. While the professional and wonderful staff relieves you of your money, enjoy the sweet farewells – pine nut button cookies and triangles of bittersweet chocolate tart. Continue to sing dinner praises while strolling back to the hotel. Sweet dreams.

Awaken once again, grab lattes and mochas at Mug Shots on New Street and head back to Richmond having properly welcomed in Spring.