Karen "Buon Anno a Tutti" G.'s Profile
Date
1 Previous Review:
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11/13/2008 First to Review
I love Kate Spade and visit the stores whenever I have the chance. I love the bags, accessories and shoes. I was so excited when I heard that a Kate Spade store was opening in Walnut Creek. Now I have another excuse to make a trip to the Broadway Plaza to get my shopping on. ;)
I was very excited to find a Giants Dugout Store in the East Bay. I actually came upon it by chance, but as soon as I saw all of the Giants themed merchandise inside, I immediately entered the store. The store is quite large with tons of clothing for men, women, children and infants. They even have Giants gear for your pooch! Collars, leashes and jerseys for your four-legged friends to support their favorite team.
I experienced sensory overload as there were so many cute tops and sweatshirts for ladies. Retro, modern and player-specific items make it difficult to select just one item. So you may just have to splurge and pick up a few garments to make sure that you look super cute whilst cheering on the boys of summer.
If you are a Giants fan looking for a way to represent your team, sporting some orange and black is the perfect way to show you are a fan. Fact.
Disclaimer: generally females will wear ensembles to look super cute, so this statement was actually directed towards female fans. Of course if a gentleman wants to outfit himself in an ensemble with the aim of looking super cute, I am not one to discriminate and fully support anyone dressing with this goal in mind.
Prior to the ceremony, we had the opportunity for a little wine tasting, which I certainly could not pass up. Each wine I sampled was very tasty, but two stood out for me. The Naughty Bawdy and the Almond Sparkling wines were so good. The Almond Sparkling wine was one of my favorite sparkling wines I have ever tasted. It reminded me of the now closed French Hill Winery's Almond Sparkling Wine which I LOVED. It was so good. I'm so happy that Karmere has an Almond Sparkling Wine that is just as tasty. I was so pleased to receive another bottle of it for Christmas. It is the perfect sparkling wine for brunch, a festive event or just because you feel like having some bubbly. ;)
My second favorite, the Naughty Bawdy is bottled in a little jug, which is not what you expect when you see a bottle of wine. It reminded me of something you would have found during prohibition. Actually, there is an interesting story about the winery's property which dates back to the time of prohibition. If you get a chance to visit Karmere, be sure to ask one of the pourers to tell the story.
If you are ever in the Shenandoah Valley for wine tasting, be sure to visit Karmere. Don't forget to try the Naughty Bawdy and the Almond Sparkling wines. Hopefully you will love them as much as I do. :)
Angels Camp, CA 95222
(888) 578-7833
The Chocolate Lady
Category:
Chocolatiers and Shops
As you enter the doors, the intoxicating fragrance of chocolate greets you. All of the treats are made at the flagship shop in Sutter Creek. Chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate creams, and seasonal favorites such as peppermint bark are so tempting. Many other tasty treats are available for your sweet tooth. There are plans to start pairing local wines with the chocolate treats in the near future. Now that is something I am definitely looking forward to. Fact. :)
Round Table Pizza is my favorite chain pizza restaurant. I love their pizza. While I love having my pizza delivered, I do enjoy dining in the restaurant. There is nothing like a nice and hot cheesy pizza. I also like their lunch buffet where you can get all you can eat salad and pizza. If you have a sweet tooth like I do, then you will love the dessert pizza, which tastes best when it is fresh out of the oven. Cinnamon and sugar and a glaze on top of pizza dough, cut into strips. So yummy. I'm so happy that Round Table has found a new home in Angels Camp!
With a buffet, it is imperative you get the food HOT. Otherwise it is just wrong. Cold eggs and bacon make me grumpy. So, the key to any breakfast buffet is to keep an eye on the food delivers and pounce when they deliver fresh aka hot food. That is how I do buffets and it makes such a difference.
I can't end this review without mentioning the mimosas. I mean, what brunch is complete without a mimosa, right? The sparkling wine is complimentary and essentially never-ending. If you want to add a little vitamin C to your bubbles, then you purchase a carafe of orange juice for a very reasonable price. You can then have mimosas to your heart's delight! Love.
Listed in: Yummy Eats in Modesto
3 Previous Reviews:
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4/10/2011
When Surla's ended their Sunday brunch last year I was seriously saddened. They had some of the BEST French Toast I've ever had.
Fast forward to April 3rd and Sunday brunch has returned, this time buffet style. I must admit I was a little hesitant to partake in the buffet. I'm generally not a breakfast/brunch buffet fan. Too often the eggs are liquidy, the pancakes are cold and the food is just way too salty.
My apprehension was laid to rest after my first bite of Surla's crepes. Oh my. The rest of the selections I chose were equally delicious. Potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes. Loved them all. Of course brunch would not be complete without mimosas. Never-ending Sparkling wine is included free of charge with your meal. If you prefer a little orange juice with your bubbly, you can purchase a huge carafe of orange juice to add to your sparkling wine. Perfection! -
3/15/2010
Surla's brunch = scrumptious
As promised, I am updating my review to include my Sunday Brunch at Surla's. Service was super quick, but not rushed for brunch. I must say that dinner service was slower, but I'm pretty sure that is because of what we ordered.
We were seated immediately upon arrival and given our choice of tables. I ordered a mimosa to start (only $2.00!) which was really good. The menu featured several items from the lunch and dinner menus as well as a few brunch specific choices. I was tempted to order the artichoke frittata, but in the end I selected the French Toast.
It was absolutely one of the best French Toasts I've ever had. Seriously. Brioche bread instead of icky Texas Toast (dislike) is a must. It was served with country potatoes which were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside with the perfect amount of seasoning. A little dish of fresh melon with chopped mint was really refreshing and a perfect palate cleanser.
The manager even stopped by our table to chat. He was very personable and friendly, and wanted to make sure we enjoyed our meal.
Brunch at Surla's is a new must for moi...as long as I can have my French Toast and mimosa! ;) -
3/12/2010
I love dining at new restaurants. I always hope to find a new favorite. On good recommendation, Surla's found it's way on my list of places to try.
The restaurant is located in the building previously occupied by Hazel's Elegant Dining, which I unfortunately never had the opportunity to try. It is located kind of out of the way of the main downtown area, but not terribly far.
As I entered the restaurant I immediately noticed the red lighted bar. Definitely a swanky touch. We were seated immediately. The bus boy brought bread drizzled with rosemary flavored olive oil and ice water upon our seating. I asked for a cocktail menu. After a rough day at work, a cocktail was definitely in order. I selected the Strawberry Fields Forever. So good! Fresh strawberries, basil, vodka, lemon & orange juices and something else I can't recall. It was one of the best cocktails I've ever had. Seriously.
The restaurant is described as a fusion of many different cuisines. The menu is not large but there is a good selection of items. I selected the angel hair pomodoro with shrimp. I must say it was quite tasty and enjoyable.
Even though I didn't eat all of my entree (leftovers for lunch) we decided to share a dessert. I couldn't decide between the housemade Tiramisu or strawberry crisp. I asked the server his advice and he said that he liked both of them, but the strawberry crisp was really good. Sold. The crisp was scrumptious. It was served in a little bowl with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I loved how the ice cream melted just a little over the warm strawberry crisp.
All in all, I quite enjoyed my meal at Surla's. I would definitely return for dinner and would like to try the Sunday brunch. Brioche French Toast and $2.00 Mimosas here I come! ;)
As a lover of Whole Foods, I definitely had to check it out. I mean, I know I'm not the only central valley resident who is hoping a Whole Foods will open in our area.
Impressions: The company has spent a lot of time and money on the remodel. The store was absolutely packed. The store had a large variety of organic produce and gluten free items. There is a deli section where you can order a sandwich, but it is rather tiny. I can't comment on the quality or taste of the sandwiches as I haven't tried one yet. I had heard they had an olive bar and a bakery. They do have both, but they are quite little. I was impressed with the price of the Silk Soy Milk. At other stores in the area, it is sold for around $4.00. It was available for much less at Sunflower. They also had a great selection of Amy's items, which is a brand I enjoy. Plus, the prices were good.
Verdict: Whole Foods this is not. I will say that the prices were reasonable and they do have a large selection of organic produce. They also have a large selection of gluten free and vegetarian options which is very nice if that is what you are looking for.
I do have to give the company props for taking a chance on opening a new location in Modesto during the tough economic times. I feel the opening will be a boost to all the businesses in the Village.
While I had previously never visited a Hobby Lobby, I had often heard positive reviews about the merchandise and selection. The store is well organized into sections depending on your needs and interests. Items for scrapbooking, needlepoint and sewing were available. My favorite section was the seasonal/holiday decor area. So many cute Halloween and fall decorations! I appreciated the fact that they had a little something for every decor style. Western, rustic and glam oh my!
Experiencing sensory overload is natural. I wish I would have more time to browse, but I was on a time constraint. Hopefully I'll have more time to take a peek at their wares soon!
That said, I'm always on the search for delicious salsa to enjoy in the comfort of my home. I just may have found such a salsa known as The Good Stuff Salsa. I had the pleasure of trying a sample of Adam Miller's salsa at a locally owned market in Modesto. It was really tasty and full of fresh tomatoes and other salsa-y ingredients. While I only sampled the fire roasted variety, according to the business card, other varieties are available. The company even accepts special salsa orders which would be perfect if one was having let's say a gathering of guests.
Now I just need to find the perfect tortilla chips to go with my new salsa find. :)
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Modesto, CA
Yelping SinceJuly 2008
Things I Lovemy family & friends, my pets, vacations, travel, Yoga, spa days, the color pink, pasta, pizza, cupcakes, sushi, handbags, reading, Pilates, massages, mani pedis, Maui, shopping, dining out, baking
Find Me Inspirational
My HometownArnold, CA
My Blog Or WebsiteYelp
When I'm Not Yelping...I am shopping, being pampered, dining out, reading or in yoga class. Om!
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI have excellent taste. Trust.
My Second Favorite WebsitePinterest...obsessed
The Last Great Book I ReadThe Help
My Favorite MovieThe Godfather (best movie ever), Disney cartoons, & Audrey Hepburn movies
My Last Meal On EarthPasta and cupcakes and bubbly, oh my!
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I have a serious addiction to handbags!
Most Recent DiscoveryHigh maintenance doesn't even begin to cover it. ;)
Current CrushMy new Kate Spade handbag
On my most recent visit I was on the hunt for a particular bag which is currently on sale and sold out on the kate spade website. I thought there might be a slim chance this store may have one left. Unfortunately they were completely sold out, but the sales associate was so sweet and offered to call other stores to see if they had any in stock. Bless her heart, she called every single store that the computer listed with this particular bag in stock. Alas, the computer was incorrect and none of the stores had the bag. :(
I will say that I was utterly impressed with service and perseverance the SA showed. She kept apologizing to me that it was taking so long even though it was not her fault. She was a doll to keep trying to find me the bag. Even though my bag was not located, I will definitely return to purchase my next bag given the stellar service I received. Only this time, hopefully the bag I covet is not sold out.