Saltbox

My sweet husband just celebrated his birthday. Upon recommendation, I took him to a restaurant called Saltbox, located in the swanky Palomar hotel in downtown San Diego. 

The food was all wonderful, very rich, and full of flavor. We ordered five or six things. I know... it seems like a little much. It's just that we get so excited whenever we try a new place. Saltbox has one of those menus where every item sounds unique and interesting.

I'm not going to make you look at all of my pictures, although I should. Here's a little highlight from that glorious meal.

What you're seeing here is a little fry basket of smoky and warm chicharones. That's right, fried pork skins. A little saucer of spicy aioli to dip those crispy little treats rounded out the dish.

If you tilt your head a little to the left, you'll be able to make this dish out. Sorry, I thought I was being so creative when I was photographing our food. Anyway, this is a short rib grilled cheese. It was crunchy, salty, warm, melty and heavenly. The homemade pickles were the perfect accompaniment. 

Bone marrow my friends! This is my new favorite food. As one of my foodie friends describes it, meat butter. My husband likes to say that it tastes like the most delicious steak drippings. That's all true. If you are a carnivore, you must try this. Seriously. You scrape your toast through the bone and drag up all the well seasoned marrow goodness. Perfection people!

Now go check out Saltbox's menu. I'm thinking I'm going to return for brunch in the near future and I'll definitely be back to enjoy a drink in the fab bar downstairs. Enjoy!

Reese's S'mores Rice Krispies Treats.

For the past month, I've been prepping for a very special baby shower. My dear friend Sarah is expecting her first child and I couldn't be more excited. My plan was to be in charge of the dessert table, oh the possibilities.

I was going to make a sheet cake, cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, daisy sugar cookies, and snickerdoodles. I got all of those done and out of the way. I was so so happy to be finished and ready to get on with the party. Then I speak with Sarah and she tells me that she's been craving Reese's peanut butter cup s'mores. That conversation got me thinking that I needed to make one more thing for the dessert table to satisfy the mama to be's cravings.

And here it is folks! Reese's S'mores Rice Krispies Treats. Super easy and incredibly delicious.

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 1 10 ounce bag of marshmallows
• 6 cups of Kellogg's Rice Krispy cereal (generic store brands will not work)
• 20 peanut butter cups
• 1 cup of Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Bits
• 5 full graham crackers 

Directions

• Unwrap the peanut butter cups, chop them, and set aside.
• Grease your 9x13 pan. I use the stick of butter like a chapstick.
• Melt the butter over low heat in a non stick pot. I use a stock pot.
• Add the marshmallows to the butter and stir until completely melted.
• Turn off the heat and incorporate the cereal in. 
• Crumble up the graham crackers and add them.
• Add the marshmallow bits and peanut butter cups quickly or they'll melt too much. 
• Press into your pan and let set up in the fridge for a couple of hours. I make this the day before so it's nice and firm for cutting and plating.
• If you'd like, you can add a couple more PB cups and marshmallow bits to the top of the treats. It'll look pretty that way. 

Enjoy!!

Dessert table brought to you by The Good Life.

My sister in law took these photos at the shower and made this collage. Pretty, right?

I'm on the left and that's my Sarah on the right, all beautifully pregnant.

Sunday Brunch at Gingham in La Mesa

My lovely husband asked me to make brunch reservations and I knew exactly where I wanted to go. Gingham in La Mesa. It's another one of Brian Malarkey and Enlightened Hospitality Group restaurants and I am kinda in love with their vision for dining. The food and drinks are always innovative and delicious and the spaces are always trendy and hip. Gingham is no exception.

Scroll through to see what we ordered and you can see for yourself how yummy everything looked. You must go there for your next Sunday brunch. They also have a bottomless mimosa on the menu. Tempted now? I know my sister in law is.  LOL!

In addition to a fab service on Sundays, Gingham has specials all throughout the week. We plan on trying out the Tuesday Date Night. Four courses to share for $45 and 1/2 select bottles of wine. Not too bad. 

Good morning to me!

How cute is he? He really liked that mason jar.

Hello appetizer. I don't normally order an appetizer at brunch but this apple and pecan sticky bun called to me.

This was heaven and I'll be ordering it again and again. It's a bacon and cheddar waffle with rosemary syrup. The fried chicken is optional, but is it really?? C'mon.

Wherever we eat, my husband always ordered eggs Benedict. In fact, he'll tell you that the quality of the entire restaurant can be judged on this one menu item. Not even joking. He loved this! It's their pulled pork benny. Yum.

Here's my little one enjoying his Kid's Brunch, scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, and potatoes.