Brunch Diaries: Trafford

My sister was in town visiting this weekend, which was the perfect excuse for us to try a new place for brunch on Sunday. Trafford is a bright, cheery spot in the East Bay overlooking the water. I have been for dinner several times before, but this was the first time I tried their brunch. The wide open space paired with the sunshine pouring in (not to mention the mimosas) made for a great afternoon with my sister and M.

Menu displayed on a clipboard.

Ceiling lights + canoe.

Instagramming, of course!

Cup of sugar.

Iced coffee.

Brunch bubbles.

Lobster benedict special.

Traditional benedict.

I'm in love with their reclaimed wood tabletops. 

Wild blueberry hotcake.

Everything was so delicious and since they've just recently started serving brunch, we practically had the upstairs to ourselves! I definitely recommend checking Trafford out and I can't wait to come back and eat outside on the deck when it finally gets warmer. Where's your favorite place to enjoy brunch?

Adventures in Northern Michigan-Part Three

On the girls' last day in Michigan, we celebrated my youngest sister's birthday. It was hot and sunny, so she wanted to rent a jet ski to take out on the lake, which ended up being one of the highlights of the trip for everyone! It was great to be able to spend the majority of the day on the beach and zipping around the lake. We capped off the perfect evening with margaritas, fajitas, and live music alfresco at the only Mexican restaurant in town. 

Chips + salsa. Pretty much the best snack ever.

Guacamole + lots of bright colors.

Sangria/margarita hybrid: the sangria splash.

Sisters!

Michigan sunsets are unreal.

Snapped just after the sun dipped down over the horizon. People on the beach applauded!

Adventures in Northern Michigan-Part Two

I think one of the best parts of being in Michigan was the relaxed pace of just about everything. The hardest decision of the day was usually where to go out to dinner that night or what kind of ice cream to order for dessert. I had a lot of fun just being around my sisters; I forgot how much their crazy antics make me laugh. It was so nice to have long, drawn out dinners with lots of wine and storytelling. I think we were 'that table' on more than one occasion! 

Dining alfresco was such a treat with the cooler temps.

A glass of wine enjoyed on the porch with the fam at Coho Cafe.

I played manicurist to my sisters during our trip.

Seared scallops with mango salsa.

Mussels simply steamed in white wine, lemon, and tons of garlic.

Sesame seared tuna-one of my favorite meals!

A rainy day was spent shopping and checking out a local brewery in Traverse City.

Vintage cherry labels at the heritage museum.

A maze of galleries and shops housed in a former insane asylum in Traverse City.

Nautical wrapping paper.

Breathtaking views from Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Fruity sangria on sushi night at Fusion.

The cutest little post office that could've fit inside my living room.

Adventures in Northern Michigan-Part One

I spent the early part of August vacationing in northern Michigan with M, my two sisters, and my dad. It was such a relaxing ten days spent reading by the lake, trying local restaurants, cooking leisurely meals at the cottage, and playing board games into the wee hours. My family has vacationed in Michigan since I was a little girl, and there are certain things that I have to cross off the 'to do' list every year, such as eating an ice cream cone from the Cool Spot and watching the sunset at the town's light house. This year we tried a few new activities that will surely be added to the long list of annual traditions. 

Freshly made doughnuts from Crescent Bakery. We always fight over the nutty crescents!

One of my dad's fish sculptures on display at the antique shop.

Scuba diver swimming into a trumpet.

Old encyclopedias for sale at the shop.

Horned fish sculpture suspended from the ceiling.

Vintage tabletop at Trick Dog, a local gallery and coffee shop.

Enjoying a cup of coffee and an oatmeal treat overlooking the harbor.

This definitely summed up our trip!

Overlooking Lake Michigan.

The Garden theater in downtown Frankfort. I saw ET here when I was a kid!

Sparklers on the beach at dusk.

Afternoon treat of coffee/hazelnut and raspberry gelato.

Morning dew collected in a spider web outside of our cottage.

My sisters swinging on the swings and eating ice cream on a cloudy evening.

Around DC: Teak Wood

One of my favorite things to do when I visit DC is to check out new restaurants, bakeries, bars, and boutiques. I rely heavily on my sisters and Tiane to steer me in the right direction, and last Friday, my sister Austin did not disappoint. She took me to Teak Wood, a great sushi and Thai spot in Logan Circle that she frequents with coworkers. Sometimes I'm weary of restaurants that try to do too much (Chinese/sushi/Korean bbq), and usually prefer those that do one thing exceptionally well. Teak Wood manages to do the Thai/sushi fusion beautifully. The restaurant itself is colorful and detail-oriented, with almost antique-like buddhas all over. It has an upscale feel, but also retains its neighborhood charm. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch and of course the company. 

Thanks, Austin!

Menus presented in wooden booklets.

Laminated sushi menu with a wax pencil to place your order.

Monogrammed plates with elaborate script.

Vegetarian spring rolls with chili dipping sauce.

Shredded green papaya salad (one of my all-time favorite dishes).

Mexicano roll + tuna tempura roll + tuna nigiri.

Mexicano close up: yellowtail, jalapeno, avocado, cilantro, tobiko.

Chopsticks and soy sauce dishes.

The food presentation was so clean and pretty!

Restaurant entrance.