Today went by so fast because I was super excited for my 2nd blogger meet up. Not only was I excited to meet two new girls, I was psyched about returning to one of Sal's restaurants...for the 4th time in the past week. Yes, really. And the 9th visit in the past month. It's getting worse than my Chick-Fil-A obsession. But take back "worse" and replace it with "best" because it's the best obsession I've had in a while.
I love being a part of the blog world, making blog friends, and then meeting them in real life. Not everyone understands the love affair that I have with talking about food, taking pictures of it, and then putting it all together in my blog. But these girls do! Today's meet up included these lovely ladies:
Amelia (a pastry chef who needs a blog), Erica from Itzy's Kitchen, yours truly, Blair from Reasonably Swanky, and Lindsay from Pancakes N Pajamas.
When we first got to the Mustard Seed, Erica was like "I think they know you're here. They keep looking over here." Why on earth would they be doing that? Oh, maybe because ever since I discovered Dine with Sal has a facebook page, I've been blowing it up with my reviews and comments. And then I told them I was coming, haha. In the middle of our dinner my idol came over and said "You write the healthy blog? They just pulled it up for me to see." Blushing like a 16-year-old whose crush just appeared at her locker, I confirmed that yes, it was I, his friendly stalker. Then he says "You're Brandon's girlfriend?" to which I firmly replied, "EX girlfriend." Let's keep that straight mister. (Side note: B worked there for a hot minute before he started law school aka the death of our romance/birth of our best friendship heheh). Sal thanked me for my reviews and Erica snapped a photo as my face turned a hue similar to the cheeks of a Russian grandmother.
For dinner, I chose an entrée from their usual menu: Stir Fry Vegetables. I added chicken and chose rice noodles instead of brown rice. Thank you sweet server Hampton for dealing with my choosiness.
This dish had so many vegetables -- carrots, broccoli, red peppers, yellow peppers, black beans, asparagus, mushrooms, cabbage, and zucchini. There might even be more but I was too busy enjoying it to inspect my dish. The sauce was light and sweet. It was a very healthy and satisfying dish and I have plenty of leftovers for tomorrow's lunch. Nothing like spreading the Mustard Seed over onto my next day.
After we all finished eating, our server told us that Sal offered us a couple of desserts on the house. Yeah, I jumped on that and requested the Hummingbird Cake. We then suggested they surprise us with the second. Here's a typical blogger pic of us trying to get some natural light :)
Close up of the Hummingbird Cake:
And the Cherry Cheesecake:
Both desserts were delicious. Lindsay and I both agreed that even though we're not cheesecake chicks, this was really tasty. The Hummingbird Cake is now my favorite of their desserts. It is "a delicious spice cake with hints of banana and pineapple layered and covered with cream cheese frosting and walnuts." I don't know what bananas and pineapple have to do with hummingbirds but this was mmmmmmmmm. Does anyone know?
You bet your blog-reading behinds that I left this place feeling like a Mustard Seed celebrity. Next up on the list: Boulevard Diner! Who's coming?
After I got home, I went to the store with my roommate to get wine. Look at this ridiculous candy display! Is this normal?
I LOVE ALL OF UR DIFFERENT BUT LOVELY DESSERTS!
ReplyDeletethat candy display is crazy! ive got 5 cavities just looking at this post lol.
oOoo i love the overloaded veggies in that bowl!! that totally would be something id love!!
xoxo <3
aw looks like so much fun! I'm a big fan of those desserts ;)
ReplyDeleteAhh! How exciting that you now have a picture with celebrity Sal! My face would have done the same...except I turn BEET red. Literally.
ReplyDeleteUmm I so want to come to the next blogger meet up!! I'll be in DC at the end of July...Maybe I'll have to swing south to Charleston. ;-)
hahaha yayyyy for Sal! He totally rocks. I agree- that hummingbird cake was the jam. It wasn't too sweet (which I was expecting). Isn't the veggie stir fry awesome? I can't wait to go back and get their black bean cakes when my tummy is feeling better! Good times
ReplyDeleteI love our fabulous window photog skills....maybe we're on to new professions! Ha!
ReplyDeleteI am loving your new blog set up! Super cute babe! And I so wish I could hit up one of those restaurants, all of your pictures make me so jealous lol
ReplyDeleteSo much fun!!! If I were anywhere near there I'd totally hit that up with you!
ReplyDeleteLove the new blog layout- so cute!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm convinced... I've got to try The Mustard Seed when I visit next month!
Dude..That menu has levels...For some reason, the term "level" scares me to my very core. It sounds so institutional.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! I love blogger meet-ups! And look at all that dessert...I would have been all over it:)
ReplyDeleteI love the new blog look! And I am so intrigued by this Mustard Seed place that I am about to make the 12-hour drive to Charleston from Columbus just to eat there!
ReplyDeleteI used to make Hummingbird cake every Christmas for my boyfriends parents! Its called Hummingbird cake because you HUMMMMM when you take a bite (hummm because its soo good!)
ReplyDeleteI love Hummingbird cake!!! Yum!!! You have to call me when you go to some of these places. You know I love eating out boo!
ReplyDeleteIt was so nice to meet you last night! You really should start a "project" about Sal's restaurants. Not only would it give his restaurant group great publicity, but you may start to get all of your meals comped!
ReplyDeleteKeep me posted on your birthday cake!
So fun!!! All of you ladies are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYour meetup sounds wonderful! And I looove hummingbird cake. I make it on my own but I bet the restaurant version is a thousand times better. Oh and I love this: "Not everyone understands the love affair that I have with talking about food, taking pictures of it, and then putting it all together in my blog." So true! :)
ReplyDeleteMy son would love that candy display! Wow! What store was that?!!
ReplyDeleteI loved your dress you were wearing for dinner last night!!!
Glad you had a fun night with felow bloggers and those dessert look to die for! I would love the spice cake!
Have a great day beautiful!!!! xoxo
god you are freaking hilarious girl. "i think they know you're here..." that made me LOL, literally! i hear you though, when i love something/a restaurant, i rave about it non stop. what? we're just trying to spread the love right?
ReplyDeleteYES to free desserts!!
That is so cool that he came out to say hi. HI SAL! YOU ROCK.
ReplyDeleteThe stir fry looks amazing.
Your love of talking about food is like my love of talking about running. People don't seem to get it unless they do it, too! I'm glad I have an outlet for it in the blog world...
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome that you live so close to other bloggers so that you can meet up! It looks like you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteHaha I love that you're a Mustard Seed celeb now! It looks like it comes with its perks though - those desserts sound delish!
Hey! Thanks for the comment on my blog, and for the pistachio suggestion...I foresee a pint of that in my evening perhaps!! Love your blog too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great time! The stir fry looks amazing! I am with you on the hummingbird cake...YUM! I always thought the name came from the fact that it was sweet like humming bird nectar? I don't know if that is the case, but it sounds good anyway...
ReplyDeleteLooks like such a fun meet-up!! You look so pretty in that orange dress, it's a great color on you! The pictures by the window are too funny...the things we do to get our good shots :) Hope you're having a wonderful Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteThe pinneaple and bananas refer to the sugar water hummingbirds drink
ReplyDeletesounds super fun!
ReplyDeleteGlad I came out of my reader to see the new layout, I love it! Blogger meet ups are so much fun. Looks liks a fun time.
ReplyDeleteI'll be in Charleston mid-July for a bachelorette party (we're staying on folly beach and heading in to Charleston for the big party). I might go down a day early to set up. If that happens, maybe we can meet up at Mustard Seed... that'd be so much fun!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a lot of fun and that food looks absolutely fabulous! I need to come visit lol!
ReplyDeletexo
They seriously need to hire you to do promotions for their restaurant since you're there all the time! And don't even get me started on the desserts, I would be in 7th heaven!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have that kind of display at our Bi-Lo, guess they really want people to buy that candy huh?
PS--Chick Fil A was handing out free samples of their peach milkshake today, it was fantabulous!!
The food looks amazing! You look gorg in that dress too :)
ReplyDeleteBanana Pineapple cake?! Sign me up. Looks like you had an awesome time at your blogger meet up--I like that you're now officially famous! :)
ReplyDeleteHow fun! And...uh, that CAKE??! I need it.
ReplyDeleteI wish I lived near you!! That hummingbird cake looks awesome! Come visit me in DC?? And bring that cake! :)
ReplyDeleteBlogger meet up are so much fun! And those cakes are intense! What crazy flavors
ReplyDeletehaha fun a fun time! Your dress is so adorable! Where did you get it? I am looking for something like that for work!!
ReplyDeleteYour veggie dish is mouth watering~
It was SO SO great meeting you! You are absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed meeting everyone! Let's do it again...soon!
ReplyDeletexo,
Blair
So funny reading this because I wouldddd love to meet blogger friends but haven't yet, but, more importantly, I baked a cheesecake in my boyfriend's tiny kitchen today and totally held it to the light to get a better picture. I can totally relate!
ReplyDelete