The Atlantic
Gabriel Archer Tavern
Fruitive
Read MoreDining In: How to Cook Restaurant Quality Meals for Under $50
Recipe: Cinnamon Brown Sugar Doughnut Bites
Dining In: From the Plant to the Plate
“Eat to enjoy, not eat to indulge.” - Chef Naomi Ra-El
Recently, my former high school classmate contacted me, and offered to host a private dinner for G & I at our home. I immediately accepted the opportunity to have Naomi’s Vegan Meets grace our kitchen and serve up our first vegan dinner. Naomi’s Vegan Meets is a plant based restaurant in the Hampton Roads area. They offer an array of amazing dishes that are affordable, healthy, and most importantly delicious.
Chef Naomi grilling the portobello mushrooms and asparagus.
The chef, Naomi Ra-El is amazing, and her passion for cooking is truly felt through her food. She is incredibly kind, talented, and an amazing chef. Naomi’s skills in the kitchen are fantastic, and she educated G and I so much on the vegan lifestyle.
One of the most amazing things about our private dinner experience, was that Chef Naomi brought all of her own ingredients, utensils, plates, pots, pans, and wine to pair with the meal. Also, she had the best conversation and made our in-home dinner experience so much fun. It made the entire dinner so enjoyable.
Chef Naomi preparing the spinach artichoke dip appetizer.
Mashing the potatoes for the entree dish.
Preparing the spinach artichoke dip before putting it into the oven.
The Opening Act
Vegan Spinach & Artichoke Dip with Garlic Herb Crostini
Spinach artichoke dip is one of my favorite appetizers, and when Chef Naomi informed me she’d be making a vegan version, I was thrilled. This dip was amazing, and tasted oh so delicious. The chef paired it with a garlic herb crostini which went perfectly with the creamy spinach artichoke dip.
Vegan spinach and artichoke dip, with garlic butter crostini.
The Headliner
Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steak with Asparagus & Garlic Mashed Potatoes
This entree was spectacular, and we did not miss the meat at all! The portobello mushroom was truly the star of the dish and had the best flavor. Also, the garlic mashed potatoes were so creamy. Chef Naomi included the skin in the mash, which added a great texture to the side as well. Overall, this meal was amazing and was the perfect dish to close out the evening with.
Grilled portobello mushroom and asparagus, paired with garlic herb mashed potatoes.
Our private dinner was such an amazing experience. Chef Naomi’s food is delicious, and she makes wonderful vegan dishes! She is all over the Hampton Roads area, and if you are local, please check her out.
If you would like to learn more about Chef Naomi Ra-El, visit her website!
XO,
Analise
Dining Out: Charlottesville, VA
“Going to a restaurant is one of my keenest pleasures. Meeting someplace with old and new friends, ordering wine, eating food, surrounded by strangers, I think is the core of what it means to live a civilised life.” - Adam Gopnik
During G & I’s recent wedding anniversary getaway to Charlottesville, VA, we made it our mission to eat at really good restaurants. Charlottesville was my home for 4 years, during my undergraduate years at the University of Virginia. It was so nice going back to enjoy the city, and indulging in my favorite and brand new restaurants.
Today I’m sharing my spots for each meal of the day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Breakfast
Recently, I read Virginia Foodie’s recent blog post, a full list of must-try restaurants in my home state. MarieBette was at the top of the list for Charlottesville. I absolutely could not wait to try it out. Carbs are my guilty pleasure, and I’ve been really wanting to indulge in some delicious pastries. The bakery is quaint and super packed, it was the hot spot on a quiet Sunday morning. We were in awe of all the fresh baked goods on display and the staff was so kind to us. We ordered several pastries to try out, and all of them were delicious. Also, we purchased a loaf of sourdough to take back home with us, and G and I are so glad we did.
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