Dining Out: Norfolk, VA - Codex + La Brioche

“We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.” - Anna Thomas

Whenever I am able to try a local spot, it makes me so happy. Downtown Norfolk is literally bursting at the seams with amazing and quality restaurants. Many are tucked away in the historical Ghent area or easily accessible within the Neon District and on Granby Street! No matter where you turn you are bound to luck up on some place super special. Not only is the food super delicious, but the people make the experience that much better. Being able to connect with local business owners, and trying their food really make dining out that much cooler.

Today, I’m sharing two new spots that I’ve recently lucked up on - La Brioche and Codex. Their food and unique atmosphere really are worth trying out!

La Brioche

Rating: 5/5

One of my dear friends has raved about La Brioche - and I totally value her opinion, because she is from France! La Brioche is a French-style bakery, and their food is so fresh and authentic. Everything is made fresh daily and in-house - once an item is sold, it’s gone until the next day. From pastries to gourmet sandwiches, everything is super delicious and absolutely yummy. The ingredients are high quality, and you can taste it in each bite.

The entry to La Brioche, in the Neon District.

The staff was so sweet, and really went out of their way to review their menu. They were kind and ensured throughout our visit that we had everything we could possibly want. La Brioche, is perfect to visit at anytime throughout the day - from a breakfast stop to a afternoon snack, they have so many options. I do recommend visiting first thing in the morning if you want an excellent selection though - their items go fast!

Chocolate Chip pastry, Apple Tart, and Almond Croissant.

Codex

Rating: 4/5

Remember when I went to visit Pendulum Fine Meats & Market last month? Well, Codex is located right in that same space! By day this location is Pendulum, and by night Codex comes in and flips the restaurant into a Modern American dinner spot. Codex makes the restaurant slightly different by switching up the ambiance and adding additional seating. This place gets packed super quickly - so I most certainly recommend making a reservation - otherwise you’ll be waiting for awhile for table.

Entrance into Codex + lovely artwork showcasing the restaurant logo.

I was so pleased with the staff, and how kind they were during our meal. Our waitress even let us try a few wines before we selected the perfect pair for our meals! For my dinner, I ended up choosing the Sockeye Salmon entree. It was really delicious, and paired with the light salad, was the perfect summer dish. The experience was pretty neat, to see one of our favorite lunch spots transitioned to a high-end dinner spot was pretty cool. There was a slight drawback, it was pretty cramped in the restaurant to accommodate for extra seating, but my husband and I were glad we tried it out!

Sockeye Salmon + Heirloom Tomato and Cucumber Panzanella Salad

I can’t wait to try more local spots in the near future. It’s always a blast being able to try new experiences, and sharing them with loved ones.

XO, Analise

Dining In: Hostess with the Mostess

“Cooking is all about people. Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together. No matter what culture, everywhere around the world, people get together to eat.” - Guy Fieri

Hosting is one of the things I love doing in our home. Creating meals for your favorite people and making your home cozy, is the best thing a host can do. I absolutely love having family and friends over. Whenever we plan a get-together, G and I always make sure that we have the best items in our kitchen, to showcase the food we’re serving to our guests.

Today, I’m sharing the essential items I keep handy when hosting a party, and what I use them for. Also, I’m dishing on some of my favorite menu items that I love serving in or on these gorgeous Williams Sonoma items!

Monogrammed Charcuterie Board + Cheese Knives

I absolutely love cheese, and any opportunity to showcase a variety of cheeses and fruits for your guests, is one you should most certainly take. Having a cute monogrammed board adds a personal touch in your kitchen. This item is perfect to gift to newlyweds at their wedding or housewarming event.

Favorite Cheese: Trader Joe’s Creamy Toscano Cheese Soaked In Syrah (cheese + wine pairings)

Condiment Bowls

If you you serve food that has an assortment of dipping sauces, having a small bowl to hold it in is ideal. Sometimes having a variety of condiment bottles out can be cumbersome, and take up a lot of counter space. The small condiment bowls are perfect to portion out the appropriate amount of serving sauce needed for the guests to enjoy.

Dessert Stand

Whether you love baking cakes, cookies, or brownies, showcasing your delicious baked goods on a pedestal is always perfect. It is the most ideal centerpiece for your event, and catches the eye of your guests. I always love serving guests around two different dessert options, it gives them options to select the perfect treat to enjoy.

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe)

Platter + Tray + Bowl

Platters and trays are perfect to have chicken, steak, and a variety of other meats or appetizers for guests to nibble on. I love having multiple items of goodies for guests to enjoy at our home. It’s always my rule of thumb to serve at least two different types of proteins - typically beef or chicken hold up the best. Also, I love having a variety of veggies and fruits as well, especially during the warmer months!

Favorite Dishes: Lemon Pepper Wings (recipe) & Oven Roasted Red Potatoes (recipe)

Pitchers + Beverage Dispenser

I love using a pitcher or beverage dispenser for my guests to enjoy some wonderful cocktails! My friends love my red sangria, as well as my tequila cocktail. The beverage dispensers are perfect for guests to grab a drink at their leisure, without requesting another glass from the host. I love having more than one pitcher or beverage dispenser available at our event. That way, each guest can have a variety of options to choose from when they need to refresh their glass.

Favorite Cocktail: Tequila, Champagne, and Lime Cocktail (recipe)

Wine Coaster + Wine Glasses

Wine is one of my favorite things to serve at our party! I love pairing wines with the different dishes that we make. Also, Champagne is something that is always served in our home. Whether we add bubbly to our cocktails, or serve it to our guests to sip on, its one of our favorites. It’s so important to buy the right amount of bottles for your party, and if you have a few leftover, it’s perfect to enjoy at a later date!

Favorite Wine: Wine Guide

Placemats + Napkin Rings + Place Card Holders

For a sit down dinner, it’s absolutely essential to have the proper place settings for your table. To add a personal touch, having cute accessories to dress up your table, truly catches your guests eye. Adding pops of color, or elements of gold or silver really help brighten up your centerpiece!

XO, Analise

Dining Out: Cookology

“Cooking is about passion, so it may look slightly temperamental in a way that it's too assertive to the naked eye.” - Gordon Ramsay

When my bestie Alisha, decided to have her 29th birthday at Cookology in Northern Virginia, I was super thrilled. She wanted to host an intimate cooking class with close friends and family, on her special day. The class was so much fun, and the instructor was amazing! I loved the fact that we were taught specific cooking techniques, but we were free to experiment, and try new things with our dishes. Everything throughout the night was casual, fun, and light - if you are in the Northern Virginia area I totally recommend this for adults, and children.

The Menu:

Appetizer: Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Entrée: Parisian Bistro Style Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Veloute

Dessert: Bourbon Bread Pudding

Truer words have never been written.

When we arrived to the cooking class, we were greeted by the most welcoming staff, wine, and appetizers! We got acquainted with our work stations, the recipes we’d be creating our meals with, and the kitchen.

The welcoming appetizer of caprese skewers, before we began cooking.

We cooked with a variety of vegetables, proteins, and even alcohol! Our instructor had us begin with our individual dessert first. The class needed adequate time to prep the bourbon bread pudding first, prior to making our entree. By doing this process, we were able to allow the dessert to cook thoroughly, and this also eased everyone into making the larger dish ahead.

Bourbon, celery, peppers, and butter - all key components for the meals cooked during class.

The ingredients for the bourbon bread pudding.

Preparing the bourbon bread pudding mixture, and cubing the bread for the dessert.

Once the dessert was assembled, and set for baking, everyone moved on the entree. We made a Parisian style chicken with a house made sauce. For this dish we were assigned a partner, and Alisha was mine! As a team, we prepared all the veggies to go along with the dish - celery, onion, potatoes, garlic, and red pepper. From there she sautéed the mixture into a large pot, which was later blended in a food processor, as a sauce for the grilled chicken.

My best friend, Alisha sautéing the veggies for the roasted red pepper veloute.

The class observing a cooking demo by the head chef.

Parisian style chicken, paired with a house made salad.

Bourbon bread pudding, with a whiskey glaze.

I absolutely loved my experience at Cookology! This experience was really unique to other cooking classes. Not only was the class private, but it was super relaxed, and I enjoyed the fact that everything was easy going. The chef provided really good kitchen tips throughout the process. Also, it was great to learn new recipes as well as how to stretch ingredients for each meal. I definitely recommend doing a cooking class with friends, or your partner. It is a great bonding experience, plus you walk away with so much knowledge!

If you have taken a cooking class, share your experience below!

XO, Analise