Are you gonna eat that?

I feel like every time I make plans to meet up with someone for lunch or dinner, I am normally the one picking the place to eat.  Thanks to my super fun Yelp community, and my fab friends the Nom Noms, I have quite a large list of places that I want to go, and also an opinion on pretty much everywhere I have gone.  When you go out for a meal with me, if you are not a Yelper or a Nom Nom..don’t be alarmed, I am taking in the whole experience.  I will pose items on the table for photos, I will ask you to wait before eating so I can snap a shot, and sometimes I end up saying things like Holy Cow that’s good, or Erm, that changed my life.  I actually mean those things, I really do feel that food is an intricate and important part of our lives.  Also as someone on a fitness journey, I have learned along the way that sometimes the food that we use to power us just isn’t the best.  I could tell you for days though the many reasons tacos are going to save the world, good potato salad could make me cry thinking of my Daddy, and there will never be  a day that goes by I don’t remember the way I felt the first time I had a fried green tomato.  Memories are made around the dinner table.  Gossip and stories are shared over lunch with your friends.  There is so much more than just eating to keep yourself alive.  Food memories are passed down from generation to generation, and also now in the media thru cooking shows and cook books and so on. (I seriously watch cooking competition shows like its sports.)

I recently had a few really great food experiences, and they were all at places that I have bookmarked for a while and just never got to check out. I also had the opportunity to check out a local distillery called Manifest, but more on that in just a bit  The first place I wanted to go and hadn’t, is called Coopers Hawk Winery and Restaurant.  I met a friend for lunch and we had a great meal while catching up.  I hadn’t seen her in a really long time, and just sharing some laughs and seeing her kids was a breath of fresh air.  I will add however that just before meeting her, I was in my shower when the apartment complex decided to shut off the water and I had to improvise and finish getting ready with bottled water..like what kind of Pilgrim ass shit is that?..very unacceptable, but I digress.  Coopers Hawk did not disappoint, and I know I would go there again, possibly for a wine flight!

The other place that I decided to check out FINALLY was Orsay.  People have been telling me for EVER that I needed to try it out.  I will say that it is on the expensive side, and its not a place that you will go to all the time.  They do have a happy hour that was good, and the meal was worth it.  I met with one of my foodie friends that has been to Orsay many times and sings its praises.  We had such a wonderful time catching up and laughing.  It was also nice to have someone to walk me through the menu and give some recommendations. You can check out the reviews and more pictures on Yelp. The last place that I wanted to talk about is Manifest Distilling.  There was an event there that I was lucky enough to attend ,and I was so impressed.  The owner gave us tours and told us his journey.  I love to support local businesses, so its always cool to find another rad one.  I had the pleasure of listening to and meeting a really great band as well.  They are Strangerwolf.  Really good sound, and such nice guys too!!

I don’t just tell you about the fab places that I have eaten at in order to make you hungry, or to show off some totally on point photography skills.  Like I said..its all about the feels.  The way certain food or beverages make you feel.  The times that you share with loved ones in the kitchen preparing a meal.  The way you can remember every moment of an amazing meal out, or maybe recreating it at home.  Get in the kitchen, go to a great new spot for a meal of food.  Whatever it is-enjoy it yall!

** Check out reviews here! Yelp Reviews!