Hi there and Happy Friday!! TGIF! So sorry I missed you all yesterday. I had a post planned and written but the graphic was taking an extra long time and I thought it would be better to spend more time on it and post next week rather than rush (or stay up very late) and get it up yesterday. Anyways, I’m back with my favorite part of the week: Friday’s Food and Fitness! This week I’m all about eating deliciously. The last part of our trip to Cali ended in Sonoma and while I’ll give you the full run-down on wine country next week, I wanted to share some of the amazing meals I had. *WARNING* THIS IS NOT HEALTHY EATING! IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR HEALTHY EATING, GO ELSEWHERE. I kid, I kid. But seriously, everytime I am in wine country I give myself permission to splurge a little because the food there is out of this world. It’s honestly some of the best food I’ve ever had! So join me for this little tour of Friday’s Food and Fitness: Eating Deliciously edition!
FOOD
We actually decided to visit Sonoma last minute because our original plans to go to Yosemite were thwarted by the government shutdown. Whomp whomp. But the alternative was food and wine- YAY! Knowing that a lot of people had Monday off, I did some quick research on where we could eat and found this wonderful restaurant called The Girl and the Fig in downtown Sonoma. Holy guacamole! This place was AMAZING! I started with a fig royal, which is basically champagne with fig liqueur in it and it was pretty good. However, the fig and arugula salad we had with toasted pecans, pancetta, chevre and fig and port vinaigrette was to die for. The restaurant makes its own pancetta and I’m not a huge meat person but this was so incredibly tasty- salty but not too salty with a deep, rich flavor. Mouthwatering.
I had the ricotta dumplings for my main dish and it was served with garden squash puree, caramelized onions, pine nuts and kale. Can I just say that I had been craving some kale all week and this hit the spot? I’m hoping to do an at-home recreation at some point so I can share the recipe with you. The ricotta dumplings were so light and fluffy and the squash puree added a hint of sweetness with some nutty flavors complimenting the sweet caramelized onions.
I followed this with chocolate-dipped fig kisses, which were figs dipped in chocolate and drizzled with fig syrup. Need I say more?
For our second dinner, we went back to an old fav: Carpe Diem Wine Bar in downtown Napa. We started with this amazing butternut squash soup that I recreated later this week when we got home but with my own spin. And then moved on to two of the Hubs’ favorite dishes: quack n’ cheese (duck confit, caramelized onions, diced tomatoes, toasted bread crumbs, pasta and cheese) and seared diver scallops with braised pork belly. To lighten things up, us ladies added fresh burrata with heirloom tomato relish, heirloom tomato flatbread and roasted wild mushroom with truffle oil flatbread. This place is seriously lethal.
Needless to say upon arriving home I was feeling a little…full. So I lightened up our meals this week by getting creative with some veggies. I picked up some great stuff from the farmer’s market.
On the menu this week:
FITNESS
Fitness has been a little bit slow this week. While I did go running along the beach in Laguna and participated in some stand up paddleboarding (more on that next week), I took a few rest days in Sonoma. One fun thing the Hubs and I did do was rent some road bikes and bike through the wineries. Oh my gosh, it was amazing! The views were spectacular and the ride was so wonderful. My poor overstuffed body was so happy for the exercise!
When we got to the airport on Monday, however, we found out that our flight had been moved up and we had not made it in time to board. This meant we had to take the red eye back to NYC, which was a major downer because it meant we would land around4:30/5 am and then have to head straight to work. Luckily we got upgraded to business because the Hubs flies so much for work but even still, I maybe got two hours of sleep on the flight and then another two hours once we got home. No bueno. So my workouts were a little flat this week. I did, however, get a brand new workout *secret* item that I will be sharing with you in the near future!! And I am almost finished with some Zumba choreography for my next video. Exciting stuff!
Readers, have you ever been to either The Girl and the Fig or Carpe Diem? Do you like wine bars or farm to table restaurants? What’s the most delicious thing you’ve eaten recently?
Paige@FitNotFad
October 18, 2013Your descriptions of everything you ate at The Girl and the Fig literally have my mouth watering! So glad you had a god time. I’ve always wanted to try SUP and can’t wait to hear about your experience! I live 6 hours from San Diego and have been a million times and every time say I’m going to try it but it hasn’t happened yet. I have a Thanksgiving trip and Christmas break trip planned so I HAVE to try it this year! Have a great Friday Brittany!
FitBritt
October 18, 2013Thanks Paige! You too and enjoy your break! 🙂
Paige@FitNotFad
October 18, 2013Your descriptions of everything you ate at The Girl and the Fig literally have my mouth watering! So glad you had a god time. I’ve always wanted to try SUP and can’t wait to hear about your experience! I live 6 hours from San Diego and have been a million times and every time say I’m going to try it but it hasn’t happened yet. I have a Thanksgiving trip and Christmas break trip planned so I HAVE to try it this year! Have a great Friday Brittany!
FitBritt
October 18, 2013Thanks Paige! You too and enjoy your break! 🙂
Paige@FitNotFad
October 18, 2013Your descriptions of everything you ate at The Girl and the Fig literally have my mouth watering! So glad you had a god time. I’ve always wanted to try SUP and can’t wait to hear about your experience! I live 6 hours from San Diego and have been a million times and every time say I’m going to try it but it hasn’t happened yet. I have a Thanksgiving trip and Christmas break trip planned so I HAVE to try it this year! Have a great Friday Brittany!
Paige@FitNotFad
October 18, 2013Your descriptions of everything you ate at The Girl and the Fig literally have my mouth watering! So glad you had a god time. I’ve always wanted to try SUP and can’t wait to hear about your experience! I live 6 hours from San Diego and have been a million times and every time say I’m going to try it but it hasn’t happened yet. I have a Thanksgiving trip and Christmas break trip planned so I HAVE to try it this year! Have a great Friday Brittany!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
October 18, 2013I’ll take one of everything please!!! Life would be no fun if we couldn’t indulge on vacation right? That picture with the bike and trees is so gorgeous. You really are not helping me with my desire to drop my life in Toronto and move to Cali NOW!
FitBritt
October 19, 2013Totally agree! 🙂 Cali is awesome!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
October 18, 2013I’ll take one of everything please!!! Life would be no fun if we couldn’t indulge on vacation right? That picture with the bike and trees is so gorgeous. You really are not helping me with my desire to drop my life in Toronto and move to Cali NOW!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
October 18, 2013I’ll take one of everything please!!! Life would be no fun if we couldn’t indulge on vacation right? That picture with the bike and trees is so gorgeous. You really are not helping me with my desire to drop my life in Toronto and move to Cali NOW!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven
October 18, 2013I’ll take one of everything please!!! Life would be no fun if we couldn’t indulge on vacation right? That picture with the bike and trees is so gorgeous. You really are not helping me with my desire to drop my life in Toronto and move to Cali NOW!
Sun
October 18, 2013Yum – recipes, please! 🙂
Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama
October 18, 2013Sorry about the red eye! We did that coming come from Portland and it was NO fun! All of your pics look so good 🙂 I know you will be back at high energy in no time! I am anxiously awaiting your next Zumba video and your secret! 🙂
FitBritt
October 19, 2013Thanks Nellie! Red eyes are no fun but at least we didn’t have any flight problems. That would be worse!
Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama
October 18, 2013Sorry about the red eye! We did that coming come from Portland and it was NO fun! All of your pics look so good 🙂 I know you will be back at high energy in no time! I am anxiously awaiting your next Zumba video and your secret! 🙂
Cailee Joy @ http://www.hellohealthyeating.com
October 18, 2013The girl and the fig looks so pretty and tasty!! Also chickpea sweet potato cakes?? Umm… YUM!! What a great combo! They’re like sweet falafels! Tasty 🙂 Also congrats on biking with your hubby! So sweet and romantic!
FitBritt
October 21, 2013The chickpea and sweet potato cakes came out really good. I’m definitely going to make them again!
Cailee Joy @ http://www.hellohealthyeating.com
October 18, 2013The girl and the fig looks so pretty and tasty!! Also chickpea sweet potato cakes?? Umm… YUM!! What a great combo! They’re like sweet falafels! Tasty 🙂 Also congrats on biking with your hubby! So sweet and romantic!
FitBritt
October 21, 2013The chickpea and sweet potato cakes came out really good. I’m definitely going to make them again!
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health
October 18, 2013Oh, I’ve heard of The Girl and the Fig and have wanted to try it! Ugh, the food looks amazing. And I love that you went bike riding in Napa. The vineyards are gorgeous in the fall. Where did you rent bikes from and how much did they charge? I might have to drag Brandon up there with me before it gets cold!
Sorry about your flight being delayed. I hate flying, there’s always so much BS to deal with. Glad you made it home safe though. And those chickpea sweet potato cakes- yum-may!
FitBritt
October 18, 2013The food was really good there! We rented our bikes from Wine Country Bikes in Healdsburg. It was $15 per hour or $50 for the day. It can be more or less depending on the type of bike you rent. We rented Trek 2.1 Road Bikes. I highly recommend it because it was so much fun!
Maria
October 18, 2013Oh I love anything with figs in it so I would just adore that restaurant!
FitBritt
October 18, 2013I love figs too and the restaurant sure put an emphasis on them!
Maria
October 18, 2013Oh I love anything with figs in it so I would just adore that restaurant!
Joi @ Rx Fitness Lady
October 18, 2013I now want to go to Carpe Diem. Those pictures look too good. Makes me fell like I haven’t had anything lately worth reporting to you.
Joi @ Rx Fitness Lady
October 18, 2013feel…iPad issues!
FitBritt
October 21, 2013🙂
Carla
October 19, 2013That’s a lot of figs! Everything looks so delish! I would love to go to a farm to table restaurant but I’ve yet to find any in our area. But maybe I’m not looking hard enough.
Louisa [Living Lou]
October 19, 2013Mmm, looks like a delicious way to end your vacation! Plus, all the soups you made this week look delicious. I’m a sucker for a good soup, the roasted red pepper soup looks particularly delicious!
Louisa [Living Lou]
October 19, 2013Mmm, looks like a delicious way to end your vacation! Plus, all the soups you made this week look delicious. I’m a sucker for a good soup, the roasted red pepper soup looks particularly delicious!
Louisa [Living Lou]
October 19, 2013Mmm, looks like a delicious way to end your vacation! Plus, all the soups you made this week look delicious. I’m a sucker for a good soup, the roasted red pepper soup looks particularly delicious!
Nicole
October 19, 2013HOLY YUM to those chocolate fig kisses! I’ve heard of The Girl and the Fig but haven’t been there before, but I have been to Carpe Diem. And might I add that your meals look delish!
Sara @ Fit.Fun.Femme
October 19, 2013What beautiful eats! California is one of my favorite places – so special!
Natalie@fit.fun.femme.
October 22, 2013That very fancy grilled cheese looks amazing! I’m having a really hard time getting back into it, so I totally feel your pain. It’s so hard to get back into a schedule once you are out of it, but I’m going to follow you for some inspiration!
FitBritt
October 22, 2013Thanks Natalie! I feel like you deserve a bit of a rest after your amazing accomplishment!