Weekend Eats

It seems like all I've been doing is eating out every weekend and not cooking!  It's kinda starting to make me sad.  I'm missing my kitchen and adventures, not missing the messiness though.  This past weekend, I didn't make one thing.  Sad face.  But here are some yummy things that my belly sure did enjoy.

Friday:
I met the ladies at Renaissance ClubSport Aliso Viejo for early evening appetizers, cocktails and live music.  It was probably one of the most beautiful evenings of all summer.  I had to leave early to attend a family birthday dinner, but before I left we ordered the tuna app.  Holy yummy!

Then it was off to my Mom and Bruce's for the birthday dinner.  I definitely should have taken more pictures because dinner was very visually appealing, plus it was so yummy.  I did get a picture of the core of our dinner, which was 6.6 pounds of tri-tip.  This was accompanied with orzo salad, grilled vegetables (snap peas, yellow and red bell peppers, mushrooms, and red onions), and we finished it all off with pecan pie.

Saturday:
We decided to have a late, last-minute dinner out on Saturday and went to Opah so that we could have some oysters.  It also helps that the food is great and it's really close to the house.  We started with oysters, clam chowder and tuna tartare.  Then we moved on to scallops and a shrimp salad for our entrees.  I guess we wanted to be sea creatures with all that seafood.  That's what the warm weather does to you!  And btw....the clam chowder was not my idea, being that it was about 85* out.  The meal was perfect.  We also brought a bottle of wine from our favorite winery Saarloos and Sons. 

Sunday:

Sunday brunch was amazing because I got to go to my new favorite brunch place with a girlfriend and we had the best time!  Have you been to Cucina Enoteca?  If not, you are totally missing out!  It's at the Irvine Spectrum and has the yummiest of breakfasts, plus on Sundays they have bottomless peach Bellini's.  You definitely cannot go wrong.  Speaking of drinks, they have a great drink menu and they have very affordable wine prices because they have a store license to sell verses a restaurant.  On Sundays, they don't charge you the $8 corkage fee either.  Happy customer here!!

One of their breakfast choices is the waffle bar, HIGHLY recommended.  My waffle bar concoction (thanks to the Mr.'s order on our previous trip there) was vanilla waffles, with hot sauce, peppers and spinach and topped with spicy shrimp.  AMAZINGGGGG!!!!!!

We also ordered the tiramisu cinnamon roll to share.

We ordered a fantastic pizza and olive tapenade too, but of course I forgot to snap pictures. 

Needless to say, we both left Sunday very stuffed and very happy!  I can't wait to return!!  I would like to make this my new Sunday tradition.  Kevin.....are you listening?!?!?!? 

My mouth is now watering and I just may have to stop there on the way home today and pick up some food.  You should definitely go too!  You will not be disappointed.  But make sure you invite me since I told you about it.  Now go, and try it!