restaurant review

Coffee at Smokey Row Cafe

Yesterday a friend and I got together for a little coffee date at the fabulous Smokey Row Cafe in Red Wing They make really good bread. I mean really good. The cardamom rolls are amazing. and… It’s almost impossible to resist something sweet from the bakery case… yesterday I had the Tosca Almond Bar with…

Church Hill Inn Scones & Summer Quilt Squares

On Monday, I had a tea date with my friend Clare at her gorgeous quilting studio (which she is still organizing, but she assures me I will be able to share pictures sometime in the near future.) I was excited to show her everything I’ve been working on… photographs by Melissa Placzek So, I got…

Six Senses Saturday

~Feeling~ Thankful ~Seeing~ This book! Can’t put it down! ~Tasting~ Cherry Polish Paczi (pronounced punch-key) From Hanisch Bakery Red Wing mmmmmmm….. photograph by Melissa Placzek ~Hearing~ Pomplamoose! ~Smelling~ Stuffed Acorn Squash cooking in the crockpot! Here’s the RECIPE ~Knowing~ That soon the snow will melt and Jeff will suggest we go HERE for dinner. We…

Six Senses Saturday

~Tasting~ Maple Bacon doughnuts from Red Wing’s  Hanisch Bakery mmmmmm…. photograph by Melissa Placzek ~Hearing~ Mindy Gledhill’s sweet voice over the iPod dock… This music is just my cup of tea. Take a listen for yourself… Anchor Hourglass All About Your Heart ~Smelling~ French press brewing… ~Seeing~ These beautiful, inspiring books by Amanda Blake Soule-…

Date Day with Jeff~Breakfast & Coffee at Caribou

So, how many of you have tried the new breakfast sandwiches and oatmeal at Caribou? We got around to trying these breakfast offerings this past week on a date day outing, and thought they were pretty darn good. We both tried the Chicken Apple Sausage Daybreaker… Chicken Apple Sausage Daybreaker: Apple-seasoned chicken sausage and eggs…

A Chocolate Lover’s Tea at Wisteria Twig Tearoom

Today, while standing before the front door window,  I waited for my friend Bonnie’s car to pull up into the freshly fallen snow in front of my house. While waiting, I thought about how these cold, frosty days are the exact sort of days that throw me into a “teatime” mood. As autumn spins her…

Lake City’s Wisteria Twig Tearoom

“On Saturday afternoons they explored. They found their own tea shop with their own table–their own streets.” Katherine Mansfield Today my friends Bonnie, Nancy and I went to tea in Lake City. Rita Dassner, proprietor of The Nest Antique & Vintage gift shop in Lake City, has opened a little tea room in the back…

girls’ day out

Today Nancy and I hit the open road…bound for Cannon Falls! The Old Market Deli for lunch what a cute place! I had the Mediterranean Sammy on sourdough with coleslaw, kettle chips and a pink grapefruit IZZE pretty flowers on the table in November is impressive 😉 Peace Coffee…mmmmmm After lunch we went treasure hunting,…