My dad and sister arrived at our house in the early evening. Ryan and I gave them a tour of the new place and chatted for a bit before we all admitted that all we were really thinking about was food.
We needed dinner STAT.
Ryan and I drive by Horse & Hounds, a local restaurant and pub, all the time and have been dying to give it a try. When we pitched the idea to my dad and sister, describing it as an upscale sports bar with an English flare, they were more than game.
We arrived early enough to enjoy the last few minutes of happy hour and made sure to take advantage of the two-for-one drinks and ordered a round of beers for everyone.
Ryan, Leslie and I all ordered Sam Adams cherry wheat beer that was absolutely delicious and definitely earned a spot in my top five favorite beers. How have I never tried this beer before?
I almost polished off two beers before our food was delivered which left me feeling a lil’ tipsy. My sister felt the same way (actually, I think we all did… fun night!), and we blamed our “light-weightedness” on our morning runs.
Leslie ran four miles non-stop yesterday – her longest distance to date – in preparation for a 10k we’re running together in the beginning of October. I’m so proud of her!
We actually liked our bartender, Eric, (and our drinks) so much that we decided to eat dinner up at the bar.
I ordered a spinach salad with turkey, feta cheese, candied walnuts (my fav!), mushrooms and a raspberry vinaigrette dressing.
I cleared my plate.
Then it was time for dessert! You can’t go out to dinner with my family and not order dessert. It’s just not allowed.
Dessert number one was a blondie sundae.
And behind dessert door number two was a chocolate chip cake.
Both were gone in 2.5 seconds. They didn’t stand a chance.
Time to jump on my sister (the only one still asleep this morning) and get her up to head out for somethin’ extra delicious this morning…
P.S. The Fashion page was finally updated!
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Horse & Hounds sounds so fun! Two beers would definitely leave me feeling typsy as well….so much has changed since college, lol. Enjoy your Sunday!
Yum! Your dinner and dessert look soo good!
Glad you had a great time 🙂
Glad you had fun! Dessert looked great 🙂
I’m glad you had such a great time with your family! I moved from SC to Chicago to be a little closer to my family (they’re in Kansas City) and I still rarely see them! Although my older brother is here – which is great! And i’m very curious as to what this breakfast is going to be! p.s. cherry wheat?? um yes, please.
Looks like a fun evening! 🙂 if I ever see candied walnuts on a salad listed on a menu, I have to order it! They’re so good!
For a split second, I thought there was caramel sauce on the blondie sundae AND on your salad.
Hey, I’d be down 8)
If I have a drink (or 2) before dinner, I always end up feeling tipsy!
Tipsy on two beers does not a lightweight make, at least not in my world. I can feel tipsy off of ONE, or even a glass of wine. I’m a cheap date ; )
It looks like you had a lovely evening, those deserts look DELICIOUS!
You and your sister are absolutely gorgeous! And I definitely get tipsy after one drink…so I’m a lightweight too haha. Sounds like you had a great dinner :). That’s so great that you and your sis are running a 10k together in October! So am I- my first one too…props to Leslie on her distance yesterday!!
Your family is just so lovely looking! I am sorry if that sounds weird, but seriously! 🙂
I would have grabbed that cake and headed for the door… all for myself please!
I love candied walnuts too!
Those desserts look fantastic!
Sounds like such a fun dinner! Yay for your sister on her 4 miler. So awesome.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm…. nom, nom, nom… blondies are my absolute favorite!
Blondie sundae! Holy Smokes! Blondies seriously need more love…I love them just as much if not more than brownies!
Hooray for a fun family night!
Sounds like a fun evening! Those desserts look divine 🙂
How fun! Loving dos desserts – FABULOUS!
I LOVE Cherry Wheat! Definitely in my top 3:) I love Sam Adams in general.
i’ve been nown to make a menu decision solely based on the presence of feta. but candided walnuts would help too 🙂
nown=known…i’m a grammar freak IRL, not mush online but when i see something i need to fix it (sadly, sometimes that is in other people’s writing…NOT a hint, just a remark!!!)
Love your skirt in that picture. That blondie dessert looks amazing…I can almost taste the caramel! I’ll have to try the cherry wheat beer.
What a neat pub! And the name? How cool! I’m obsessed with all things British so I think I would really enjoy going there myself!
Sam Adams cherry wheat is really good. Sadly, we’re at the end of the season for summery beers up here, but there are all kinds of delicious autumn drinks on the horizon- I had a great pumpkin beer the other night (but only one, because I’m a lightweight too lol). 🙂
I love that your family never skips out on dessert!
Dessert looks AMAZING. I will definitely be having something sweet today. I got so wrapped up in the furniture assembly yesterday that I barely ate anything. Have to make up for that today!
The Kidless Kronicles
Wag More, Bark….
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/nyregion/willow-lost-cat-from-colorado-resurfaces-in-manhattan.html?_r=1
Notting Hill anyone??
Yay! Congrats to Leslie! My sister will be running a 10k next month, too, so I’m her cheering section, haha.
Enjoy your doughnuts for breakfast!
That’s so awesome about your sister’s run- it’s a big accomplishment!
Looks like you had a great night with family- food looks fabulous!
Horse & Hounds sounds like such a cool restaurant. The food looks delicious – that chocolate cake is absolutely droolworthy! 🙂
What an awesome accomplishment for your sister! 🙂 Getting new PR’s is the best!
what delicious food, for reals! I don’t know which one of the 2 desserts sounds better~~ 🙂
Oh my. That chocolate cake looks ABSOLUTELY incredible. Seriously, it’s not even noon and I want to eat it NOW!
Congrats to your sister on completing a personal distance record! I bet that felt amazing! 🙂
I’ve never tried that beer either but it sounds delicious and I must find it now! Mmm Mmmm Mmmm 🙂
I was actually in Ocala yesterday, and almost went there for dinner!!! How funny. I also drove by that donut place, and thought of your blog of course! 😛
aw, i wish you would have!
I love all Sam Adams beer, but I’ve never had the Cherry Wheat. I will have to look out for it.
you’ll love it!
Cute outfit!!
How fun that your dad and sis came into town! congrats to your sister on her 4 miles!! yay 🙂
Wait – you’ve never had cherry wheat before? Clearly you did not drink enough beer in college!
Sounds like a fun night! Congrats to your sister on her mileage!!
no! i’ve had a lot of the fruity and flavored beers and have no idea how i missed that one!
What a fun place! Both of those desserts look heavenly…
My fam is the same : MUST have dessert!
Looks like it was a fun night 🙂
So I just recently found your blog, and I absolutely love it! I just spent the last hour sitting in the library reading through old posts (obviously procrastinating doing homework…). It really seems like you have such a happy balance in your life. I’ve shared it with a few friends who agree 🙂
thank you, laura! and blogs are the perfect answer to procrastination desires. i read them for that very reason, too! 🙂
congrats to your sister for her run! and those desserts look delicious 🙂
Oh my, that chocolate chip cake would definitely be my dessert choice….it looks delicious.
That beer is hands down my favorite of the “commercial” beers. I can hardly ever find it though so when I see it on tap it’s a must!
Mmm, the chocolate chip cake looks delic! I would have devoured it in 2.5 seconds too 😛