The Chic Life

Shopping Downtown and Salt at the Ritz {Amelia Island, FL}

by Diana on June 14, 2013

We spent a lot of time walking around downtown Amelia Island on our Florida vacation and made a couple stops as we went.

I loved this cute little boutique, lori + lulu, where I got a pretty, flowy, coral top that I’m planning to wear for work and fun. Make that – I’ve already worn to work.

{post-lunch ice cream}

I loved this antique market, 8 Flags, where I found some vintage silver wear for food photo props. They had a lot of interesting memorabilia in there, so it could be fun to visit, even if you don’t think you’re in the mood to shop (though you’ll likely find something you like – they have a ton of stuff).

After our boat tour, lunch, and ice cream, we headed back to our B&B, the Hoyt House, to relax.

Isn’t the house gorgeous?!

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And then it was time for dinner.

When I originally asked friends and co-workers for suggestions on a Florida vacation spot, the Ritz at Amelia Island was one of the first (and top) recommendations. Unfortunately, they’re not pet-friendly, so I’m really glad we were able to find the charming Hoyt House where Bailey was a welcome guest.

Fortunately, the Ritz does have a few places non-guests can visit, like the Spa and Salt, one of their on-site restaurant.

Salt’s theme is pretty obvious – it’s all about the salt. There are pink Himalayan salt lamps and candle votives all around. As soon as you walk into the restaurant, you’re greeted by a display of various salts of all shades, shapes, and flavors – they have over 40 types!

We decided to try the Chef’s Adventure Menu. I was a little nervous because I’m not all that experimental with my food, especially when it comes to gourmet eats. But, after talking about it more with our waiter and after he assured me he could make sure I didn’t get anything raw (sushi – ok, beef tartare – hmm?).

Our waiter gave us two glasses of sparkling wine, I’m guessing because he found out we were celebrating our anniversary.

There was bread a-plenty in three options. We didn’t want to fill up on this, but…

…they had butter from France to enjoy with the bread…

…and a cute serving dish of three of their signature salts. We started with three types with the bread and got two more with the main courses.

So, you got to top the bread with French butter and gourmet salts. Yum! I’ve never topped bread with salt before, but it was a fun and interactive way to eat it.

I’m so glad the kind team at Salt printed a copy of the menu for me because I would never remember all the intricate details of this wonderful tasting menu. First up, we started with an Amuse Bouche – “Strawberry Gazpacho / Toasted Pistachios / Micro Basil”. This was a great way to kick our meal off as the gazpacho was light and refreshing.

As soon as we saw our first dish of the adventure menu, we knew we’d made the right choice.

“1st Course: Kajiki Wrapped in Potato / Pickled Snow Peas / Yuzu Gel / Rice Crisp / Gremolata”

Isn’t this one gorgeous!? I think I would have been okay to eat this one raw (or less cooked), but since we’d already talked about no-raw-foods, the chef cooked mine a little extra. I thought it was still delicious – one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. The fish had a great texture and flavor, and I really enjoyed the crispy potato outside. The little details of the micro greens and edible flowers were icing on the cake. The combination of ingredients was just so unique, and I’d never had kajiki before. Who knew I liked it? Too bad kajiki seems to come from the West coast because I would totally order this fish again. I’d love to order the dish again, too, but I’m not sure you can even do that, and it’s a little far for dinner from home anyway.

“2nd course: Hawaiian Gray Snapper / Corn & Lobster Ravioli / Grilled Squash / Tomato Vinaigrette”

The 2nd course was another happy surprise. I’m not a big fish eater, so I rarely order it, and I tend to stick to the same types, but apparently I like Hawaiian gray snapper. Yum! But, it wasn’t just the fish, the entire plate was a playful medley of deliciousness. And just look at all those colors. I thought every bit of this was a pleasure to eat, and surprisingly, hubby said he thought it was the best kale he’s ever had. He doesn’t even like kale that much, but he enjoyed it this time.

We had a great view of the ocean just outside and watched the sun slowly set as the skies turned from blue to pink.

We didn’t do the wine pairings of the dinner, but I did get a glass of red to go with the 3rd course.

“3rd course: Wood Grilled Beef Tenderloin / Purple Potato Espuma / Fried Egg / Fava Beans / Morels / Chimichurri”

We were starting to get pretty full by this point, but we kept going. The beef was very tender and had a great flavor. I loved the nice sear on the outside. And, I’ve always wanted to try morels. I feel like those are something I only see on Food TV. You guys know I’m not much of a mushroom fan, but I thought they were quite tasty and went very well with the beef. I also really enjoyed the fava beans and various sauces on the plate.

Check out the tempura poached egg! I’ve definitely never seen that before.

And for dessert: “White Chocolate Mousse / Caramelized Rhubarb Compote / Fresh Strawberries / Creamsicle Ice Cream”

I was so happy dessert was light because we were truly stuffed by the end of this meal, though we were slightly crossing our fingers that we would get one of the soufflés we kept seeing at tables around us. The dessert was a unique mixture of mousse, compote, and ice cream. I enjoyed experiencing the different textures and temperatures of the components of this dessert.

And since we were so absolutely stuffed from dinner, we took our complimentary sweets (and salts – not pictured) to go and enjoyed them on the car ride home. I also stopped by the Salt shop earlier in the week and selected a couple salts to bring home for cooking later.

We had a wonderful anniversary dinner at Salt at the Ritz. The service was impeccable, and the food was so unique, beautifully plated, and simply delicious. I’m so glad we tried that adventure menu because it really helped make the entire experience extra special.

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My other Florida road trip posts are available here:

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Thanks for reading! Want to have a say in what recipe will be blogged first? Go to my Facebook page and like your favorite photo to vote (click)!

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Eggscellent B&B Breakfast and Amelia River Cruise {Amelia Island, FL}

by Diana on June 12, 2013

in Breakfast,Lunch,Restaurant,Travel

Welcome to our new blog friends from Vitamix! I’m currently blogging about my recent vacation to Florida, but I have some new recipes coming soon! In the meantime, here we go…just a couple posts left!

If you came here for more smoothie or Green Monster recipes, check out these:

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Though we wanted to spend the majority of our time relaxing, we wanted to do a couple touristy things while we were in Amelia Island. The boar tour was high on our list (in addition to the bus tour and carriage ride).

{This is one of my favorite photos from the trip, and I snapped it on our boat tour. I love the way the old buildings contrast with the new boats and how with the masts reach into the bright blue sky}

But first, we started the day with another delicious and filling breakfast at our B&B, Hoyt House. Hellooooo, sticky bun!

I ordered what became my usual – the fried eggs with potatoes (this time with shredded potatoes and Canadian bacon).

Hubby opted for the breakfast sandwich.

We headed through downtown to the pier where the boat tours depart. We thought we were running late, but we just made it on time. We took the 10:30am Cumberland Island tour with Amelia River Cruises.

See the pink birds? They’re not flamingos. They’re Roseate spoonbills, and apparently they aren’t often here on the island, so it was cool we got to see them.

Dolphin sighting! We saw a few on our trip.

{Our historian and presenter – she shared lots of interesting facts and stories on our trip}

{Our captain – had a lot of info to share, too!}

90′s kids, do you recognize this house? It’s Pippi Longstocking’s house! I was a big fan of her as a kid. I even dressed up as Pippi for Halloween one year!

The white line in the water is where different bodies of water meet.

One of the best parts of the boat tour – pets are allowed!

{The famous wild horses}

Bailey loved the boat tour.

Do you see what I see on this boat? It’s a mini garden. Very smart!

Bailey made friends with a little girl on the boat and showed off some tricks. What a ham!

I took a lot more photos, but there are only so many that fit well in a blog post. I tried to share the best ones! We had a great time on the boat tour and definitely recommend it if you’re ever visiting in Amelia Island. You’ll learn a lot, see some great scenery, and enjoy the fresh air as you cruise down the water.

There was a restaurant right where our boat returned, so we went ahead and ate there – Brett’s Waterway Café.

We wanted to enjoy some views of the water a bit longer.

Hubby got the soup and salad.

I ordered the grilled salmon, which came with green beans and a rice pilaf. I wanted something light (but not a salad), and this hit the spot. I ordered the sauce on the side and ended up not really needing it. The fish was flavorful enough on its own.

And with lunch done, we headed back through downtown on the way to the B&B.

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You can check out some of my other Florida road trip posts here:

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Thanks for stopping by! Two posts left, and then we get to some new summer-themed recipes! Stay tuned!

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Breakfast at Hoyt House, Lunch at Kelly’s Courtyard Café, & Dinner at David’s {Amelia Island, FL}

by Diana on June 10, 2013

in Breakfast,Lunch,Restaurant,Travel

We were really starting to settle into the laid-back atmosphere of Amelia Island by mid-trip. It was a welcome change from the fast-paced world we normally live in. We didn’t have to worry about traffic, or work…no phone conferences or Outlook meeting planners…just what shall we eat next? Want to go to the pool? How about the beach? Oh yeaaa…

{fresh fruit cup}

We were really enjoying our breakfasts at the Hoyt House.

Hubby tried the frittata of the day – a play on the classic caprese flavors.

I went with the fried egg with potatoes and an English muffin. Simple but exactly what I wanted. They have a special machine/tool at the B&B to cook the eggs, and I really like the way they use it to cook fried eggs.

After breakfast, we headed out to the front porch to relax. I worked on a blog posts while hubby did some reading.

See the lizard?

For lunch, we visited Kelly’s Courtyard Café.

We took a seat near the fountain.

We shared a couple things – the soup of the day…

…hummus…

…and the mahi mahi sandwich. Everything was tasty, but that fish sandwich was especially good. I loved the seasoning they put on the fish and the way they grilled it.

After seeing most of the tables order it around us, we couldn’t resist trying a dessert that caught our eye – Granny Mutt’s blueberry squares – vanilla ice cream & warm blueberry compote. This dessert was sort of like a blueberry blondie, and it was wonderful. I’d love to try to re-create something like this at home since I can’t easily go out and order it.

And let’s just jump straight to dinner, shall we? We decided to visit David’s Restaurant & Lounge for a special dinner. I guess we had a couple anniversary dinner celebrations on our trip.

They had a modern menu for their wine list, all on an iPad.

A small bite from the chef to start.

The bread and dipping sauces were really good. We especially liked the green one, which appeared to be a mix of fresh herbs and olive oil.

I’d heard the Stuffed Heirloom Tomato was great, so we decided to start with that.

“Fresh Tomato stuffed with Marinated Fresh Mozzarella & Basil served with a Balsamic Drizzle”. It was served cold, making it a great summer appetizer. The outside tomato had a great, firm texture, and the mix of cheese and tomato in the center was very good.

Crab Bisque – “Classic Creamy Bisque with Crab & Herb Oil.” This was mainly hubby’s, but I had a bite, and it was creamy and delicious.

{Palate-cleansing sorbet}

The menu is creatively broken up by the four senses – Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water with a special fifth sense of some add-ons (scallops, lobster tails, etc.).

We ordered the Petite Filet – “3oz Twin Medallions of Filet Mignon with a Red Wine Demi Glaze, Wild Mushroom Risotto and Seasonal Vegetables” and added a fifth sense option of scallops. I loved everything on the plate, from the crisp-tender vegetables to the creamy risotto to the tender filet and sweet scallop.

We tried the Warm Apple and Cranberry Strudel with Vanilla Gelato for dessert, and it was a great decision. The flaky pastry was a nice wrapping for the thinly sliced apples and chewy bites of cranberries.

And we got complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries for a second dessert, too!

We had a great and romantic dinner at David’s. The service was exceptional, and the food was fabulous. I’d definitely recommend you checking out this restaurant for a wonderful dinner experience.

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More post fun from our Florida trip here:

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Thanks for reading!

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Breakfast at Hoyt House and Dinner at España Restaurant & Tapas {Amelia Island, FL}

by Diana on June 9, 2013

in Dinner,Restaurant,Travel

I’d read about the breakfasts at Hoyt House on TripAdvisor.com, especially…

…the sticky bun. Oh yes. You get one of these as a starter every morning. Drooling yet? The sticky bun is served hot, with a sweet syrup and topping of dried fruit and pecans. This was more than enough for the two of us to share.

And for the rest of breakfast, you get to order off of a menu, complete with a daily special.

Coffee is individual, French-press.

Rock sugar stirrers are a sweetener option.

And you get another starter, in addition to that gooey, sweet sticky bun. Hubby got the citrus salad, while I got the…

…Greek yogurt parfait.

And for the main event, hubby got a Belgian waffle with sausage on the side.

I opted for the omelet of the day with lots of cheese and bacon. It was delicious, and I loved the way they cooked the omelet. Yum!

After breakfast, we checked out the pool area, which became our favorite hangout spot at the B&B. Since there were no other patrons outside, we brought Bailey with us. The pool area was very picturesque with lots or flowers everywhere and plenty of seating. There’s even a hot tub and hammock for anyone really wanting to kick back.

Around midday, we headed one mile down the road to the beach – Fernandina Beach. I’d heard it was beautiful from friends and co-workers, and it really was.

And I even got to see a little girl see the beach for the first time. It was so cute. As hubby and I were headed back to the car, she ran up from the parking lot and exclaimed, “A real beach!”

For dinner, we checked out another recommendation from our innkeepers, Myrta and Deborah – España Restaurant and Tapas.

We got a table near the back, which had a great view of the outdoor patio.

We shared a couple tapas dishes and one of the entrées. First up – Ensalada Jardinera – “Romaine hearts, tomatoes, onions, palm hearts and olives dressed in homemade balsamic vinaigrette.” I loved this simple mix of salad ingredients. It was light and a great summer salad.

We also had some olives, and…

one of the restaurant’s best sellers, the Gambas Mozambique (Shrimp Mozambique style) – “Sautéed shrimp topped with a spicy coconut milk sauce and fresh cilantro.” The color of the dish was eye-catching in a blazing orange. I really enjoyed the light coconut milk sauce, and the shrimp were large, plump, and cooked just right.

And hubby and I tried our first paella for our main dish – Paella Valencia (Chicken and Seafood Paella) – “Clams, shrimp, mussels, chicken, white beans and Spanish sausage.” I really liked it! I’ve always been hesitant to try paellas because I’m not a fan of clams and mussels, and they always seem to be in this dish. But, hubby likes those types of seafood, so it was a great dish to share. I really enjoyed the mix of different ingredients all in one large pan. The rice soaked up the combined flavors, and I liked the little bites of peas.

We both really enjoyed this one. Clearly.

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More post fun from our Florida trip here:

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Next time – more Amelia Island eats! Thanks for stopping by!

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B&B Check-In and Timoti’s Seafood Shak {Amelia Island, FL}

June 9, 2013

The drive from St. Augustine, FL to Amelia Island, FL was short and sweet. To make things even better, we skipped the highway in favor of the scenic route, which was much more picturesque. My parents taught me that little trick. Sometimes a slightly longer drive (an additional 10-20 minutes in our case) is worth [...]

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Pirate Museum and La Herencia Café {St. Augustine, FL}

June 8, 2013

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Breakfast with At Journey’s End B&B {St. Augustine, FL}

June 7, 2013

For our night in St. Augustine, we decided to stay at a B&B called At Journey’s End. The B&B was top ranked on tripadvisor.com and is #1 of B&Bs that are pet-friendly. Perfect for us and Bailey! The B&B was all booked up for the weekend. We loved the personalized greeting sign near the front [...]

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Best Desserts in St. Augutine, FL

June 7, 2013

You guys know me – I have a major sweet tooth! After our delicious dinner at The Floridian, I knew I wanted to bring home some dessert for later. What I didn’t know is that I was about to accidentally go on a bit of a dessert crawl in search of the best desserts in [...]