The Pickled Palate

I do get out of the house from time to time and, when I do, lunch is always on the agenda along with friends and new places, if we can. This time was no different. A friend from school who is also retired and I went to the Pickled Palate.


This place is interesting, to say the least. The way I understand it, two older ladies decided to open it up a few years ago to offer homemade recipes. I don't know how accurate that is, but there are older ladies there and the one serving us thought Stro and I were young enough to be called, girls so...I'll take it.

We went for the specials- I had the egg salad and Stro had the ham and gouda. Someone on the website said it was the best panini they've ever had. That person was not exaggerating. Nothing on my plate tasted pre-made. I'm pretty sure they make everything from scratch right there on site.

I love that all the dishes are old and different. I am a huge fan of not matching dishes. And they look like patterns that someone's grandmother or great-grandmother had in their kitchen.

AND, you get to drink from Mason jars! They have tea and water. Teas are blackberry jasmine green tea (I think that's right) and black tea and your water choices are plain or diffused with fruit. That might change daily but I'm not sure. They also have beer and wine and a few other beverages. See the cooler in the lower right corner? That's where you get your ice. I love it!

The place is cute as it can be. The tables and chairs look like they came from the same place as the dishes only from the yard instead of the kitchen. They're great.

This was the scene behind me. That mannequin in the corner freaked me right out when I first saw it. Sheesh. Check out those floors, y'all!

This was the view in front of me Stro sat in that chair. 

Outside dining is available and we would have made that choice except it was so crowded out there so we ate inside. The doors were open and the breeze was quite pleasant.

I understand the outside is lovely when everything is in bloom. I'll have to go back and check that out in the spring.

There is a little shop behind the restaurant that was cute, too called Earthly something...Designs, maybe? Artifacts? Anyway, cute shop but we didn't go inside.

We took a carryout order back for Lovely1 because she was starving. Apparently. Anyway, on the way out, Stro saw a cute little table displaying local wares. I always like that sort of thing.

Another fantastic day out with food, fun, and a good friend!

Do y'all have a place like this in your neck of the woods?

Speaking of Eggs

The week before Baby M arrived, Birdie and I went to brunch. It was the last time she and I partook of an outing before her new little bundle arrived. I had every intention of posting this a couple of weeks ago and wonder if Baby M would, indeed, arrive the following week or two. Too late now! We are all aware of the outcome. Baby M made her appearance exactly one week after this brunch. :)

Birdie had the sweet potato pancakes. So yummy!

Birdie was ready to not be pregnant anymore but it never slowed her down. She worked up until the day she went into labor. Actually, she worked the second half on her day IN labor. Anyway, she wanted to go to brunch at, Another Broken Egg Cafe. 

It was fantastic! The decor is easily appreciated. The colors are soft and I especially loved the ceiling which had exposed duct work. I think that's called the industrial look? I like that look. The place was clean without smelling like cleaner too and that is always a good thing. And, their coffee was delicious! I'm so picky about coffee but the folks at Another Broken Egg Cafe know how to work a coffee bean.

The menu had offered plentiful delectable dishes but was not overwhelming which I appreciated. Y'all, I would have sworn I took a picture of the menu but it is nowhere to be found. Which means I lost it or the taking of it was only in my mind. Sorry. But y'all can look it over right HERE.

Our server was personable, helpful, and hilarious. We wondered if she wasn't somehow related to our crazy family! Choosing something from the menu was proving a daunting task for me so she jumped right in to help. Once she discovered I have more of a bland palette (by bland I mean, if you put a hot pepper or hot sauce on my food, I am not going to eat it), she made a few suggestions and I chose from those.

As mentioned above, Birdie had the sweet potato pancake.

While I opted for the biscuit and gravy. Which came with two eggs, sausage and potatoes. So, not just biscuit and gravy. Ha! The dish was NOT bland at all but there were no hot peppers or hot sauce. Both dishes were quite delicious, actually. Hot peppers would have spoiled it. For me, anyway.

The atmosphere, the cleanliness, the menu, the server, the food itself, the company, and the PRICES all together made for a most pleasant, savory brunch.

Will I go back again? You betcha! A+, Another Broken Egg Cafe!

Organic Baby Puree Cafe

Yep, that's the name of it- IT being the new restaurant that my wonderful friend and I patronized on Tuesday. Let me tell you, the name is the only problem I have with the place. Everything else- and I mean EVERYTHING- is fantastic!

When we arrived, there were firetrucks there- with lights going and all. Thankfully, it was just a false alarm. Whew.

Tuesday was only their 11th day being open.

They were having an issue with something on the oven hood so they couldn't LEGALLY prepare us anything that had to be cooked. Frankly, even though I wouldn't have cared if they just didn't tell us and went on as though nothing was wrong, I greatly respected the fact that they did inform us.

They gave us options of only having salads or a wrap or coming back at a later time --all with a discount.

It was decided that we would just take a sampler of what their choice. Boy o boy did that ever work out mighty fine! They brought us spinach pie- which is usually heated up but quite tasty cold.

They brought us THREE salads- from the top and clockwise- quinoa salad, citrus and ginger slaw, barley salad with kalamata and tomato.

And their tuNO wrap was TO DIE FOR. They can wrap it in nori or a tortilla. Ours was in a tortilla.

We had no intentions of ordering a dessert but, when we got to the counter I spotted the baked goods case. No problem. Until I saw the coconut cupcakes. I bought one. It was TO DIE FOR. Hey, they don't use any refined sugar or processed foods in there so it was fine.

There are times that I am so glad I'm not a grandmother yet. This is one of those times-CUTEST CLOTHES EVER!

Not only was the food delish, but the staff is just wonderful! So friendly and they go out of their way to please! The food could have sucked and I wouldn't have cared. They are just that nice.

We're planning a trip back soon. And we're taking DoodleBug with us. She LOVES organic food and my wonderful friend- who was her GT teacher in elementary school.

We're thinking of going for breakfast next time---maybe we'll just sit there until it's time for lunch. I already know what I'm going to order. I can't wait!

If you live in our area, Organic Baby Puree Cafe is located at 1034 Chuck Dawley Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. Give them a try- you'll only be sorry if you don't!