I’m not shy about my love affair with pumpkin. Whether it’s blondies, oatmeal, muffins, soup, smoothies…I’m not picky.
I also may or may not have a countdown started on when Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes are available. But despite my daily wishes for a money tree, I’m still not made of gold and daily lattes might prove to be a bit… excessive.
I’ve mentioned my love for the Keurig, as well, no? Ah yes, of course I have.
I’m sure you can imagine my delight when I spotted this at Giant Eagle this past weekend…
Green Mountain Coffee – Pumpkin Spice K-cups
Let the heavens rejoice.
If 3rd degree burns weren’t a threat. I’d take a bath in this coffee every day. In fact, the burns might just be worth it. With a splash of milk and a bit of sweetener, this coffee rivals Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Lattes. And did I mention that my k-cup concoction is practically calorie-free?
If you need me, I’ll be researching treatment of 3rd degree burns because that bath is so happening.
What are your favorite coffee flavors for fall?
I could have sworn that I’ve posted about one of my favorite restaurants, Blue Canyon, before, but try as I might, I cannot locate a single mention.
Consider this my proclamation to you all that it is one of my favorite restaurants ever. Home of many birthday dinners and celebratory occasions, the Blue Canyon has a cozy and inviting atmosphere, much like an upscale, rustic retreat – and its food is even better. I’ve never met a dish I didn’t love.
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The Mister and I have shared so many incredible dinners, laughs and conversations at Blue Canyon - in fact, we first talked about getting married “one day” over lunch on the restaurant’s beautiful patio!
So you can imagine my excitement when I learned the owner and chef, Brandt Evans was opening a new restaurant in downtown Cleveland.
From the website:
“Pure Life.” Not just words, but a philosophy. Chef Brandt Evans is proud to offer his latest vision – Pura Vida Restaurant, located in downtown Cleveland, on Public Square. Pura Vida offers a unique and inspired atmosphere serving dishes that Chef Evans says “live for today.” Chef Evans uses the finest and freshest local ingredients from a myriad of trusted sources – many of which are exclusive to Pura Vida.
The Mister and I met my dad, my brother and his girlfriend for dinner before an Indians game earlier this summer.
I could immediately tell that Pura Vida was going to be a bit different from Blue Canyon.
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So modern and sleek! The lighting changed colors with the music, creating new ambiances with each fade in/out.
After enjoying a delicious summer salad featuring fresh berries, goat cheese and sunflower seed brittle, I realized I forgot to snap a photo.
Luckily, I still had my main course to capture.
One of the most innovative dishes I’ve had to date, what you see here is a “jar.”
Duh.
Let me elaborate. Pura Vida offers several jar selections, which are served with grilled bread. Each jar is layered with different ingredients, creating the perfect combination of flavors and forming a unique “spread” to enjoy with the grilled bread. I chose the bbq tofu & vegan chorizo jar, which was also layered with grilled scallion pesto and roasted tomatoes.
It is a new goal of mine to sample every single jar that pura vida has to offer. This was so fun to eat and incredibly delicious.
So while pura vida looked sleeker and more trendy than Blue Canyon, they certainly have one major thing in common — mind-blowing food.
Now if only I could make up my mind on where to celebrate my next big occasion…
Take a look at Pura Vida’s extensive menu, what would you have ordered? What jar should I try next? IAnd how can I con the Mister to take me there for breakfast one morning this week?
This past weekend, the Mister and I paid a visit to a new ice cream place in town — Yogurt Vi.
The concept is simple — you fill your cup, you select your toppings and then you pay. With 20 different flavors making their rotations and more than 40 topping selections, the combinations are truly endless.
Can you spot the Mister?
One of the things I really appreciated about Yogurt Vi was the opportunity to sample – this ensured that you wouldn’t end up with a flavor you didn’t like. I ended up going with Cake Batter — good choice, no?
My toppings included fresh strawberries, vanilla wafers and vanilla chips.
I returned for the same exact thing the following day. And something tells me that tomorrow won’t come and go without another trip to Yogurt Vi 
Have you been to Yogurt Vi — or a similar yogurt joint? What was your flavor combination like?