Happy weekend! I mentioned in my Friday post that I was traveling this weekend. I’ve been a little all over in the last 24 hours but here’s my final destination.
I’m at my parents house! I arrived exhausted and sweaty around 3:30 p.m. and was immediately sent off to shower. I then painted my nails and planted myself on the couch for the long haul. It’s rainy and cold and we’re eating dinner in tonight. I’m looking forward to an evening of relaxation!
I actually didn’t come to Georgia to visit my parents – getting to see them was just a bonus! I came down Friday night to visit a friend who is the director of a Y that is located right outside of Atlanta and to help them launch BodyPump 80 this morning.
We met in Athens last night for dinner at 5 & 10.
5 & 10 is my favorite restaurant in Athens and I was so excited when Louly suggested that we meet there for dinner. It was a good central location for me driving down from Charlotte and for her driving over from Covington. I was so ready for some bread and a glass of wine after three and a half hours in the car.
The chef sent out an amuse bouche featuring sautéed pompano that he’d just received in fresh.
I started with the butternut squash soup. It featured chicken stock, pureed butternut squash, roasted pear, candied pepitas and cream.
I could have ordered anything on the menu and been perfectly happy. I was really struggling with my decision…scallops, duck, short rib, pork chop…it all sounded delicious\. We had a wonderful server (Paul) and he told me the scallops were one of the best dishes on the menu. Actually, I’m pretty certain he said they were his number one pick. I love ordering seared scallops at restaurants so this was all the convincing I needed. They were served over rutabaga puree with lacinato kale, celery pine-nut salad and finished with lemon brown butter.
We ordered coffee after our meal and you can’t have coffee without dessert, right? What started with the idea to order two scoops of salted caramel ice cream turned into ordering the chocolate nemesis cake with candied pecans, seared bananas and two scoops of salted caramel. It was so good that we were speechless. The combination of flavors was perfect.
Fueled by coffee, I made the 45 minute drive to Louly’s beautiful lake home where I promptly took a hot shower and collapsed into bed. I was able to get almost 8 hours of sleep in and it was blissful.
I awoke this morning to a sunrise over the lake, breakfast and coffee. More details in my next post about the BodyPump launch and the rest of my Saturday. I had a great time teaching with the Covington Y team!
What is your favorite thing to order when you go out for nice dinners? The kind of things things you don’t cook at home.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
wow, Jen, you look very happy and comfortable! Isn’t it lovely to have parents fuss over you and coddle you every once in a while?
yes, love being home…even just for a short time!
Athens has some really delicious restaurants. I haven’t been in quite a while, but i need to.
Where in Atlanta do your parents live? I live in Tucker which is sort of in between Norcross and Decatur (for some reason a lot of people don’t seem to know where it is, even people that are from here.)
athens has a great restaurant scene and so many of them are reasonably priced.
my parents are in the grant park area. i would love to meet up sometime when i’m here for more than just one night!
Looks like a great meal Jen!
Whenever I go home, we always go to an upscale Thai restaurant. They have INCREDIBLE currys and amazing sushi. It’s my favorite place, by far.
i love thai food! especially curries!
So glad you are cozy! I spent the day cleaning the house and then in bed writing. Hard day and I usually then go out for a run or yoga when the icky emotions come but today I dealt with them and sometimes that is awesome!
I LOVE scallops. Last time I went out I had them. With risotto and asparagus. Yum! Enjoy your weekend!
scallops and risotto are one of my very favorite food combinations! so happy to hear that you had a good and therapeutic workout!
i used to love your blog, but i can’t get over whatever underlying event that is being left unsaid. its so awkward.
hope all is well. glad to see you’re finally relaxing after such a crazy week!
Michele, Jen did address this and asked for privacy. Peanut Butter Runner is a food and healthy living blog and not a personal blog. I think because of our media, we get so used to knowing the personal lives of celebrities that we expect that. I think it’s kind of refreshing to know that some things can be left unsaid and that is OK.
Sometimes it’s so nice to stay with your parents….but, only just for a night ;p lol! We seriously need to try 5&10! I have been in Athens almost my whole life and I’ve never been there! I’m glad you are taking some time to relax, you definitely deserve it! You work/workout more than anyone I know! Very inspirational!
Mmmm looks yummy! This morning me and my dad went out for brunch spontaneously, and I had waffles with bananas and pecans cooked into the batter. I’m usually more of an oatmeal/yogurt kind of person but they sounded far too good to pass up!
Hope you’re having a nice relaxing weekend! We all need one of those every now and then;)
I think i’ll move my computer to the couch too! That looks super comfy
Have a safe trip home!
That soup looks so amazing! You should come up with your at home version and post the recipe on bakin and eggs (in your spare time HA!)
New favorite blog! Just found your blog today and now I’m on my way to check out ‘bakin’ and eggs’!
Sounds like an incredible dinner! It’s always good to have some time to relax at home now and then… hope you enjoy the rest of your trip!
I always order seafood or duck, when I go out to restaurants. Duck is something that I have no desire to learn how to cook and the typical seafood dishes I order are usually shellfish with pasta. Last weekend I had this unreal black linguine dish with crab meat, arugula, lemon, and olive oil. DELISH!
Hi Jen! Just had to let you know that my friends and I were at 2 story coffee house today and saw Hugh Acheson (5&10) who was on Top Chef! My friend got a picture with him, but I was too chicken
lol!
that is so awesome! he was there cooking on friday night and sent out that special pompano. so good! he’s so talented. i got to meet top chef kevin a couple years ago and it was awesome. his restaurant is incredible!
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