Food, Glorious, Food

      Yesterday was one of those special Sundaylicious days.   A day when everything falls into place perfectly.  It was filled with amazing food, great conversation, and a good movie to end the day.  This day was planned as a belated birthday celebration for me....and it RULED!! 
     To start the day off we went to Henrietta's Table in Harvard Sq. www.Henriettastable.com.  It is located inside the Charles Hotel, and the minute you get upstairs you are greeted by lots of pigs (stuffed and statues alike) that already put a smile on your face.  You can't help but be won over immediately.

 I was given a gift certificate for my Bday from my Mother-in-law, so I couldn't wait to use it (Thanks Mom!).  Henrietta's is an expensive place to have brunch, but worth every penny!!!!  It is $45 per person for an all you can eat buffet full of locally grown food and amazing tasting dishes.  This is not a place you go to every Sunday.  It is definitely reserved for special occasions.  However, I would go every week if I could...it is that good!!! To add to the perfectness of the day, Laura got to sleep in today because Henrietta's takes reservations....which was very nice.  To sleep in and relax, and also get to have an amazing brunch with no wait...it's like having your cake and eating it too.....I did....literally!!!  I have been to Henrietta's before with my Husband, but only once, and I have been dreaming about going back... that is how fantastic it is.  I couldn't wait to share this place with Laura.
       Once you arrive you are taken into the dining room, and as you get closer to your seat you walk by all the amazing tables of food that you are about to eat.  My eyes were bulging as I walked by the array of cheese, and then by the dessert table.....MY OH MY....the dessert table alone is worth the money :)  So we sat down and waited for our waiter (a little too long if I might say so), and ordered coffee and libations immediately.  I chose my staple mimosa (can't have a brunch without one), and Laura picked this really cool drink called the "HT Greyhound", which is made with house infused grapefruit ice glen vodka, westport rivers sparkling wine, St-Germain Liquor, simple syrup, and grapefruit juice.  It was served in a ball jar...how cool!!!  We could totally see ourselves drinking this on my porch this summer!!!  It was a perfect summer night drink, very refreshing, and not too sweet.  The brunch started off with a bang, and we hadn't even gotten food yet.

And then we were off.....
      I hit up the cheese table first (of course!), and Laura went for the seafood area.  The cheese table had all different kinds of cheese...cheddar, baby bell, blue cheese, gorgonzola, mozzarella...and that's just naming a few.  I had half a plate of cheese and nothing else, so I headed for the hot food area and picked a delicious couscous, string bean, and chicken dish.  I also got some bacon, a waffle with maple syrup, and a fresh made to order omelet which I added tomato and cheese to (can you tell I like cheese?).

Laura started off with some oysters, grilled veggies, sausage, a piece of salmon, some bacon, asparagus, eggs benedict...and this was just her first plate!  Her second go had more oysters, a cheese plate (after seeing mine she had to go get some), an asian noodle salad, and some fruit.

My second plate was all about DESSERT!!!!!  The table was full of so many yummy choices I had trouble deciding...so I chose three :)  A red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, a chocolate tart, and a fruit tart (along with some fresh fruit which made me somehow feel like less of a pig with that on my plate).

I was so full I couldn't eat all of the desserts on the table, but I sure would have liked to :)  They also had a flourless chocolate cake, bananas foster (served hot), and a spice cake to name a few more.

We seriously were so full we could barely finish our second cup of coffee (sooooo yummy, sooooo gluttonous....soooooAWESOME!!!!).  There were so many things we did not get to eat, but we have to share them with you so you can experience the full effect of how amazing this place is and how many choices there are.  The pictures below are of the hot entrees, the salad bar, a variety of pate, and the yummy muffins that I would have loved to have tried (but I dare not fill my belly up with bread when there were so many other choices to be had)....I want to go back now please....

please can I go back.....
            It is no shock that Laura and I loved Henrietta's Table.  It is country chic, and the food is just so delicious.  It was a truly relaxing and wonderful brunch....and we give them 10 eggs for food, and 10 eggs for atmosphere!!!  Our second perfect score!!!  You just feel special when you are there, and there is no rush so you can just take your time and eat whatever you want.  It is splendid!!!
        After brunch we took a stroll around the outside of the Charles hotel because the flowers were so beautiful and it was such a lovely Spring day....my Dad always taught me to take time to stop and smell the flowers..so we did. 

Then we went to see The Hunger Games which I have been anxiously waiting to see.  I have read all three books and I am obsessed like so many others...gotta say I was a little disappointed, but it was still great to see it.  If you haven't read the books you should!!   They are a quick, easy read and you get super hooked into the story. There is nothing like a good book that you can't wait to read...well....maybe a great brunch place with food you can't wait to eat...until next time...we will be dreaming of Henrietta's!!!