oooohhhhhh boy.
Today we hit jackpot.
No seriously. Best.Brunch.EVER. If you are EVER in San Francisco (heck, if you are ever even on the west coast!), you MUST hit Brenda’s French Soul Food. Adam and I went all out….started with their signature watermelon sweet tea (we each had 2 big glasses):
A flight of beignets—crawfish, chocolate, apple and plain:
I ordered the goat cheese and shrimp omelet (made with egg whites) with grits and a biscuit:
Adam and I are both from the South and we both agreed that it was the best biscuit we’ve ever tasted. Definitely made with shortening, not butter, because it was oh so flaky!!!
***
We could hardly walk afterward but it was a big victory. So, so happy. And then, my mama got here!!!! 🙂 My dad is coming on Wednesday and I’m so excited. My parents are seriously my best friends. I heart them.
I just ate some chicken tortilla soup, random squash pieces and a few Kashi crackers with cheese for a light dinner:
And I’m about to get dressed and head back to the guys house for the hot sauce party. Lots of photos to come in the morning!
G’nite!
Karla
December 20, 2009 at 5:52 pmI’ve heard Brenda’s is delicious! I’ve yet to go though!
Yay for moms and dads!
Kristi
December 20, 2009 at 5:57 pmThose beignets look amazing! I’ll be up there next week and definitely checking out Brenda’s!!
Evan Thomas
December 20, 2009 at 5:58 pmThose beignets look awesome!
Shannon (The Daily Balance)
December 20, 2009 at 5:59 pmthe jackpot, indeed!
that place looks heavenly 😉 perfect spot to get you food-coma on!!
Danielle (Coffee Run)
December 20, 2009 at 6:01 pmI’m not from the south but I loveee soul food. Everything looks delicious!
diana(mymarble rye)
December 20, 2009 at 6:02 pmholy moly!! Delish! btw it looks like you are already losing weight! WTF!!! Have fun w/ your momma! Hope she isn’t scared off by your HOT party!
Jenna
December 20, 2009 at 6:04 pmyou and Adam ate cute together;) just sayin.
Brunch looks fab! Hope ya have fun tonight!
Can’t wait for the recap!!
Jenna
Kara (@Kara's Marathon)
December 20, 2009 at 6:11 pmLooks like a great day so far! 🙂
Do you have any suggestions to make grits more palatable for Northerners? I’ve tried them once or twice (at not-so-awesome diners) and wasn’t a fan, but I’m sure I’d love them if they were made right!
BethT
December 20, 2009 at 6:15 pmTold youuuuuu…..
I don’t know much, but I know brunch.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
December 20, 2009 at 6:17 pmThat all looks mouth watering! YUM!
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad
December 20, 2009 at 6:20 pmI’m from the South too, and that watermelon sweet tea sounds so refreshing!
Lindsay
December 20, 2009 at 6:22 pmI am so happy to hear that your mom is in town, I do NOT know what I would do for christmas if it wasnt for my mom!!
Amy
December 20, 2009 at 6:31 pmI am so nosey, but r u and Adam together yet?? It’s happening, right?? He’s cute~
Sarah
December 20, 2009 at 6:31 pmI know you don’t like to get in to personal matters on the blog, but wowza that is a cute pic of you and Adam!
Sam
December 20, 2009 at 6:31 pmBrunch looks, how can I say this…. incredible? It seems like something that would be on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives (Totally a good thing in my book!)
Glad you enjoyed yourself.
Mel
December 20, 2009 at 6:33 pmThat brunch looks amazing! It makes me miss the South.
anon
December 20, 2009 at 6:38 pmi suspected…now i think i know…you and adam are adorable together. you deserve a great guy and he seems like one from what you’ve told us !
Babycakes
December 20, 2009 at 6:39 pmThat pic of you and Adam is insanely adorable 🙂
VeggieGirl
December 20, 2009 at 6:40 pmEnjoy the HOT SAUCE party!
Oh and your bracelet = may I borrow it? 😀
Erin
December 20, 2009 at 6:45 pmI love that almost all of your meals are called “the best ever.” It makes me so happy living vicariously through your food experiences! 😀
Shannon
December 20, 2009 at 6:46 pmSuch a cute pic of you and Adam….Are y’all dating? 😉
katie
December 20, 2009 at 6:51 pmokay girl you look SO GOOD for saying that youve gained weight- you are radiating!! i dont see any extra weight there!!
Lesley Lifting Life
December 20, 2009 at 6:57 pmHaha, hot sauce party … you’re braver than me … I am a hot sauce weeny!!
daintyvegan
December 20, 2009 at 6:59 pmThe chocolate beignet looks so good.. although I’ve never heard of a beignet before. I’ve led a very sheltered life.. haha.
Have fun at the hot sauce party!
Heather @ The Joyful Kitchen
December 20, 2009 at 7:07 pmOh wow, that brunch couldn’t look any better! Next time I’m out in the Bay Area I WILL be hitting up Brenda’s French Soul Food! Can’t wait for the pics in the AM!
Lauren @ louisianagrown
December 20, 2009 at 7:11 pmAHHH CRYSTAL HOT SAUCE! I am so so so pumped right now. That is straight from my stomping ground, and I just did a post on it. Hope you loved it, cause it’s my FAVORITE.
Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore)
December 20, 2009 at 7:23 pmYou do a great job of keeping yourself busy. I admire your ability to keep on truckin’, even when you’re tired and want to be in bed. Oh, and I agree with Jenna, you and Adam do look adorable together. Is there something you need to share??
Michelle@Eatingjourney
December 20, 2009 at 7:27 pmyou need to get a job as a food critic and invite your blog readers along (hint hint) then you could travel the world.
Deanna
December 20, 2009 at 7:29 pmOk, I’m with the rest of ’em….what’s up with you and Adam?! If you’re not entirely wanting to divulge your whole love life, could you at least please give us a clue? If you’re not dating Adam, can you just tell us so we can stop speculating?! I know it’s really crazy but I think we all are dying to know what’s *really* going on in Jenna-land!!!
Alison
December 20, 2009 at 7:40 pmthat picture of you and adam is so cute! what a fun non-posed shot. just darling.
Ameena
December 20, 2009 at 7:44 pmVery cute picture! You guys look great together.
Stephanie
December 20, 2009 at 8:02 pmeverything looks amazing!
CalliNae
December 20, 2009 at 8:08 pmHaha, don’t you just love how people are tryin to guess if you and Adam are dating? Oh gosh. Technology 😉
I LOVE San fran. I just applied for a summer job there, so cross your fingers. If I get it? That watermelon tea looks a lil bit like heaven.
Deva (Voracious Vorilee)
December 20, 2009 at 8:25 pmThe beignets are amazing looking. I love good, flaky, biscuits. I’m always on the lookout for one that’s flaky and melt-in-your-mouth delicious 🙂
Chelsea
December 20, 2009 at 8:25 pmI need to make a trip to the city-that looks delish! You know, it’s so far away and all (20 minutes). YAY for your ‘rents!!!!
Mindy
December 20, 2009 at 8:27 pmI agree with all the other comments–you and adam look cute together ;D
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca)
December 20, 2009 at 8:35 pmDoes that cheese ever look YUMMMMMMMY!!!
Laura
December 20, 2009 at 8:47 pmLove how happy you look in the candid shot. And, randomly, you have great eyebrows! 🙂
candice
December 20, 2009 at 9:17 pmWell, now I know what beignets are. 😀 Goat cheese + shrimp sounds SO good! And love for grits and biscuits is a given. I haven’t had southern food since I was in the south, haha.
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg
December 20, 2009 at 9:42 pmA flight of beignets? You just made my Louisiana heart swoon.
Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run
December 20, 2009 at 10:40 pmU R 2 cute. Can’t wait for the hot sauce recap : )
christie, honoring health
December 21, 2009 at 4:23 amSounds great, can not wait for the hot sauce party recap!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
December 21, 2009 at 4:28 amI’m not from the South, but now I kinda wish that I was given that you all seem to know how to eat! Man, that food and tea looks amazing!
From what I can tell, you don’t have any weight to lose! You look amazing.
Naina
December 21, 2009 at 4:55 amOmgod Jenna, you look so stunnin’ in that pic of you and Adam! Seriously u eat the most faboulous food and look like a size 2! jealous!(well actually i’m the same way with less fab food :)) I wish i turned out that good in pics though! Oh, Jenna i wuz wonderin, HOW TALL R U? u look pretty tall n i wuz just wonderin.
P.S. U AND ADAM NEEED TO B TOGETHA (as everyone already said)
Paige (Running Around Normal)
December 21, 2009 at 5:16 amThose beignets! Wow – looks fabulous. And you look so cute:)
Have fun with your mama!
Jac
December 21, 2009 at 5:28 ami’m so jealous of the biscuits. hard to find them here in malaysia. practically only one place sells it.. and it’s a fast food chain..
skinnyrunner
December 21, 2009 at 5:52 amthose beignets make me want to go to san fran right now! you always seem to find the best restaurants!
lauren (athlEAT)
December 21, 2009 at 6:18 amomg. that food looks incredible. I need to take a trip to san fran just to try that place.
Diana @ frontyardfoodie
December 21, 2009 at 6:44 amSounds lovely. I’ll definitely remember that for next time I’m out there. I love me some San Franny!
Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life
December 21, 2009 at 6:57 amLove the photos-so cute!!
Beth @ DiningAndDishing
December 21, 2009 at 6:58 amThat chocolate beignet looks fantastic!! Hope you and your mom are having a blast :O)
Katie
December 21, 2009 at 7:09 amCheese
Hot sauce
Cheese
Hot sauce
OMG this place looks delicious!
Happy New Week,
Katie
http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/2009/12/slim-secrets-bars-giveaway-extended.html
Cait (Cait's Plate)
December 21, 2009 at 7:26 amOH MY GOSH! That chocolate beignet looks SO GOOD!! Yay! So glad your family is coming!
Mackenzie
December 21, 2009 at 7:34 amHOLY MOLY~ totally jealous of your majestic looking beignets!
hahaham is it also a southern thing to be obsessed with hot sauce? I literally put it on everything,that and barbeque sauce 🙂
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
December 21, 2009 at 7:42 amI love your blog. That chocolate beignet looks amazing. If there were somewhere in my area that sold beignets, I’d be there right now. The watermelon sweet tea sounds great, too. I’ll have to save that idea (we’re covered in about two feet of snow right now!) for summertime.
laci
December 21, 2009 at 7:47 amsounds like so much fun!
merry almost christmas 🙂
Katie
December 21, 2009 at 8:00 amYour hot sauce party sounds really fun, what a great idea. My boyfriend just got me a collection of hot sauce for christmas. I couldn’t be happier!
amanda
December 21, 2009 at 8:06 amOMG I love cajun food. The hotter the better if you ask me
Emily
December 21, 2009 at 8:39 amBrunch looks amazing. I’ve only had beignets once in New Orleans, but they were delish.
I love your bracelet, Jenna. Is that a map pattern I see? 🙂
Joelle (The Pancake Girl))
December 21, 2009 at 8:42 amA chocolate beignet! Yum!
Cassie @ A Very Busy Mind
December 21, 2009 at 9:32 amI definitely feel ya on the parents = best friends thing. My parents are my best friends, too!
Amanda @ Cakes and Ale
December 21, 2009 at 10:43 amI want to smother my face in that chocolate beignet. Also, even though I am a Chicagoan, I’ve got great love for the grits. My sis lives in N Carolina and makes a mean batch.
PS Gotta concur with the others – that pic is very cute.
Jil
December 21, 2009 at 11:13 amAhhh, that chocolate beignet looks amaaaaaazing!! I am just so, so so so so sooo jealous!
Freya
December 21, 2009 at 1:43 pmA friend (another reader) and I are going to SF in January and we are already planning this place into the schedule. Looks OUTRAGEOUS! Like, beyond outrageous.
Gab*
December 21, 2009 at 2:23 pmYum!! I love going out for brunch. So nice that your parents are visiting for Christmas 🙂
Carolyn
December 21, 2009 at 7:37 pmI have some of that hot sauce in my fridge. It’s fantastic!!
jenna
December 22, 2009 at 7:13 amGuys, I would really appreciate keeping some parts of my life private for right now. I share a HUGE chunk of my life with you and ask that you respect my wishes in return. Thanks!
Sarah
December 22, 2009 at 1:01 pmLol, then maybe you shouldn’t have posted the lovey-dovey picture. Surely there was another one that would have inspired less commenting.
Brooke
January 6, 2010 at 8:01 pmAlright, can you stop looking at him with those love eyes? Like, whatever, stop lying to yourself.. you are in love with him. We all know you fed him bites of those beignets and then licked your fingers. He touched your thigh as you sipped your sweet tea with delight. Everyone is talking about it. And now you can delete this comment and tell Rocky I will makeout with him if and only if he seduces me with free wine and cheese and I can sleep on your floor with D-exter.
jenna
January 6, 2010 at 8:28 pmhahahahahahahahaha brooke, i heart you.
Tracie
June 20, 2011 at 7:35 pmMy sweet husband and I were just in San Francisco and because of this post, we ate at Brenda’s. Best. Biscuit. EVER. Funny that while I’d read this post before going, I didn’t really pay attention to what you’d ordered. Yup, I got the goat cheese and shrimp omelet, too. Oh so good! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!