Good morning!
Yesterday ended up being so busy! I had a meeting in Calistoga with Echelon about the Gran Fondo (eeek!!). So excited to start training—I think I’m going to start in two weeks so right now I’m just focusing on getting really strong with a lot of core body workouts (i.e. power yoga). We are working on getting my fundraising page up this afternoon so y’all can start to make donations as you feel led. 100% of all proceeds to go further cancer research and I urge you to give whatever is on your heart.
After my meeting, I snacked on my favorite bar!
And then rushed to head out for a little dinner date at Mosaic. We’ve always wanted to try this place, which is sort of off the beaten path in Forestville. Seriously, it’s like a hole in the wall fancy restaurant in the middle of nowhere. Awesome!
Started with their signature appetizer, the wild mushrooms:
I can’t even express how delicious this was! Wild mushrooms with these little toast points and gooey brie cheese. I only ate a little because I didn’t want to spoil my appetite, but it was faaaantastic!
I couldn’t decide on an entree and, to be honest, the appetizers were appealing to me a lot more for a change so I went with two:
Roasted beet salad:
And French onion soup:
Both were delicious. The salad had different kinds of beets with toasted hazelnuts, goat cheese and orange segments….and the onion soup was pretty traditional but had less bread and cheese than what I was used to (a good thing, actually!). My lovely date ordered these scallops and coffee encrusted steak and moaned it was one of the best dinners of his life. 😉
Drank about 1.5 glasses of a big, bold Cabernet. It was an intense wine and paired perfectly with the steak (not so much the beet salad but whatev)
All was fine but I woke up this morning at 5:45 SO HUNGRY. As in, my stomach was eating itself and I felt shaky and almost sick! How strange is that?! I didn’t even know if I could make it during the cooking process for the oats because I thought I might get sick. Bizarre. Anyway, I DID make it and had a big bowl of egg white oats and Tazo Awake tea.
The usual—1/2 c oats, 1 c water + 2 egg whites, 1 banana, cinnamon, 1 T almond butter.
***
Answering emails/organizing my life for the next 45 minutes and then off to a 75 minute power vinyasa class followed by working at the studio for a couple hours.
See you later!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down)
January 13, 2010 at 7:55 amI hate mornings when I feel *that* hungry. At least you had a nice, satisfying breakfast! 😀
Oh, and I heart beets as well. SO GOOD! Especially roasted with goat cheese on top…oh yum. 😀
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans
January 13, 2010 at 7:57 amCan’t wait to hear all about your cycling adventures! I work for a cycling/running company and have been a cyclist for years so I’m stoked about all of the bike love! I love beets! Eating them always makes me think of Doug and the band The Beets…
CW
January 13, 2010 at 8:09 amDid you say “Date” ? 🙂
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
January 13, 2010 at 8:09 amWhile all of the food looks delicious here (especially that roasted beet salad and ah-ma-zing soup), the most exciting part of this post was trying to figure out who this lovely dinner date was with. I won’t pry, but I will say that I’m FILLED with curiosity. I, too, keep my dating life out of my blog, but sometimes…it’s just fun to be girly about that sort of thing. 🙂
Have a great day, Jenna! Looking forward to hearing about your journey towards this amazing cycling challenge!
Betsy
January 13, 2010 at 8:10 amOoh a date!! Ha..the food looks delicious, too, but I’m interested to find out more about this guy. In due time of course!
Becky
January 13, 2010 at 8:11 amOh french onion soup! The best soup in the whole wide world! Looks amazing! And I have definitely had mornings like that where I wake up ravenous and almost faint because I’m so hungry. On the other hand, I have mornings like today where I wake up and have no appetite and have to force myself to choke down some sort of breakfast. Our bodies are so weird!! 🙂
Morgan @ Life After Bagels
January 13, 2010 at 8:11 amI get that hungry almost every morning, and believe me when I tell you I totally eat enough calories in the day. I’ve actually had a nutrition consultation to help me to prepare nutrient dense foods that keep me full all day. I do better now but I still get the shakes most mornings. I microwave a cup of water and lemon (slices precut for extra fastness) straight away and just getting something in my belly gets me through making breakfast.
Lauren @ Eater not a runner
January 13, 2010 at 8:13 amLove love love beet salad!
Glad you made it to the oats ok this morning :-/
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
January 13, 2010 at 8:13 amI’ve just started a love affair with mushrooms. That dish looks amazing!
Evan Thomas
January 13, 2010 at 8:14 amI think I ate too many beets over a 2 week period when i didnt know about their after effect, and now I haven’t had any since, haha. If I did try them again, definitely would love to have them with goat cheese–it’s my favorite!
megan
January 13, 2010 at 8:16 amoooh, the intrigue 🙂
must be hard to have a private life when so many people who don’t even know you want to know every detail 🙂
Kristen @ Simply Savor
January 13, 2010 at 8:18 amyuum! i’ve heard great things about Mosaic’s wild mushroom dish, and everything looks fabulous! so excited to hear more about your training and fundraising for the Gran Fondo! 🙂
Kelly L.
January 13, 2010 at 8:18 amJenna! When are you going to reveal your new dinner companion? :o)
Jess
January 13, 2010 at 8:21 amHmmm yes after reading for 2 years I feel obligated to know who this date is? jk jk 😉 But you know we are all DYING to know!!
MyThy as in "Mighty"
January 13, 2010 at 8:21 amWe’re all wondering….D.A.T.E.??? 😉
Erin
January 13, 2010 at 8:22 amMorning hunger like that is the worst — good thing you had a big, hot bowl to fill you up. 🙂
Kristen @ Change of Pace
January 13, 2010 at 8:22 amI am so jealous of the delicious food you get to eat all the time! 🙂
Cathy P
January 13, 2010 at 8:23 amDinner looks great! Glad all is well with you, I can’t wait to get out to Cali one day and have your life for my vacation! haha! Orgeon Trails rocks!
Jessie (Vegan-minded)
January 13, 2010 at 8:23 amThat wild mushroom dish looks amazing, as do the roasted beets. Yum! 🙂
Katy @ These Beautiful Feet
January 13, 2010 at 8:24 amOkay bread and brie are heavenly in itself but I LOVE mushrooms! That combo had to be absolutely incredible. Sorry you felt off this morning, glad you got your oats in time!
Traci
January 13, 2010 at 8:26 amOh no…Beets are the ONE vegetable I don’t like. Awake tea=yum.
Beth @ DiningAndDishing
January 13, 2010 at 8:27 amWHO is this date we keep hearing about!? 🙂
M
January 13, 2010 at 8:28 amHi Jenna,
You had to know when you were typing this post, and you wrote “date” that your loyal, maybe slightly nosy, followers were going to be super intrigued. Just tell me do plan on sharing who your “new man” is …(eventually)?
~M
Jil
January 13, 2010 at 8:31 amOhhh, date! Yay! The meal looks absolutely phenomenal! 🙂 The wildmushrooms sound so good — and I’m a sucker for a fantastic French onion soup.
rachael
January 13, 2010 at 8:35 amI tend to be really hungry every morning. I don’t know how people manage skip breakfast!
Megan (BitesoftheApple)
January 13, 2010 at 8:36 amLove is in the air, huh!? Beets are like a miracle food for endurance athletes, so you’re in luck for your big race!
Danielle
January 13, 2010 at 8:38 amOooh sweet date I’m sure 😉 I want to live your life.
Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama
January 13, 2010 at 8:39 amOoooo a date? I’m intrigued!
I love beets, too!
Krissy - Single Serving
January 13, 2010 at 8:39 amI just made an onion soup that looks really close to the one you had last night. It was delicious – and there was just enough bread and cheese to make me happy.
I had a bad beet experience in my childhood but all I hear is how yummy and sweet roasted beets are. Maybe I’ll have to give them a go.
Lauren @ Reading and Running
January 13, 2010 at 8:40 amOooooooh a date! Spill!
Your post title reminded me of Dwight from The Office and his beet farm!
I hate that early EARLY morning hunger that wakes your from your sleep. Yuck!
Raya
January 13, 2010 at 8:42 amI LOVE tazo awake tea!!!! And happy to hear about your “date”…YOU DESERVE IT!!! 🙂
jeri
January 13, 2010 at 8:43 amI didn’t catch anything after the word DATE. 😉
Shannon (The Daily Balance)
January 13, 2010 at 8:47 ambeets and goat cheese were made for eachother!
Lauren
January 13, 2010 at 8:54 amSecrets don’t make friends, Jenna. Spill the beans.
HeatherBakes
January 13, 2010 at 8:55 amBeets are one of those veggies that I’m really TRYING to like. Maybe that salad would convince me…?
Sounds like a fun DATE!!!
Tiffany
January 13, 2010 at 8:55 amYeah, no offense, but forget all the food information…we want to know about this hot date of yours! 😉 Exciting!
Heather @ (The Single Dish)
January 13, 2010 at 8:58 amThe mushrooms looked great!
Kristin
January 13, 2010 at 9:00 amDinner looks delish! You’re really not going to fill your lovely readers in on who the date was??
Lauren
January 13, 2010 at 9:03 amCracking up about all the date comments — as soon as I read this post I knew everyone would be asking! 😉
lora
January 13, 2010 at 9:04 amdating jenna? is it one of those super adorable wine guys you hang out with so much? i hope so. dates are fun especially with great food!
xoxo
lo
honeynutlo.com
Stina
January 13, 2010 at 9:05 amI’ve never tried a beet, but that salad looks tempting! But who cares about beets when you’ve got a secret date 🙂
Mindy
January 13, 2010 at 9:08 amdate?!!? 😀
Meghan
January 13, 2010 at 9:14 amYour meal looks amazing! Love the beautiful photos, and good luck with the bike race, what an awesome goal!
Kristin
January 13, 2010 at 9:18 amI’ve been secretly rooting for one of the wine guys you hang out with to be your “date” I won’t say who because I don’t want to upset anyone if it is not him.
skinnyrunner
January 13, 2010 at 9:19 amyou should write a book on great restaurants, you seem to always go to them! and have great pictures of the food.
Kelly B.
January 13, 2010 at 9:21 amMushrooms could quite possibly be the best food…for a fungus! haha!
Deb
January 13, 2010 at 9:23 amDate, huh?
katherine
January 13, 2010 at 9:25 amThat starving feeling is the worst! I usually have it after a night of indulgence, as though my stomach has been working so hard that it digested all the food and then started on itself!
Sana
January 13, 2010 at 9:25 amBahaha- maybe you need to start a new blog on your “date” I think more people are into that 😉 Just kidding everyone is super happy for youu!!!!
I get that way sometimes too, boy does it feel good to finally eat!!!
Tamara
January 13, 2010 at 9:39 amOmg!! The same exact thing happened to me this morning! I had to pull out a coke and drink it to settle my stomach enough to eat I was so sick from hunger!
Ali @ Food, Fitness, Fashion
January 13, 2010 at 9:43 amThat french onion soup looks amazing even though it is a dark picture! I LOOOVE french onion! Is it really good in France?
Mama Pea
January 13, 2010 at 9:52 amLook at all these vultures over the word “date!” Like a catch like you wouldn’t have tons of dates! I say keep it on the D.L.!!!
Samantha
January 13, 2010 at 9:54 amI want to hear about the date too!
Erica H.
January 13, 2010 at 9:58 amAh look at us foodies and fitness lovers, but say the word date … 🙂 In due time. You have to keep some things private right? Otherwise there’d be no mystery! Though it sounds like he might meet your criteria of being able to talk about food/enjoy food as much as you!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing
January 13, 2010 at 10:06 amPer usual, your dinner looked and sounded amaaaaazing!
And I HATE that hunger feeling.. it’s awful!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
January 13, 2010 at 10:11 amI’m usually starving when I wake up, especially if I ate a big meal the night before. Go figure. That beet salad looked pretty amazing.
meagan
January 13, 2010 at 10:13 amah! mosaic! that restaurant saved my husband and i on our vacation. we had tasted at iron horse and marimar and were so, so hungry. we stopped in and just inhaled the food. i’m glad you got to go! try the lunch sometime–it’s also very tasty.
Karla
January 13, 2010 at 10:22 amI looooove Beets! I’ve had beet salads twice in the past week! Once at Parcel 104 in Santa Clara and once at Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa! Both delicious! I always forget how good beets are!
Amanda @ Cakes and Ale
January 13, 2010 at 10:33 amI’m kind of obsessed with beets this time of year (or all year?!)… especially roasted ones, preferrably red and golden together… topped with burrata! OMG
Mrs. Myers @ Eat Move Write
January 13, 2010 at 10:33 amYay for a date. The food looks fab. I love egg whites oats. I’m going to have to steal that.
Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run
January 13, 2010 at 10:36 amI figured out the more I eat for dinner, the more hungry I am in the morning – dislike! Are you going to reveal your “lovely date”? Have a good day, Jenna. Working at a yoga studio sounds like a good place to be.
jenna
January 13, 2010 at 10:56 amY’all are hilarious! No, I’m not going to reveal my date..what’s the fun in that? This blog is a food blog…not “jenna’s weird dating life blog”. Although that would probably make a really interesting and funny blog as well. Some things have to stay private for the time being–not everyone is comfortable with going public in front of the whole internet!
Allison K
January 13, 2010 at 10:40 amYou should just start calling him Mystery Man. 😉
The Paris Food Blague
January 13, 2010 at 10:48 amdelicious looking brie and mushrooms! do you know what kind they are???
Diana @ frontyardfoodie
January 13, 2010 at 10:58 amI should eat beets more often. We grow them at my community garden so I’ll attempt to eat more of them this summer!
Cynthia (It All Changes)
January 13, 2010 at 11:00 amSounds like the food was great but the company was even better. I’m glad you are happy 🙂
Naomi (onefitfoodie)
January 13, 2010 at 11:02 amperfect breakfast to cure a grumbling tummy! I had eggwhite oats this morning too 🙂
i LOVE BEETS esp roasted with goatcheese and baby spinach!
Suzanne de Cornelia
January 13, 2010 at 11:19 am“My lovely date’? Hmm, umm. Thought you could sneak that past us like it was stuffed with goat cheese, did jah? 😉
Sarah (Oc2Seattle)
January 13, 2010 at 11:50 amApp dinners are the best! Excited that you’re riding for such a great cause, hope you raise loads of $$.
Lara
January 13, 2010 at 12:02 pmYou shared your big breakup with the blog world so why not a date? 🙂
La
January 13, 2010 at 12:03 pmI was just reading Serious Eats and noticed an article called 166 Things To Do With Hot Sauce and it reminded me of you!
Beets are amazing – this post just reminded me I have a bunch in the oven…
Jill
January 13, 2010 at 12:04 pmIs speculation allowed? Adam Adam Adam!
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen)
January 13, 2010 at 12:09 pmI love beets! Especially when paired with goat cheese 🙂
I definitely get that shaky, sick feeling when my blood sugar drops. I notice it more in the morning (when I drink coffee on an empty stomach) or after a tough workout. I’ve started keeping peanuts and clif bars with me at all times.
Jenna
January 13, 2010 at 12:20 pmDinner looks great! Soo who was your date?! 😉
Jenna
amanda
January 13, 2010 at 12:34 pmMushrooms are one of my favorite things to make. I am hooked on portabella mushroom caps
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg
January 13, 2010 at 12:39 pmYay for lovely dates and beets!!!
Paige (Running Around Normal)
January 13, 2010 at 12:40 pmDinner looks fabulous! So nice to have such an enjoyable time on your date 😀
I love me some beets, too! Have a great day, Jenna!
Sara
January 13, 2010 at 12:54 pmI just found your blog! Love it! And I LOVE wild mushrooms…ahhh…so delicious, there’s a place in Sausalito I know that does an incredible wild mushroom panini!
Sara
Sarah @ See Sarah Eat
January 13, 2010 at 1:08 pmI heart beets too! Glad you had a good time 🙂
Paige
January 13, 2010 at 1:10 pmI don’t heart beets. I heart dates!
Katharine
January 13, 2010 at 1:39 pmThose mornings where you wake up and are starving are so strange – it’s like you can’t get the food into your stomach fast enough! And that beet salad sounds fab – beets are definitely one of my favorite foods of all time.
Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather
January 13, 2010 at 1:44 pmCan you taste a difference with the egg whites in your oats? I’d love to get more protein in my morning oatmeal and had thought about adding egg whites but haven’t got around to it yet.
Heather @ The Joyful Kitchen
January 13, 2010 at 2:37 pmi mmmmmmmmmm’ed my way all through reading this post 🙂
Danica
January 13, 2010 at 2:58 pmWhat a fantastic ride – you are going to LOVE it. Silverado Trail is so beautiful and awesome for running or biking.
Jenny
January 13, 2010 at 4:40 pmI love hearing updates about your training! Just such a cool experience 🙂
I love waking up hungry, but it’s definitely scary to wake up THAT hungry.
Still Life in Southeast Asia
January 13, 2010 at 6:12 pmHaha. You say “date” and hundreds of little ears perk up (including mine). Love it!!!
Beets are so good, esp with goat cheese. Lovely dinner, Jenna.
diana(mymarble rye)
January 13, 2010 at 6:58 pmI think this dating thing will be a great thing for you. It’ll let a soul warm you when you miss your family.:)
Foy Update - Cook. Garden. Write. Repeat.
January 13, 2010 at 8:19 pmI need to learn how to prepare beets. They are so pretty and healthy, I just feel like we should get along.
Danielle
January 15, 2010 at 6:50 pmYea for a fun evening out!