We're on Vacation

FFC411 is on vacation for the week...we'll be back after Labor Day with all our favorite things to do around Fairfield County in the fall {some of our favorite weeks of the year!}

Happy End of Summer!

Rive Bistro

We had a wonderful dinner out celebrating my parents 35th wedding anniversary at the new french kitchen, Rive Bistro in Westport. As I uploaded the photos from my phone I realized I didn't have a single shot of anything we ate - the true benchmark of a good meal as I was too excited to dive in to take any pictures! 

Rive Bistro has lovely views of the Saugatuck River, especially as the sun was setting and the shells were rowing by. They offer indoor dining with huge picture windows as well as a large covered outdoor dining area. Come winter they also have a big cozy fireplace and a full service bar. 

Enjoying the beautiful river view!

Indoor/Outdoor dining

Everything we ate was delicious and we were sure to sample many menu offers! We started off with Whispering Angel Rose and the warm fresh bread. For appetizers we enjoyed the mini lobster rolls (the perfect bite size and delicious tangy flavor!), the crab cake (wonderful and crispy with a curry remoulade!), the lamb meatballs (juicy meatballs with red sauce over a bed of caramelized vidalia onions - amazing!) and roasted beet salad with goat cheese for some veggies (tasted more like sweet dessert - mmm!). We had to stick to the french bistro staples for dinner, all of which were wonderful - Duck Confit, Steak Frites, Moules Frites Provencale and Trout Almondine! 

However after all that fabulous food the absolute stand out, best thing I have ever eaten was the bread pudding with warm carmel sauce! After we took the picture below I don't think anyone spoke while we devoured this amazing dessert. Of everything we sampled this will have me running back the quickest!

Family photo op!

A wonderful lunch menu as well - would be great for an warm fall afternoon on the patio. Check out photos and detailed menu at rivebistro.com. 

299 Riverside Ave 

Westport CT 

203.557.8049

ASHA by ADM Charms

I was so excited on our trip to Nantucket when my mom surprised me with the ASHA Nantucket charm I'd been lusting over as a pillow present. I love ASHA jewelry and the idea of collecting her charms for all my favorite places would be amazing...I hope she adds more locations soon! We had a great trip and I loved layering my new charm with my favorite lily pendent, so pretty!

http://www.ashabyadm.com/necklaces/charms/nantucket-charm

A few photos from our weekend...

Brant Point

Jetties

Sage Advice!  

Beautiful afternoon stroll 

Rainy day drinks at Millie's

Perfect Beach Day

Smith Point 

101 Dinner Date

Looking for another casual dining option with your family? Everyone knows we love Brendan's 101 for breakfast and lunch but it's also one of our new favorite easy dinner spots! Their full menu available for dinner - highlights including the lobster roll, california burger {so delicious!}, sweet william special burger, filet mignon steak sandwich and of course some ice cream for dessert! Your little ones can still get all their lunchtime favorites. It's also BYOB, and BYO glasses for our family! A great Sunday night stop after a long day at the beach or come by boat and walk from the town dock. We're definitely looking forward to some fun dinners on their deck in September when the cool Fall nights roll into town!

Brendan's 101
101 Rowayton Ave, Rowayton
www.brendans101.com

Had to bring our own Soundview Millworks cups!

Lemon and Lines

While many people are starting to get excited about Fall, I'm enjoying every Summer moment of August {my favorite month!} I'm not interested in shopping for sweaters and boots - I only want to be enjoying shorts and swimsuits. So what better time to have found these wonderful bracelets, they will make me smile all month and I see myself wearing them into September for an Indian Summer!

I love the look of them stacked together - takes these sporty bracelets and elevates them to something chic!

I'm also loving my limited edition Newport Knot bracelet!

Check out all the styles at www.lemonandline.com

Favorite Flower Shops

When it comes time to pick up some flowers, either as a gift or just to brighten up our apartment these are a few of my favorite spots!

Cos Cob Farms in Greenwich 

61 East Putnam Ave (next to Corbos)

Beautiful cut flowers, potted plants, amazing orchards for $39! See the below stunner that I picked up there recently. They also have delicious candies, fresh fruit and hard to find grocery items. 

Me and my orchid cruising around town!

Flower & Flowers in Darien

876 Post Road 

203.662.9666

www.flowersandflowers.net

We love Adam's beautiful flowers - great as a gift or for a special event. We love the below arrangements he did for a friends dinner party {and we really love their dining room chairs!}

Love all the texture here!

Compo Farm Flowers in Darien 

27 Tokeneke Road (next to Ernies)

Another lovely spot for fresh cut flowers, lots of unique blooms, and also beautiful arrangements {they usually have a nice assortment in their refrigerator or stop in to request a custom order} They did these beautiful flowers for my parents 35th wedding anniversary!

Summer Reading List - Part 2

On track for my goal of 52 books in 52 weeks - reading book number 33 in the 33rd week! Hopefully I'll be able to keep it up through the Fall. This prompted me to share a second Reading List since I've read so many more wonderful books this summer - and a few that are already packed in my bag for our upcoming week in Chatham!

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams - I've been saving this book all summer to read on vacation, I cannot wait!!

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - sometimes you just need to enjoy a little YA fiction! 

Crime of Privilege by Walter Walker - from Palm Beach to Cape Cod, this is a Kennedy-esq page turner!

The Irresistible Blueberry Bakeshop and Cafe by Mary Simses - got to support a former FFC writer!

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani

The Last Summer of the Camperdowns by Elizabeth Kelly - slow to start but once it got going I loved the story, especially the last page.

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison

Happy Reading!

Panzanella Salad

After having food envy over my cousins delicious beach lunch we came right home from vacation and starting whipping ourselves up some panzanella salads! The perfect summer lunch or dinner. I love this salad because you can pretty much throw in the kitchen sink and it's delicious. Add grilled chicken from last nights dinner, make croutons from last weekends crusty bread, use leftover veggies or dressing, just keeps getting better and better! I definitely plan to make up a big batch to eat for lunch on our upcoming week in Chatham, a great light meal for a warm day in the sun! 

Great big batch for a week of lunches!

Add brussel sprouts - mmmm!

Perfect little appetizer!