The perfect summer day ~ Perennial brunch and sailing away

This past holiday weekend I was delighted by the gorgeous weather, and spent Friday through Monday sunning myself and spending as much time as possible outside with family and friends. Sunday was particularly delightful, as it involved two of my favorite pastimes – eating and sailing.

I don’t think I’ve ever talked about sailing on this blog before, and that’s a surprise, considering the husband and I have made it an avid hobby for four years now. It all started when we used to picnic by Belmont Harbor and watch the boats come in and out, when we began to question the different things we observed about sailboats. How come that one doesn’t have its sail up? What is that strange third sail billowing out and of such vibrant color? How does one man alone sail a boat that large?? So we decided to take up lessons, to learn such answers and hopefully have some fun along the way. What we didn’t anticipate is this would soon become one of our favorite hobbies, and a way in which we spend many a pleasant summer weekend.

So this past Sunday, we decided to have a good meal before setting out on an afternoon sail. I had been wanting to try Perennial’s outdoor seating for quite some time, as I love the way it looks like such an oasis right on the corner of a couple of bustling streets. And let me just say, the view of Perennial’s patio as a passerby is nothing compared to the patio as a diner. It felt so lush ~ with tall potted ferns and flora all around us, tabletops which looked of bamboo, and the summer sun on my shoulders. If you’re one who looks for a great atmosphere for which to life fork and knife, look no further, Perennial is it.

the bloody mary had a full-out appetizer on top!

I got a kick out of the mini Highlife served with the Bloody Mary

Not to mention, the food was delectable and fit right in with the atmosphere. I felt like this is the type of place where one should be drinking an indulgent Bellini or Bloody Mary, and that is what we drank. I wanted to be eating smoked salmon with crème fraiche, beautiful caramelized onions and the most delicate paper thin bagel chips, and that is what I ate. I devoured my plate, and savored each bite. Each dish was smart, sourced locally, and tasty. The freshly baked chocolate croissants we had to whet the appetite were heavenly.

need I say more? :)

And then we topped it all off with an afternoon sail ~ where the wind was a bit rough (read: adventurous) and we were sailing on “jib only”. My self that once watched the sailboats pass by would be proud to hear such lingo slip off my tongue. From passerby to favorite pastime, for me, that's what summer’s all about.