Brunch at Tryst in Arlington
Mother’s Day brunch at Tryst is a two course prix fixe with a mimosa or virgin Cranberry cooler for $28. Brunch will be served Sunday, May 10th from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If mom likes a little spice with her brunch then the Bloody Mary with habanero infused vodka is a must. Starters on the menu range from a traditional berry parfait to potato and cabbage pirogues with house cured salmon but it’s the boozy blintz that caught my eye with whipped ricotta, tequila and blueberries and that’s just the first course.
Wright Locke Farm in Winchester
Wright Locke Farm is my favourite place to go raspberry picking but we have a whole summer to get through until it’s time for that. In the meantime, it is Spring and the farm is just awakening. The Spring Fling will be held on Sunday, May 10th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a seedling sale, tractor rides a petting zoo, music and more.
Cocktails & Confections in Cambridge
Buy mom a ticket to cocktails and confections at Temple Bar on Saturday, May 9th. I love taking new classes and this class from Bar Manager and pastry aficionado Jenn Harvey and events manager Jillian McCarthy sounds like the perfect treat. The class will be held at Temple bar from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. In the class, mom will learn step-by-step how to mix, stir and shake three original cocktails before pairing them with house-made pastries based on recipes from the Temple Bar team’s moms. Tickets are $35 per person/$60 for a pair. To register, visit http://bit.ly/1CCljHi
If mom is booked all weekend, then you could give her the gift of pasta (only if she enjoys cooking of course) Russell House Tavern Executive Chef Tom Borgia will demonstrate how to make perfect pasta. Mom will learn how to make fresh gnocchi, ravioli, spaghetti and rigatoni, and then stir up the sauces that make them irresistible. Better yet, send mom to the spa and send dad to learn to make pasta on his lunch break. Tuesday, May 12, 2015 from 11:00AM-12:00PM The Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 42 Brattle Street, Cambridge MA 02138 Tickets are $35 per person. To register, visit www.ccae.org and select “TKIT.”
Riverside Stroll & Brunch at Rialto
The Charles Hotel is a stone’s throw from the Charles River, which sparkles with sunlight these days. Bring the whole family to Rialto for their Mother’s Day brunch and then take a stroll through Harvard Square, along the river, or through Harvard yard. On the menu are such temptations as ginger lemon scones (my mom loves all things ginger), crab tagliatelle with asparagus and crème fraîche, pan roasted char with crispy potatoes and rhubarb (I love all things rhubarb), peppered beef tenderloin with king trumpet mushrooms and artichoke three ways, and rhubarb ginger fool just to read off a few items. The prix fixe menu is three courses ($65 for adults/$25 for children) The children’s menu has a choice of tagliatelle with eggs and bacon, roast chicken with polenta and asparagus, or tenderloin with crispy potatoes and peas. The menu has antipasti and breads for the table, a choice of secondi (main course) and a choice of dolci (dessert). The children’s dessert menu is a choice of chocolate ice cream sundae or vanilla cupcake with chocolate frosting. The adult dessert menu has a little bit of everything ricotta, lemon, ginger, rhubarb, chocolate, amaretto, and sorbet. Brunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Brunch at Craigie on Main
Craigie on Main is an amazing place to dine for dinner, but are you going to get that same experience for brunch? I always wondered if brunch could highlight the talent and ingredients the same way that dinner can, and I have to say after a few brunches there I have concluded that the answer is a resounding “YES!”. For families with young children, this can be a great spot for lunch (once you’ve perused the menu to ensure there is something the little ones will eat) because the energy of the open kitchen is fascinating to watch. You don’t even have to be a kid to enjoy that. Craigie on Main will be serving a prix fixe Mother’s Day brunch for $50 per person and children under 12 are $25. There are a few places where you really escape and enjoy brunch, but somehow time stops when you’re dining at Craigie (unless you’re in the kitchen where time seems to travel mile a minute). Just a few words from the brunch menu to tempt and taunt you: cèpes (for the mushroom loving mama), bacon wrapped grass fed tenderloin, pavlova, chocolate, pastry basket, and smoked sturgeon rillettes. For a more casual setting and brunch that is equally delicious try Kirkland Tap & Trotter.
South End Sugar Mama
If mom is really a kid at heart (and on her plate) then you’ll have to treat her to brunch at Tremont 647 and order their #-worthy pop tart. There will be mimosas and a grilled asparagus benedict, and of course Chef Andy Husband’s hues rancheros. Just to sweeten the brunch a little more, moms will be welcomed to brunch with a fruity pebble treat. Tremont 647 opens for brunch at 10:30 and reservations can be made at 617-266-4600. p.s. Saturday and Sundays are usually pajama brunch so mom doesn’t even have to get dressed if she doesn’t want to. It’s like the ultimate breakfast out of bed.
Brunch at Bergamot
If you haven’t been to Bergamot yet then Mother’s Day is a great time to try it out. It’s tucked away just on the border of Cambridge and Somerville a short distance from Harvard Square. In fact, the perfect distance to walk off brunch. Their menu is creative but also approachable. You will find things like Olive Oil Poached Salmon- Crispy Garlic, Shallots, Cashews, Mint, Shiso, Yuzu Nuoc Cham or Toast #1- Griddled Corn Bread, Crispy Ham, Spring Onion Cream Cheese. There are pancakes, and chef’s salad with grilled shrimp, preserved lemons and spring treats such as ramps, peas and favas to start with. Entrees include a breakfast pizza, a ploughman’s brunch with cured meats, cheddar, deviled eggs and house pickles as well as a beef schnitzel with asparagus, potatoes, and caramelized onions. Dessert take care of mom’s sweet tooth with a PBJ donut, rice pudding and mint chocolate trifle. For the mom who would rather have a piece of good cheese than a donut, there is a cheese plate.The Mother’s Day Brunch menu includes three courses for $44 which includes a selection of an appetizer, entrée and dessert and will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 pm.
Suburban Brunch at Sky
You don’t have to leave the suburbs for a Mother’s Day Brunch. Sky in Norwood has an early brunch (because they get that we’ve all been up since 5 a.m.) and a later brunch. from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. there will be pastries and bagels, make your own omelets, hand carved roasted turkey and sirloin as well as a variety of seasonal dishes. There will be a make your own Bloody Mary bar and to top it off a display of desserts set up all around a four foot chocolate fountain. The buffet is $32 for adults, $15 for children 7-12 and free for children 7 and under. Starting at 3:00 p.m. through 9 p.m. the Mother’s Day buffet switches over to a more elaborate dinner buffet with soup service, a raw bar, and antipasti. This afternoon/evening buffet is 449 for adults $18 for children 7-12 and free for children 7 and under.
Pampering at Pyara
Pyara is Aveda’s salon and spa and the one in Harvard Square moved a little and got a major upgrade. It’s the perfect urban oasis for mom to escape to, especially if you’ve noticed that her shower and vanity are stocked with Aveda products. If you’ve already made reservations for brunch, it’s okay you can treat her to a spa day another day. After brunch in Harvard Square, you can still take mom over to Aveda and let her shop to her heart’s content especially since it’s double points day (don’t worry if you don’t know what that means- she does.)
With Aveda Pure Privilege points, every $1 spent equates to 10 points. On Mother’s Day, Pyara Spa and Salon is doubling the points! For every $1 spent, spa goers will receive 20 points. Even better, guests who are new to the program will receive triple the points.
Brunch and Cruise with Mom
Aragosta Bar & Bistro is so swanky inside it might be hard to get mom to leave brunch which will have a raw bar, tea service (in the afternoon) and a complimentary Bloody Mary or Mimosa. If you tell her you’re just heading out because it’s for a harbor cruise (included with brunch) then it might not be so hard to convince her. On Sunday, May 10th brunch will be served from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.. Tea service is from 2:00 to 4:30. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (617) 994-9001.
Hard Rockin’ Mama
Okay so maybe she’s a rocker or maybe she’s more of an animal lover, or even better, maybe she’s both. This Mother’s Day treat mom to brunch at the Hard Rock Café and then take the family over to the New England Aquarium to visit with the Rock Hopper Penguins. I know plenty of marine biology mamas who enjoy a day out with aquatic life. Hard Rock Café’s breakfast buffet is $13.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids (children under 2 are free). Every mom gets a voucher for free admission to the New England Aquarium on Sunday, May 10th for Mother’s Day. The breakfast buffet is from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. For reservations call (617) 424-7625.
