St. Roch Market (New Orleans)

Built in the late 1800s as an open-air seafood market, St. Roch's Bywater doors were closed as soon as Hurricane Katrina hit. Now as a true refurbishment and rekindling of New Orleans' charming spirit, St. Roch Market stands as an elegant and airy centerpiece for all things food and drink, all hours of the day.

The space, as you can see, is simply stunning. I'm a sucker for white and natural light. We floated through the gallery of marble countertops and chalkboard menus. I was in awe of the concept that vendors functioned individually yet collectively created a cohesive, complete environment.

The thirteen vendors highlight small menus of specialty items, hand-prepared on the back counters of their established booths. While Alex ordered our Coast Roast coffee drinks, I picked up a slice of extra cinnamon-y coffee cake from The Sweet Spot, and Ashley picked up avocado toasts with red pepper flakes and hard boiled egg from Juice Nola. We brought our brunch offerings to a small marble table in the center of the building and dug in.

Yet throughout the space, you can choose between raw oysters, cold-pressed juice, baked confections, West-African cuisine, artisanal meats and cheeses, crepes, Korean-Creole fusion, and crawfish mac and cheese. Produce at the market entrance is available, too.

Now, I'm ready to bring one to Memphis. Who's with me?

The Smith (New York City)

I firmly believe in savoring breakfast -- labeled the most important meal of the day for a reason -- especially when it's a weekday morning egg scramble or poached-style toast ritual. But on a weekend at The Smith in New York City, the classic egg dish is amplified to a cast-iron lobster frittata or a poached egg avocado toast. That, my friends, is a proper American brunch. And that brunch should, indeed, be experienced right here.

We were seated by a floor-length window with beautiful views of Midtown scenes and pedestrians. Though locals complained about the "heat wave" overwhelming Manhattan, a sunny and 82-degree forecast was more than appreciated by my family, who is still learning to manage the heavy humidity of Memphis.

The breezy, brunchy vibe transmitted from tables to waiters, who kindly delivered individually-wrapped packages of crusty bread with whipped butter to accompany our dozen ice cold oysters on the half shell.

The lobster frittata special, while cooked through more than I typically prepare, highlighted slices of buttery brie, blistered cherry tomatoes, and quite impressive servings of fresh lobster. The portion was delightful, especially when served in a piping hot skillet. If only this could be translated into a weekday morning pre-work breakfast...!

The avocado toast with poached egg and frisée was clearly a home run, and the ahi tuna and lobster salads were refreshingly light compared to our Il Mulino feast the evening beforehand. Light-as-air fennel slices and crisp hericot verts were fantastic additions to fresh seafood, which would satisfy any summer palate. The bold colors across our table reflected a colorful, comprehensive menu I'd recommend to any tourist or NYC local. The Smith was simply, utterly wonderful.

Summer House Santa Monica (Chicago)

That central "YES" mark on the crisp white backdrop spoke to me upon entering Summer House Santa Monica this past Sunday afternoon. I quickly learned its first impression is a lasting impression amongst the crowd, who harmoniously affirms every aspect of the establishment. The bright and open space, the eclectic menu, the spectacular service, and the cookie-lined sweet shop collectively sing "yes" to every dining guest.

The well-versed menu isn't overwhelming or unfocused like many "American" spots; it's selective and sophisticated, from the lobster tempura sushi roll and ahi tuna taco to the squid ink pasta and brioche lobster roll. Of course, I had issues choosing an entrée, but that's primarily due to my indecisiveness. I chose the freshly baked brioche bun with lobster and a crisp green salad. I was very content with my decision.

The smooth guacamole and smoked salsa appetizer was a home run, naturally. We squeezed fresh lime over the tortilla chips to mimic Chipotle's infamous tang. The dish disappeared within minutes.

The cauliflower side was a surprise winner. Roasted with a jalapeño pesto and then topped with a fascinating textural mix of candied lemon and parmesan. Bread crumbs to finish, and bam. The presentation was stunning, as well.

On the way out, we couldn't help ourselves but order an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie to-go. I highly recommend a similar ritual -- Wouldn't you love to carry the spirit of Summer House with you home? The answer? YES.

Ralph Lauren Restaurant (Chicago)

My Memphis interlude between weekends in Chicago and New Orleans has served as a breath of fresh air. Summertime travels have been a doozy, though they've been no less than exhilarating. And as I flipped through the new July issue of Bon Appetit this morning, I realized, "Oh crap! Fourth of July is in four days and I don't have a red, white and blue recipe for the blog." Then, I realized, "Oh, yeah. I balance Caramelized with a full-time and part-time job, am in the midst of possibly purchasing a town home, and am staring at a bare fridge due to my insane travel schedule."

Reality check. And though I most likely will find the time to pick up fresh berries for a blueberry cobbler (priorities), the recipe may not arise in time for your holiday planning. My apologies, truly!

However, while scrolling through photos from this past girls' weekend in Chicago, the Ralph Lauren restaurant brunch shots kept catching my eye. Quintessentially patriotic from the iconic Polo symbol to the American classics menu, RL Restaurant had me swooning over every red, white and blue flourish. I prepared myself for a blog post without even realizing!

We sat on the breezy Chicago Avenue patio and ordered from the model-esque waiter, whom I swear could have been featured in a Ralph Lauren catalogue. Once complimentary pastries and a few coffees were served in the classic "RL" labeled coffee cup and saucer, we ordered two hearty dishes between the three of us; one sweet, one savory.

The gold coast benedict was simply too good. Who needs an English muffin when you can base your benedict with a perfectly prepared potato pancake? I felt like I had just received a new favorite Jewish holiday present: a golden latke that doubly served as a new breakfast concept. Happy Chanukah to me. Poached eggs and smoked salmon toppers, with hollandaise on the side, comprised the total package.

More notably of the thematic color palette was the berry and granola parfait. Sure, you think you have had a yogurt parfait before...But no parfait beats the RL version. Piped layers of extra dense, honey Greek yogurt were flecked with fragrant vanilla bean. Every berry was, of course, delectable, and the honey granola served as a mild, complementary texture to the other two ingredients.

Though I know most of you will not be residing in Chicago for the holiday weekend, I hope Ralph Lauren's iconic inspiration serves you well for Independence Day. I'll be road-tripping to New Orleans to Bacchanal and St. Roch Market, among others.

Cheers to red, white, blue, and latkes!

Terranea Resort (Rancho Palos Verdes)

I believe I found Heaven, or at least a close measure of it, amidst the rocky cliffs of the Southern California peninsula Rancho Palos Verdes. The motive of our three-day trip was the wedding of Ashley and Jeremy Dowdy, who hired my mother (of Shindigs By Sheril) to plan and coordinate. She executed flawlessly. Though aside from the In-n-Out food truck rehearsal dinner and jaw-dropping wedding (captured by Brandon and Kristen Kidd, both of whom I have a total crush on), my family was free to explore the massive grounds of pools, patios and impressive restaurants at Terranea Resort.

Kevin, the hotel's acclaimed concierge, learned and remembered every guest's name. You could expect to hear his voice call, "Hey, Sheril!" upon walking out of the lobby elevator.

Happy hour(s) next to the fire pits and succulent bushes became the ritual, especially when cucumber, lime and gin coolers were on the menu. And in the morning, Sea Beans (the resort's cafe) handed over iced coffees and plump blueberry muffins like clockwork. I treated myself to a classic California acai bowl by the Spa pool yesterday morning before leaving.

Our Thursday and Friday dinners, Bashi Japanese and Marsél, respectively, stood out most. Bashi's staff warned us of the large portions; but of course that did not stop the Greensteins. I could have ordered two helpings of the crispy tofu and wild mushrooms with snap peas! The "sizzling steak" had a more impressive presentation than taste, though we didn't regret the order. And the sweet short ribs were sensational. We fell into an eleven-hour food coma (unheard of for my family) following the late dinner.

Marsél, the fanciest of all, was saved for Friday evening. The pricier menu was well worthwhile, as most of the dishes offered local offerings such as Santa Barbara rock prawns (unreal), California jumbo asparagus and bay scallops. The arugula leaves in my burrata and prosciutto salad were from the restaurant's garden, which we passed on our way to the entrance. A crisp glass of Napa Chardonnay carried us from salads to seafood entrées and sides -- my favorite being the skillet-baked Japanese eggplant with ricotta and Thai basil. We couldn't manage to even wrap our head around a dessert menu, but our perky waitress insisted upon bringing dark chocolate truffles on a clam shell for our final bite.

Terranea truly outdid itself. I didn't even mind the morning "June gloom" of smog and marine layers that prevented ocean views; for the views of the surrounding resort landscaping blew us away on their own. Until next time, California.

City and State (Memphis)

People supporting people. That's what it's all about. Or at least, that's what it should be about. It is in Memphis. Lisa Toro recently opened the Broad Avenue coffee + retail shop City and State. Oh, did I fall in love upon first step. The space is refreshing and resonant of creativity and artistic appreciation, whether for the cup of pour-over brew or a timeless third-generation woodworker cutting board.

I'm infatuated by the gorgeous array of items, from bath salts to Nashville-based imogene + willie denim and Shotwell caramels. If you need a gift for yourself or a friend, City and State is where you'll go and score regularly. Hello, Mother's Day in one week.

On the other side of the storefront is a beautiful coffee counter with minimalist seating and decor. The brown sugar latté and mocha are both divine. I've heard the cortado is excellent. Of course, pastries are a usual accompaniment; though a recent collaboration with Porcellino's has elevated the food offerings to breakfast and lunch service.

On weeks one and two of the collaboration, Porcellino's has delivered chocolate croissants, morning buns, yogurt & granola, sweet corn muffins, turkey croissant sandwiches and The Goomba sandwiches. In the coming weeks, they're looking into surprise-filled menu expansions. Looks like I'll be here much more often.

Upon asking Lisa about the collaboration between two visionary, Memphis-loving, trendy coffee shops in town, here's her lovely recount:

"About two weeks ago, Matt Farmer stopped by for some coffee. He was complimentary and said he enjoyed the experience. The next day, he showed up with two boxes of beautiful Porcellino’s pastries and said they were interested in working with us on wholesale. Two days, later Chef Andy and Michael, along with Matt, came over to see the place for themselves. From the minute they walked in, there was no bravado and no ego. They showed nothing but respect for and interest in what we were doing.

As is true of many Memphians, I’d been dining in their restaurants for years and never had a bad meal. As a huge foodie, their reputation more than preceded them. We sat around the communal table in my three week old shop, and I listened as they offered up their staff and skill in providing food for City & State. Not only that, but the opportunity to work with them in the near future to come up with a few custom menu items.

I cannot say enough great things about the openness and support these two celebrated chefs and their team have given us in this new venture. They recognize, as do we, that the way to continue to move Memphis forward is through partnership and support across all in our community. They are a shining example of what is so incredible about this city. People supporting people."