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RAAD Trend Remix: It's a Plaid World

Written By: Chantale Raad

Prepare yourself guys...you're going to be getting a lot of plaid from me this season thanks to the new Zara store that just opened (FINALLY) at Scottsdale's Fashion Square Mall. Good news is that Zara's current collection is chock-full of this season's must haves: rubber-soled platforms, whimsical dresses and leather and plaid/check everything. Sad news, I'll probably be broke by New Years (damn you inexpensive-yet-high-fashion retailers!). As for this week's trend of the week, I opted for a simple H&M button up dress I picked up the other day. It can easily be belted or left loose, but I paired this dress with my new linen Moto jacket I picked up in Santa Monica this past summer. The weather hasn't gotten completely leather-ready yet, but I had to bust out my favorite Chelsea boots I got in London a while back. Whatever, it's fall...at least I don't wear Uggs in July (or ever, for that matter).

A Great Day with Gatsby

Written By: Pascale Kanaan

Tucked away in the Mercado del Lago plaza off of Via de Ventura, lives a lovely little gem called Altitude Coffee Lab, my newest discovery/obsession. Not only do they serve the most heavenly coffee, roasted and brewed in-house, but this hospitality haven has, well, just the most magical of vibes. Maybe it’s their perfect little dog-friendly patio that overlooks the lake…where when the breeze hits just right, you catch a whiff of the fresh-grown rosemary and basil that is used to spruce up their seasonal small plates. Or maybe it’s the warm welcome that you get from their humble yet talented staff every time you visit. Or perhaps, it’s their homemade menu, made entirely up of local fresh ingredients. I don’t know what it is about this place, but I never want to leave! 

Neither did Gatsby. It was my five-month-old yorkie pup’s first day out, and I have to say.. this was the most well-behaved he has been since I got him. At 10am on this gorgeous first day of Fall, we claimed a cozy couch on the patio and made it ours for the next five hours (literally). I watched my fair share of dogs come and go with their owners and noticed that, humans and canines alike, everyone seemed to be in a blissful stupor. It was kind of like spending the day in heaven.

Only 19 days old, and you can tell Altitude has already garnered the respect of it’s locals (that was my third visit already). It is obvious that entrepreneur, Paul Musikanth, former professional golfer, Craig Matthew, and Executive Chef, Collin Craig clearly know the perfect recipe for repeat business. Altitude is not your average soon-forgotten coffee house. Like it‘s name suggests, it is truly on another level. Guests are served an “elevated experience“ every time they visit. A true coffee "laboratory", the expert staff of brewers and roasters experiment with rare coffee beans in search of the perfect cup-of-joe formulas. And as if their stellar coffee isn’t reason enough to become a loyal customer, their plan to expand their menu and acquire a liquor license is yet another reason to frequent this fab spot. Chef Collin was telling me what he loves best about this place is his ability to be creative in the kitchen. He has free reign to prepare whatever inspires him in the moment.

Auntie Chantie (that's what Gatsby calls her) started her morning off with a lovely loose leaf tea and a spinach, roasted red pepper and feta quiche before she had to leave for work. I went for an iced soy latte and a delicious tomato, egg and cheddar breakfast sandwich. Several hours later, there Gatsby and I still were– he was sprawled out on the couch, hair blowing in the wind, enjoying a little doggie nap, while I enjoyed a little treat of my own when Chef brought me out a scrumptious M&M brownie. As if breakfast and dessert wasn’t enough, I stayed for lunch too! Sandy met up with me and we indulged in the Fancy Nancy aka “The queen of all ham & cheese” (proscuitto, roasted red peppers, smoked fontina and olive oil poached shallots with a side of homemade pickles) and a delicous Caprese Salad with Basil Aioli.

It was definitely a day to remember. Fabulous F&B, top-notch hospitality, a beautiful breeze… and quality time with my Gatsby. What more can a girl ask for?! Thank you Altitude for helping me kick off my favorite season the right way :) 

Trend of the Week: Plaid

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

So if you haven't been keeping up with my insta-shananigans, then you probably don't know about my DIE-SUMMER/LONG-LIVE-FALL obsession. Pumpkins, bright orange, cinnamon on every thing, BOOTS (!)...lets just say it's a magical time of year for me. Ironically, I broke/sprained (not sure yet) my toe when I tackled Pascale's new puppy (more on that soon), so sandals it is!

Fall's trend lineup is out of control though. There are so many wild prints, unique color combos and, most importantly, LAYERING that is making me lose it over here. One of my fall fav's would have to be the lovely plaid print, (probably because of all the back-to-back Sons of Anarchy seasons I've been watching...Jax Teller really knows how to werk some plaid and leather). As you can see in the collage above, you can do plaid with any garment, even overalls. And colorways are not limited, so go for whatever tone you like. Let this be your main print in your outfit and balance it out with different solids like denim or leather, and accessorize with outerwear pieces, scarves, and fun jewelry. Whether it be 90's grunge, lumber-chic, or biker babe...you really can't go wrong with this look.

1. Asos: $151.88
2. No. 21: $2,555
3. Harvey Faircloth: $395
4. Asos: $64.13
5. Faith Connexion: $322
6. Asos: $37.97
7. Asos: $47.25
8. Suno: $795
9. Asos: $59.07
10. DSQUARED2: $545

Orange Ya Glad

Written By: Chantale Raad

When it comes to breakfast, my sweet tooth, without fail, always kicks savory's ass. I'm constantly choosing anything that involves a flood of syrup and choco-banana infusions instead of bacon and eggs (Sorry, guys...I don't understand our nation's bacon obsession). Our friend, Lauren, kept raving about this hidden breakfast spot in Old Town Scottsdale that has not only won awards for their pancakes and french toasts, but is also known for their expensive, top-grade bacon... The best of both worlds. So last Sunday, we made a bee-lined straight to the source on that cozy rainy day only to find this local-infested hidden gem, Orange Table. Painted in, you guessed it, orange, the interior of this restaurant was super vibrant and cozy, with paintings scattered along their walls and plush couches for guests to relax and enjoy their meal. We plopped down on the couches which were situated right next to their impressive display of award plaques, a confirmation that we had selected the perfect brunch spot. 

 

Mr. Craig Pierson, owner of this fabulous eatery, was kind enough to send us some samples of their signature dishes, starting with their award-winning Banana Foster French Toast which is topped with bananas, pecans and a "spicebox whiskey sauce". I was sold at the first bite. Pascale's savory and spicy tooth was completely satisfied when they brought out their Eggs Benedict with a Chorizo twist. I must admit, I'm kind of a baby when it comes to spicy anything, but it was pretty addicting. And of course, being that bacon is their signature, we got a plate full of it, which may have persuaded me to join the bacon fan club (I think I'm starting to understand the hype). Mr. Pierson is so dedicated to serving high-quality bacon that he said he would be "driving a Cadillac" today if it wasn't for his pricey pork investment. Hats off to you, Sir.

After feasting on the samples this lovely restaurant provided us, our main dishes arrived. I ordered the Menage which gave me a bite of everything such as eggs over-easy, bacon and their banana nut pancake, which was by far the best pancake I've tasted in a long time. Lauren ordered their Veggie Hash, a mosh of veggies, egg whites and potatoes. 

This is definitely a breakfast MUST for those in town. Not only is their menu diverse and unique, their service was incredible. We're already planning my next trip to try their award winning burgers!

Road Trip Munchies

Written By: Chantale Raad

Since my transition to the west side about a year now, I've yet to make it out to Cali...until now! I'm putting those "you totally belong in LA" comments to rest and finally checking out the City of Angels. This weekend, Pascale and I will be cruising the streets of LA and documenting our trip for you guys. But before we hit the road, we loaded up our trusty cooler with some goodies. We skipped out on the empty calories and ditched the usual potato chips and sunflower seeds for some healthier, protein-rich alternatives. Check out what tasty munchies we are hitting the road with.

1. Our 6am departure would not be the same without our favorite beet-and-orange based breakfast juice, Sporty Spice.
2. I stalked up on my coconut water, aka my coffee-replacement, and Pascale rallied up her Smart Waters to stay hydrated and energized. Some fresh mint, cucumber and lemon make for a great infusion and add a touch of flavor.
3. Our center console made for a fabulous mobile dipping bar! Organic mini apples with fresh almond butter from Whole Foods gives us the "good fats" and quality protein we need to keep us going. Baby carrots are perfect for our hummus dip. Don't worry.. Pasky fed me so that I was hands-free.
4. Powerberry Trek Mix, our sweet fix for the road, includes: concentrated acai, pomegranate, cranberry, lemon, blueberry and elderberry juices covered in dark chocolate. Gotta love Trader Joes!
5. Mini heirlooms are rich in flavor and lycopene, a cancer preventative. These in-season lovelies are the tastiest. 
6. Fresh baked hoagies with low-sodium turkey slices and provolone are wrapped in parchment paper to make it easy for us to munch at lunchtime. 

Wardrobe Wishlist

 

Dreaming of Fall already... starting with this particular getup. I'm replacing my button-ups with sweatshirts and pullovers, introducing leather to the workplace, deep rouge'n my pout, and letting my feet breath with some pointed-toe cut-outs. Only 6 more weeks till Fall...but whose counting?

1. Cheetah Sweatshirt
2. Leather Pencil Skirt
   
3. Burgundy Lipstick
4. Cut-out Booties