Somehow it’s almost 6 o’clock, and I haven’t blogged once today. Sorry, guys! 
The day has totally gotten away from me– but, it’s not without good reason. Basically, I’ve been on my way out the door all day long.
Snack
My morning started with an early Body Pump class at the gym. On my way out the door, I snacked on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread.
When I returned home from Body Pump, I took a quick shower, threw together an iced coffee + chocolate protein powder + vanilla soy milk drink, and drank it on my way out the door to brunch.
Brunch
For brunch, Mal and I met four of our friends at Zaftig Delicatessen in Coolidge Corner. As usual, there was a huge crowd of people waiting outside the restaurant with the same idea as us.
Zaftigs is a ‘new Jewish’-style restaurant, which offers a number of less traditional dishes, like cheddar-apple omelets, chocolate French Toast, BBQ brisket quesadillas, and granola pancakes. It’s a fun, modern deli with funky artwork on the walls and a hip, young vibe. As Zaftigs says on their website, it’s not your grandma’s deli!
Mal and I have actually tried to visit Zaftigs for brunch a number of times over the years, but we never want to endure the long wait. Today, however, we had four friends waiting with us, so it made the time pass much faster.
Today, there was an hour wait for a table at Zaftigs, so the six of us popped into Starbucks for a round of coffees. I ordered a soy milk misto and sipped it while waiting outside Zaftigs.
A little over an hour passed before our party was finally seated. Not surprisingly, the restaurant was packed inside too!
It was well past lunchtime by the time we sat down to eat, so, of course, I was famished. I immediately dug into the complimentary bagel chips and herb cream cheese. The herb cream cheese was really something special! Delish!
For brunch, I ordered the Banana-stuffed French Toast, which was made in a bourbon-vanilla batter with date butter and served with fresh strawberries and blueberries on top.
It was quite delicious, but the inside was really soggy and even somewhat watery. 
I ate the whole thing, but let’s just say it wasn’t a Grilled Banana Sandwich from Mike & Patty’s!
When Mal and I got home from brunch, we immediately went right out the door again to take Murphy for a walk. The poor dog had been in his crate for most of the day, so we wanted to make sure he had plenty of time to stretch his little pug legs and run around like the crazy puppy that he is. We walked for almost an hour, but the rain cut our walk short.
Snack
Only a few hours after eating brunch, my stomach started to grumble again. I guess the Banana-stuffed French Toast wasn’t the best option for brunch. I knew that I should have ordered eggs! Oh, well.
To hold me over until dinner, I made the most delicious snack. The smell alone was a-mazing!
Coconut Curry Crackers with melted Gruyere cheese!!!
OMG… delicious!
This snack definitely quieted my stomach and satisfied all of my cravings. (I still can’t get over how delicious it tasted.)
I’m not sure what’s for dinner tonight– perhaps a Green Monster?
Enjoy the night, guys!
P.S. I am SO EXCITED for tomorrow! It’s the Greatest Day of the Year!!! 
I feel like a kid on Christmas!
{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
I was wondering where you had gone!
I wish I could taste those crackers and cheese if it has you gushing that much about them!
Wow! What a great day of eats so far!! I’m sorry your brunch didn’t live up to your standards- there’s always next time;)
Your snack looks delicious!!! YUM! I ALWAYS think french toast tastes watery…I haven’t ever liked it much but the berries on top look delicious!
Bad luck on the brunch, that sucks
I think that amaze snack made up for it!?
I have a marathon later in the year and I’d love to hear how some people get on 
Ooohh, tomorrow is Marathon Monday! I understand now…I hope you do a big post about it
That breakfast place reminds me of somewhere we like to go in soho! Its worth the wait especially with good company!
Ha, you were enjoying your sunday, no need to apologize!
That french toast does look good, sorry it wasn’t that great afterall.
Have a great rest of sunday Tina
Hi Tina! I ♥ your blog. I have a question, how long do you leave Murphy in his crate each day? I have a pug and sometimes I leave him for 7 or 8 hours and I feel TERRIBLE. I make sure to walk him for a good hour if I have to crate him that long. Thanks!
Zaftig’s sounds awesome! My dad’s side of the family is Jewish, so I’ve been to my fair share of Jewish delis
LOVE them! The bagel chips + herbed cream cheese is definitely a notch up from the usual pickles & rye bread at the delis I go to. And all of those dishes sound so unique and fun!
Date butter – that’s unique. I’m all over that berry banana stuffed French toast. Sounds like a perfect Sunday!
@Noelle: Typically, he’s in his crate for 5-6 hours during the work week. But, now that I am working from home, he won’t be in there much at all.
Have you picked a fun place to watch the race yet?
Oh I love Zaftigs Banana-Stuffed French Toast. I always get it when I go there. Sorry it wasn’t up to par
You’ll have to try it again another day, because I’ve always loved it! And try to go to Zaftigs for dinner one night…never a wait.
One of the most important thing I’m looking forward to post graduation is having STARBUCKS around. Can you believe our campus doesn’t have a single one? Holy withdrawal!
Teehee, I love your melted cheese snack, particularly as it kinda defeats the whole purpose of the “raw” thing. That’s what I like about you – you just do what tastes gooood!
I never find French toast filling either! Your snack looks awesome – those crackers look dense and delish.
@Hannah: I don’t do raw.
One of my go-to snacks is whole wheat bread with melted gruyere. I just love gruyere!
I was giggling at the thought that of raw crackers being heated with the cheese. Sounds yummy to me
I always have to get eggs at brunch or I’m hungry just an hour later. I need protein. That french toast sounded like dessert.
You HAVE to get the Israeli couscous salad from Zaftigs. It is SOOOO good and you’d totally be able to recreate it. The key is to hit that place up at off hours–like four o’clock.
Marathon Monday sounds like a lot of fun. It’s nice to see a city support something fitness related. Even if it is the biggest marathon, it’s just nice to see that support given to the runners.
We got to Zaftigs all the time and I second the comment about the Israeli Couscous salad. It’s amazing. I’ve had the french toast and had a similar feeling about the wateriness, a little weird but nevertheless a good breakfast. I think I have to say that the best thing you ate was those crackers and melted cheese. nothing better than crackers and cheese! I am so excited about the marathon too, I’ll be in Coolidge Corner cheering the runners on all day tomorrow!
I love French Toast. I am sorry that it wasn’t as good as you hoped, but it sure looks delicious.
It’s good to enjoy a relaxing Sunday without feeling the pressure to blog every few hours. Enjoy it!
Glad you enjoyed the weekend! Looks like you got some time to just have some fun! That French toast looks yummy!!!
It’s nice that you get so excited about the marathon.
That restaurant sounds amazing!! As does your snack. Cheeeeeeeese, YUM!
Jenn
Aw, that stinks about the french toast, because it sure looks yummy!
Ahhhh I am so excited about tomorrow too! I hope you have a great marathon Monday!
Aww boo that the french toast was a little disappointing.. it sounded incredible!!
Ooo I LOVE Zaftigs… that sucks the french toast wasn’t that good! I went there when visiting a friend a couple years ago, and it was delishhhh
i guess i never realized how big of a deal the boston marathon is, but i’m excited for you too! i like the sound of that cracker snack too…sounds like a great combo of sweet and savory
wow I NEED to visit this cafe on my next trip into Boston it looks soooo delish. Where can I find those crackers? Were they just a sample or are they sold in stores?
I know what you mean about feeling like a kid on Christmas. I’m so lucky to be running the Boston marathon tomorrow morning. My husband and I went to North end for dinner at Limoncello. I knew I had to stop at Mike’s pastry after OMG!!! It was so worth it. I felt a little bad eating that before a race, but tomorrow is my victory lap. I’m just going to have fun. Good luck to all the other runners.
That place is right by my apartment! Free bagel chips? I’ll have to check it out soon!!
I’m so jealous of you that you live in Boston – the Boston Marathon festivities sound SOOO fun! I love the look of the french toast, and I’m sorry to hear it was just OK. Have fun tomorrow!!!
@katie@ Fab.Fit.Full.: Just click on the link!
That resteraunt sounds it has tons of interesting dishes. I would love the free bagel chips!!
I’m really not a Zaftigs fan….so many better (and cheaper) places around!
oh my that french toast looks good! I need to re-create it at home
That snack of crackers and cheese looks and sounds delicious! I wonder if they’d be good with an apple slice under the melted cheese for a little sweetness?
The cracker and melted cheese combo looks delicious! I had my very first Green Monster today!!! DELICIOUS!
Those crackers and cheese look yummy! As does the French toast!
I *LOVE* french toast. That was my favorite breakfast of all time. I haven’t had in ages….
Breaky looks good!
i love the name of that place – zaftig is a lovely word.
Cheese and crackers is such an underrated snack! It never fails to impress me though!
mmm those crackers look deeelish! Have a fun day tomorrow!
So after reading your blog for a year now I have officially made it one of my life goals to meet you
You are absolutely the greatest thing ever and from what i can tell in your posts you have an amazing personality and healthy approach to life. Im going to visit boston in June and absolutely LOVE hotels like you seem to so i was wondering what your favorite (top3-5) are so i can stay somewhere fun. thanks and keep on bloggin’ you make my heart smile! ps tell mal and murph they are too cute! what a great fam you have
Oh, I’ve eaten at Zaftig’s Deli too! A couple of years ago for lunch. I was so excited to be there…I ordered the Matzo Ball soup (cup), and a hot pastrami sandwich on rye with a side of their potato salad. So good that I still remember it!
okay, that french toast looks absolutely amazing. I am so sad to hear it wasn’t delicious. Where is the best french toast in boston?
Next Comments →