You know those restaurants that you drive by and each time you do you dream/wish/hope that you get to eat there soon and then you go home and look up the menu online and then have dreams about what you would order? (It is always refreshing to know that I am not alone and that you guys do crazy stuff like that too) Well, this is how I have felt about Communal in Provo.
Billy and I were able to go do a restaurant review here and we were both in heaven. Everyone at Communal was so friendly and I absolutely loved that their food is all from local farms (except for the fish….silly landlocked state that I live in). Their website even lists what farm each food comes from.
I am rubbing off on Billy and he copied me and had the raspberry lemonade. I felt spoiled to be drinking lemonade that actually had fresh raspberry pieces floating around in it. This is random but when I look at Billy in this picture it looks like it is a picture of his back and he is faced the other way?
They brought out delicious bread with butter and we ordered the whole roasted artichoke topped with cheese, bread crumbs and roasted tomato sauce. I haven’t had an artichoke since I was 10.4 years old (yes, I remember exact dates of the last time I ate something) and this one was incredibly delicious especially because of the bread crumbs.
Communal is a sharing type restaurant and for our main course we ordered the pan seared salmon topped with sea beans (SO SALTY and delicious) and wild mushrooms, the pork shoulder with coleslaw and watermelon, the grilled sweet corn with lime butter and cilantro and the sautéed asparagus with red onion and parmesan. Waiters always think that we order too much food and will take half of it home and they are always pleasantly surprised when they come back to the table and I am licking each plate to get ever morsel off, we really like food. My favorites were the salmon and the coleslaw but honestly all of it tasted so fresh and perfect. I will now salivate each time we drive by this restaurant.
We were really full at this point but when the server described the butterscotch pudding with cookie crumbles, strawberries and whipped cream I knew it would be worth it to stuff myself even more. I only have around 37 more days that I can use the excuse that I am eating for two and I will be using that for every meal until I have the baby.
Before the picture I had a bunch of stuff stuck in my teeth like I normally do and Billy came up with a brilliant idea to prevent this problem from happening again. He wants me to spray my teeth with Pam cooking spray every morning so that things don’t stick to them as easily. I told you he is smart.
Yep. Loved.
Any Utah residents reading, you have to try out Communal and don’t forget to invite us with you because if I find out that you went without me…..
The other highlight of our day was going with my sis and her kiddos to a gymnastics training gym. You could find Curly putting on more chalk every five minutes because you clearly need that for things like the balance beam and vault.
I would like to introduce you to my husband the monkey.
There were some really talented break dancers there practicing and curly decided to interrupt their practice and show them how it is really done.
My other niece doing backflips over Billy. I struggle trying to figure out shutter speed. Don’t be surprised if you see my nieces in the 2020 Olympics for Gymnastics.
I felt like a kid in a candy store with 48 cavities that is not allowed to eat the candy because I guess it isn’t safe to jump on trampolines and practice my uneven bars routine when I am this far along in my pregnancy. Instead I just took 230 pictures and put chalk on my hands to feel like I was part of the gang.
I was especially jealous of the balance beam races.
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What was the last restaurant that you ate at? Any restaurant that you drive by that you are dying to try?
Can you do any cool gymnastics moves? Any tricks on the trampoline?
What are you having for bfast today? Once again I am sick of oatmeal and I am in need of some delicious new ideas.
Best restaurant dessert you have ever had?
-I told Billy in between each bite of the butterscotch pudding that it was my favorite dessert ever.
70 comments
Becky Przy
Wow your supper looked Amazing!!!!
I am cringing at the picture of the balance beam races–I am so uncoordinated it makes me nervous just looking at it! But I would totally join in if it wouldn’t create a trip to the ER;-) Curly must have really showed those dancers some new moves!
Kaitlyn @ Chocolate Running Shoes
That butterscotch pudding looks delicious! I can’t remember the last time I’ve had it, and now I want some really bad :)
I WISH I could do gymnastics! That is definitely one of my favorite sports to watch during the Olympics.
Kari @ Running Ricig
Mike and I were just talking about my gymnastic skills. I can do a cartwheel, but that’s it. My mom, though, can walk on her hands. That gym looks like so much fun. Curly is too freaking cute.
Does a food truck count as a restaurant, because that’s where we had dinner last night :).
Khushboo
Oh man that dessert looks to die for! The best dessert I had was an ice cream sundae in Euro Disney: it was loaded with brownies, chocolate chip cookie pieces, hot fudge sauce, nuts, and whipped cream ( I hate cream normally but it worked)–> every bite left me in heaven!
Heather @ Run Eat Play
You dinner looks so yummy – what a great night!
I have been to Bonefisg Grill once and loved it, but now they just got lobster rolls so I must go back!
I’ve having a bagel with egg whites and provolone cheese after bodypump this morning.
I love the white chocolate brownie at White Chocolate Grill! And Red Robin has an awesome mile high mud pie.
Have a great day!
Melissa @ runscootsrun.blogspot.com
When I was younger I used to pretend I was a gymnast and used a 2×4 as my “balance beam.” LOL, looking back I am surprised I didn’t break my skull. Curly is so adorable I can’t even stand it, haha. And that food looks delicious. We went to a restaurant in Burlington that was mostly local foods and also organic…it was one of the best meals I had. The last place we went to though was Fridays because we’re cheap and it was the closest and my hubby wanted their burger, lol. And best restaurant dessert has to be this Key Lime Pie from this mexican restaurant in Albany, NY where we used to live by (El Loco)…they also have killer chimichangas.
Lizzy
I love Curly! She is so cute. And holy cow how did Billy get so far up that rope?! I could never do that in PE.
I had overnight oats – cherry chobani, oatmeal, skim milk and fresh blueberries mixed in overnight. Nice and cold on a hot morning!
Scallywag
I thought you werent spending money on food Janae :O! Shocked!
I can do back and forward flips on the trampoline and forward flips off my trampoline but nothing on flat ground- not even a cartwheel!
I skipped bfast today- appallled at myself but my masters thesis is ruling my life :(!
Caroline @ After Dinner Dance
Oh man you’re bringing back childhood memories! Gymnastics was my favorite sport as a kid. I remember thinking I was so cool when I got those things you wear on your hands for the bars (and submerge in chalk!). Vault and floor were my faves though!
Lindsey
Last place we tried was Mucho Burrito, it is new here and basically like Chipotle in the US.
I am too clumsy to try any gymnastic moves! haha
Toast with peanut butter and a sliced banana on top, nothing too crazy here today.
Sticky Toffee Pudding cake!
CatieB
That dinner looked and sounded awesome! And the dessert… oh man! yum.
I love your family field trips! They’re so creative! Dressing up like cows, gymnastic nights… I love it :)
I’m going to have blueberry vanilla granola from Kind. It’s really good! And it’s healthy which is a plus!
Tiffany
The last restaurant I ate at was Anejo Tequileria in NYC. It was small plates, so my sister and I shared shrimp ceviche, chicken tacos, and a corn cake. HEAVEN!! I really want to try a new local place called Kawayan, which is Asian fusion
I can barely do a cartwheel and get anxiety thinking about backwards rolls. When I have kiddos, they will definitely be taking gymnastics.
Breakfast was a egg and pepper jack cheese bagel and coffee.
Best restaurant dessert? Any molten lava chocolate cake!
Danica @ It's Progression
That restaurant sounds fantastic! And the food looked delicious–too bad I don’t live near it!
I’m eating breakfast right now actually–a bowl of quinoa, (a ton of) cinnamon, strawberries, sliced up kiwi, and almond milk!
Brooke @ sweats & sweets
We had Macaroni Grill on Saturday, it was delicious as always.
I’m dying to try green truck, its a local hamburger-pub place. Its all local, organic food. There is a burger called “trailer park” and its local beef, home-made pimento cheese, bacon, and onions. Hello deliciousness! They are always packed, so its hard to get in and try it.
Emily
This is really lame because Olive Garden is such a common restaurant but I am in loooooove with their lemon cream cake. It is my favorite desert! I love that yours was served in a Mason jar… so cute!
Beth @ Miles and Trials
Hard to pick a favorite restaurant, there are so many… Cheesecake Factory, Chipotle, Cafe Rio (now that I got to try it out in the SLC airport!).
For breakfast is egg scramble with broccoli, spinach, salsa and guacamole. Yum!
Sara @ Running In Pink
That gym looks amazing, then again so did that butterscotch pudding!
I am with you on seeing new restaurants and looking up their menu online and deciding what you are going to order. I like to think of it as being prepared, just in case you randomly end up there sometime!
I used to be able to lots of gymnastic tricks, including back flips but I am so out of practice and the last time I tried (many years ago) I actually fell on my face. I would love to be able to get back into that one day.
Theresa
last restaurant I ate at was a sushi place on saturday…absolutely awesome but a little expensive…it was worth it though!
ha I am totally not coordinated enough for gymnastics…i’m lucky I can run without falling over myself most of the time ;)
bfast today is peach chobani w/ granola and a banana…its my fave postrun bfast for the summer!
i think the best restaurant dessert ive ever had was the bread pudding at Ruth Chris..it was to die for, i’m just sad I barely had any room after the steak I ate haha
Victoria
Hey HRG, that pudding looked so yummy!! Are you going to do a post for the HRG baby about your weight and how that has affected you? I know that Healthytippingpoint did a great one and it was very relatedable. Would be interesting to know how your running has affected your eating and plus one with weight too.
Heidi @ Idlehide
The gym looks like so much fun, Kenny wants to put our kids in gymnastics (when we have then and when they’re old enough)
Kate @ Work In Progress
This restaurant looks AMAZING! Of course the farm-fresh everything really puts it a cut above, and I kinda love the concept of sharing all the dishes – it’s kinda like a family dinner at home, except you’re out! And the pudding in a mason jar – epic. so epic. I think my fave restaurant dessert is this cake called Death By Chocolate from a restaurant called the Trellis that was down the street from my college – it had seven layers of chocolate in cake, ganache, ice cream, and regular chocolate form haha
Chelly
Last restaurant I ate at was Panera Bread. LOVE LOVE LOVE that place!!
I did gymnastics for 4 years, all I can do is walk on my hands pretty far, front walkover and backwalkover. Was almost able to do a roundoff back hand spring. But that was never quite accomplished :)
I had toast with almond butter, a cut up banana on it and some honey drizzled on top, so YUMMY!!
Best dessert I’ve had……a pizzookie from BJ’s, tasted so so so so so so good!!!
Check out my blog here :): http://runningsprinkles.blogspot.com
Jenn@ Run It My Way
Awww the pictures of the gym bring back memories!! I spent a massive amount of my youth in the gym- up to 30 hours a week, sometimes twice a day (before school and after 2 days a week!) I was REALLY into it :) I have some pretty sweet moves, haha after THAT much time spent practicing! I’d probably break my neck and crack one of my legs off if I tried to do any of it now… but it sure brings back memories!
Margaret
OMG, that dessert looks amazing.
Come on over to Michigan and I will get you LOADS of fresh, local fish. Our freezer is overflowing from my husband’s fishing trips. Yum!
IDK My BFF Jes
That food sounds delish! and the gymnastics place looks like so much fun! Sorry you couldn’t participate this time.
The last place I ate was probably FreeBirds…I love it. There is an Italian place (I think called Cao Bella) on the way home from work that I want to try.
I had two pieces of cinnamon/sugar toast for breakfast. My fave!
Olive Garden use to have this chocolate cake with white icing and mint flavor somewhere in it. It was soooo good! But they took it off the menu ages ago. It’s the only restaurant dessert I’ve ever liked…other than Sophapillas at most Mexican restaurants.
Rachel
There is a pizza place here called Pizzeria Locale that serves a homemade budino (butterscotch pudding) and it is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. It has a light chocolate mousse and fresh whipped cream on top. SO good. The pizza is incredible too. I could eat there every day for the rest of my life.
molly @ heart, sole & cereal
best dessert i’ve ever had – flourless chocolate cake ice cream sandwich with peanut butter ice cream in the middle and then rolled in peanut butter brittle and THEN covered with peanut maple glaze. yummmmm. you need to start liking chocolate again so when you come to dc for the toasted marshmallow milkshake i can take you to get this dessert as well.
Erin @ The Grass Skirt
The restaurant looks so good!
I am the queen of getting things stuck in my teeth. I’ll have to try Billy’s trick. Haha. :)
Megan@ The Running Doc
I would love to go play around in a gym like you and your family did, looks so fun! This past weekend my boyfriend and I went to a trampoline park and it was pretty awesome. Took me back to all of my gymnastics days!
Stephanie
Here’s a funny story for you. My daughter’s gymnastics coach was VERY far along…due any day and she did a fly away off the high bar. I’m sure you know what that is but if not it is a back flip thingy. I almost crapped my pants when she did it :D She is crazysauce! She was on a high mat spotting the girls and I guess rather than hop down off the mat she thought it would be easier to do a fly away! Billy is SUPER strong! I was impressed with myself that I could even climb the rope but with no legs, now that is impressive!!! I don’t know how they could have beam races. Just standing on the beam freaks my freak! I just read my comment and it was full of random weirdness…oh well! Have a good day :)
Anna
Um, I’m coming to visit and we’re going to that restaurant! My mouth is salivating!
Kaitlyn
We had a trampoline and pool growing up and I could do all sorts of flips. My Dad was in town a couple of weeks ago and we went to a mineral pool in the mountains. They had a diving board and my Dad (age 60) did a back flip so of course I had to follow his lead! I watch a neighbor’s daughter and do flips on her trampoline. One day she said-“I can’t believe an old person can do flips.” Surely she messed up and meant to say “older” person.
kelsey
food looks YUMMY! I sang the nom nom nom song while I Was looking at the pics….
Dani @ Run Daniella Run
I love gymnastics! But alas am the most uncoordinated person on the planet. I really want to get my girls into it! They probably will have no affection towards it and therefore I am broken hearted AGAIN!
Lauren
Ahhh those pictures bring back memories! I did gymnastics for 10 years when I was younger and ironically quit so I could run cross country once I got to 7th grade. My gym was an hour away and I spent 4 days/week there so my parents made me choose, but I’m pretty sure I was happy with my choice! I can still do (well, the non pregnant me can) back handsprings and no handed cartwheels…good party tricks :)
My breakfast this morning was fresh peaches, strawberries, and blueberries smothered in granola. Peaches are SO good right now!!
Monica
I know I would just love Communal. Lucky you for getting to try it out!
My latest breakfast addiction is this vanilla protein pancake: http://carrotsncake.com/2011/08/grateful-thoughts.html (you have to scroll down to find the recipe) I top mine with almond butter and a handful of frozen mixed berries from Costco. Seriously so yummy!
Shay @ Whine Less, Breathe More
Last restuarant I had was on the coast Saturday. It was not fabulous, but of course I don’t eat seafood and I hear it was good. For a vegetarian? Only two lackluster options on the menu.
We haven’t had any new restaurants in awhile here. When we do get one, we try it immediately. I miss options in that department!
Today for breakfast was a fried egg sandwich with goat cheese on toasted nuts & seeds bread with a bit of mayo.
Best restaurant dessert I have ever had is the Chocolate Bag at McCormick & Schmick’s!
Shay @ Whine Less, Breathe More
I forgot to tell you what the Chocolate Bag is…
Semi‐Sweet Belgium Dark Chocolate with White Chocolate
Mousse and Fresh Berries on a Bed of Raspberry Puree
Kaelin
Yum I love finding new restaurants that support local farms!!
Breakfast today was a batch of overnight oats with blueberries and strawberries. And a coffee. Always coffee. Sorry you are off of oatmeal again, I like overnight oats in the summer when I am hot and sweaty after a morning run. Warm oats in the winter.
I think the best restuarant dessert I have ever had is a chocolate brownie and ice cream sundae. Soooo melt in your mouth delicious!!
Laura
I ALWAYS pick hole in the wall restaurants to go to because they are the best. I plan to take my boyfriend to Ray’s Hell Burger this weekend though. He’ll love it and neither of us have been and it’s pretty famous.
I feel like I always eat SO much during the meal that I never make it to dessert. lol.
Cathryn @ Myheartscontentblog
We’re coming to Utah on holiday in September and I’m dying to come to Provo. I’m not mormon but seem to read so many mormon blogs that Provo seems like the epicentre of the blogging world! Thanks for the restaurant recommendation!
My latest favourite breakfast..wholegrain toast and ricotta and a bit of honey. SO nice.
Kay
The restaurant looks great! Especially the dessert, desserts in mason jars are so cute!
Christine
I’m following your advice and drinking my first glass of milk (chocolate) in over ten years to refuel after a run! Hope this helps with how sore I’ve been lately!
michelle kim
Janae… I litereally laughed out loud at you pointing out that picture of Billy where he seems to be sitting backwards.
You are seriously hilarious :D
Alex @ Healthy Life Happy Wife
I did a cartwheel on the beach the other day & my husband was shocked. Guess he didn’t realize what a talented gymnast I was :)
Noel
That picture of “Billy’s back” makes me laugh because it looks like one of those crime shows where they are interviewing a witness\source who needs to remain anonymous! haha
I’m eating yogurt for breakfast (boring) but saw an idea on pinterest recently for baking oatmeal in muffin tins and adding fun things to them – fruits, chocolate chips, etc – to make homemade “bars”. I really should try out these things I pin…
Noel
Forgot to mention my favorite dessert at home right now is sliced strawberries (so yummy right now) and melted chocolate chips spread on them. mmmm.
Melissa
Mike just took me to PF Chang’s on Friday night. It’s one of the restaurants on our long list of places to try. We have a bunch of little restaurants around us that look neat…my list of places to go is a mile long!
I haven’t been on a trampoline since high school–it looks like so much fun though!
LOL! I laughed when I saw you’re sick of oatmeal because that’s what I had for breakfast today. It was 5 grain oats with Nutella and strawberries. I also like to make egg sandwiches for breakfast but lately I’ve been having chocolate zucchini muffins with fruit.
Best restaurant dessert…probably the creme brulee on our honeymoon!
Amy
For dinner last night, I went to a new brewery that opened in my town. I ordered pizza with barbeque sauce, chicken, and apples, and people thought I was a little crazy. Then, I left the leftovers on the table and didn’t realize it until it was too late. Truly tragic.
The best dessert I have ever had is this gigantic carrot cake from Serendipity in NYC. Amazing.
Kelly
The last restaraunt I went was La Provence, it’s a French bistro and bakery and has literally the best breakfasts I’ve ever had. Although this morning my husband made me an egg white scramble (3 egg whites, diced green onions and mushrooms and turkey breakfast sausage) that was pretty dang good! The best dessert question is a hard one! Which just means I haven’t had it yet, so I guess I’ll just have to keep searching. :) Curly looks so cute with all that chalk on her hands! I am not good at anything gymnastic, except I can do the balance beam.
Lish
Communal looks so good! It’s so hard living in NYC because I literally walk past 10 new restaurants everyday that I want to try! And, the bf and I spend all our spare money on skydiving…sometimes you just have to make sacrifices ;)
I did gymnastics for my entire childhood/teen years, so definitely enjoy busting out some moves still.
chelsea @ averytoday
loooove your blog and it’s helped to inspire my own!
the very best dessert i’ve ever had a restaurant was a few years ago and was sticky toffee pudding. it was like a a massive health bar that had melted into butter and cake. AMAZING.
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats
I had oatless oats from carrots in cake this morning! Pretty good!
Annette@FitnessPerks
Ooooooh that food sounds amazing!!
I love going to gymnastics gyms and playing around in the huge pits. It’s my and my husband’s favorite ;) I love the trampolines–and am healthy afraid of the beam, because when I was a gymnast (back in the day), I broke my toe REAL bad on the beam. OuCH
Renee
That restaurant look delicious. I wish there was something like that around here. The last restaurant I ate at was a local mexican restaurant. It was delicious. My boys and I shared a combo platter with an enchilada, burrito, and taco…and they have excellent salsa. I almost never get dessert at restaurants and have never had one I just loved.
Katie
i wanna go to a gymnastics training gym!!! i didn’t even know those existed?? i would totally put chalk on my hands every 5 minutes, too, just to feel like a true gymnast ;) that curly’s one smart cookie!
and, ummmm, how awesome that you got to do a review on that restaurant! it looks yuuuuummy! and i love that the dessert came in a mason jar! too cute!
i had granola with strawberries and almond milk for bfast today and it was delish.
i honestly can’t decide what’s the best dessert i’ve had at a restaurant. i do love me some soft serve in a cone, which is silly and not at all decadent, but oh so yummy.
xo
Rachelle
Dang I have not ever even heard of this place. Provo is getting so aweseme lately. haha! The food looks awesome but the gymnastics gym looks even better. I want to hang out there with you and your family. :) If your family wants to adopt me after you leave for Sunday dinners and adventures I definitely will not complain. ;)
Lucy
Hey that’s the BYU gymnastics gym! I had some pretty good times there. Do they have an open gym now?
Megan D
I love that Curly. Seriously. Her break dancing moves are amazing!
Does Chick fil a count as a restaurant? Then that is the last place. I am really living a high class life here.
I hate a protein/fruit and spinach smoothie for breakfast. Yum! Evan eats it with me. Anna just says ‘whoever would think to put a salad in a smoothie?’ EVERY TIME I make them. I still think Corner Bakery will make you love oatmeal again.
Communal is so delicious. When we went there we split the main dish so we didn’t get salmon (that is what I wanted, but Ross’ despises it) but their steak was delicious. So was the side dish Ross chose…so I ate almost all of it and only a few bites of the one I chose. Gotta make up for not getting my salmon somehow. He is so lucky to have me.
Sarah
Supper looks yummy! And that gym looks SUPER fun!
Sarah
http://www.thinfluenced.com
Allie
UMMM I wanna come to UTAH just to play in the gym with your nieces!!!! EEEK My little gymnast heart was like having a heart attack looking at the pictures! haha
What was the last restaurant that you ate at? Any restaurant that you drive by that you are dying to try?
Wendys :) and I wanna go to Olive Garden and of course try this new place in town that I dont know how to say but I wanna go! hah
Can you do any cool gymnastics moves? Any tricks on the trampoline?
Tuck, backhandsprings, round offs. I can do fulls and jumps and yeah
What are you having for bfast today? Once again I am sick of oatmeal and I am in need of some delicious new ideas.
I ate tapioca and a plum.
Best restaurant dessert you have ever had?
-ummm anything from Chilis or Applebees!
Jennie @ While My Button Sleeps
I LOVE “The Green Pepper” Is that a national chain? I ate there today. I am obsessed with Curly and have to hold back from trying to curl my daughter’s hair — it is starting to curl in the back which I loooove!!!!
Billy IS a monkey! Wow!
Jeff
Set your camera to Sports mode and you should be good to go for moving pictures. If you want a really cool effect, when the person is moving, move the camera along with them and then take a shot. They will be in focus and the background will be blurry. Nice effect.
Janae
Oh awesome!!! Thanks so much!
luv what you do
I was a gymnast the first half of my life and I miss flipping off of balance beams into a big foam pit!!! That’s best kind of gym!
Emma
I did gymnastics for a while, so much fun! The only moves I can still do though are front and back walkovers, and the splits (sometimes). I was just like Curly too. I used insaaaaane amounts of chalk for no real reason except that it was obviously necessary!!
Tiffany
That picture totally looks like Billy’s back! Ha!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
Oh, I always drool over online menus of restaurants I want to go to!!
All that food looks fab!
Coco
Awesome! The gym looks like a fantastic place!! Way to go Billy, I don’t know if I can do that- but I wish I could find somewhere to try.. Curiosity it peeked :)
Cindi B
Oh, my goodness, that meal looks fabulous! I’m officially adding that place to my list of “MUST VISIT” the next time we get through Utah. It’s breakfast time here and I think I’d like that pudding for breakfast!