All Moms Love a Limo Ride

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 13, and it will be here before you know it. What are you going to do to celebrate the occasion this year? Mom may tell you “she doesn’t need a thing, don’t go to any fuss,” but of course you know she’s secretly hoping you put on a show.

It’s easy to plan something memorable. One favorite idea is to rent a limousine, and stock it with flowers, and sparkling wine or sparkling ciders. You can pick mom up at her door, and continue on to pick up any other family members at their homes, too.

Perhaps she wants to visit gardens, a museum, a play, or simply the seashore. You can keep the limo for the day and make as many stops as you like. Certainly a meal is part of the festivities, so make plans for a brunch at someplace delicious, too. Here are few reservation-worthy suggestions:

FIVE Restaurant. Berkeley
Chef Banks White has put together a mouthwatering buffet, complemented by bottomless mimosas, plus a tasty mini-pound cake for each guest to take home for a later snack. For $65 (children 6 to 12 are $25, children under 5 are free), the feast is nearly endless, in a global display featuring everything from orzo pasta salad with oven dried tomatoes, basil, feta cheese and Greek olives, to FIVE’s signature mac ‘n’ cheese studded with smoked gouda and tomato jam, to olive oil poached Steelhead salmon drizzled in Meyer lemon crème fraiche.
2086 Allston Way, Berkeley, 510-225-6055, five-berkeley.com.

Pican
Let the good times roll with the Magnolias and Moms party at Pican, in a spectacular Southern theme showcasing food and a rollicking mood perfect for wearing your best Sunday hat. It’s sit-down service in a multi-course meal (brunch $45 /$20 children; dinner $55 / $25 children), and no one will leave hungry after that last forkful of Savannah strawberry shortcake topped in bourbon vanilla chantilly cream and turbinado sugar biscuit. Practice your oooh-wees, for dishes like sautéed wild Texas shrimp with andouille sausage, stone ground grits and brown garlic gravy; southern okra, collard green and blue crab callaloo; and sorghum duck breast with calico bean, turnip, yam, and house made duck merguez cassoulet topped in cornbread-pecan gremolata.
2295 Broadway, Oakland, 510-834-1000, picanrestaurant.com.

Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar, Sonoma
Brunch is a bargain at this lovely wine country retreat ($55 / $23 children). The setting is bucolic lodge surrounded by gardens (including culinary gardens to feed the kitchen), and the dining options are tempting. It’s hard to resist locally crafted charcuterie and artisan cheeses, corn and crab chowder, and marinated organic vegetables in truffle vinaigrette. But save room for chilled Loch Duarte salmon, smoked trout-cream cheese rillettes, and shrimp ceviche. For entrees, there is Caggiano bone-in ham brightened with stone ground mustard and golden raisin sauce, or slow cooked organic strip loin of beef in foraged mushroom and truffle stew with savory rosemary scones.
1325 Broadway, Sonoma, 707-931-2042, thelodgeatsonoma.com.

Tip: Pure Luxury has great packages to provide the flowers, the sparkling wine, and even chocolates for your Mother’s Day ride.

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