Waffle House is such an iconic southern restaurant. One of my first trips to the south was for work. My friend and coworker suggested we stop for dinner at a Waffle House in rural Georgia on our way to Highlands, NC. It was quite the experience and memory I’ll never forget.

I refer to Pinehurst as the Pebble Beach of the south for those who are less familiar. Since I live just a little over an hour from this historic golf course, I love visiting the Village of Pinehurst not just for golfing, but also for its cute shops, boutiques, and restaurants.

Pebble Beach will always have a place in my heart! I went to college in Monterey, CA, just north of Pebble Beach. I have memories ranging from sneaking onto the course via the Carmel beach with friends, to working as a caterer at the U.S. Open as a college student. It’s such a special place. I adore going back to visit and take in the natural beauty, in my post-college adult life. :)

The Plaza! I have many memories of being here in my mid-late 20s for libations with friends. A core memory though was with my sisters, watching the New York Marathon finish in Central Park one year from the top of The Plaza while sipping champagne. I highly recommend.

Bandon Dunes is what I refer to as the Pebble Beach of the northwest! :) It’s also where my idea for The Leonies was validated and I began my journey to where I am today.

Like many of the matchbooks I have chosen, Le Diplomate reminds me of memories I have at specific restaurants eating great food. Le Diplomat reminds me of where I’d spend time over great food and ambiance, with my now husband while we were dating long distance. He lived in Raleigh and me in NYC. It’s exactly 4 hours to each city so it was the perfect meeting place.

This matchbook reminds me of a year when I was able to celebrate my birthday with all three of my siblings in NYC. I had also tried escargot for the first time (and loved it). The classic SoHo restaurant, Balthazar, is great for celebrations as well as an ideal spot to have a solo dinner at the bar and people watch.

This Torrey Pines matchbook reminds me of where I was born (San Diego, CA) and where my parents now reside again after moving back from my hometown in northern California. I’ve never golfed Torrey Pines but it’s on my list!

More restaurant and food memories! I frequented Sant Ambroeus with my girlfriends and sisters for lunch and brunch, when living in Greenwich Village. Being caught in a summer rain and handed the Sant Amroeus umbrellas to borrow is a fun memory to be reminded of when looking at this matchbook.