I had the opportunity to try Burton Grill’s brunch in North Andover this past Sunday, and man, am I glad I did. From white chocolate cranberry scones to blueberry brownies to eggs and bacon, this was one brunch worth writing about. The brunch items are ordered from the non-extensive menu, but there is enough variety to please just about everyone’s breakfast needs. I decided on the chef’s frittata, filled with locally grown zucchini and chocked full of a beautiful blend of spices - and covered in a heavenly layer of melted cheddar cheese. On the side, I had fresh, well seasoned home fries with homemade ketchup and thick cut wheat berry toast. My friend ordered the Crab Cakes Benedict, which was a layered masterpiece of two still-crunchy English muffins, topped with lump, full-of-crab crabcakes, and poached eggs smothered in creamy lemon hollandaise sauce. Each dish even came with a small bowl of fresh fruit. Holy breakfast! The only downside? The Bloody Marias we tried to drink our meals down with. The $9 beverage is supposed to include worcester seasoning, tabasco sauce, horseradish, red and yellow peppers, jalapenos, and manchego cheese-stuffed olives (to name a few), but unfortunately, the drinks we got tasted like nothing more than tomato juice and tequila - and the olive wasn’t stuffed. If you’re going to make the drive, go for the food - but I recommend ordering coffee or OJ.

Peach bellinis, filet benedict, and griddle cakes served with Vermont maple syrup and locally-grown seasonal fruit. Salivating yet? Good - because this meal’s worth the drive to North Andover, Mass. Burton’s Grill, with additional locations in Boston and Hingham, is offering brunch every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The biggest reason to make the drive? Burton’s has partnered with Smolak Farms , also in N. Andover, in a “Farm to Table” program to treat their guests to locally-grown produce. The program, which started with the Sunday Brunch menu, features seasonal fruits such as peaches, raspberries and blueberries. In lieu of their new partnership with Smolak, Burton’s Culinary Director, Denise Baron, will also be presenting her peach dessert of stewed peaches over coconut gelato and shortbread cookies at Smolak Farms Peach Festival this Saturday. Smolak Farms offers their fresh seasonal fruit featuring 40 different varieties such as: yellow peaches, white peaches and nectarines. If my sister wasn’t getting married on Saturday, I’d be there - mainly because nothing tastes more like summer than biting into a juicy, fresh peach. Can’t make it Saturday, but want to hit up Burton’s for Sunday brunch? Call ahead, as reservations are recommended.

Some meals/restaurants are just worth the drive - to Belmont, Mass. My boyfriend and I take ballroom dancing classes at Fred Astaire Dance Studio, and right next door is a little gem called Kitchen on Common at 442 Common Street. Last week we had dinner there between dance classes, and the waiter was attentive, friendly and efficient, as he knew we had to be somewhere in 45 minutes. The menu is more about quality than quantity, and changes frequently due to the fact that Kitchen on Common only uses locally grown, natural and organic ingredients. We both had the lentil soup, with cumin and coriander, as well as the roasted beet salad with candied walnuts and large shavings of fresh blue cheese. We also split a side of herb roasted fingerling potatoes, which were under seasoned, yet surprisingly delicious (what a difference fresh produce can make). The small eatery is also B.Y.O.B., but the specialty wine and beer store next door provided us with some delicious IPAs to wash down a healthy meal without feeling rushed for our next class.

Food Network Magazine’s June/July issue hit stands today, and in it they name each state’s best burger. In our Granite State, Food Network named Gilley’s PM Lunch in Portsmouth’s Chiliburger the best. To my knowledge, it’s simply a burger with chili on it - chili isn’t just for hot dogs, you know. Also close to home: Massachusett’s “best burger” is the English Burger at Christopher’s Restaurant & Bar in Cambridge. I’ve never been to Christopher’s, but I’ve been to their sister restaurant, Cambridge Common, many times and the food (especially the fried pickles and sweet potato “chips”) is absolutely delicious. For anyone in NH or MA reading this blog, do you agree or disagree with Food Network’s choices? Personally, my most recent “best burger” was served to me at Applebee’s, of all places - and I don’t care how bad that sounds. That was a damn good cheeseburger.