Image Field: 

The women of The Subterfuge Set are in the habit of having brunch on the weekends. Some of us are more type A than others, and manage to come well turned out. Other ladies, being slightly more bohemian and hungover in nature, will pick the designer jeans right up of the floor, touch up last night's make up and hit the streets hoofing it to the next hot brunch spot while working off last night's cuisine en route.  

This week, my besties: Jiawen Shi, Michelle Quisenberry, Korene, Hubacka, my little girl Elizabeth, and I were scheduled to meet at Mistral located on Westlake Avenue where downtown meets Lake Union. We left the apartment early to get our exercise in, but more importantly, to pick up a bottle of bubbly and special truffles for Jiawen, who so thoughtfully made our reservation for us. When we arrived, Michelle was there to greet us on the sidewalk with her warm and lovey hugs. She was looking pretty well put together for a lady who spent the previous night at a casino celebrating the birthday of a good friend—She's so well disciplined. Korene had just pulled up and was sporting a ponytail and some stress. Ms. Hubacka, a Boeing Contruction Project Manager and all around project badass, is also a student. Needless to say it puts a crimp in our partying. I never liked school, and now I get to not like it all over again because my party buddy always has homework! Lucky for her, Jiawen is a financial advisor and had all the right help to offer Korene on her shifting and sloping. Who brings homework to brunch? It says a lot for the dedication we all have to our social life. I mean, we'd rather see Korene and help her with her homework than not see her at all.

While Korene and Jiawen were doing homework and Michelle was loving up little E, I sipped on french press and shared in intermittent conversation. Jiawen is getting ready to go home to Shanghi to celebrate Chinese New Year...and explain to too many relatives why she isn't married yet. We tried to come up with white lies for her to no avail. Single and having a good time doesn't seem to cut it. Lucky for us though, she'll make it to my monthly cocktail gathering at The Sorrento Hotel this Tuesday before leaving town. Michelle, who was recently appointed to the board of SIFF, is about to get even more busy organizing events and fundraising while still running Volterra restaurant with her celebrity husband Chef Don Curtis and offering her expertise as a freelance business consultant. Michelle did inform me that I will be helping with a major event in September. After all, what are friends for (insert stress face and nervous laugh here)?

As for the food at Mistral, we each got something different from the menu: steak and eggs for Jiawen; the rabbit confit with polenta for Korene; the french toast for me; and Belgian waffles for Little E and Michelle. It was all very good. They served the french press with little marshmallow squares in assorted flavors, ginger cookies, and a jelly candy. The restrooms were nice, which I have to bring up because this is a central feature in E's book—she's picky about restrooms (on both style and cleanliness). So far they all get compared to the ladies' rooms at The Ruins and at Boka, which both get an A+. She gave Mistral's restroom a B-. I guess a taste level about something is good in an eight year old even if it is in ladies' rooms. Someone once told me that it's the more base things that reveal the truth about the rest, so E may be on the right track after all.

After brunch, Little Miss E and I walked downtown and spent several hours at Barnes and Noble, tried on clothes at Nordstrom, auditioned make-up and fragrances at Sephora, and caught a movie with daddy. We had discussed perusing some art galleries on the way home but we were too tired. We always enjoy walking home through Belltown on a Saturday night as we watch everyone coming out to fill the restaurants and bars. It was quite late when we got home. What started out as a brunch date with the girls turned into a great day of bonding for us. We'll hit the art galleries midweek, no doubt. As for brunch, I couldn't ask for a better group of friends, nor could I ask for better role models for my daughter. Dynamic, sophisticated, art-loving, stylish business women sharing a love and regard for each other. Is there anything better?