Date Night in the North End

Have you ever heard of Professional Administrative day? Well, there is such a thing and it is celebrated in our office each year with a gift card to some great restaurant. This year I was thrilled to receive a $75 gift card for a great restaurant in the North End called Trattoria Il Panino. With a new hair cut and St. Anthony's feast going on, this weekend proved to be the perfect time to go.

Despite the rain and really cold weather (seriously, it felt like it could snow) we were able to sit outside. The area was covered and heated and the atmosphere was perfect. We were served bottled water in wine glasses and I couldn't have been happier. I absolutely love drinking out of cool glasses.

We started with Calamari which interestingly enough came in a brown paper bag on a long white plate. Kind of crazy presentation, but really, really good.

After looking at the menu for quite some time we finally made our decisions. I went with the Lobster Ravioli . . .

. . . and Matt decided on the Veal. To say we were not disappointed is a serious understatement. The food was delicious!

We had a bit of an awkward moment while we waited for our check though. Our waiter came by after picking up our plates and dropped off two little yellow cups.

Not knowing what they were, we flagged down our waiter to ask. He probably thought we were crazy as he explained that it was lemon sorbet, compliments of the house. How cool is that!

After dinner as we walked out and onto Hanover Street, I heard a familiar sound. There was a band parading down the street, playing one of my favorite songs.

We finished off the night with a Cannoli from Mike's pastry and an episode of Psych. It was Perfect!

Happy Friday!

(Here's a little of what I've been up to lately)

• Making friends with the birds - I sat alone on a bench the other day, taking in the sun and watching a water fountain when two little birds came over to keep me company. Aren't they adorable!

• The Boys v. The Birds - I went to the Beach and was thoroughly entertained by a flock of seagulls and a few rambunctious little boys. The boys, with food in their hands, would try to get the seagulls to come just close enough so they could WHACK them with their paddles.

• I once saw a seagull steal someones bag of gold fish right off their towel . . . while they were sitting on it. They are so aggressive out here and need to be put in their place every once in a while, so I was routing for the boys the whole time.

• The Big Switch - I finally did it. I turned in my Idaho license and became an official resident of Massachusetts. I hadn't planned to, at least not yet, but when I was called to jury duty I didn't really have a choice anymore.

• I had to fork over $100 and wait 2 weeks to change my license over. I was a little disappointed when I got the card and it was completely flimsy. I could rip this thing if half if I really wanted to. You'd think $100 would at least get you a more durable card. What gives Massachusetts?
  

• Alegria - My first Cirque Du Sole! It was absolutely amazing. There were some super creepy parts and some super funny parts. I was completely amazed by what these people could do and I now long to go to the Trapeze school here in Boston to try it out for myself.
  
  

• Have a great weekend!

In The Sun and Salty Air

Saturday I went to one of the most beautiful beaches with one of the cutest names. Singing Beach in Manchester by the Sea.

I grabbed my good friend Chen Ying. She's a total beach girl from Malaysia.

And my other good friend Krissy. She's a newly converted beach girl.

And here's me. A beach girl in the making.

Beaches are a little different here in New England. The biggest difference being that they are COLD. I mean really cold, like turn your legs red cold. So, it's a really good thing it was as hot as it was that day otherwise we never would have made it in.

It took us a good long while of jumping up and down and squealing like silly girls every time a wave came, to make it in. Once submerged, our bodies went numb and it was actually kind of nice.

What was really nice though was getting out and warming up in the hot sun. Here Chen Ying demonstrates how to properly cover your face. Something I need to do more of considering the recent freckle invasion. I'm losing the battle!

Going to the beach, particularly Singing Beach, is quickly becoming my favorite thing to do on a hot and sticky day in Boston.

I'll always be a mountain girl at heart, but I'll gladly take the beach in its absence.

Restaurant Week 2009

Last night I dined with a few friends at Pigalle, an upscale French restaurant in Boston's Theater District. I would normally pull out my camera and take a bunch of pictures of the food, my friends, and the establishment, however this place was a dark romantic type setting and it just didn't feel appropriate. Besides, I bet if I had pulled out my camera our snooty waiter would have kicked me curbside real fast. So, with no pictures attached, here's what I had this year:

To Start:

Moulles with Garlic, Butter, Fines Herbes and Toasted Baguette

Main Course:
Sole with Pearl Barley, Julienne Spinach and Almond-Garlic Purée

Dessert:
Classic Crème Brûlée

(A little park found on my way to the restaurant. It sits in the middle of a busy area and was so, so cute.)

While the food was excellent, the over all experience is one that I don't think I would pay for again. I was a little bugged by our waiter who had an arrogance about him that rubbed me the wrong way. I was told it was probably how he was suppose to act considering it was a French place, but I've been to France and was never treated like that there. Also, it took 2+ hours to get through our 3 course meal. We waited and waited and waited in between courses and I was starving!

(After running home in the rain, I found someone waiting for me on the front step. He was HUGE!)

As was previously mentioned, the food was GREAT. I just wouldn't go back unless someone else was paying and I could wear bright red lipstick, a beret and a serious french attitude.