Crazy Times

It's been a big few days. Actually it's been a big week and a half. Let's see...two Fridays ago I found out that I had a ticket to Game Four of the World Series!!!! I had to meet a man in a Wawa parking lot to get it, but I made sure people knew I was there and that I was ok after. It sounded sketchy to me, and sometimes I err on the side of caution.

Then I went to DC for the weekend and trained it back in time to get to the game Sunday night. Turned out that was the best game of the series, aside from Game Five #2 when they won. Sunday's game was fun, easy, and the weather was perfect. It was funny though; it didn't feel like a championship game. I mean, people were excited, but I had to keep reminding myself that this was the World Series. Anyway, it was a heck of a way to start the week. Monday was rough, and I never really caught up since I had Game Five and then Game Five again to watch.

Wednesday night I actually rushed home from dinner to watch the game, only to go back out to the bar next to the restaurant I had eaten in to celebrate! Sitting on the couch and screaming didn't seem adequate, and I was right. While I didn't venture near Philadelphia, the suburbs were nuts. Some kid across the street was banging pot lids together which I thought was funny. He was mostly in the house...just his arms and pot lids were outside the door.

Friday night was our annual Halloween Party. People stayed until 3:00am, 3 people spent the night, I had a hangover for 3 days and we have 3 weeks worth of leftovers. And a keg. Anyone need a keg? The amount of drinking I did didn't warrant the hangover I had which was frustrating. As for the leftovers, we don't like to risk running out of food so we go overboard. This year's menu was marinated pork loin, roasted turkey breast, pumpkin risotto (made from scratch), and salad, as well as all the nibblies that go along with a party. You know, cheese and crackers, a baked brie, dip, veggies, hummus, chips... The salad is easy - greens, feta cheese, craisins, and pine nuts with a vinaigrette - but it's one of my favorites. The pumpkin risotto recipe is from foodnetwork.com and I'll post it separately.

I also made Weight Watcher cupcakes that were awesome. I'll post those too. And the majority of the food came from Costco. That is my favorite place to shop. They have good deals, the food is high quality and usually organic, and it's so easy! I highly recommend a membership if you have one nearby. The toilet paper alone is worth it.

Saturday night I had a surprise party for someone who was at my Halloween party. It was SO hard not to ask him if he was excited. And then to hear him talk about the rest of his weekend without laughing! Of course the only thing I could think of to talk about was his party...so I tried to stay clear of him.

Then Sunday was an attempt to buy a sewing machine with A. That was unsuccessful, but we did buy a bunch of other things. JoAnn Fabrics had great deals (like 70% off!!) on Halloween decor so I stocked up for next year. Phew! I think that's everything. Actually I skipped the candle/pampered chef/handbag/jewelry party I went to at my aunt's and the massive clean up I am still in the process of from the party.

The most important thing though happened today - I VOTED!!! Everyone be sure to vote early and often. It's your privilege and duty as an American, so DO IT!

It All Comes Down to the Scallop

I went to dinner last night in the city...the city being Philadelphia. We went to a restaurant called Sole Food, which was great despite my poor attitude. It wasn't totally poor, but I had had a concept in my head of what the night was going to be like, and it didn't work out that way and made me cranky.

The food was great, the company was great, the wine was decent...it was a fun evening. Here's the thing. I ate two appetizers for dinner, and one of them was called something along the lines of Pancetta Crusted Sea Scallop. Scallop. I didn't pay enought attention to that word, and when the food came I definitely had A pancetta crusted sea scallop. It had some sort of delicious corn salad with mushrooms and a piece of lobster with it. I'm not complaining about it, but I was just really startled to see one sea scallop. The bowl itself was HUGE, but the rim was about five inches out from the actual bowl part that would hold about a cup. So, the bowl was tiny, the rim was gigantic...like the plate probably had a 15 inch diameter...and in the middle of it was a single sea scallop.

It seems to be the general trend in fine dining. And, frankly, I'm fine with smaller portions (helps with my Weight Watchers, but that's another post). There is no need to feel disgustingly stuffed after eating out, but I did chuckle over my $12 scallop. Like I said, I'm not complaining about it; I could never have made anything that tasty. It did just give me pause when the massive plate came out. I guess the idea is that you're paying for the experience. I'm happy to say we had wonderful service and a very attentive staff, but sometimes restaurants don't deliver. My feeling is, if you are going to be brazen enough to charge $12 for one scallop, you had better be prepared to make it worth it. Fortunately for all involved, Sole Food did.

The rest of the meal was Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare, Brussel Sprouts with bacon and apples, and Chilean Sea Bass. All of it was great, but here is something I am going to complain about. The tartare (news to me that there is an e on the end) was so spicy I couldn't eat it. I will admit, my tolerance for hot is pretty low, and I am often overwhelmed and gasping from things that small children have no problem stomaching, but this was ridiculous. My dining companion ate the tuna with minimal sweating, so it worked out, but if you are going to make something nose-hair-singeingly spicy, then mention that on the menu. I think this is the third time in as many restaurants that the tuna tartare was laced with chili oil and I couldn't eat it. I know what you're saying - if this is happening with any regularity, why don't I ask before ordering? Duly noted, and now I will. The sea bass was amazing, and there were a number of other things on the menu I would have ordered had I been hungrier.

I'll have more to say about fine dining trends later.