Four Course Friday

So it’s Tuesday… but Friday’s dinner is still rolling around in the back of my brain, so I HAVE to share it with you guys!  As I mentioned last week, it is restaurant week here in Philly, and I was lucky enough to follow up my Three Course Thursday with a Four Course Friday! 

My Friday was pretty excellent, if you’d allow me to back up for a minute.  At 4pm, my seniors decided to send us home!  Considering our dinner reservations weren’t until 7 (and the fiancee doesnt get out of work until 6:15…) I did what any normal girl would do with a few hours to kill would do: SHOP!

I started here, at the cutest little second-hand shop on Chestnut Street.  Everything was an additional 50%!  Unfortunately I didn’t find anything in my size, despite my most valient efforts

Next on my shopping tour of Center City was Ann Taylor Loft in Liberty Place.  I may or may not have walked out with this cutie… picture it in black though.

I found banana republic too, and got an olive green turtleneck for $13!!  Fabulous.  No pic though… it was only a turtleneck!

Right outside of Banana was a gorgeous stretch of Broad Street… check out the sights:

The Union League is one of my favorite buildings in Philadelphia.  I attend an SJU dinner there every year, and the history and beauty of the building blows me away. 

Finally, it was time for dinner.  I was meeting Robert at the restaurant we chose – Smokin’ Betty’s on 11th and Sansom.  It was a cute place, with a bbq theme.  While I was waiting for Robert to get there, I sipped on a raspberry lemonade cocktail, which was DELICIOUS!  It was so sweet and light, and it reminded me of summer!

Unfortunately, this was the last picture I took of the evening.  I’m still a  little camera shy, even around my darling fiancee.  Any suggestions for getting over this fear while blogging?!

Anyway, our dinner was ah-maz-ingg!  The whole meal reminded me of my childhood.  My first course was a cheesesteak springroll.  While it wasn’t very bbq-y, it was so good!  The chinese restaurant in my hometown used to make something similar, and it brought me back to the good ol’ days!  It was paired with a yummy tomato jam that gave it a nice tangy flavor.  Robert’s appetizer was enough for a whole meal… 3 bbq sliders.  He didn’t seem to have any problem polishing them off though!  One was pulled chicken, one was beef brisket, and one was pulled pork.  I stole a few bites – I think the brisket was my favorite! 

There was a quick garden salad course, which freshened our palattes for the humongous plate of ribs heading our way.  I have always had a soft spot for good bbq, as my family vacationed in the south every summer of my childhood.  These ribs were perfect – delicious tangy bbq sauce, and the meat just fell off the bone.  Just thinking about them makes my mouth water!   About 6 big ribs were paired with grilled asparagus, and mac+cheese.  I ate all of my veggies (and Robert’s too!), and most of the ribs.  The mac was actually very garlicky, and not what I was hoping for… but I certainly didn’t miss it amongst all the other great food on the table! 

By the time dessert came around, we were both stuffed.  I only had room for a few bites of my chocolate mousse – it was so rich.  It tasted just like chocolate gelato, but it had such a fluffy texture.  It was truly divine.  Somehow I managed to find room for the whipped cream and berries that came with it though  

All in all, our dinner at Smokin’ Betty’s was so much fun, and a great dining experience.  Our server was so happy and enthusiastic, and the service was fast.  Both Robert and I agreed that it was a fun change from the typical italian BYOB that we usually frequent during restaurant week.  I highly recommend it!

Gratitude Journal – Weekend of 1/23/10 to 1/24/10

I’m still getting in the swing of the bloggie thing… so I admit I’ve been slacking.  Here are some more tidbits that I am thankful for – hopefully this will hold you over until I can get a good post up here

1) I am thankful that Robert and I were able to get season tickets to SJU basketball games this year… or else I wouldn’t have seen SJUbeat Dayton in the fieldhouse, and my Saturday wouldn’t have been nearly as fun

2) I am thankful to have a fiancee who is as encouraging and supportive as Robert.  If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have blown my ‘saving money’ resolution out of the water last night at the outlet mall!

3) I am thankful for my first commenter!  Shout-out to Heather at Side of Sneakers!  Thanks for stopping by – it’s fun to have readers.  I hope everyone that stops by leaves a comment!!

4)  I am thankful for Bob at the Ardmore Apple store.  I had a mini freak out Saturday, when I tried to have a dance party in my bedroom with Lady Gaga, and Lady Gaga didn’t show up.  My ipod just wouldn’t turn on, even though it had been on 20 minutes prior and it was fully charged.  I tried to reset it, I tried leaving it plugged into my computer overnight, and still no response.  My poor purple ipod!  I took it to the doctor (aka genius bar) on Sunday morning, and Bob replaced it free of charge- even though my warranty had expired last month!  (isn’t that typical?!)  I am still in shock by the generosity of the store and the company, and have nothing but good things to say about Apple.  I didn’t even ask for a replacement, he just offered up the exact same beautiful purple ipod for free.  So to Bob and Apple I say “thank you thank you thank you!”

what were you thankful for this weekend?

Gratitude Journal 1/22/10

Hey guys…

I know I’ve been slacking with this lately, so today my gratitude journal gets a special post to get back on track:

Gratitude Journal 1/22/10

1)  I’m grateful for actually listening to myself this morning when I couldn’t sleep.  Instead, I got up and did some yoga – and I am much happier and energetic than I would have been if I stayed in bed and stressed about not sleeping.  Also, my shoulders are resting at their proper place instead of up by my ears like they have been

2)  I’m grateful for my dear friends and their families who have been showering me with lovely cards and texts and phone calls since I got engaged.  They make me smile each day when I go home and see all my cards.  It’s like each one of you is there with me, and I really need that during this long busy season.

3)  I’m so thankful that I got to talk to my family last night, and listened to daddy tell me a story about how he and the dogs ran into an owl on their walk last saturday.  It was an awesome story, and it was awesome catching up with my dad!