best company ever

february 26th, 2009 8:00 p.m.

menu:
fried oysters marinated in guiness
split yellow pea fritters
mixed greens with a golden balsamic dressing and tamari pumpkin seeds

orange cinnamon crème brûlée

pinot grigio and riesling provided by mali

guest:
mike davis
mali chansouk

while not completely and not quite officially yet, joe has moved in. last night we had mali and mike over for the first of many dinners that i'm sure will happen (there is already talk of one at their house) - this one as a sort of celebration/housewarming for joe. if you haven't been over recently, you should come - see how the library is turning into a spaceship.

package deal

i must say that there is nothing quite like getting dolled up two nights in a row to tick two - TWO bars/restaurants of my list with the one, the only lovely louisa. she and i, there really is an art to our banter... like ping-pong, only more graceful.

prohibition must be your next date spot. i promise you'll charm said date's pants/skirt off - dark wood, low lights and jazzy music.

barrio is my next bring-the-parents hotspot - latino-kitsch decor (not the bad kind), good tequila and the best shrimp taco i've had since summer and sea salt.

it is entertaining

that the second i get a stable internet connection in the apartment, i stop internet-ing.

i breakfasted out twice this weekend, made me feel very decadent. but, that was also the number of nights that i stayed in; i don't think i spent any more than i would have in a regular weekend. i don't know why i hadn't been there before, but the grand cafe is amazing. please go and order the eggs en cocotte - you will be overwhelmed with how savory and rich and wonderful it is. i also want my someday-when-i-have-a-house kitchen to resemble the interior of this lovely, lovely cafe.

jonathan strange & mr norell is coming along nicely and i'll be at the halfway mark in time for bookclub. i also bought myself a new collection of short stories by pam houston which i cannot wait to devour.

speaking of devouring, work has consumed my life lately - i've been a bit stressed - and i'm taking a well-deserved break this weekend with joe in duluth, staying in the nicest place i've stayed on my own (we booked the olcott suite).

with the cancellation of sunday dinner this week i feel like it's been years and years since i've seen any of you. how is everyone?