dining in...

since we've got an apartment and grocery stores where i can actually read the labels, i plan on doing a ton of cooking while home. granted i've got a pretty basic kitchen and a very limited amount of cooking paraphernalia so i can't get too fancy or complicated.

last night....



portabella chicken marsala*
balsamic green beans**
roasted butternut squash***

everything was really delicious and best of all the meal was ridiculously low in fat and was around 450 calories!

*you'll note i changed the shitake to portabella, the shitakes at the grocery looked pitiful and i love the meatiness of a portabella anyway. always subsitute for the better looking veggies!
** i left out the bacon and just added goya jamon flavor to my water and also a pack to my vinaigrette. i wanted to cut the fat out but keep the flavor.
***just drizzle with evoo and roast until tender

Woodfire Baby!

So it took a month to get the reservation at a decent time but it was so worth it. We had a truly amazing meal prepared by the winner of Top Chef, Kevin Gillespie. Okay, so he didn't technically win...but he had more quick fire and challenge wins than anyone in TC history and he won fan favorite. And he was never a jerk and stayed true to his Southern roots. So whatevs, he's totally the winner in our eyes.

We had a few people suggest getting the tasting menu* so we did...

amuse bouche made of black eyed peas on a pot likker and collard reduction...



braised baby carrots with goat cheese and fennel salad (i totally thought this one must have tasted like the carrot he did for the show)...



scallop (best i've ever had in my life) and shrimp over a radish carpaccio...



bonus course, oysters (the only "not spectacular" thing we had all night)...



yummy blackberry cocktail...



quail...



pork trio...mmmmm pork...



apple spice cake with caramelized marshmallows...



chocolate stuffed crepes with espresso beans...



Everything (save the oysters) was absolutely incredible. It was a beautiful meal shared with wonderful company.

If you watched the show and you'd like to actually taste the talent for yourself I highly suggest making your reservations now!!

If you go on the weekend there is also a good chance you'll get to meet the master himself! He was so genuine and very gracious...




*personally i would recommend getting an app, an entree and a dessert. if everyone gets something different then you can try lots of stuff. granted, getting the tasting menu will make you feel like tom and padma but it is super pricey and the portions are super tiny. of course i had starved myself all day in preparation so you make the call.