Pasta & Chocolate

Oy vey, I'm full.

Now, I know you love your family. They are the bees knees and there when you need a shoulder to cry on. But do you, like me, have...a second family? Shhh don't tell my family. This second family of mine includes not one, but two best friends and their awesome parents. This past weekend they came to city to visit so of course we all needed to go out to dinner. K suggested, wait no, she didn't suggest, she demanded we go to Bianca on Bleeker St. (Please look at their website, it's super cute and easy to navigate)

With a party of five we expected to wait at least an hour on a busy Sunday night for a table in this cozy restaurant. Luck was on our side as the group before us did not have their full party there yet. Squeezing past romantic couples and laughing friends we tucked in the back corner of the restaurant next to the kitchen pick-up window. The room a little loud and our waitress a little accent-y, we had no idea what the specials were after they were told to us.

A bottle of red and a glass of white were summoned to our table top and received with joy followed by a selection of salads to start.
Spinaci - Spinach with walnuts, apples and pecorino cheese
Carciofini - Artichoke slices with Parmigiano and lemon dressing
Pomodori - Tomatoes with red onions and anchovies

At this point in my life I can't say I have ever had anchovies, but today was the day! I grabbed one of those slimy little buggers and threw it in my mouth. Salty and chewy, it was not something I would eat on it's own ever again, but with some lettuce and a tomato it made for an interesting bite of food.

Next came mains:
Me & K: Tagliatelle alla Bolognese - with meat sauce enriched with tomato and mushrooms
J - Gramigna con Salciccia e Peperoni - with crumbled sausage and red bell pepper
Mrs. H - Lasagna - the traditional one from Emilia-Romagna with Bechemel and meat sauce
Mrs. H - Tagliolini ai Frutti di Mare - with clams, mussels, calamari and shrimps sauteeed in garlic, EVOO and lite tomato sauce

Bon Appetit!

Oh, I'm sorry did you think I had room for dessert? HA.

4

Yesterday I needed to run a work errand with my co-worker and we found ourselves right by City Bakery. Hungry because...well I'm always hungry AND it was lunch time, we stopped in to grab some grub. B informed me that this place is famous for it's hot chocolate. Armed with that information I approached the counter and asked the woman, what is the hot chocolate situation here? She said they had their classes dark chocolate hot chocolate that day with homemade marshmallows. I said, get it now!

Outside I tried to walk and drink. B acknowledged the importance of this moment, had us stop and made me take a sip of my hot chocolate. I...didn't...know....what...to....say. This liquid chocolate swirled around my mouth all thick and creamy and filled my belly with happiness. Rich. So rich. I have been on the hunt for great hot chocolate for years now having tried Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Pret a Manger, Jacques Torres, Swiss Miss etc. but this stuff is amazing. I cannot wait for their Hot Chocolate festival where through the month of February they feature a different flavor of hot chocolate EVERY DAY.

(Later that day B came to my office and found me slumped over my desk whining that I felt nauseous. Too much sugar she asked? Yesssss, I moaned. But SO worth it.)