Little Luxuries

With the never ending fun I am experiencing in the study world continuing, the little indulgences I do get are just so good.  Those being, mostly, long walks with Bryan, exercise classes, nice dinners or meals of any kind, FareStart, Girls Group/yoga, basketball games, church and a considerable amount of TV.  My brain doesn’t really have the capacity to focus on much of anything else right now.

So how have I indulged in the past week?  Well, I got to watch Michigan play basketball four days straight over the weekend (and with it playing on my phone next to me at work).  We had two Michigan State fans over for snacks and to watch the defeat on Saturday, nothing better when you have to hide that you are gloating…I’ve been on the opposite end of the spectrum too many times.  Bryan and I went for a nice long walk through Leschi and the Central District on Saturday, stopping for the views and conversation on a park bench overlooking the city.

Sunday we had church, more basketball, then indulged in a fancy “four” course feast at Tavolata for their monthly Sunday Feast with our friends Tim and Jason.  This month’s theme was seafood and everything was delicious and executed perfectly.  It even got Bryan and I out of our small comfort zones for a few items that turned out to be great decisions.  We both ate the oysters!  And Bryan’s favorite dish of the night was the squid ink pasta with squid and uni butter, which was amazing but way too difficult for me to pick a favorite of the night.  Though, the pastas were both amazing and comforting.  Fortunately portions were just right so after so many dishes we were left feeling comfortable and not completely over the top (which is essentially me post dinner every day of the week currently).

The Menu

FIRST COURSE

Shigoku Oysters with Champagne Mignonette and Cucumber Granita
Octopus Carpaccio with Taggiasca Olives, Mint, and Bottarga
Lobster Bisque with Poached Lobster, Fennel Sofrito, and Basil
Grilled Spot Prawns with Wild Watercress, Fennel, and Salsa Verde

Amazingly tender octopus carpaccio

Lobster bisque with chunks of lobster

PASTA

Conchiglie Nero with Grilled Squid, Uni, Pickled Fresno Chili, and Colatura di Alici
Linguini Aglio e Olio with Dungeness Crab, Garlic, and Chili

ENTRÉE

Scallops with Sunchokes, Applewood Bacon, and Brussels Sprouts
King Salmon with Asparagus, Pearl Onion, and Black Trumpet Vinaigrette

Lobster Risotto with Parmesan, Lemon, and Chive
Roasted Cauliflower with Bagna Cauda and Pangrattato

DESSERT

Lemon Meringue Tart

I’ve managed to get in a fill of food, fun and exercise this week.  I attended the theme cycle ride at Live, Love Flow for Odeza vs. The Chainsmokers which was a good sweaty class.  I filled up with soul-soothing calliloo stew afterwards.  I was treated to dinner at FareStart’s Community Dinner for the month of March on Wednesday after my Girls Night was cancelled.  Community Dinner’s lasagna bolognese was again a comforting plate of happiness that I needed mid week.  Back at FareStart on Thursday for 2016’s Restaurant of the Year chef and James Beard Award nominee from Salare and JuneBaby for a Southern-inspired dinner expedited by your very own Bryan.  Bryan ran the restaurant super smoothly and soon enough we were all dining on the delicious dishes of roasted beets with walnuts, tangerines and buttermilk sauce, oxtails with peas, rice and carrots, smoked carrots and collard greens and pineapple upside down cake with caramel ice cream.  Heavenly all around!

TGIF!  And starting the weekend off well with the company’s monthly staff meeting followed by a night at the Seattle Rep with Club 20s/30s for their hosted pre-show food and drink for the latest play Ibsen in Chicago.  Looking forward to the weekend and the sunny and warmer weather we are expecting.  Studying may or may not pay a price because of it.

Chelsea