HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! 
Someone is not used to central time and woke up at 6:15! Muhaha 
Ryan and I are getting ready for a workout then THE FARMERS MARKET (!!) but being the sweet girlfriend that I am, I am giving him 15 more minutes in bed while I blog. lol
The rehearsal dinner last night was beautiful! We ate at Tutto Pasta, a great Italian place right on what seemed to be “the strip” of downtown Madison. There were about 40 of us and everything was just gorgeous with candles hanging down from the ceiling.
Where’s Waldo?
We all thought it was awesome that the building that the restaurant was in was 150 years old and used to be a hotel where Dillinger hung out and hid! So cool! Anyone seen this movie yet? I’ve been dying to!
When we all arrived there was the most delicious white sangria waiting for us!
This was amaaaaaazing! It tasted just like sparkling peach juice. I only had one glass though because the sweet stuff gives the WORST hangovers!
My cousin and I (not the one that is getting married)—
Dad and Nick—
Katie and Matt (the cousin that IS getting married!)—
They are absolutely adorable together!!
I started out with the minestrone soup for something light. I also switched to red wine ’cause one sweet drink was enough!
For my entree, I actually chose something I have NEVER ordered at a restaurant before—Lasagna! The vegetarian lasagna just sounded really good and it ended up being a very good move because it was the best lasagna I’ve ever had.
It really wasn’t heavy at all, if you can believe that. The cheese was pretty light and it wasn’t loaded with it. The veggies were not mushy and overcooked as most pastas unfortunately have, instead they were still slightly crisp and totally delicious! I ate about 80% of this and didn’t feel bloated, heavy or anything afterwards!
Ryan beat the system and got meat lasagna, which totally was NOT on the menu but they gave it to him! oh boys
And then there was dessert………………….
It was awful!! I hated it!!! Someone force fed it to me!! LOL
Tiramisu is actually one of my favorite desserts ever and this was fantastic. It was so incredibly light and seemed to be made with whipped cream instead of mascapone cheese, which only added to its light factor!
After dinner we walked back to the hotel, very sleep indeed from a loooooong day of travel. Through the course of the night I had that one glass of sangria + 1.5 glasses of wine and it was Jenna sleepy time. hahaha (they poured the largest glasses of wine I have ever seen and my mom took half of my glass). Overall though it was a great evening and I am so excited to see my cousin get married to sweet Katie today! The wedding is a garden wedding at 1:30 on the University campus, which I hear is very pretty!
Time to work out! Enjoy your 4th!!!
Enjoy your 4th!!!
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like a great night! And the food looks really good!
Have a fun time at the wedding!
Have a blast at the wedding!!
Happy 4th!
Looks like the wedding weekend is off to a great start. Tiramisu is one of my favorite desserts as well. Enjoy the wedding!
Have a good day! What a great little place for a rehearsal dinner. Tiramisu looked mouth watering.
Happy 4th of July! Hope you have a great day at the wedding. The rehearsal dinner looked delicious!
Happy 4th of July to you too!
The reception looks so beautiful, and the food looks to die for. Mmmm that vegetarian lasagna and tiramisu are such Italian classics. Love it when they don’t leave you feeling heavy and bloated! Good to hear that you had so much fun. Hope you have a lovely time at the wedding–cheers to the adorable couple
Can’t wait for wedding details! Have a great time.
Happy 4th to you! Your dress is adorable (again!) If you go shopping when you are in Boston for the summit, you have to take me along! Your style is great.
Hi! Happy 4th of July!
I’m new to the blogging world, but I’ve been reading your blog and wanted to say hi and tell you how much I enjoy it! It is great!
That place looks amazing and the food too! I hope you post pics of the wedding. She is gonna make a beautiful bride.
~Linda
What a fun evening! That place looks so pretty and the food sounds fabulous!
Enjoy your 4th of July today and have a wonderful time at the Farmers Market. I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
that dinner looks fun and fabulous. i love the print of your dress.
happy 4th!
Have a wonderful holiday and have fun at the wedding! It’s a beautiful town!
Glad you polished off the dessert – looks delicious!! Enjoy your 4th
looks like a lot of fun girly. happy 4th
That dessert looks like it was amazing!!
Beautiful spot for a rehearsal dinner – and everything looked DELISH! Have fun at the wedding!
Yum I love Lasagne and Tiramisu! Lucky!
It makes me so happy to see you in Madison! I was born and raised there and graduated from the UW. Haven’t lived there for a long time now, but visit my parents often. I was so glad to hear that you are including the Farmer’s Market in your plans. I think you are really going to like it!
I *love* reading your restaurant reviews!
In all my travels, I found the people of Wisconsin to be so kind, hospitable, and darn good healthy cooks! Have fun at the wedding!
I had white sangria last night too!! Except I had two glasses
I’m always afraid to order lasagna in restaurants because it never tastes ‘homemade’ when I do. Yours looks really good though!
OH, I LOVE Tutto Pasta!! My hubby and I went on a date there before we were married. We also got engaged right outside the University of WI student union on the Monona lake pier…many happy memories! I know you’ll LOVE the farmers market!
that looks like a great rehearsal dinner! It makes me nostalgic for my wedding… i wish I could do it all over again.
The food looks amazing! That is one of my favorite desserts too! Hope you have a great day today!
that lasagna looks awesome! much better than the version i have in my freezer right now…
Hi. I came across this article and thought of you… a foodlover. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article5561425.ece
There are a few interesting ones on there. Enjoy.
Good looking Lasangna! I probably would have ordered that too!
Hi Jenna, which do you think is lighter; the maria elena salad or the minestrone soup?
Sarah,
The soup because it is broth based and contains no cheese.
The rehersal dinner looks like it was a blast! Madison is actually featured for the “36 Hours” part of the Travel Section in the NY Times today, what a funny coincidence! Enjoy the rest of your trip:)
Wow, there is nothing better than a good tiramisu in my book!
Happy 4th!
My hubby took me to see Public Enemy. IMO it had a decent storyline but it was so not my type of movie. I also didn’t like how they filmed it. They filmed it to make it look “real” or like an “older” film. To me it looked a little cheesey. Overall okay but not a “wow” for me. Enjoy your weekend!
Hey Jenna
Dennis and I saw Public Enemies on Friday. It was awesome. Johnny Depp makes it, of course. He rocks.
Enjoy the wedding