Happy Monday!
I’m currently sitting in the auto glass repair shop, waiting on my new window after Friday’s fiasco. Nothing says happy Monday like a brand new car window, right?!
On another note, however, last night Almanzo and I had a lovely dinner at Osteria Stellina, down in Point Reyes Station. I picked this restaurant for our weekly date night because I had been once before and it totally blew my mind with its housemade pasta, organic ingredients and local wine on tap.
I also just love the little funky town of Point Reyes Station and the earthy hip vibe of this neighborhood trattoria.
We didn’t have reservations until eight and that actually worked out to our advantage because due to my expert navigational skills (read: nonexistant), we took the, errrr, scenic route to the restaurant.
And by scenic route, I mean we apparently went fourteen miles out of the way. But hey, at least we caught a great sunset!
It was all part of my navigational strategy, I assure you.
Anyways—we finally got to the restaurant an hour and a half later and decompressed with some local ricotta cheese, honey and almonds on grilled bread.
I dream about this appetizer. Dream about it!
For my entree, I chose the black cod. I researched this very thoroughly on Yelp earlier in the day and it seemed to be the way to go.
It was delicious but very, very, very (did I stress very) rich. I guess black cod isn’t nicknamed butterfish for nothin and I wasn’t exactly feeling so hot on the long windy drive home. Actually, I felt rather like this butterfish looked. Perhaps they should call it bloatfish? Just my humble opinion.
Almanzo ordered goat…he’s adventurous like that.
I had a very interesting experience with goat burgers while in Jamaica in 2006. It’s a long story.
Dessert was a plum and apple crisp with brown sugar cream. It was good, but not the best I’ve ever had.
Don’t worry, I still took it out.
Yep, I still feel rather like a bloatfish this morning. Excuse me while I go wallow in my elastic waist pants.
Oh, and my channa masala has been entered in the next Project Food Blog challenge. I love me some spicy saucy chickpeas!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write
September 27, 2010 at 9:46 amThat ricotta, honey, almond mixture is completely calling my name. I’m not sure how that’ll turn out, but I have a feeling it might make an appearance on my blog. Love all the ideas I get from your food.
Again, sorry on the car window. Life is stupid sometimes.
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey
September 27, 2010 at 10:03 amDinner last night looked amazing! The Husband and I always seem to take… detours. It may be because he likes to think he knows where he’s going and actually doesn’t though! 🙂
Allison K
September 27, 2010 at 10:04 amRicotta, honey, almond? Die. Sounds amazing.
Heather (Heather's Dish)
September 27, 2010 at 10:04 amnote to self: create a ricotta/honey/almond/bread dish tonight. that sounds out of this world!
Mary (What's Cookin' with Mary)
September 27, 2010 at 10:06 amlol bloat fish?! That’s funny. I’ve never tried black cod, but I am down to try some… love trying new kinda of fish!
Ariana
September 27, 2010 at 10:08 amI studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa last semester and there was butterfish to be found all over the place, as Cape Town is a coastal town. But I was also warned by many South Africans that too much butterfish can and will make you sick…I didn’t know that butterfish was a nick name for black cod though! I’m gonna have to keep that in mind when I look at menus from now on, haha
Kristina @ spabettie
September 27, 2010 at 10:08 ambrown sugar cream?? that sounds great by itself… straw, please! 😉
I have my favorite dishes at my favorite restaurants that I dream of too… I totally know what you mean! that appetizer looks perfect…
Megan
September 27, 2010 at 10:11 amThat dessert looks amazing!
Katie
September 27, 2010 at 10:11 amI actually plan on making your channa masala this week! Except my grocery store does NOT carry garam masala, which is a major disappointment. Do you think not having it will really throw off the flavor of the dish?
Kendra
September 27, 2010 at 10:11 amThat appetizer with ricotta, honey, almonds, and bread sounds right up my alley. Although, I’d probably prefer it without the bread. I’m not low carb, I just don’t really like bread.
Lauren at KeepItSweet
September 27, 2010 at 10:12 amthat appetizer looks delicious! i also have horrendous navigation skills
Jackie
September 27, 2010 at 10:13 amUgh, I am seriously perpetually lost. I lived in Portland OR for 2 years, recently went there for a visit, we were driving to where I used to LIVE, and I still got us lost. Thank god for my iPhone or else I’d probably be lost more often than I already am…
Kailey (SnackFace)
September 27, 2010 at 10:15 amI don’t know WHY I didn’t comment about this sooner, but next time you need a car window replaced, call Safelite AutoGlass. My car was recently victim to a fallen tree (tornado, ugh) and it smashed my back windshield. I called Safelite and someone came to the house to fix it. It was amazing. That said, I hope you don’t need a window in your car to be replaced again!
Anyway, that dinner looks lovely despite the after effects! Voted for the channa masala!
Tina
September 27, 2010 at 10:16 amI always describe when I get lost as taking the scenic route. Although my scenic routes have been scary routes on more than one occasion.
Tabitha (From Single to Married)
September 27, 2010 at 10:18 amwow – you’re right, beautiful sunset!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
September 27, 2010 at 10:18 amI can’t believe your luck with that car. Who did you piss off? 🙂
Lori Lynn
September 27, 2010 at 10:19 amSounds like a nice evening! 🙂
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga)
September 27, 2010 at 10:29 amIve never had black cod. Only regular cod as a kid and I am kinda guessing the way my mother made it is WORLDS apart from what you ate and how yours was prepared 🙂 Ugh, nothing like paying good money in a restaurant and walking away feeling like crap. That lingers into the next day no less. I have tons of food allergies and that’s why dining out and me are generally not friends, at all.
Hope you guys arent having quite as bad of a heat wave up there as we’re having in San Diego. It’s been like 95F and HOT at the coast (not inland!) all weekend and today too…not complaining though 🙂
cathy b. @ brightbakes.com
September 27, 2010 at 10:34 amyou are so honest! I love that!
🙂 cathy b. @ brightbakes
jenny
September 27, 2010 at 10:54 amwow! that fish does look rich. Sunset is beautiful!
ModelBehavior
September 27, 2010 at 10:54 amIs that first pic of a slide? I’ve always thought that playground equipment was oddly creepy in a way.
Jessica @ How Sweet
September 27, 2010 at 11:03 amI don’t even love ricotta and that makes me want to love it.
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
September 27, 2010 at 11:25 ameverything looks amazing! I’ll be dreaming vicariously of the ricotta, honey and almond app!
Clare
September 27, 2010 at 11:38 amI ALWAYS feel sick after eating at restaurants with too much butter. I feel so silly ordering with no butter – especially nicer restaurants where there are great chefs – but my stomach just can’t handle it!!
Kelly
September 27, 2010 at 11:50 amYum…this entire meal looks amazing. Sorry it didn’t 100% agree with you.
eatmovelove
September 27, 2010 at 11:59 amBlack cod? Sounds interesting. Anything can bloat me, so I guess I’m a Black Cod ButterFish? 😉
I love the Date Night idea. I think I would have went with Almanzo’s choice.
And I’d like to hear your Goat story – write it! And, Ricotta Rocks.
Jil
September 27, 2010 at 12:23 pmI’ve been wanting to try your channa masala recipe – I even went and got all the ingredients for it! haha Now, just to find the time! 🙂
Jamie @ Food in Real Life
September 27, 2010 at 12:26 pmI didn’t know black cod was also butterfish..wow I think that fish actually has a lot of nicknames. Anyway, I’ve heard that you actually have to be careful with butterfish because it can do a number on your stomach. (i’m talking the “D” word). They prob should only serve it in small portions. Hope you feel better. That dessert looked AMAZING.
Natalia - a side of simple
September 27, 2010 at 12:30 pmMmmm that appetizer.. there are no words. Besides maybe dreamy? =)
The Wife of a Dairyman
September 27, 2010 at 1:01 pmMy sister’s brother-in-law raises organic goat on the way to Pt. Reyes and Almanzo just ate some of it last night:) I’ve never tried goat myself, I hear it has an interesting taste though.
The Wife of a Dairyman
September 27, 2010 at 1:06 pmI meant to say my husband’s cousin raises the goat Almanzo ate last night. {My sister’s brother-in-law does also but it’s not at Stellina}
Amy
September 27, 2010 at 1:24 pmAww, disappointed that your challenge entry is just an old blog entry from May!
jenna
September 27, 2010 at 1:30 pmI know, me too 🙁 I didn’t realize it was due so soon and I was at the funeral all day on Saturday so I couldn’t make anything new. I didn’t want to drop out of the competition so I used this (it’s pretty tasty–I have to say!)
Laura Georgina
September 27, 2010 at 3:22 pmI’m most intrigued about this Jamaica goat story…. Goat is big here in Trinidad, too–it can either be the best dish you’ve ever dreamed of having, or so fatty and gross you go vegan for a week afterward.
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin
September 27, 2010 at 4:27 pmMmm that appetizer does sound very dream-worthy! I’ve never tried honey with cheese, but it sounds like the flavours would be amazing together.
Lori
September 27, 2010 at 8:04 pmOn Friday night I read your post about your car window…I remember thinking, “Boy, that is a huge inconvenience.” The next morning I went to one of the YMCAs in our town to attend a Fitness Expo as a vendor with Private Quarters…I got there early in the morning…still a bit dark. Later in the day it was discovered that someone had broken my car window. They got away with a diaper bag and a cardboard box that contained my sister’s bday gift. So, tomorrow, my hubby will be taking our van to the repair shop too. Very inconvenient since we have 6 kids to cart around! Sorry it happened to both of us!
Lauren
September 27, 2010 at 9:03 pmI had dinner there last night with my aunt – I had the goat and she had the cod, too funny! I was married in Point Reyes and it will always hold a special place in my heart 🙂
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