I'm going to attempt to write this blog--but I'm sluggish with pig meat.
So tonight we went out for Don's birthday dinner to a very cool Spanish restaurant where we had preordered their specialty--a "suckling pig."
But first things first--they had some interesting sangria on the menu and we got a pitcher of the one the waiter recommended which was sangria with mango--delicious!
Then we had this amazing selection of cheeses--fresh "cow milk" and "goat milk" cheese--each paired with an interesting preserve. The first was apple lavender, then black olive caramel and then my favorite--chocolate hazelnut puree--OMG!!
So tonight we went out for Don's birthday dinner to a very cool Spanish restaurant where we had preordered their specialty--a "suckling pig."
But first things first--they had some interesting sangria on the menu and we got a pitcher of the one the waiter recommended which was sangria with mango--delicious!
Then we had this amazing selection of cheeses--fresh "cow milk" and "goat milk" cheese--each paired with an interesting preserve. The first was apple lavender, then black olive caramel and then my favorite--chocolate hazelnut puree--OMG!!
The stuff in the background was some kind of crazy-delicious focaccia-type bread. I only had a little taste though to save room for the pig.
We did want to try a couple of tapas--so we had one of my all-time faves--dates and almonds wrapped in bacon:
And octopus with potatoes and paprika:
Then it was time to get our pig on!! Now, let me say that I was excited to try the pig--but I was also feeling nervous as there was some sort of table side "pig presentation" and I was feeling kind of worried about seeing the pig head, etc.So without further ado--here is the pig:
The chef prepared the pig for us and explained how it had been cooked which included a 24 hour soak in a brine of water salt, oranges,herbs and spices. Then it was slow cooked for many hours at a low temperature, then something about a brick oven--I started losing track because there were so many steps!Anyway--it was truly delicious and I am glad we tried it for the experience--but I must say that I am feeling a little funny about the whole thing. Now, I'm no vegetarian--but I guess I like being "detached" from the animal and this was a little too close for comfort! I might be turning vegetarian after this!!
I was taking a walk this morning with a friend of mine who is from Spain. I told her about the suckling pig--which she seemed to know a lot about--and she said her favorite part was the brain! So when the chef asked us if we wanted to try it--we said yes. Now this part I felt REALLY weird about--but decided to try it just to say I had. I had just a little tiny bit and it was ok--but nothing I would seek out again. Don wasn't crazy about it either.
The pig was served with some very nice sides dishes. Fingerling potatoes:
Delicious white beans with bacon:
Green onions:
And spinach with apples:
But wait--there's more! We managed to save room for dessert. Don had a creamy orange concoction with cranberries and chestnut cake:
And I had a pineapple upside-down cake with cucumber poppy seed relish and--dig this--molasses flavored Pop Rocks!!
Those are the Pop Rocks on the spoon.
We have quite a big of the pig leftover which we brought home for the kids to try--I'm sure Pickle will be all over it considering her love of all things pork!
So that completes Phase One of Don's birthday bash--more to come!
Happy Birthday Don--nice couch!!
Actually--the one on the left is my doll. I wanted to bring a doll too!-- well,other than Pickle. Believe it or not, this was my absolute favorite doll when I was little--Baby Happy. This isn't my original doll--she's long gone--but I got this "replacement" on eBay. I guess she's kind of scary! She has some kind of lazy eyelid thing going on.
She looks like something from the Twilight Zone that might rise up and kill us all in the night. My sister said she was "Chuckie-esque." But anyway, she was having lunch with us.
She even shared her cup with her doll.
The food is very fun here! First, they brought out cinnamon rolls. We ate them like animals and by the time I remembered to take a pic, there was only half a roll left...
Here's Pickle enjoying one. She's using the "two fork" method for extra efficiency!
Then they brought out a platter with fruit, vegetables and some soft pretzels. Very good!
I ordered quiche for an entree which was really interesting because it had dried cranberries in it. I loved it!
Pickle got the "picnic" lunch which included a little hot dog, a tiny hamburger and some macaroni and cheese.
There are lots of pink flowers at the American Girl Place--on the table...
...and on the light fixtures.
Then came the really fun part--the cake!
My doll looks especially creepy there, doesn't she?
Then they gave out goodie bags:
Here's a piece of the cake with the cute little flower pot ice cream.
Pickle LOVED the ice cream!
Then came the best part--doll shopping! Actually, we didn't buy any dolls, but I bought Pickle the cutest pair of pajamas and slippers and a matching set for her "Bitty Baby."
Here's Pickle checking one out:
Though I think she preferred just eating the butter. Ew!
Oh, I forgot to mention that Batman was with us!
There's NO way this costume is going to make it to Halloween! He wears it every day!
We sampled some fried plantains with rum sauce. Hello! Could anything be better?
Andy ate about three basketfuls (basketsful?--I don't know how to say that!) of the Johnny cakes! I think he has cow stomachs.
Next we tried some crawfish fritters. These were just a'ight for me--a little too fishy, but not bad.
Oh, I forgot to mention that this place was decorated in a really cool way--kind of like a bait shop! There were fish and fishing lures everywhere. I love old fishing lures.
And there was a neat window/mirror thing that I used to get some artsy pics:
OK back to the food. This was a Southern sampler of gumbo, jambalaya and red beans and rice. Really, really good--lots of sausage and chicken and seafood hiding in there!
And we got side orders of cheese grits and black-eyed peas. Pickle hit the grits pretty heavy!
Holy fried green tomatoes, Batman!!
Oh and I just had to try this drink: a fresh peach and pineapple colada. Wheeeeee!
Pickle says:
I love me some Southern cookin'!! Come for the food..
There is a whole wall of dichroic glass-lined shelves just covered with fruit.
This fruit is for these amazing drinks which is one of the main reasons we love this place! They are called fruit freezes with tapioca and you can choose from dozens of fruit combinations and also stuff like red beans and taro root to make your perfect drink.
See those black balls on the bottom? Those are the tapioca beads and they have a chewy consistency but not much flavor. In order to access them, the drinks are served with giant wide straws! The kids crack me up when they order these drinks because they get very adventurous with their combinations--for instance--Andy's drink in this pic was coconut with grass jelly--whatever that is! I'm partial to the pineapple/coconut combo--kind of like a pina colada.
The menu at this place is intense--literally pages and pages long. Although we go here a lot, we have not even come close to tapping into some of the crazy stuff on the menu. We tend to play it safe with stuff we love like:
Thai fish cakes (a Jennifer and Gooser fave!):
Sweet and sour mussels:
Which is an Andy fave:
I have to be very careful with Patrick:
at Asian restaurants, because he has a peanut allergy. So he usually sticks with rice and shrimp tempura:
Pickle loves shrimp too! That's the wrong end Pickle! (She's eating the tail.)
Every time we go here,we always say that we need to branch out with the menu and try some of the more unusual looking items. I love our standbys so much though--but we'll do it one days. Here's just a sample of some entrees (I took the pics from their window display).
And some kind of lobstery looking things:
Pickle says:
"Maybe next time, fun Asian place--I know we'll be back soon!"
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