How To: A Perfect Date Night

April 24, 2013 by

I just came home after a perfect date night with my best friend. I’ll tell you what we ordered, but feel free to adjust to your personality and likes.

We started at Busboys and Poets for deliciously, organic cocktails.  The drinks are meant to put you in the mind set for the upcoming season—perfect for poolside drinking.

We ordered the Blackberry Swizzle and Cucumber Martini. The Cucumber Martini was light and refreshing. The Swizzle was spicy and speckled with bits of muddled blackberries.

Cucu

We then headed to The Curious Grape. We had never been before and were unsure of what to expect. The service, food and wine were beyond what we had hoped for.

Our server, Anna, was helpful, honest and descriptive.  Not in an obscure, I-have-no-idea-what-you-mean-because-your-palate-is-way-more-refined-than-mine way, but in a vivid way that is easily accessible and understandable.

MozzAppy

We started with the buffalo mozzarella and Serrano ham appetizer. Anna suggested we roll the cheese in the panko crumbs for texture. After we followed her instructions we knew to listen to her the rest of the evening.  The cheese pulled apart in a way only good, high quality cheese does, and the ham was thin and salty.

The entrees were wonderful.  And most are offered in half portions, which is how we ordered them. The first was a gnocchi, mushroom and fiddlehead fern in a brilliantly green pesto.  The gnocchi was small, tender and perfectly cooked. The fern (the snail-like veggie in the picture) was seasonally beautiful–something that should be enjoyed now, in springtime.

Fern

The Vietnamese penne was beyond what I had expected. The pork was sweet and spicy. The pasta was topped with lots of shaved cheese.  The balance between Asian sweet pork and creamy cheese was flawlessly achieved by the chef.

Penne

To end our beautiful dinner we chose a cheese platter.  After all, this is a wine and cheese bar.   And in case you were wondering–yes, cheese counts as a dessert.   Anna graciously brought us a goat cheese platter with fresh bread, marcona almonds, dried apricots and jam.

Dessert Cheese Platter

Overall, we couldn’t have asked for more. Until our server informed us that we receive 10% off anything from the store.  So in case you weren’t full and your craving un-satiated, you can take deliciousness home with you in the form of more wine, cheese, and chocolates.

The Curious Grape.  Busboys and Poets.  Thank you for a great date night.  I will be back.  With friends.  And family.  And anyone that appreciates an excellent mixed drink and great food.

The Curious Grape
2900 S Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22206

Busboys and Poets
4251 Campbell Avenue
Arlington, VA 22206

Filed Under: Alexandria, Around Town, Chocolate, Featured, Food, Restaurants, Shop, Things To Do, Tips, Uncategorized, VA, weekend, Wine

Weekend Planner

March 22, 2013 by

It’s the weekend. Finally. Has anyone else felt like this week took forever? I am blaming a lot on the weather recently, but I blame the weather.

  • I may not know how my weekend is going to end, but I do know how it will start. A Spanish wine tasting at Grape + Bean is exactly what I need to take the edge off the week and launch the weekend.
  • Fresh flowers from the Del Ray Farmers Market will brighten the weekend despite cold temperatures. There are several arrangements I’d like to make.
  • From the Farmers Market straight to Accotink Park in Springfield for the Arlington Food Assistance Center’s 4 Mile Walk. Get some exercise. Do a little good.
  • Depending on the sun’s willingness to cooperate, I may do a little biking under the cherry blossoms with my family this weekend too. (Are they even in bloom yet?)
  • If you can’t make it to the 4 Mile Walk but want to spend some of your weekend giving back, consider the Braddock Field Spring Clean Up event on Sunday.

Of course, there is always more going on than what I include in my Weekend Planner. This is about as much as I can fit into one weekend, but if you’re still looking, here‘s the full calendar. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed for beautiful weather. Or at least the chance to sleep in on Saturday!

Filed Under: Charity, Things To Do, weekend, Wine

Monday’s Must-Haves

March 18, 2013 by

03.18.13

This week’s Monday’s Must-Haves make up the list of items you need to have on hand in order to take advantage of those rare moments when you and your husband are both home, the kids are asleep, and you can afford to turn off your cell phones (or at least put them on silent).

A few bottles of sauvignon blanc (a red always puts me to sleep and the goal is to spend time together!). I recommend 2011 Jolie Laide Fanucchi Vineyards Russian River Valley Trousseau Gris.

A dress that is instantly flattering and easy to throw on, like this one from Anthropologie.

If you’re like me, you may have the wine on hand but it is never chilled when I need it. Enter the Oenophilia Ravi Instant Wine Chiller, available at UnWined.

I never seem to have makeup on, so when necessary a little tinted moisturizer goes a long way. I like the Intellishade by Revision.

And finally, a little something to munch on while you catch up. La Fromagerie has a fantastic selection of cheeses.

Filed Under: Family, Fashion, Food, Wine

Chocolate and Wine Paring Class

February 13, 2012 by

Chocolates and Wine

I love this idea.  I often find myself having a piece of chocolate for desert while I am still drinking a glass of wine having put no thought into how a particular piece of chocolate would taste with whatever wine I’m drinking.

I recently met with Eric Nelson, the owner of Artfully Gifts & Chocolate,  and he told me about this class.

What a fun thing to do with a group of girls!  The classes are limited to 20 so make sure you sign up in advance.

 

 

Chocolate/Wine Pairing Class

Learn the complexities of pairing wine and chocolate. Each has its own subtleties and flavor notes that need to be considered to maximize the flavor in a pairing. Artfully Gifts & Chocolate is uniquely able to provide the best advice in how to do this. The seminar provides instruction on how to become knowledgeable about fine chocolate and fine wine and what to look for in pairing the two. The seminar includes the pairing of four wines and chocolates.

Each class is limited to 20 participants in order to make it more enjoyable for each!

All classes are held at Artfully Gifts & Chocolate in Alexandria and run from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

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Filed Under: Chocolate, Wine
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