I'm Back, Back in the New York Groove

And it feels like we never left ...

On Friday morning we were up at 3:30 a.m. to get ready and head to the airport.  I had a turkey sandwich for breakfast, and then didn't eat again until we landed in New York around 1:30.  Needless to say, I was on the hunt for food.  The hubby and I snagged yogurts from Starbucks while waiting for the shuttle to take us to our hotel.

After checking into our hotel and getting oriented, we quickly scoped out a sit-down restaurant for dinner.  We ended up at Trattoria Dell'Arte where we were blown away by the service only minutes after walking into the restaurant.  We were greeted by plenty of smiles and a cheery "welcome".  Bread was brought out instantly, and it was superb.  The crusty bun loaded with olives was my fave.

We started with the bowl of meatballs.  They were tender, and melt-in-your-mouth.  

The sauce had a bit of kick to it, and was a perfect dip for the crusty bread.

The hubby ordered the 101 Layer Lasagna (which actually has more than 101 layers), and I had the pepperoni pizza (which was seriously the size of the table).  I barely put a dent in the ridiculously flavourful pizza.  We had some of the leftovers for breakfast this morning, and we still have more for tomorrow!

We declined dessert, but the waiters still brought us out a plate of goodies.

Then they came around with a cookie sheet full of fresh-baked mini chocolate chip cookies, and offered us one to try.  Like I said, the service blew us away.

After dinner we wandered around town, made a stop at Whole Foods and a beeline for Pinkberry before crashing in bed after our very long day.

We started our day out today with the New York Easter Parade - which was just as delightful as it was last year.  I love people watching!  I donned my Easter dress and then we headed out.

We saw some new faces and hats ...

Some festive shoes ...

We even saw some familiar faces ...

Easter 2011

Easter 2010

Easter 2011

Easter 2010

HAPPY EASTER!  

How did you spend Easter Sunday? 

Which restaurant have you had the best service at?

New York State of Mind

We spent the evening with some good friends eating food and catching up.

The hubby and I shared some Corona shrimp.

I ordered salmon with a yogurt sauce which was served with spinach and mushrooms.

 

I also stole one bite of the hubbies dessert.  

He was being greedy and wouldn't let me have anymore than that :-)

Our cab is arriving in just under 5 hours to take us to the airport.  

The next time you hear from me, I will be in Manhattan.

Now to try and sleep ... while images of Louboutins and Manolos are dancing in my mind.

Are you able to sleep before a vacation?

Ready to Go!

I think I have fought off the cold that was trying to attack me.  It took a bunch of echinacea, buckets of fresh juice and homemade soup, but I think I am in the clear ...

 

I am sure that egg in a hole can help fend off viruses too ... right?

I packed some homeopathic cold and flu pills and some vitamins/herbs, just in case I need them.

I am officially on holidays until May 2nd, and it feels so good!!    

I went out for lunch with colleagues yesterday and enjoyed a perogy stromboli.

After work yesterday I went on a quick road trip to visit my mom.  I wanted to see her before leaving for NY.  The hubby and I ate bars to hold us over until dinner, which we had on our way home around 10 pm.

Today was spent packing, cleaning house, and google mapping places in NY.  

This evening we are going out for dinner with some friends that are coming into town just as we are about to head out.  We are meeting them for tapas at La Bodega.

Do/did you have Good Friday off?  What did you spend the day doing? 

What are your plans for Easter?

Days Before a Vacation

Eat foods that help you fight that cold that you feel coming on near vacation time.

Oats loaded with chia seeds

6 small tomatoes, 2 cloves garlic, 2 T balsamic

Tea helps too.

Eat up things in the fridge that will go bad while you're gone (like goat cheese). 

Penne, goat cheese, garlic, tomatoes, spices

Haul the suitcases out and think about packing them ...

Make a list of all the Pinkberry locations in the vacation spot 

(and some other places you want to try).  

This is normal, right?

Things left to do:

- Clean house so it is nice for us to come home to.

- Give keys to mother-in-law who will be house sitting.

- Pack.

- Not get sick.

What are some things that you do days before your vacation?  

Do you plan ahead or do everything the night before you leave?

I've been sportin' a heavier coat than I would like to be wearing in April ...

 

Saturday was a beautiful day, even with the snow.  I was happy.

On Saturday evening we went out for dinner with some friends to a place called Creekside Bistro.  

My meal wasn't too great, but the appetizer was nicely done.

Pita wedge with guacamole and blackened a scallop

On Sunday morning I downed a fresh juice before going to watch the hubby finish his 1/2 marathon.  

He ran it in 1:37, finishing 20th out of 414 people!

WAY TO GO HUBBY!!

I helped him refuel after by taking him out for all-you-can-eat-sushi.  

How was your weekend?  What was the highlight?

What do you have planned for the long weekend coming up?

The Grotto

Things didn't look so good when I woke up Friday morning!

Saturday morning was even worse.

We were planning on visiting my mom a couple hours away today, but the highways are too slippery according to the road report.  This is pretty ridiculous for April 16th!

Although I don't like waking up to snow, I do like waking up to notes from the hubby :-)

It is no wonder that I knew he was a keeper when I was only 16.  

Last night we had a great night out with friends.  We started the evening at Freddy and Frosso's beautiful home, where we enjoyed a beverage before heading out to a village in Saskatchewan called Vibank.

 

Freddy and Frosso have the coolest collection of beer mugs/glasses (and knives, and chopping blocks, and pretty much everything a foodie could ever want) that I have ever seen!

Each person chose a different beer, and they were all served in their own special glass. 

Our friend Emma.  Pretty much the cutest thing ever.

We headed out on the snowy roads around 6:30 for a 40 minute road trip the "The Grotto" in Vibank. Vibank is a village that is home to 381 people, with a land area of .72km².  "The Grotto" is a coffee house and eatery in an old convent.  It is owned and operated by a lady from Mexico and her husband, and each Friday night they have a fixe prix Mexican menu prepared, complete with soup, a huge entree, and dessert.

We decided to get a little crazy and start our meal off with Chapulines con Queso.

For those who need to brush up on their Spanish ... that would be Grasshoppers with cheese :-)

I ate one.  I kept thinking "mind over matter", "mind over matter" ... sort of the same way I did when I tried bone marrow.  The grasshoppers were alright, but I am not too good at the mind over matter thinking, so I doubt I would order these again.

The soup was Sopa Ranchera.  It tasted like something momma would have made ... you know ... if momma were Mexican.  I gobbled the whole bowl and wished for more.

The main course included: ancho chile BBQ chicken, cheese filled poblano pepper, meat filled corn dough pastry with guacamole and re-fried beans, Mexican style corn and Mexican rice.

It was enough to feed a small army, so most people left with doggy bags.

The cheese filled poblano was incredible, as was everything else.  

The hubby raved about the corn!

Dessert was Pastel de Tres Leches (three cream cake).  

I had a few bites, but I was stuffed, so Emma and Dalton happily polished my cake off. 

Friends Emma and Dalton

Overall I was extremely impressed with both the service and the food at "The Grotto" and I cannot wait to go back again.  The menu changes each week!

We won't be able to go next week because we will be busy packing and getting ready for our vacation to NEW YORK!!!  Exactly one week from today the hubby and I will be arriving in New York for a week long vacation.  We had such an amazing time last year, that we had to return this year.

Check out our re-caps from our last years trip to New York:

In New York

There's Nothing You Can't Do

Big Lights will Inspire You

No Place in the World that can Compare

Is there anything that we missed that we simply must do this time?

What is the furthest you have traveled just to try a restaurant?

It's normal to want to drive 28 hours to go to The French Laundry in California ... right?