Dining Delights | Peaches Prattlings

{March 3, 2017} Reza’s… another great new restaurant!

Well, new to me anyway.

I met with WIS, a friend I met on this project in Chicago, at Reza’s, a really good Mediteran and Persian restaurant in the Andersonville neighborhood.

It was a nice, open space with an enclosed patio that doubles as more restaurant space. If you go while it’s cold, be aware that you have to go through this patio to get to the restrooms, which were equally freezing!

The space was nice and welcoming with brick walls and original artwork. Next time I’ll take pictures of the pictures. The menu was very vegan friendly, lots of great appetizers, which were also on one of the vegetarian plates, we were sold!

We asked the waiter if he thought it would be too much food… no, I have many customers who order those two dishes. Sure… only 2 people?! We each had lentil soup, which was great, it could have used a little something to thicken it up, but very tasty.

Then we got our fatoush salad, one of my favorites, but this could have been a main meal! It was delicious, so happy about that. I say that because there are places that just don’t know how to make it… and it’s not that complicated! No, I haven’t made it, I found others who do it so well! Ha ha

Then we ordered a plate that had five appetizers, hummus, banaganoush, falafel with pomegranate remoulade, Persian salad and eggplant steak, wow!

The other plate was called Vegetarian Feast and oh my! Cous-cous with eggplant, zucchini, roasted peppers, tomatoes, topped with almonds, raisins and feta.

I topped it off with hot Persian tea and we were set!

This is a great restaurant with a nice ambiance, I recommend it. And the price is right too! And guess who has lunch for tomorrow!

{March 1, 2017} The Beet Table

What a fabulous meal!

I was looking for a dinner option, I looked up the places that the hotel suggested and wasn’t thrilled, they had things they could ‘veganize’ by removing items, not what I was looking for, so I kept looking and found The Beet Table.

I sat at the bar, that eating alone decision, bar/table. I made a good choice, I liked the bar, easy to sit at and the bartender was very nice and helpful.

Most of the options were vegan, so you can imagine I was a happy camper! I started with the sweet pea guacamole, wow! It still had avocado, tomatoes, onions and seasoning. It could have used a bit more salt, but the chips were nice and crisp with a fair amount of salt, so that helped. I followed that with the butternut squash and quinoa, wow! There was a butternut squash under the quinoa and big slices of acorn squash on the side, spiced almonds, some other veggies and cranberry purree to cut the spice, it was fabulous!

I loved it and I’m looking forward to going back to try some of the other options!

I also found out they are in New York City, enjoy northern vegans!

{February 28, 2017} Ristorante Merlo

Fabulous!

Tonight I asked at the front desk for a recommendation for dinner and I was given Ristorante Merlo. I know, you want to add a t to the end of it!

This restaurant is in a house set on the street amongst larger buildings, slightly hidden in its own way, one of those places that unless you know you’re looking for it, you miss it.

I walked in, no reservation and was taken downstairs past a bar and dining room with banquet seating, less intimate. Downstairs it looked like a place for a nice romantic dinner, family gathering, more intimate, like you might be with family.

There were only about eight or ten tables in the room

They sat me at a corner table and for about twenty minutes, I was alone in the place, a little weird, but I had my server’s attention and he was prepared to make my experience special.

It is not a vegan restaurant, but they accomdated me. I had the minestrone and it was fabulous, the broth was wonderful and the vegetables were barely cooked, nice and crisp. Then the pasta came out, tagliatel, spinach, asparagus, garlic and olive oil, really nice and flavorful; I didn’t even have to add salt, lovely. It was on the al dente side, because it was fresh that day, love it! What I liked was the portion size, appropriate, not too much.

The bread basket had fresh, crisp, flavorful foccaccia and crisps that were actually flash fried fresh pasta, that didn’t taste like pasta, it was great!

I had really nice dinner, can’t wait to see what tomorrow holds!

{February 27, 2017} What a weekend!

This weekend was great!

I flew to Denver Friday evening and checked into the only hotel I’ve stayed in since I moved from Denver. It’s a nice Homewood Suites in the center of the city with easy access to restaurants, nightlife, museums, the highways to get to the mountains and anywhere else you want to go.

I got to the hotel, had to get some work done and eventually got some sleep. I set the alarm, but that snooze button is too tempting. The phone woke me up, oops. I got up and headed to the airport because I was picking up my honey!!!

PSM is going to a meeting in Iowa this coming week and needed a place for a layover and Denver was one of those options and decided to make it a weekend, so here we are! Together!

We went back to the hotel and met his mom’s cousin and her husband for breakfast, a very nice couple who have lived in Denver for over thirty years. We had a really nice time getting to know each other, hearing stories about PSM’s family and PSM as a little kid.

After breakfast, it was time for a little break and some rest, after a bit PSM got up and prepped for his presentation next week.

Later we headed out into the city and ended up at a Machete for dinner, PSM was craving what we can’t really get in Hawaii, Mexican food. It was a noisy, energetic, eclectic restaurant with an impressive list of tequilas, someone was happy!

We were meeting APM, someone I’ve been friends with since high school, we met in youth group. Thursday and now Saturday, friends from youth group, fabulous! I also found out that his middle name is PSM’s first make, go figure!

After dinner we walked around, got some coffee and tea for a minute then wentb to another bar to hang out a bit longer, then on to the hotel and closing the blackout curtains, we were sleeping in!

Sunday brought a sleep in, brunch, a little more practice and then a tour of Boulder. It was nice to be in a place that I love together.

Then off to the airport, our flights were ably the same time, he walked me to my gate, we got to spend a little more time together and we realized that this would be a good place to meet for a weekend, easy for us both to get to, sweet!

Then I was off to Chicago and PSM is off to Iowa. I’ll be in Hawaii in a few weeks to see him again and we have a plan for my April trip! Wahoo!

Have a great night!

{February 23, 2017} A sweet celebration!

Happy birthday DLP! Let’s celebrate!

Today is DLP’s birthday, and she was feeling better so celebrate we did! [She has had what a lot if people are going thru this season].

I am staying at a Doubletree hotel and if you know Doubletree, you know they’re famous for their chocolate cookies, so on my way into the office, I had to get some for my friend! I left them on her desk and went to teach.

After work a select few of us, well, we were hand picked and selected of course! We went to a restaurant that opened in Chicago a few weekends ago, The Sugar Factory.

The Sugar Factory is a candy store with an elegant restaurant attached. They have drinks that smoke and filled with candy treats, drinks that taste like candy and desserts that sparkle!

We had good food, good conversation and a celebration for a great friend. A great evening!

{February 11, 2017} It’s snowing in Boston!

It’s Saturday and it’s a snow day. A stay in day. A play date day.

I got up and went in search of life. GES was on the sofa with MGS and PK, she was the mysterious person on the air mattress in MGS’ room when I kissed her goodnight last night. ACS and EJS were at soccer game.

They got home and EJS scored three goals! Then we all went to breakfast.

After breakfast, MGS, EJS and PK played outside in the snow, so funny to watch! They slid down the steps in a toboggan, apparently three steps is enough. They then wanted to clean off the cars and ingenious….MGS figured out she could close the trunk using the ice scraper to hit the button!

A good time was had by all! Especially those of us warm on the inside watching!
EJS was picked up to go to a birthday party. There was bowling then a sleepover at a hotel. Pizza, swimming, staying up late, sounds good to me!

ACS went to get a haircut and when he got back GES and I went to get pedicures. Then some groceries and picked up dinner and the two of us watched Florence Foster Jenkins until the rest of the family got home.

It was a nice relaxing day.

What will tomorrow bring? Besides more snow.

{February 9, 2017} My night

Well, tonight, after a whirlwind of dates with friends and my team, it was a me party.

After work, I headed to my hotel, participed in the conference call then it was search for food. I also got a new suitcase delivered, wahoo! I love my eBags backpack and needed a new bag for work that’s durable, especially the way baggage handlers handle bags. I thought it was too big, but after packing tonight…

So, I went out trying to decide what to b have for dinner and as I put my hand in my pocket, I found a coupon…Old Navy cash…and I thought…I haven’t talked to Old Navy in a while, so…

Coupon used, new fun stuff acquired, a few dresses to twirl and keep me entertained, we said goodbye for a while and I went to one of my favorite places, Vapiano’s, never actually been without LJ or DLP…I ended up deciding on take out. A cheese-less pizza and a salad. If you think about it, a cheese-less pizza is really just a flatbread, which works for me.

Back to the room, eat, have a fashion show for myself, glad I bought the bigger bag! Chilled out, watched Gigi on TV, then talked to CWB for a while, so very glad we reconnected! Then it was eventually time for lights out, after talking to you, of course. Fingers crossed sleep actually comes.

Travel day tomorrow!

{February 9, 2017} Another team dinner…another new restaurant.

A great time was had by all.

Tonight we went to Carnival, a Brazilian inspired restaurant with an explosion of colors, sounds, tastes, smells and sites.

Apparently, there are times they have people swinging from the curtains and the seats, acrobatic type stuff.

We had a great time, as always. Talking, catching up, laughing, giving people grief for talking about work, just a good time. The nicest part…this team Dinner was scheduled for this week because I’m in town, isn’t that great!

We even started talking about where to go next, looking forward to it!

{February 7, 2017} Two new restaurants, great food and a new friend!

I realized I haven’t talked about places I’ve eaten lately, shame on me!

So, today, I am at a new site for training and support and I found the Eleven City Diner. Oh my! It was awesome! A gps Jewish Deli with good, fresh ingredients and piled high on the plate! I had an egg salad sandwich on challah, yum! It came with a pickle Spear and coleslaw, really good. I pigged out and ate it all! If you know me, you know I usually have leftovers, not today! This place reminded me a little of Zaftigs in Boston.

For dinner, I met up with someone I met on this project in a class and then again recently and we had hit it off the first time and decided to go to dinner. She came up with a few suggestions and Isla, a Filipino restaurant had more options than the other, it’s family owned and delicious! She had given me some vegan options the first time we meet and I haven’t been disappointed yet!

We had a great time getting to know each other, we have a lot in common, like our love of movies and travel. It was a lot of fun and we’re looking forward to the next time! I made another friend in Chicago!

{February 2, 2017} A good few days

Here’s what’s happened since I got back to the mainland.

I got to the client’s site on Tuesday and settled in. When the manager saw me she said “I’m so glad it’s you!” How great did that make me feel! I found a good restaurant for lunch, middle eastern yum! Two for two. To make it three for three I couldn’t get an Uber yesterday morning so I took a taxi. The driver was very nice and offered to pick me up today and gave me his number. I called him this morning and there he was. Cool.

Over the last two days there are so many people I remember and who remember me from training classes they attended, they have been very happy to see me, isn’t that awesome?

I had a decent veggie burger for lunch at an Irish pub. Last night’s dinner was the leftover vegan pizza from Monday night and tonight I went to a decent Chinese restaurant, all but four of the patrons, including me, we’re Chinese, a good sign in my opinion. It was cool that everyone who came in the bartender spoke to in Chinese. Made me miss JCT and her mom.

All in all, two good days, looking forward to the next two.

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