I wish I could say that dinner was amazing, but it was anything but.  Mind you, we have been to this restaurant at least a dozen times and have never been disappointed!  Tonight was just an off night.   First off we were sat at a table that was meant for two people not four.  Every time we have gone here we have gotten a booth, but tonight we were smack dab in the middle of the restaurant at a tiny table. 

My mozzarella logs were overcooked, so that the cheese was spilling out:

the light in the restaurant is wasn't that great! the flavor was there, but not as crunchy as usual
the light in the restaurant is wasn't that great! the flavor was there, but not as crunchy as usual

 

everyone liked the calamari though!
everyone liked the calamari though!
everyone but me got the baked potato soup - Hannah and Tony really liked it, Joe thought it was mediocre. My salad was good - a great balsamic dressing, the picture was just TOO dark!
everyone but me got the baked potato soup - Hannah and Tony really liked it, Joe thought it was mediocre. My salad was good - a great balsamic dressing, the picture was just TOO dark!
Gotta love the Tabasco on the table without asking!
Gotta love the Tabasco on the table without asking!

So I built my own pasta:  angel hair pasta, with a tomato vodka cream sauce with grilled shrimp.   The pictures didn’t work out at all, but the sauce was chunky, the shrimp was way overcooked, and the pasta was overcooked.

Tony got the London Broil and it was overcooked, and charred.  Joe got the crab and shrimp ravioli and it was so overcooked his ravioli was in pieces.

Hannah loved her garlic toast though!  Very garlicky!  Oh, and when I ordered a second glass of wine, it sat on the pass for about 15 minutes – the server forgot about it!  She was very apologetic, and gave it to me on the house.  So when she started clearing our plates, she asked how everything was, and we kind of had to tell her that this was our worst venture to this restaurant.  She felt bad, sent the manager over, and while we didn’t want to have dessert on the house, they did take $20 off our bill. 

But waiting for me at home was a sugar free Boston Cream Pie!  While there is no added sugar, it still has some carbs!

This, my friend, is insulin worthy!
This, my friend, is insulin worthy!
Look at this chocolately goodness
Look at this chocolately goodness

Now on to the loot!   My parents-in-law sent me a package.  I love this magazine and now I have a subscription!

I've only looked at the first 10 pages and I've already seen 4 recipes I want to make!
I've only looked at the first 10 pages and I've already seen 4 recipes I want to make!

And while I love all things hot, they have to be flavorful hot.  These hot sauces are amazingly good – they sent me two last Christmas, so I am very excited to try these!!

Margarita Key Lime Hot Sauce with Fresh Cilantro!
Margarita Key Lime Hot Sauce with Fresh Cilantro!
Good and Evil Hot Sauce - orange juice and jalapeno puree!
Good and Evil Hot Sauce - orange juice and jalapeno puree!
Florida Sunburn Orange Hot Sauce - orange juice, jalapeno and red bell pepper
Florida Sunburn Orange Hot Sauce - orange juice, jalapeno and red bell pepper
Gotta love that the second ingredient on this is VINEGAR! Vinegar, green bell pepper and jalapeno!
Gotta love that the second ingredient on this is VINEGAR! Vinegar, green bell pepper and jalapeno!

And from the family:

Jillian is going to kick my a$$!
Jillian is going to kick my a$$!
I got a tortilla press to make my own tortillas!
I got a tortilla press to make my own tortillas!
New stainless steel measuring cups!
New stainless steel measuring cups!

A while back I decided that my one cup measuring cup was the perfect fit to put my sink to fill it with water while hand washing dishes.  Um, turns out that it got stuck and Tony had to cut it out!  I’ve been using plastic measuring cups that are so faded, I can’ t wait to throw them in the garbage!

A wonderful meat tenderizer!
A wonderful meat tenderizer!

Turns out Tony reads a few food blogs and saw this on The Alcoholian  and knew I had to have it!  Can’t wait to use it!

So thanks for a great day family, even though the dinner didn’t work out as well as we would have liked!!   It’s all good!

And tomorrow is Friday!  See you at breakfast and thanks again for all the birthday wishes!!