Safe + sound back in the South!
My travels actually went too smoothly!! I was back to my hotel and on to LaGuardia in a matter of minutes and at the airport WAY too early!!! Missed opportunity to play in the city! However, I made it just in time to get on an earlier flight and was home in no time! Matt swung around to pick me up and I went from Chelsea to Charlotte in a matter of 2.5 hours. Amazing.
On the flight, I finished up all of my preparatory reading for starting my Clinical rotation on Monday. Reading about tube feedings and parental nutrition has so much more meaning when you’re actually preparing to DO IT.
Mid-flight I had a mocktail – club soda with a splash of cranberry
And transitioned from non-fiction to fiction. I’m a big fan of The Notebook, both the book and the movie, and love Nicholas Sparks because he’s a North Carolina writer and always sets his books in places I have known for years. But this has got to be his most poorly written book yet. Cheese after cheesy line. Hoping it gets better because I’d like to see the movie!
Sarah of The Foodie Diaries was so kind to pack me some in-flight snacks!! “Kath Eats Random Food” 🙂
Her homemade raisenettes and some spiced mango and figs from an ethnic market that I must visit on my next trip 🙂 I had a fig, mango and chocolate for a snack on my flight. Thanks so much Sarah!
I arrived safely in Charlotte, was picked up by Matt and we headed straight for the grocery store.
Here’s a snapshot of $57 worth of fresh produce (mostly organic) and some dairy and a few random things (like a new sea salt – the salt I had at the Union Square Market MADE my salad on Friday!) I also got some of the Ezekiel tortillas for an upcoming taco night!
I unpacked. Matt showered. And we were off for DATE NIGHT!
We’ve been planning to go out together for a while – just us – and since my flight came in around dinnertime on a Saturday we figured it was a great time to go.
Everything in the South is SO GREEN!
Our date commenced at Good Food on Montford – a restaurant I’ve been dying to try since it opened. The menu features what I might call “gourmet tapas.” Not your typical Spanish-style tapas, but small plates of wonderful flavor combinations.
Loooooooooooooooooooved the atmosphere!!!
And Fork + Spoon theme!
And MENU!
I decided it was one of those nights where I needed a juicy red to savor. I found an old favorite on the menu!
Given the tapas style menu, we decided to do 6 courses in a row and share them all. Our very favorite style of eating!!! One at a time small portions allow us to literally savor every single bite.
First Course
…Was an apple and goat cheese salad with spiced pecans and a thick balsamic dressing. Delish!
Consumed with some holy bread for a holy weekend!
Second Course
….Was a roasted vegetable salad with shaved parmesan
Third Course
……….OMGGGGGGGGGGGG. A Fennel Soup with fennel oil and a char-grilled bread with a tomato topping. This soup was out-of-this-world good. Can’t emphasize that enough. I was raving the whole time. Favorite dish of the night!
Intermission
Matt ordered a glass of wine and I had some sips
Fourth Course
….Was Price Edward Island mussels green curry, coconut milk & cilantro and pita bread. The pita was sooo good – char-grilled again!! And love anything green curry.
Matt came up with a fun slurping method of consumption!
Fifth Course
…..Was a Seared Scallop seared over a beet risotto. With a smoky BBQ sauce drizzle and cheese on top and a dill sauce.
Sixth Course
….Was Potato Gnocchetti pancetta, piopini mushrooms & brussel sprouts. Matt’s favorite! I was getting full and it was pretty rich, so I had to put my fork down some.
I did NOT get to have any cupcakes in NYC!
And after seeing this bad boy arrive at ALL the tables around us, I knew we had to try it.
A literal roasted marshmallow meringue topping with a delicious chocolaty cake bottom. With graham cracker and chocolate sauce. Exceeded expectations.
I think we have a new favorite restaurant!!!! LOVED being able to try so much without getting too full. And everything was just wonderful on the flavor palate. Loved the atmosphere too!!!! We will be back 🙂
SO very excited to sleep in tomorrow and have a leisurely Easter morning with oats, coffee and Matt!
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
Aww date night is so cute! And tasty looking 🙂
Homemade raisenettes? Hubba hubba, that foodie knows what she’s doing!
Katrina says
The Notebook is by far my favorite book. I used it as inspiration in my 365 photo project for a flickr group. Thanks for the review on The Last Song. In my opinion, I don’t think the Notebook can be topped and so far, it hasn’t. 🙂
Fennel soup? I HAVE to experiment with this! Glad you had a great trip!
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
What a fun date night. Glad your back and keep reading that book because it gets really good, I promise. I am a huge Nicholas Sparks fan I have read every book and can’t wait to see Dear John and The last song. I’m just a little disappointed that Miley Cyrus is playing the lead role, not sure about that one.
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Ahhhh that cupcake!!! It totally made up for a cupcakeless NYC trip. Great idea with the mocktail in flight…I’m totally trying that next time I’m up in the air.
I love Sparks movies but his books I agree are kinda blah and cheesy. I wanna see the movie The Last Song though!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) says
Wow, everything looks yummy! I’ve been trying some good and some “interesting” foods in New Zealand. Your meals all look awesome though!
Jenny says
Gah!!! Check out that cupcake! And yes, it’s amazing to go from Chelsea to charlottnin mere hours!
Serena says
That cupcake looks AMAZING! And I love your shirt! Super flattering. Where did you get it???
Kath says
Thanks! Old Navy I believe.
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Glad to hear the travels went well, even if it was a bit quick. I’m totally impressed by the grocery load… what a great price for all those goods!
Ameena says
I completely agree on the Nicolas Sparks thing…his stuff is totally cheesy now. I think he is just trying to churn them out too fast.
Dinner looks great!
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
Small plates eating is so much fun… there are so many of those places here, I can’t even begin to try to eat at all of them!
Alicia says
wow, what an excellent meal! welcome home
Sarah @ THE FOODIE DIARIES says
so glad you enjoyed the goodies! you have to come back to the city soon so i can (1) meet you for more than 2 minutes (2) take you to that market and (3) WIN A DATE WITH ANDY AT YOUR AUCTION!!!! haha joking. sort of 🙂
Kath says
LOL!!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
You look fabulous in that orange top, Kath!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
What a great restaurant!!
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
That coral top is adorable and so flattering on you! =D
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
dunno if you’ve tried those ezekial tortillas before – but they can taste like cardboard when they’re not heated!
Michelle says
Kath, I can’t get over how cute you and Matt are! I’m probably going to see The Last Song tomorrow. I have only heard good things about the movie so hopefully it will be good!
Jaclyn says
Wow, yum! Lovin date night and tapas eats!! Looks like you guys had fun!
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
Awh what a beautiful meal! That scallop dish looks the best – I LOVE scallops, they’re just so exspensive to buy in a supermarket 🙁
Oh, and the cupcake,,,yum! I can’t belive you didn’t get any in NY, I thought that’s what they were famous for!!
Glad you had good night 🙂
Hannah says
Wow, what a meal! I think my favourites are the first and last courses though – the goat cheese salad and the roasted marshmallow cupcake… I’ve never been hugely into cupcakes but the roasted marshmallow! Be still my beating heart 😛
sarah (shep) says
you look incredible in that shirt or date night! work it 😉
Rachel says
That sounds like such a wonderful date night. Everything looks amazing, but that cupcake put me over the edge 🙂 I love all things chocolate and marshmallow! Glad you had a safe and quick trip back home and got to enjoy a date night with Matt.
Have a very happy and peaceful Easter.
Diana says
My god, the food looks amaaaazing! 🙂
And you’re so beautiful, love the photo of you and Matt!
Jessica says
Kath,
As a reader of ALL of his books, trust me its gets better…. The best one by far that you should read is the Wedding, its a sequel to the notebook that I think you would truly enjoy.
Kath says
I HAVE read the Wedding!! Whenever it came out – ages ago. Like it, but it was no Notebook.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
I am with Jessica! The Wedding is the best one! You should read it! I started to lose interest in his books with Dear John, it just was not as good as others. I love the southern setting too, since I am a southern girl! Looks like a great date night! Enjoy your day together!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) says
What an incredible array of courses! Looks like you two celebrated date night in the finest of foodie fashions. Glad you got back home in time to venture out!
Kath says
Thanks for all the nice comments everyone!
Cassie @ A Very Busy Mind says
What’s weird is I don’t typically even like marshmallows, or restaurant desserts…but that one looks incredible!
Love the lots-of-small-plates dinner, too. Perfect.
Klara says
Hi there,
After reading your blog for a while, I have become curious on how much you typically spend on a night out at one of these great restaurants. I’ll be going down south during the summer and would love to check out a couple you really enjoy, all the food looks unbelievably gourmet.
Hope this is not too personal, I’d understand if it was.
Kath says
Our bill last night was about $100 – total. We’ve always been under the mindset that we’d rather go all out on one dinner a month than 3-4 more middle-of-the-road dinners.
Therese says
Tube feedings + TPN = so much more fun in the Neonatal ICU with sweet babies! I’ve been a NICU nurse for 2 years and I love it. Try to rotate there for a day if you can 🙂
Kath says
I don’t know if I’ll get to the Neonatal ICU 🙁 I REALLY would like to because I love babies!
Jenn (www.j3nn.net) says
Wow, that restaurant looks incredible! Very nice. 🙂
Jenn
Julie says
I read The Last Song and I was bored and cheesed out in the beginning but trust me….it gets BETTER and BETTER!! I was crying so hard the last 1/4 of the book I could barely see the page!! The movie was fantastic!! Miley did a wonderful job protraying the emotion of Ronnie!! 😀 But the movie was NOT as good as the book! It’s always hard to fit everything in a 2 hour movie though! I still recommend you see the movie!! It’s a majorrrr tearjerker! Bring your tissues!
Kath says
I can’t even imagine what is going to go wrong!! I guess someone gets sick or dies!?
Pam (IIN Health Coach) says
Wow, everything at the restaurant looks so amazing. I love trying small amounts of gourmet foods. Glad you finally got to check this place out and it exceeded your expectations.
Happy Easter!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Tapas is such a fun way to eat. I loved going out for tapas when I was in Spain. Got to try everything!