Too Stuffed to Create Witty Title

Tonight, I went with my neighbor to Augie's in Ballston Spa. She often goes with her family and raves about it every time after. This establishment's hook is "every dish serves 2 or more".

Being a total Saratoga snob, I was expecting kind of a dump. I was quite impressed to walk into a cute place with a marble bar, and a cute guy at the bar. Interior was cozy and obviously going for an Italian motif, but instead of predictable wall hangings like "bottle of wine next to grapes" and "artistic map of Italy", the walls were covered with baseball newspaper articles in nice glass frames.

This place also earns points for their nightly specials. Two nights a week, you get unlimited free beer and wine. That's right. Beer and wine. For free when the table orders an entree for every two people. Sadly, tonight was "free salad and garlic bread" night, but still an amazing deal. Our bill came to just under $30, we ate till we were stuffed and walked out with 3 doggie bags.

Huge portions is an understatement. It's designed that way, but saying the giant bowl of pasta that was delivered to our table is meant to serve 2 people? More like 2 people for 2 days. I saw the people next to us order the chicken parm, and it was totally in a huge casserole dish that would serve a family of 4-5.

I should also mention that the food was very delicious. We decided on penne alfredo with chicken & broccoli. I am not actually a huge alfredo fan- I feel like it's either too heavy or too bland. This sauce was a perfect balance (which is good because I have at least 2 more servings in my fridge). There were other things on the menu that I would have preferred, but my companion is not an adventurous eater. She promised that next time I could pick the main meal. She also said that she'd drive and we could go on free booze night!!!

Self Control? Who knew?

For dinner tonight, Rose and I discussed going to UBurger, our favorite "homemade fast food." UBurger makes everything fresh and homemade. The burgers come with lettuce, ketchup, mustard, pickles and "special sauce" and are delicious.

I was very much looking forward to our trip. But then...this morning there was an email from Rose: "I don't think my wallet or waistline should go to UBurger tonight."

I hated to admit it because I'll usually go out whenever, but I had the EXACT same thought. So we listened to our inner voice and both went home and ate our cans of soup.

Progresso Lentils...pretty darn good.

Disappointing Dinner

I was lucky to dine at Springwater Bistro tonight. It's my favorite restaurant, and I think I can describe each meal I've eaten there. In case you haven't been, it's a casual yet chic spot with an ever changing menu but the same waiters for years. Such good food- very eclectic influences; menu varies daily based on what's fresh and local. I have had some entrees more than once: the veal london broil has been in my belly on two occasions. Imagine the most tender meat ever, perfectly seasoned, surrounded by a delicate sauce, adorned by three perfect onion rings. Another fave is the short rib variation. A "steak mingon" that's so tender, accompanied by an amazing piece of braised short rib so well cooked that you don't even need to use the provided steak knife.

I could go on and on about the deliciousness available in this fine establishment. Tonight's dinner plans were put in place a couple of weeks ago, so I've had ample time to plan. Yet, you can't plan fully due to the ever changing menu thing. I was hoping for the beet carpaccio, which I've enjoyed the past two visits. Thinly sliced beets topped with a handful of mixed greens, amazing balsamic something, and a ball of goat cheese that is not really fried but encrusted in deliciousness, somehow. For an entree, I imagined maybe the veal, maybe the short rib, or perhaps the carne asada I had in June.

None of these things were one the menu. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but there were no proper replacements; nothing new. From the starter menu I chose fried calamari. Very good- nice crispy fry; topped with a sweet and sour sauce. Not a fried calamari dish you'd get in the many other places that serve it, so I felt that it provided the Springwater signature twist. There was a beet salad available, but it was not my beloved carpaccio. Goat cheese nugget was replaced with a poached egg and asparagus, which is not my favorite vegetable, as noted in my last entry. My dinner companion, BioDad, got the beet salad though and I was jealous. The calamari was delicious but too filling.

I, for the past few visits, have been angry at Springwater for stooping to the "Wedge of Iceberg" salad, which was included in tonight's salad options. However, last time I went, my companion (Mak-daddy..she'd be a good one to invite to the blog) explained that the iceburg was "simply a vehicle for the warm bleu cheese". So I forgive Springwater because although I'm not a fan of bleu cheese, I get the whole vehicle thing. (Sometimes I eat something just because sour cream comes with).

Anyways, the entree menu was terribly sparse. 1)Seared diver scallops 2)Rainbow trout 3)Some type of rack of lamb 4)Something pork-choppy 5) Duck breast. Notice the sad lack of Cow!!!??!! That is so terribly wrong. I was tempted by the scallops as they were accompanied by good sides, but went for the duck. The duck is a frequent flier on the menu- have often seen it but always been swayed by another option, so now was certainly my chance. BioDad got the duck, also. So, Duck Breast with 7 spices, served with "extremely wild" rice, garlicky sauteed greens, and balsamic cherries.

Good dinner, but the least memorable. Duck was fine. Definately did not taste 7 seasonings; but cooked well. Ignored the cherries. "Extremely wild" rice kind of tasted like tea; garlicky saute was good but kind of bitter.

We didn't get dessert either- too full. Also no option (out of the meager 4 offerings) was enticing enough.

I will certainly go to Springwater again, and in fact already have a plan to go there with my ex-boss. We treat ourselves to dinner there together in December each year instead of buying eachother presents. But it was not at all packed, which was worrisome for a Friday night. We arrived at 6:30 and were only the second party there- they open at 5:30. Tons of tables not turning once=a bad Friday night!! Plus, they no longer serve an unsolicited amuse bouche, and the limited menu options makes me wonder if they are in financial trouble. That would be sad.

Also what made me sad is that BioDad answered his cell phone at the dinner table and didn't put his napkin in his lap until the entree arrived. Thank Buddha I inherited table manners from my mother.

Chain chain chain

I have recently been obsessed with various chain restaurants. Don't know why...think it has something to do with being "in the know". Maybe wanting to be a city girl. Anyways.

Just had the most amazing lunch at the popular chain eatery The Cheesecake Factory. My companion and I started with the fried calamari- very good, and bonus points for two dipping sauces. I hate when they make you choose between cocktail or tartar. I like to alternate. The tartar sauce was very garlicky and fabulous. The cocktail sauce looked very much like ketchup, which is not a good quality for cocktail sauce, but I found it very enjoyable and with pleasant kick.

The main memory of the meal, however, was the "french country salad". Mixed greens, goat cheese, beets, candied pecans, asparagas, and an amazing viniagrette. It was the kind of salad that makes you happy, and you are glad that you are burping up the dressing all day because it is a good burp; not indigestion, but rather a gift throughout the rest of the day. Is that too gross? I could have done without the asparagas. I am not a fan and don't generally eat it, so I don't know what it is supposed to taste like. I tasted a smoky flavor that reminded me of an old man. I do not want to taste an old mad.

Clearly, the asparagas did not ruin my perception of the salad, because I am still thinking about it. And it's pretty amazing that my favorite part of the meal was the salad, when the salad is competing with a fried item and a cheesecake item (which I got "to go" but ate immediately upon arriving home).

Maybe the good thing about a chain is that you can brag to your far away friends about what you had for lunch, but it's not like rubbing it in, because they can go to the same place at a convenient location near them?

Unlike the Roma's I had yesterday....you'd tote be jealous.