Trying to Fit It All In

Last night Joe took me on a romantic Valentine's Day date since we have our very unromantic birth class on Thursday, February 14. I realize that it's been a while since I've posted about food, so I hope I'm not losing my touch, nor my tastebuds. Keep in mind that eating out is not nearly adventurous when one has to limit her carbs and pinch herself with a needle. But I did alright last night.

We visited an amazing restaurant called Sepia, owned by one of Joe's clients, Manuel Noni. This was one of the best dining experiences we have enjoyed in a long time, and everything from the decor to the ambiance to the lighting to the food was excellent. The restaurant is not particularly modern, but is located in an an old Chicago stone building with hardwood floors and decorated with turn-of-the-century photographic equipment, and old wooden bar, and completely contemporary textiles. I also loved the old-fashioned chandeliers encased in modern plastic casings. It was a true mix of old and new--my favorite style--but so very warm and inviting.

The food was divine. I cheated just a little and had some braised mushroom flatbread to start (not really cheating with the food itself, but in how much I ate, which is still pretty miniscule compared to the damage I could normally do). For our entrees, I ordered braised cod with a light cream sauce, homemade pasta with saffron, and boar sausage. It was amazing. Joe ordered beef cheek with whipped taro root, baby carrots, and turnips, and his was just as amazing. For dessert, we enjoyed carmelized cinnamon icecream. I need to learn to cook like this.