What did you do for New Year’s Eve? Did you make last-minute plans that turned out excellently, like we did?
We’d thought and thought about where to go to ring in the new year, and by the time we came up with a plan, the venue was sold out! A few other options (think keg parties, trashy and noisy bars) just didn’t appeal to us much.
We considered a short getaway, but my three-day weekend was interrupted by being called into work Wednesday night because two co-workers had their heads cracked open this week and we were short-staffed. It sounds callous to mention such a trivial event in my life in the same sentence as someone falling and going to the hospital only to have an emergency Pacemaker operation and another getting in a serious car wreck that broke bones and shook him up thoroughly, but that’s the facts, folks. I feel terrible for them and their families, especially this time of year.
It was back to square one, and on Dec. 30, at about 11:30 at night, I had the brilliant idea to check whether the Italian cafe just down the street from me had anything going on for the evening. We ended up with a 9 p.m. reservation for two at Asti Trattoria.
My favorite neighborhood intersection.
We’d been to the restaurant once before, for a casual, exceptionally good lunch, but this experience was on a different level altogether. Everything that went into my mouth was stunning.
We arrived at 8:30 and stood in the crowded bar area with glasses of Cantina Terlano 2007 Pinot Noir, which was so good we got a bottle to go with dinner.
Vino por el año nuevo
We were seated under a sky of multicolored balloons, and our waiter was quirky (his navy dress shirt was covered with pictures of Irish setters) but service was exceptionally prompt, and we were overwhelmed by the time we got to the main course. We had to take dessert to go!
In case anyone is interested, here’s my vegetarian feast to close out 2009. Far and away my best meal of the year:
White Asparagus Soup
Parmesan & White Truffle Crema
Red & Yellow Beet Carpaccio
Fennel, Black Olives & Orange Vinaigrette
Ricotta Bruschetta
Asparagus Risotto
Prosecco, Meyer Lemon Oil & Scallions
Wild Mushroom & Cipolline Onion Ragu
Anson Mills Polenta & Black Truffle Mascarpone
Chocolate Truffle Tart
Vanilla Balsamic Gelato & Brandied Cherries
Unfortunately, I was not feeling exactly wonderful by the time the clock struck 12 — I just couldn’t handle that much incredibly rich food and a good amount of wine. OK, I was actually asleep when 2010 was born.
But dessert was lovely on New Year’s Day, less the incredibly strong reduced vinegar they used as a sauce. Perhaps if we’d had it served at the proper temperature, it would have worked better.
So now it’s back to reality, back to the grind, back to the same old schedule. But with one twist: We’re doing the Power 90 program (think precursor to that P90X thing advertised in annoying infomercials) to get super-buff (ha!) in three months or less!
I’m quite excited to begin. I’ve printed up a 90-day planner and the exercises I’m supposed to do, and I’ll get started first thing tomorrow on my first full cardio routine. Wish us luck!
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