blog challenge - day #2

Restaurant moment. Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind?

three moments stand out in my mind.

amada, cuba libre and asia de cuba.

all latin, all fabulous, all leaving me broke.

cuba libre- dinner in atlantic city with kelly. on our vacation in august. in the middle of 5 days of fun & sun. the meal began with beef croquettes, dotted by many of the best-made mojitos i've ever tasted. smooth, sugary and dry. ending with beef roja. tender strips of pulled beef mixed with rice, peppers and tomato sauce. we were two of the only people there since it was august and the shoobies were already back in school. you called me 'baby' over mixed rum and spanish guitars for the first time in months...and for the last time before we broke.

asia de cuba - new york city. jen's birthday. we were tired and starving. having come from the sex & the city tour, we saw this restaurant in the guide book with 4 stars and 4 dollar signs. so we went and waited. got sandwiched in between large parties with drunk girls in too-high heels, ate at a table meant for two people. but the food redeemed the setting. panels of gauzy white flowed around us, but it didn't lighten the mood. we were all weighted by the reality of our lives. but the food helped relieve some tension. small plates of asian fusion with strong latin bases. creamy dynamite shrimp, beef shrimp rolls, pot stickers, sauces so good i didn't want them to end. after the food was cleared, we returned to earth. even the high couldn't take away our mistakes.

amada- fire. i would eat here everyday if i could. surrounded by only who make me feel good. the dishes speak for themselves. the wine flows. i would eat here every meal if i could. but then it would lose it's appeal. as all things do when you get too close & know too much.