Hello readers! (all two of you... Hi Mom!) Guys, I haven't completely failed and left my sweet husband in the dust. I know I haven't been posting like I said I would, but finding time for a creative date every month is a lot harder than I thought! I have two other dates that happened before this which will come soon. Devin is out of town, so maybe I can get more things done. A parable came to mind. I think I will call it the
parable of the orange:
A couple is sitting at opposite ends of a table. In the middle of the table is an absolutely perfect and beautiful orange. You can smell the citrus emanate through the air. Both people know it's going to be delicious. Both people know it is not only sweet with a little bit of tang, but also incredibly healthy. So why is the couple just sitting there and staring at it? I picture the man leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed, thinking about how good oranges taste. The woman is leaning on the table, staring at the orange too. I wont tell you her thoughts because she is a woman and the post would never end and it would be waaaay to negative a vibe for this blog's mojo.
They both sigh.
I use an orange, because an orange takes work to get open. SOMEONE has to swallow their pride, grab the freaking thing and peel it for both to enjoy. So who's going to be the one to do it!? I say it's YOU!!!! Be the instigator and stop waiting around for some magical thing. Oranges take work. Sometimes they are messy, but a good orange is freaking delicious and oh soooooo good for you. They help you fight off sickness too, just like dating your spouse helps you fight off all of the terrible things that are against happy and healthy marriages!
back to the date and crappy blogging:
Here's the thing, I would sit down to start on my post, but then I would feel bad because Devin would be all alone on the couch watching Doctor Who without me. How could I sit on my computer when souffle girl was calling to us!? Anways, I saw an ad for #eatdowntownprovo last week and knew I had to jump at the chance to take Devin there! I'm so glad I bought my ticket in advance as well. It made it so I couldn't back out, and on the day of the event it sold out in 5 minutes!!
This date was awesome for so many reasons:
1) Food...: Did you know Provo is becoming the new restaurant mecca? It's amazing what they have done down there and I can only imagine what tourist traffic the new Provo temple will bring.
2) The afternoon: I think this is my new favorite time to go on a date! It's way easier to find a sitter (Thanks Emily and Mara) because they don't have to stay out late and can still hang out with friends that night. I'm also way more alert and am not ready to go home and go to sleep! It was really fun!
3)Friends: The awesome thing about Social media is that it can bring friends along that you haven't seen or heard from in years! So glad Jacob could be our photographer!!!
The date:
They gave us a little ticket with all of the restaurants listed. We got to walk around downtown Provo to all the yummy places and eat all the things for only $15! (That's per couple, not per person!) Restauraunts included:
* Los Hermanos
* Gurus
* Gloria's Little Italy
* Communal
* Taste
* Ivie Juice Bar
* Station 22
* Bruges
* Sammy's
* Slate
* Gurus
* Gloria's Little Italy
* Communal
* Taste
* Ivie Juice Bar
* Station 22
* Bruges
* Sammy's
* Slate
* Sensuous Sandwich
Gurus served us a huge serving of their chicken quesadilla. We love Gurus. Go there. Don't question it. Just do it.
Next was Gloria's Little Italy. This is one of our most favorite local Italian restaurants. Their alfredo sauce is out of this world. We are also a big fan of their amatriciana sauce. After you eat, you can go choose from a huge selection of desserts and gelato. I decided to try something new and got their Cactus pear gelato. We loved it! Devin's cookies and cream flavor wasn't his favorite though.
There is a new chocolate factory in town and they have opened a side store called Taste. It isn't fully running yet, but this place will be an incredibly unique experience for those looking for a different kind of date night. They had a fun demonstration on how to truly taste chocolate. They gave us a sample and guided us through the process:
1) Break off a small piece and rub it between your fingers until it just begins to melt.
2) Put it on your tongue and let it melt there for a minute and then slowly spread it around your mouth with your tongue.
3) Taste the different flavors infused in the chocolate. Your mouth goes through an amazing journey of raspberry, cinnamon, and orange flavors all in one teeny piece of cocoa. I felt like that little mouse in Ratatouille with fireworks exploding in his brain.
4) Clear your palate with a tasting vinegar. I've never even heard of these before! We learned the hard way that you SHOULD NOT INHALE while drinking a sipping vinegar. ha ha! Mine was peach flavored and it was delicious.
Cool Cool place. I'm curious to see how it does when it is fully up and running.
Shamy Photo bomb and a royal couch!
Communal!
We love Communal! We know the chefs because my brother is involved with the business. The sample they offered was a smoked trout pot pie. Devin LOVED it. It wasn't my favorite, but I have loved everything else I have had there. If you haven't been here, Communal is an interested dining experience. It is more of a taster's experience where you order several different items from the menu and you share them all together. The items are not in bulk so don't go to have a super filling experience, but your taste buds will definitely leave fulfilled. Our most favorite thing in the world are their caramelized heirloom carrots. The menu changes with what is in season, and they have a giant greenhouse that grows their own local fresh veggies all year long! I have heard their hamburger on the lunch menu is the most amazing burger in the world. I personally haven't tasted it, but I have heard testimonies that it is literally to die for.
Station 22 and Bruges had a fun vibe to them.
The Fries and dipping sauce at Bruges were delicious, but by the time we got there we were so full we could only eat a few bites! Their waffles are supposed to be even better than Waffle Luv. Lets be honest folks. You throw Nutella, strawberries and whipped cream on a piece of seaweed, and I will think it's the best thing in the world... So who knows which waffle place waffles the best waffle....
Station 22 offered a homemade pumpkin donut hole. The flavors were great but they were a bit greasy for us. They also shared their own brewed rootbeer. Devin considers himself a rootbeer snob, and it passed the test! It was really good rootbeer.
Ivie.... Oh Ivie...
This place will do well in a trendy college town like Provo. It is just health smoothies. I prefer to eat my salad with a fork and not through a straw, but if you like green smoothies and weed grass then this the place for you! Just don't look too close at the menu... you might order Spinch instead of spinich! Ha ha!!
SLATE!!! I didn't even know this place existed!! If you are looking for a fancy place to eat in downtown Provo, go here! Apparently there has been a fancy restaurant in the old Marriott since it was built forever ago! The hotel just remodeled and this place is beautiful. They served us a Large deep fried shrimp covered in buffalo sauce sitting in blue cheese dressing. Delicious would be an understatement.
Sammy's is always a favorite of ours with their pie slice shakes. We didn't waste too much time in here because we are so familiar with it. :)
Sensuous sandwich was fine. We are Blimpie's and Pirate O's folk... They did tell us a story about a guy who ate their 24 inch challenge in 1 minute and 30 seconds! I guess he turned it into a giant soggy soup sandwich with water and slurped it down. It makes me gag just to think about it...
We topped it off with a quick stroll to Sodalicious for some "extra dirty" drinks! We couldnt' feel our hands by the end because it was sooooo cold, but such a fun date! Thanx again for hanging with us Jake!!
