Dinner last night was fantastic. It featured this little guy below, and Bambi to the right. Yum.



We split some pizza-like thing for an appetizer that was unleavend pizza dough, so it came out flat and really crispy, with melted gorgonzola on top. That alone could be a meal for one person. We both love blue cheese. Last time we were there, we split one as well, and it was just as good this time.

Much as I love their shrimp Fra Diavolo, a lobster item on the menu caught my eye, and I was already to try that until the waiter ran through the evening's specials. I decided to order the lobster special instead. SJ decided to order the venison special--rack of venison. It arrived split into two chops, and was cooked in the rare to medium-rare range. I've never tasted a bite of venison before that was so tender. It was farm-raised somehere in Texas. Both were really excellent dishes, although there was no way I could even touch the mound of pasta under the crustacean.

Fortunately, it was not a big lobster. Even so, I couldn't finish one of the claws, so when the waiter offered to wrap it up for me, I agreed. Then I forgot it after paying the bill and leaving a cash tip. Oh, well, it was really only two bites. SJ did a much better job on his entree than I did. I was just too stuffed to have dessert or even a capuccino.

Funny how the waiter was fawning over us and checking up seemingly every two minutes during dinner, but when we were ready to leave, he was nowhere to be found to bring us the bill. Finally, the busboy tracked it down and brought it. I got a chance to actually cash in my two $100 AmEx Gift Cheques that I won in the office as awards for Superstar of the Year (2004) and Dream Team of the year (2005).

Last time we went to L'Allegria was I think for my 43rd birthday, again, not on the actual day, but on a nearby weekend. They've raised their prices since then, so we were a bit over $100 this time before tip, but that's okay. How often do we do this? Actually, my parents gave us $100 at Christmas time to cover dinner out, and whatever that didn't cover, my employer did with the award money. Eating on someone else's nickel is nice. Yeah, I could afford it myself, regardless, but it was a nice bonus, and I got cash back instead of a line item on my AmEx bill.

Well, it looks like dinner tonight is some leftover vegetarian chili I made awhile ago and froze. It's tasty, but obviously has a different texture than meat chili. I'd venture a guess it rates two alarms. Not at all bland, but it won't numb your mouth and lips, nor make your eyebrows sweat.

Buen apetito!