Assaggi Restaurant & Mozzarella Bar

Tonight my SIL took myself and my other SIL to dinner at a truly exquisite restaurant in Bethesda MD.  The menu stated they had GF pasta so I have been eagerly anticipating this dinner for over a week.  It also has a mozzarella bar - OMG this was truly amazing.  The large order came with 3 different types of mozzarella and  4 different condiments - fresh tomato, marinated eggplant, basil marinated zucchini and a green tomato relish (outstanding). My SILs ate theirs on bread - there was not any gluten free bread or crackers so I just ate mine with a fork.  The textures of the cheeses were all so different - but all so wonderful.  

Then we ordered our main entrée.  I was told I could get any sauce on the GF pasta - so I ordered one with clams, olive oil, and crushed red pepper.  The waiter (who other than being a bit of a ditz, was very good) came back and said that they were out of the sauce - so I changed it to a duck ragu.  He then came back and said they were out of GF pasta.  So I had to order anything but pasta all which were twice as expensive as the pastas - and I was not paying for the dinner - it was a treat from my SIL - so I felt very guilty. I decided to try the risotto with scallops, zucchini, and zucchini flowers, and Parmesan cheese  which was truly amazing.  I wish I had remembered to take pictures of the meal - but alas it looked way too good and had to be eaten right away - and since I was kid free I got to enjoy it hot!  Always a plus.

Although I did not get to eat GF pasta out at a restaurant today - the meal was excellent - and I would go back again - hopefully they will have the pasta in stock.

Craft Goodness

While in Virginia I also went to A.C. Moore craft store today with my SIL.  We do not have one in Dallas and I have really wanted to see what it was all about.  I did find a few things I haven't seen at home - but it's a lot like Michales.

I did pick up a few delicious things.  paper, chipboard letters/numbers, stamps, and ruffle trim are from Pink Paislee (I adore them).  Flowers are from Prima.  and the rest are from Jenni Bowlin Studio.  I can hardly wait to get home and see what comes out of all this.  So many ideas are already floating around in my head.

GF Cupcakes at the Mall!!!!

At present, I am in Virginia visiting my parents.  Tonight we went to a mall to get my kids shoes, clothes and then had dinner.  After dinner my mom told me to go look at the Sweetz Bakery kiosk.  They had Gluten Free cupcakes.  I really could not believe it - they had 3 favors available tonight.  Chocolate, Yellow, and the Yellow Coconut.  You can see which I one I decided on.  They had a menu that stated they also carried a few other flavors - including red velvet and red velvet coconut.  Yum!!  And the cupcake was really very tasty.  The frosting was just right - not too much, not too sweet - just perfect!  Need to see if Sweetz Bakery is located anywhere near Dallas.

Here is 1/2 of the cupcake.  I really had to make myself stop eating it and take the rest home. The texture was pretty good - and it even had a cream filled center - with just enough vanilla frosting on top - covered in coconut!  To be able to go into a mall - to a bakery kiosk and get a GF cupcake was a first for me.  Wish we had these where I live.