So We're Really Full Again....

Times are lean around my household because the bar stuff has gotten, and will remain, pretty intense from here on out. But tonight disc0 and I finished our assigned essays and decided to go out to dinner with J & A for a break. I'm SO GLAD WE DID.

Before he started staying with us, J lived very close to Terragusto and always wanted to try it, but reservations are often a must. This meant they never got a chance to go until this weekend, when A made 'em and invited us along. Terragusta is a small italian restaurant that serves organic and mostly local food, including homemade pasta. We ordered from the two course menu, which is basically family style. Holy crap!

That means we shared three antipasti: a huge antipasto platter (organic salami?! Balsamic soaked garlic that doesn't cause garlic breath?? Who knew?!), the best polenta ever, and a lovely green salad. The pasta course was absolutely amazing as well--the pasta bolognese was especially awesome. I never eat beef unless it's naturally raised so it's like an extra treat for me, and it totally lived up to expectations. YUM. And it's BYOB, so we had some $3 Trader Joe's wine to go with.

After all that deliciousness we had to try dessert, which of course included the most delicious panna cotta I've ever had and a flourless chocolate cake like WHOA. We almost had to ask the manager to roll us out the door. We went ahead and walked the mile and a half home just to try to work the dinner through. It wasn't the most comfortable walk (OK, OK--it is effing hot in Chicago right now, I'll admit it) but the full bellies were totally worth it. I can't wait to bring guests to Terragusto...with reservations, of course.