Art Institute - Free Februarys

I think the title mostly explains this blog post, which is to tell anyone (er, all 9 of you) that doesn't already know about the Art Institute's "Free February" promotion! All month you can simply walk in and stroll the halls filled with such wonders as Untitled and Untitled. I understand that you may not know exactly how to explain your art/work/painting/sculpture, but can't you at least ATTEMPT a name? In contrast, every third painting in Italy is Madonna e bambino.

Irregardless of what you see or how long you go, try to make it to the 3rd floor of the modern wing, it's the European Contemporary rooms that make me happy. Lots of color, bold shapes, random sizes... who can resist a Picasso or a Matisse? Enjoy!

V-day full of love (and food)

Ah, Valentines Day...words that come to mind are: red, hearts, romance, chocolate, amateur night. No, not your stripping debut, but your neighbors at the next table! It's like the EXACT people for whom the holiday is precious are those that cram into the deuce next to you purring and clinking glasses.

I'm not into that - nor am I into gifts of red lingerie (in February) or heart shaped boxes of chocolate or single red roses encased in plastic. Snobby? Maybe, but I prefer to have my honey at home and then treat ourselves to a fantastic meal several days post-V-day.

So, this year on 2/16 C and I bundled ourselves up and out to local fave, No. 9 Park. It's always exciting to go there. You pull up (or walk up if it's not f-ing freezing) to this non-descript little door in this quiet area of Boston, basking in the glow of the state house. It's immediatly warm and vibrant inside, lots of ambient noise of drinking and dining and laughter. We soaked up the chatter for a half hour or so as we were early for our reservation and sampled some of their famous cocktails - a pear martini for me (can't resist Belle de Brillet) and a bourbon spritzer type thing for C.

Promptly on time, the hostess seated us at a lovely window table. It is the EXACT table at which I've sat the two other times I've been here - uncanny. Anyway, we perused the menu and made our selections - I've outlined the choices below:

Nantucket Bay Scallops - sweet potato dumplings and melted vidalia onion

Prune stuffed Gnocchi - seared fois gras in a vin santo buerre blanc sauce

Roasted Pouissin (two ways) - confit and sliced over carrot puree with escargot

Sliced Rib-eye with potato galette and Swiss chard

We generally share everything, so we end up with two small courses and an entree. On this particular occasion, the ever-generous Jessica Kinney granted us a lovely amuse bouche and mid-course that were absolutely lovely (tuna tartar and comte risotto).

Check it out for yourself, just don't go on Valentines Day!