Birthday Celebration 2013

February 27th is a very special day in our house, not because it's my birthday, but because it also happens to be my hubby's birthday!  I know what you're thinking, but we did not time this pregnancy to add another birthday on February 27th!  Two is enough!  It can be challenging to celebrate both birthdays because I like presents and to take a little trip, and well, so does Kevin, so it can be overwhelming to choose sometimes.  This year we decided to go to Ashville, North Carolina for the weekend.  We've been several times before, but only for a day trip to the Biltmore House. Ashville has so much more to offer than just the Biltmore, although that is pretty impressive.  Kevin being the beer connosiuer that he is really wanted to explore the local craft brews of Ashville, and well, I said I'd be his designated driver and beautiful company since I'm not beer tasting these days.  I was very excited about the local food spots we had to choose from, and what pregnant woman doesn't want to eat?  Our original pick for a lunch spot upon arriving in Ashville, Roman's Sandwich Shop was closed that weekend, so we opted for what we found nearby, as it was getting to the point, I HAD  to eat!  But after that we walked around the Old Grove Arcade and downtown area, peaking in local shops, taking in scenery, and a little visit to Chocolate Fetish.  I was tame, I only had 1 dark chocolate salted caramel...the entire weekend. I didn't even buy any for the trip home!  Impressive, isn't it?  Then we ventured down to the Ashville Brewing Company.

This is where things got a little interesting.  While Kevin tried several of the local brews there, we also spotted a cute little couple walking their pig!  A PIG ON A LEASH! Good thing they came back down the street, because it was just too interesting not to talk to them.  I wasn't alone, several of the patrons in the bar went outside to take pictures and find out about this domesticated animal. Just so you know, it's name was Porkchop, she was about a year old, and yes, she is housebroken... in a litter box!

For dinner, we chose  to try Lab, also known as Lexington Avenue Brewery.  Wow!  I don't know about the beer, Kevin does though, but we started by ordering two appetizers, and that pretty much satisfied us for the night.  The atmosphere was very cool, industrial almost, dark and cozy, bar height tables, and seats around the bar, as well as small patio out front.  It was quite crowded so we opted for two seats off the side of the bar, but the service was not compromised!  Kevin ordered a tasting flight to start, and our apps consisted of Soft Pretzels with cheese and mustard dipping sauce, and a flatbread covered with honey scented ricotta, spinach, prosciutto, and figs!  YUMMO is all I can say!  Both were delicious and as I said, other than a side salad a little later, that was enough food for us! I would definitely recommend this place, and we plan to go back again when we are in Ashville. 

Sunday morning we went to brunch at Curate, a recommendation from a friend, and all I can say is muy bueno!  Curate is a tapas restaurant that serves up tons of little plate delights.  We decided to start on their special brunch menu, Kevin ordered the huevos rotos con jamon iberico fermin... this... it was a delicious little bowl of crispy fried potatoes, iberico ham, all topped by a fried egg! When he poked into the egg, the yolk dripped out, softening the crispy potato chips, and then when tossed together you got a mouthful of wonderful in each bite!

I started with the torrijas, a sweet spanish french toast dish made of challah bread that had been soaked in a citrus cinnamon custard, served with a side of fresh berries and sherry sabayon.  Until recently, I had no idea what a sabayon was, but when it was served alongside this french toast, it was a light creamy mousse-like mixture that was delicious with every bite of the french toast!  I literally wanted to lick my plate on this one! 

Tapas are such small plates that we didn't stop there, but Kevin isn't too adventurous when it comes to these things, so while I could have ordered anything off that menu, we opted to share our next small plate, which was a simple, but delicious toasted artisan bread topped with completely pulped tomatoes and Manchego cheese.  If you look at that, it's like Kevin thought he was getting pizza at the tapas joint! Again, not only was this place a hit with the food, but the atmosphere was simple, rustic, and classy! Another place I can't wait to go back to when visiting Ashville.

All of that was just the birthday celebration over the weekend!  Later in the week, on our actual birthday we tried a new little place in Fort Mill for dinner. I will save that for another post, but in the meantime, wipe that drool off your chin!