Thou shall not wear Khaki Pants...ever!

There are some days where you ask yourself, " Does it get any better than this?" and then, if you're lucky, there are days where you just know that it doesn't.

I still don't know how my head hasn't exploded from an overdose of all things astoundingly beautiful. I'm talking about a day where everything just falls together effortlessly, simple, undemanding, and yet the end result is a masterpiece. This day was in fact a masterpiece.

It began midday with a light patio lunch on the 15th floor, overlooking the prestine biscayne bay. We sat sandwiched between a couple of other gorgeous high rises, nestled in a small marble table sipping on some Purple haze, as we discussed menu items and why I was wearing khaki pants.

Yes, we were debating my fashion sense and how I looked like a billboard for GAP, as I sat there in my black tshirt from Banana Republic and my Khaki cotton pants. Clothes never make me feel self-conscious but debating my fashion sense definetely gets a good laugh out of me, I do admit to overstepping the boundaries of boring and common sometimes - hence the GAP comparison. After a few bites of great guacamole, a shortrib tostada, and an incredible sushi roll, substituting my unexciting khaki pants seemed like the only logical thing to do....actually, substituting my entire outfit seemed like the only logical thing to do. Off to the mall we were! We had a couple of hours to kill before dinner reservations at a well sought out restaurant.

Giving the task to someone to dress you while you watch them choose all the different articles, could be a pretty entertaining thing. It's funny to see the things they'd choose for you, things you'd never choose on your own. I think this shopping process shed some light on my fashion sense. I was able to see that I was attracted to exactly the same type of clothes all around...black, grey, dark green...no ruffles, no strange patterns, no wild colors. It's not that I don't like them, it's just that I'm simply more quickly drawn to those other colors rather than something bright or vivid. After a really good time people watching, trying on clothes, and picking just the right outfit for dinner (afterall "khakis were a big no-no) , there was only one thing left to do before our reservaton. Change our clothes in the car! I felt like a couple of outlaws, a scene from a Life Less Ordinary, or something just as sketchy but exhilirating at the same time. We were all set for a fabulous dinner but had no idea what was in store...

One of my favorite parts of a dining experience anywhere is the element of surprise. Some places you know exactly what to expect. You know what you're going to get and how you're going to get it. Most places fail to deliver the WOW factor and even though I am always eagerly searching for it, I rarely find it. This time would prove to be one of those rare occassions.

Stepping into this restaurant, you are immediately fascinated by its nautical design - it almost has a Hamptons, northeastern feel to it. Being ten minutes early for our reservation, the hostess politely guided us to the bar and suggested a couple of cocktails before our table would be ready. One strawberry-candy like drink and a mojito. I love watching bartenders make drinks that actually require real fruit and extracting flavors by muddling, squeezing, and stirring - not just pouring and mixing. As the bartending was slicing berries and sqeezing lemons and limes, I was tasting the drink in my head. A couple of sips, and I was a happy camper. The hostess quickly took us to our outdoor table...and there it was....the WOW factor. A corner table at the very edge of the terrace of the hotel overlooking the ocean as the sunset approached. There is something eminently magical about a sunset. Maybe its the way it outlines the tall palm trees, maybe its the way it makes the ocean sparkle, or maybe its the way it signifies the day is ending; ending with hopes that you did it right, with hopes that this day was great. Maybe it the closing of a day, but the beginning of so much more that lay ahead. I tell you...something about those sunsets.

As for the meal, have you ever had a meal where sparks fly? I find it difficult to put into words how amazing this meal was. Luscious, creamy burratta Mozzarella, crusty bread with eggplant capponata, mascarpone butter, and a rustic Italian olive oil. Exuberantly, I awaited the next dishes hoping they'd be better but thinking that wouldn't be possible as this first course held its awesome status. The next dish was delicate and astounding beef tartare with a quail egg and shaved Alba white truffles. The Excutive Chef himself came out to our table to shave the white truffles onto our tartare dish. It was a jaw dropping experience as the aroma from the white truffles perfumed the ocean breeze. It was at that very moment as I sat there while the truffles glided through the air onto the plate ever so graceful, with my glass of wine, in this picturesque setting, and I thought to myself, "I really don't know how my head hasn't exploded from experiencing these outrageous larger than life moments. Sometimes I feel like I'm on ecstasy." Next, was this polenta that was cooked for 8 hours in milk that deserved a standing ovation. I didn't know if I was eating a creamy cheese or a corn product. It was silky, indulgent, and most definetely the kind of food you close your eyes to catch yourself for a moment....Or maybe you need a cigarette after (kidding I don't smoke). Each and every dish that followed was just as wonerful keeping my state of bliss at a steady nirvana. Speaking of bliss, after a couple of handcrafted pasta dishes, we couldn't skip dessert. I never order dessert but how could we skip dessert at a place that exceeded all expectations? A semi frozen pannacotta with a guava soup. Refreshing. Perfect. Soothing. Just what you need after meal made for kings and queens.

As the night concluded with a happy stomach and a good buzz, I realized a couple of brilliant things. Thou shall not wear khaki pants! and the other thing is to be grateful for those days that turn out to be masterpieces...Those days where you ask yourself, "Does it get any better than this? " and then, if you're lucky, there are those days where you just know that it doesn't." Cheers to the masterpieces!

In the words of the Veronica's

So they say that Lyon and Rome have a couple of things in common. One of which is that they are both full of temperamental gourmets eternally engaged with the never-ending search of that imaginary, perfect, unknown, little backstreet bistro where one can dine in the style of Louis the XIV. While I don't consider myself a temperamental gourmet, I have to admit I am fully fascinated by the idea of sharing a bottle of wine, a couple of impeccable dishes, and just sitting there enjoying the company. I've taken my share of mediocre-poorly made dishes with a grain of salt so I find it perfectly natural that I would get uber-excited over a fantastic meal.

Today, it all began by a meandering car ride, to a place I had already been to, and well, I couldn't remember I was there once, much less what I ate when I visited, so that speaks for itself. However, that mistake or blissful indifference lead me to ponder something, I asked myself one of the most common thought-of questions ever---- "What's for lunch?" And after a long list of "been there, done that" places, one restaurant stood out above the rest. This is a place where you can order a few, exquisite dishes, a superb wine, and enjoy an eclectic artsy atmosphere. Don't go for people watching, it seems as though the people that were there forgot their personalities at home, they seemed blase, apathetic almost. Were they just bored of lunch, or bored of life? Okay, so forget people watching; make sure you go with someone who mirrors your passion for food, and you'll be sure to be in a foodie-paradise.

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite foods in the world is a very high quality mozzarella called Burratta. A rich, creamy indulgently smooth cheese, idealy paired with a dense balsamic reduction, throw in some braised red onions, fresh tomatoes, a housemade pesto, and you're in heaven. I paired this with a glass of Lagaria, an Italian reisling, and this combination was a gourmet hyperbole all around. You couldn't help but smile from the first bite, the first sip. The two together was definetely love at first bite. A couple of other dishes consisted of swordfish carpaccio, scallops with preserved lemons, marinated artichokes, and few slices of artisan Italian bread accompanied by a fruity and pungeant olive oil with a light sprinkle of sea salt. Simple, fresh, clean food , a delicious wine, and the company of someone who cracks you up.... really....does it get better than this? I love visting places that grant me the priviledge to say "The best I ever had." In this case, this restaurant allowed me to have the best mozzarella I have ever had anywhere. I guess I can scratch that off my bucket list.

Next time, you're thinking of heading to your local chain restaurant to fill up your belly, take time to think about where you're going. Make it special because dining, is one of the best things that we share as human beings. It should be a wonderful time of sharing, getting to know people, and getting to know yourself. You'll discover new things you like, things you might obsess over for a little while, and things you'll never want to taste again. Take time to actually enjoy sitting in your chair, embrace the atmosphere, and stare at the person across from you, take a mental picture, because in the grand scheme of things - it is a blessing that they are sitting there with you. Pay attention to what they enjoy, their reactions to certain things, and simply take in the dining experience. You'll get to know them a little bit better each time, something I believe my generation lacks of. We often fail to dedicate ourselves to getting to know someone, really. Real conversations, real meals, real time. After all, Bacchus had something right, " In a lot of good food, and good wine, there's a lot of truth."

Lyon and Rome can play host to those in search of the of the perfect, imaginary, little, unknown backstreet bistro where one can dine in the style of Louis the XIV. As for me, today, I consider myself priviledged and lucky to have found a place where I dined in the style of Louis XIV. Next time you go out to eat, I encourage you to find a place that offers a special exquisite item, check out for yourself if its the best you've ever had, order a glass of Lagaria if its available, take a mental picture of who's across from you, enjoy their company to the fullest, and take in the experience. I garauntee you'll be saying in the words of the Veronica's " I could get used to this."