Date Nite Saturday June 19, 2010
I asked Amy for a date nite. Actually, I didn’t ask nor did I wait for an answer. I was pro-active and comprised a list of several different date options I liked and then Amy and I comprised a made-to-order date from my list. What we decided on was dinner out at Lattitude Restaurant in West Springfield and then to spend the remainder of the evening just cuddled up on the sofa watching a movie. Our choice of something new with something true equalled a very satisfactory evening. Especially since we never did get around to watching that movie.
I was simply bursting with excitement and nervous from anticipation all day Saturday, for it had been a long while since Amy and I have shared a date together. By the time I got around to making our dinner reservations Saturday morning only the 4:45 and 5pm dinner slots were available on OpenTable.com. So we booked the 5pm slot. I primped and pampered myself and even wore my little black dress. I do not wear dresses, skirts on occasion in the summer, but NEVER dresses. But I wanted last night to feel special so I just dressed up a bit. And, I felt beautiful and confidant and that’s what makes all the difference. Amy even dressed up a bit too (actually she just played her bass while waiting on me).
Upon arriving promptly at Lattitude five minutes of five, we discovered the restaurant was rather quiet, save a few faithful patrons at the bar, which is not surprising since they are the only martini bar I know of in the area. But I must confess that my initial sarcastic thought was (which was accompanied by my usual eye roll), ”Of course I wouldn’t need reservations when I go out of my way to make reservations.” But less than an hour after being seated, it was proven the reservation was not in vain as the restaurant filled up rather quickly. So I was very happy I had thought ahead enough to save us a seat and would recommend others to do the same, especially if you plan to dine after 5:30pm.
We were seated next to this quaint brick fireplace, which I will most definitely hope to be seated next to again this winter. I thought the table and it’s location was perfectly romantic. I felt very much at home and yet worlds away at the same time. Again, it was perfect. Amy on the other hand, was fascinated with, in awe of, and rather amused by the salt and pepper shakers at the table. She insited they were the coolest salt and pepper shakers she’d ever seen. It’s the little things that count right?
To start dinner, we were encouraged by our fabulous, refreshingly charismatic waitor to try Lattitude’s ”world-famous” Fried Bru
ssels Sprouts. He explained that the chef discovered this delicious fried veggie by dropping a sprout in the deep fryer one day by mistake and wha-la! They now go through bushels of them on a nightly basis. So after discovering these fried Brussel’s Sprouts were a serendipity, I could in no way resist ordering them as our appetizer. They were accompanied by a rather extraordinarily delicious Sweet Chili Aioli. I highly recommend the sprouts for they are fantastically light and crispy and aren’t breaded, therefore a perfect appetizer even on a hot summer night. Simply fabulous. Then after the scrumptious Fried Brussels Sprouts, Amy and I chose to share the Tomato and Mozzarella Salad. The tomatoes, according to the Lattitude Menu, were from E.Cecchi Farms and were so fresh and so juicy and so amazingly sweet. OMG! They could have stood on their own but for over the top mind-blowing yumminess the tomatoes were accompanied by the freshest melt-in-your-mouth Mozzarella and a reduced balsamic to DIE for. The salad was simply orgasmic. There’s just no better way to describe it. And it was just perfect to cleanse the palette before receiving our entrees.
So on that note, (little drum roll please) on to our entrees. Amy went with the Filet Tournedos And Shrimp (surf-n-turf, which actually turned out to be a bit too much food for my little Ames to handle). She loved her entrée and savored every bite she could physically handle. And the left overs she brought home I used to make surf -n- turf crunchy tacos, which were amazing. I chose one of the Chef’s Selections which was Garlic and Mint Roasted New Zealand Lamb Rack. I have to say the mixed olive, tomato, and feta cheese salad that accompanied my dish was by far my favorite part of my entrée. The lamb was very tender and absolutely delish and I was not overwhelmed with the size of my plate at all. However, my lamb did unfortunately arrive well done rather than medium as I had requested, but as it being well done did not hinder the tenderness of the lamb I actually ended up not caring and very much enjoyed my entrée. Oh, and Amy simply adored the Sweet Onion White Sweet Mashed Potatoes. She actually raved over them. I thought the most interesting thing about the potatoes was the fact that I’d never heard of nor eaten a white sweet potato and I just love discovering new vegetables and spices. And everything was plated beautifully, which I was especially giddy about. To say in very the least, they were the best entrées either of us has had in a very long time.
To wrap up the evening, as if it could have gotten any better, we decided on dessert, which is rare for us to do. But, the dessert menu boasted a new item that we were told was just added that very day so I had no choice but to try it. And was it ever fantabulous! We shared the White Chocolate Dipped Poached Pear with Vanilla Ice Cream and Cabernet Sauce and it was as stunningly beautiful as it was scrumptious! The breathtaking contrast of the red poached skin of the pear against the outer white chocolate layer….OMG WoW just WoW! I am not a dessert person at all but this is a dessert I will most definitely crave.
Amy and I SO needed a divinely delicious intimate evening out and I am so pleased we chose Lattitude. Dinner was an absolute success and now Lattitdue is my new all time favorite and first dining choice. Who knew such a magnificent gem was in my own back yard? I will definitely dine there again and again and again.
So my overall advice to you is this, give Lattitude a try so that you might fall in love again too. And if perchance you aren’t looking to rekindle love I guarantee you will at least fall in love with Lattitude.
Check out Lattitude’s website here: http://www.lattitude1338.com/index.htm
