Who needs knitting

I have now cast on for Jeanie three times. Three bloody times. But that's fine, because the third time was apparently the charm, and now it's going like a dream. I'm on the first cable row! Nevermind that means I'm on row 7 of a gazillion! I'll get there.

Since there's not much to photograph with only 7 rows, and I'm very angry with my half-finished sock, I'm going to continue this trend of non-knitting content until I either break down and finish the sock or photograph it in its naked undressed state.

This is Restaurant Week here in DC- my favorite time of year. No slouch on the reservations, I booked myself for FOUR meals this year. I try to get out and experience new places, but I admit that this winter I wanted some comforting and I am visiting two new and two familiar places. So far, I've been to one of each category!

Ceiba was a great pick for the start of the week. I went for drinks on Tuesday with my friend Dan and my lawyer-knitter-friend Stephanie and experienced the potency of caipirinhas. After cocktails, Stephanie headed off for the evening and Dan and I enjoyed a truly delectable meal. Every dish was en pointe, and they did have some options for a sorta-kosher girl... though not many. Lucky for me and my girlish figure, the options I was left with were not only tasty but healthy to boot! I had a green salad and salmon over mashed potatoes with broccolini. I skipped the sauce, since it had ham in it, but the salmon was still flaky and moist. We had a South American rosé with dinner, which was a good pair to the fish. To round off my otherwise healthy meal, I had a delectable flan for dessert. Dan seemed taken with his braised pork shank (it looked good, for treif), and I definitely will add Ceiba to my restaurant rotation list. I might go for a slightly less intoxicating drink next time, though.

Tonight, a coworker and I went to TenPenh near Metro Center. I have been there before during Restaurant Week (a year ago, in fact), and I loved it. The menu is extensive, the cocktails tasty, and they always bring little amuses-bouches before and after the meal. I find it unsurprising that TenPenh and Ceiba are actually part of the same restaurant group, along with Acadiana and DC Coast. I want to try those two soon! At any rate, TenPenh did not disappoint. My "girly cocktail" was pink and delicious, and my TenPenhpolitan was a perhaps unnecessary but endlessly delicious second drink. I chose to eat the vegetarian spring rolls and they were enormous. They are served with three dipping sauces, and I loved them all. My coworker went with the chicken roti, which was just as tasty and with a very kicky dipping sauce. He selected the beef tenderloin for dinner, and I was pleased to see a few different kosher options- mostly fish. I had halibut with a pineapple-hot pepper sauce and mashed sweet potatoes which was immensely flavorful if a bit spicier than I expected. The halibut was really superb, so I have added another fish to my relatively small rotation of fish I can order safely. I never really ate fish as a kid, but I'd eat it 1-2 times a week now, if I could. Laziness is about all that gets in the way, since I won't eat fish that isn't fresh and it's somewhat rare that I get to the grocery store. Did I mention dessert at TenPenh was a milk chocolate brownie with kona ice cream? Mmm.

So far, we're two for two this Restaurant Week. And here's a quick iPhone view of our place settings this evening, care of my coworker's new toy!