A Compliment is Always Nice

...especially when you're a tired, haggard Beanmommy.





And yes, H compliments me regularly - not out of habit, even, but rather because he means it. But somehow, it just helps when it comes from out of the blue, from random strangers.





The lovely hostess at Palena (we didn't get a reservation, but we did manage a table in the cafe - to die for) noticed my bracelet. It was a last minute add, kind of the reverse of Coco's (look in the mirror and take off one piece before you go out the door). I can't usually wear bracelets and necklaces; the Bean thinks they're just marvelous. But since she was asleep (thank heavens), I pulled out a piece I'd been itching to wear: a lovely little bracelet from manu. Flirty, sweet, and a teensy bit cheeky, the cherries were what caught the hostess' eye.





The bracelet gushing pulled over our waitress - and then she started gushing over my dress. I'd gone with the sweater dress, and what has now become my go-to pair of pumps, my Chie Mihara buff pair. Effortless, comfortable, and well, when you got legs, and you know how to use them...





Thank you, ladies, for the confidence boost.


And as a quick summary for those of you who love Things Food, like me, I was hungry:

• White Asparagus from Provence with coddled hen's egg and shaved black truffle - I'll kill for anything asparagus - especially white - even endure Icky Egg (i.e. gooeyness like you'd find in the yolk of the coddled variety)
• Nettle Gnocchi with ramps and some other spring finds I can't remember at the moment - Palena's gnocchi are the most luscious thing ever, and the ramps and nettles...oh sigh...
• Beef Filet two ways - seared with some sort of mild crust, and braised, I think. I wasn't paying attention - just saw "RED MEAT" on the menu. Melty goodness that is beef, I adore you.
• Strawberry tart with lavendar cream. I Love Lavendar.

H took it easier than I...

• Rigatoni with Lamb Bolognese (usually I'm the one that MUST order the bolognese, as it's My Favorite Food)
• A roasted bass with calamaretti and lobster dumplings, and gorgeous spring vegetables like shallots, asparagus, and fennel

And washed it all down with a pinot noir...

Out on the Town?

So H and I are going out tonight.

BIIIIG night out.

Well, not really, but we are going on a date - dinner at one of our favorite DC places - Palena (provided we can get a reservation, because we just had this brilliant idea yesterday). Grandma's going to "babysit," which really means be there because hopefully The Bean will go to sleep easily and early (she's quite the early to bed, early to rise gal - down by 6:30pm, up by 5:30 am - or earlier, like this morning, at 4:30, and no, to all you advice givers out there, she won't sleep later if we put her to bed later - she just misses out on sleep because she gets up at the same time no matter what).

Anyway.

Date.

Have no idea what to wear. Want to walk, but the weather might preclude that. If walking, must have walkable shoes. If not, well, then that changes things. I have no slacks that fit me appropriate for a date dinner, rather than an office dinner (I could try and hit the Clarendon shops at lunch, but actually have work to do, so crap). Dresses/skirts are a possibility, but again, having the sizing issue.

Most likely will throw on my Iisli sweater dress, since, while it's May, and a sweater dress is very nearly inappropriate and season-dated, it'll be cool enough to get away with it.