Last night I had some time to kill before meeting a friend at Tria.  Of course I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to browse through a stationery store with beautiful paper, cards, and little gifts (Jeff’s birthday is on Friday).  I got a kick out of this clever notepad by Kate Spade and ended up getting a gift for myself!

After the stationery store, I browsed through my favorite speciality food store, DiBruno Brother’s which got me so hungry that I decided to head over to the restaurant even though my girlfriend was still stuck in traffic.

I sat at the bar and ordered a Petrus Aged Pale Ale from Belgium which they lovingly describe on the menu as “a gateway drug to the pleasures of sour beer”.  I’ve had this beer before and I just can’t get enough of the crisp and sour taste, especially on a hot and humid day.  I then ordered the truffled mushroom and fontina bruschetta which was a mix of salty, creamy and crunchy.  While I ate, I enjoyed watching the very precise chefs prepare and weigh out the the delicate snacks (cheeses, olives, meats) for my fellow diners. As I took my last sip of the Petrus, the bartender convinced me to order the Saison Dupont, which he called his “desert island beer” – he explained to me that this style of beer was made by farmers in the winter to drink during the summer months.  It was a little fruity, earthy with just a touch of spice.  It reminded me a little of a wheat beer like Hoegaarden (maybe they are cousins?)  Oh, there is so much to learn about beer!

By that time my friend arrived and ordered the same drink and we split a couple of paninis and caught up on life.  Meet ups like these are so important to me, and I want to mention that I have been friends with this gal since middle school.  Cheers!

PS. I am working on a special birthday project for Jeff, which I will be able to share with you this weekend, I am SO excited about it so be sure to check back!