After an afternoon of studying Foodservice, I was so excited to get out of the house and out to dinner to celebrate Michelle’s birthday at Maggiano’s. No snacks were needed – that lunch was perfect!
Michelle and I tried to take our photo together, but it was dark and the flash was bright and we looked drunk even though we hadn’t been drinking! So pretend this was tonight 
I decided to order lightly tonight and went with soup and salad. We had a table of about 14 and half of the table did a family-style dinner of all-you-can-eat everything!! It was kind of like that social experiment when half the room gets a 5-star meal and the other half gets beans and rice. But all in all, I am happy that I am not that full – my food tasted fresh and delicious.
But first Michelle and Ben offered me some of their calamari! Michelle isn’t fond of the “spiders”
I ordered minestrone for my cup of soup. It was a large cup, and it was really good!
And my Spinach Salad with bacon, pinenuts and gorgonzola with apple-cider dressing was awesome!!! I think I was the only one at the table to clear my plate 
The gorgonzola was so good it was almost sweet!
( also had 3 small pieces of bread the size of the one on my salad plate..)
Plus a few of Michelle’s vodka gnocch! Mmm!
And last but not least, the creme brulee leftovers got passed around to our end of the table and I had a generous forkfull with a strawberry 
Despite those good eats, I’m only about half full. But maybe I am just comparing myself to the family-style half because I had plenty to eat and am not hungry.
Not sure of the morning’s plans, but I have my exam at 3pm tomorrow and need to start on Organic too. Yikesssssssss!!
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Great outing!!
Loooove the close-up shot of that Creme Brulee – food porn!!
Rock that exam tomorrow!!
Wow that gnocchi and creme brulee forkful look delicious! Sometimes all you need is a simple forkful when the food is that rich!
Hope you have a great evening!!
Oh wow, that creme brulee looks so good! Simply delicious!
Looks great. Creme brulee is so good.
Your meal looks delicious! Especially dessert
Yum, apple cider vinaigrette? Sounds awesome! Good luck tomorrow!
-c
It all looks so yummy! What a great meal!
Good luck tomorrow!! I bet you will be happy when this week is over, eh?
Angela
http://www.ohsheglows.com
Love the simplicity of your salad. Looks much better to me than a big plate of pasta. Love all the colors.
Love maggianos! Looks like you picked some of the best things on the menu
Apple cider dressing? WOW. I’ll have to figure out a way to make that and post a recipe to my blog.
Go you! The fact that you were able to eat healthy despite the family style setting is really inspiring. Feeling half full is psychological because everyone else was over eating. Everytime I am able to stay on track when I at a restaurant or celebrating. I like to give myself a little cheer.
I love Michelle’s Gnocchi! They always make it with cream and spinach here…this vodka sauce is coming up more and more often on food blogs! I better check it out!
One bite of creme brulee, such retraint! I went out tonight too…lets just say it was not as commendable as you haha.
That salad looks amazing, and I’m über-jealous of creme brulee!! It’s one of my favorites!
Looks delish. Family style is always a fun way to dine!
Everything looks delish – especially the minestrone (I’m not a big dessert eater, shocker I know!)
youre SO photogenic.
so is the food
Wow, that salad does look amazing. You did great at an all you can eat style restaurant. I have been there and it is tough to stick with healthy options!
Good luck on your exam!
I can’t just be half-full and be happy. I need to be full, not bloated, but actually full. You’re so lucky!
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