WOW, what a crazy evening!!!!
We started things around 6pm when I finished studying and we put on casual clothes and biked to Mezzanotte , the pizza place we were planning to meet our friends. It took us forever to decide where to go to dinner (the pizza place a block away? A fancy Italian place we’ve been wanting to try?) I was in a SUPER beer mode so we decided on pizza and beer – but the fancier one (also thanks to the help of Tina via G-chat!!). The bike ride was about about 5.5 miles and took us about 40 minutes. Let me tell you, biking as transportation is NOT glamorous – I was damp all over when we arrived and my outfit was not cool. But I survived. And the husband was all-but-glowing the whole way there. He kept saying how much he loved biking with me, yadda, yadda. Little did he know what was coming!
We were thoroughly disappointed upon arrival that the beer list was quite pathetic. A few domestics and Sierra Nevada . We both ordered one (I was really disappointed there were no wheat beers) and checked out the menu.
Within 2 minutes of reading the menu, we could sense this wasn’t our style of restaurant. Our old favorite pizza place was just about a mile away and has an awesome beer selection: Brixx Pizza . So we quickly made the decision to evacuate our new place and head there by bike. Knowing I’d want a different beer at Brixx, I gave at least half of my Sierra Nevada to the hub to chug 8)
The last bit of sunlight all day!
About 3 minutes down the road, we got caught in the biggest downpour EVER !! The clouds were gray when we left, but I never thought we’d really get this soaked. I think we picked the worst part of the city to ride through too. We knew we couldn’t eat in a restaurant this soaked so we just headed for home. I had mud ALL over me from my tires. It was awful. 5.5 miles in pouring rain!! For some reason , I wasn’t that hungry. I think I had the perfect lunch combo, and then the Sierra Nevada helped tide me over. It was 8:45 by the time we got home and had changed into dry clothes!
And to make things more interesting, when we got home – THE STREET WAS COMPLETELY DRY!! It didn’t rain at all in our neighborhood, just a hint at how far from home we were.
Intermission:
So on the way home, we debated getting pizza from the mom & pop shop a block from our house and a 6-pack from HT, or going back to Brixx. The husband decided for us and declared I wouldn’t be happy without the beer sampler I had already decided on getting
It made my night when we heard Pachelbel’s Canon on the classical station on the way there <3
Once there, at 9pm, there was still a 15 minute wait! We went to the bar and split a Leinenkuegel 1/3 for me, 2/3 for him.
We were finally seated (still not even that hungry!) and I ordered the beer sampler I’d been craving. I have no idea why beer was so appealing tonight. Maybe because I was mentally preparing all day!?
L to R: Newcastle (for my Cambridge days 🙂 ), some strange Sun shaped wheat beer, Leinenkuegel , Blue Moon . Can you tell what my favorite kind of beer is?! I also love Killians, Red Oak + Sam Adams Summer.
Roughin’ it with wet hair –
He got a Rye Pale Ale
Hers : a Brixx Spinach Salad with goat cheese, red peppers, pine nuts, croutons, honey+vinegar dressing, focaccia bread.
His : Bruschetta Appetizer . I had one big piece with topping –
And we split the Spicy Shrimp Pizza – an old favorite!! With more goat cheese, red pepper, basil, mozarella, parmesan, Cholula, spicy shrimp. I had 2.5 pieces.
As if we could stop there – there’s a Ben + Jerry’s right across the street! We totally didn’t need any more food, but it was too hard to resist.
I got the Cake Batter with Chocolate Icing!
GOOD. DRY. NIGHT!!!
What a wet week!
Kelly L. says
What a fun and memorable night!
Heather says
NICE! What a great night 🙂
Amandamoo says
Ha! Similar experience here tonight… we decided on Qdoba to go rather than coming home only to turn around and leave again!
I read the Shape article and it’s lovely… funny some of it is a direct quote from the blog FAQ’s but it makes no reference to it or CK that you used so much in previous years. I guess it’s only 1000 words or so, must use them wisely ; ) Anyway, congrats on that, it’s so fun to see “my friend Kath” have success!
I know this is totally late but sorry I couldn’t make it to meet up for Belle Chere (I know you didn’t go anyway but we had talked about it). I got a new job and the budget has been tight! Next year!
MMmmmmm… Beeeeeerrrr….
Andrea says
what a fun night!!!
emmy says
Kath, I had a favor if at all possible. There was a string of comments on here about a week ago (I think) that discussed HungryGirl which really struck a chord with me. I actually just created a blog page addressing it. Anyways, I think whoever it was that started the conversation would really get a kick out of it. Would you mind terribly suggesting my page if it comes up again? Thank you either way, and if so: www.eatingchalk.wordpress.com
Ruby Red Vegan says
Aww, Kath! I feel so bad that you had to bike all that way in pouring rain, and that you got muddy on top of that! At least it didn’t ruin your dinner plans. 🙂
Sharon Frick says
Sounds like so much fun! Even though it was wet, it will probably be very memorable. It’s great that you were also able to get in so much exercise today. I love days like that! I am a runner and I run 5 miles a day. I got married this past June and my husband and I just got a new puppy! So after dinner, we get to take nice walks with our baby! So much fun and some great extra exercise, too! Enjoy your weekend, Kath! Love, love, love the blog!
Fleur says
Sounds like a (unexpectedly) fun night! The beer sampler looks neat and the food (particularly the pizza and the ice cream) looks delicious.
Enjoy the weekend!
Wendy F says
Oh those beers look great! I can’t wait to get back home and have a pumpkin ale and read my Shape as well. Since my computer bag as stolen last night I figure I might have to go Brugge and do some beer research 🙂
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
“And the husband was all-but-glowing the whole way there. He kept saying how much he loved biking with me, yadda, yadda.”
-Awwww, that is just the sweetest thing ever!! Even though you guys ended up getting rained on later, it was still just so cute that he said that!
Christie I. says
Sounds like a memorable night though wet and muddy. I’m glad it ended well with beer, pizza and ice cream!
Gliding Calm says
That pizza looks awesomeeeeeeee
hk says
All’s well that ends well 🙂 sounds like a crazy night!!
Katie says
hey kath…your evening sounds a lot like mine. my husand and i ate at Brixx too! it was our first time there and we really liked it…what a great beer list! maybe next time we can all meet up…if you guys are up to it. (we live in south charlotte) enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Melanie says
What a fun night!!! That pizza looks so so so good.
Jenny says
Wendy F – Your computer bag was stolen? That’s terrible. Yikes.
Sammie says
What a bummer getting stuck in a downpour!! I hate sitting in wet clothes, I don’t blame you for just heading home. After all that, you guys seemed to have a really nice date. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Shalane says
Awww…I would NOT deal well with the mud!!!
That pizza looks amazing, though!
Andie says
Oh a beer sampler! I love when restaurants do that. I don’t care for wheat beers much but I do love a Sam Adams summer ale. I just tried the Octoberfest last night and it was yummy too! Newcastle is one of my favs. 🙂
That pizza looks awesome!
Jordan says
I’m not sure if every B&J’s has the same flavors, but mine has this amazing scoop shop only flavor called Bananas on the Rum. If you see it there, you must try it. It’s perfect. It tastes just like bananas foster. Mmmm. Something about bananas/caramel together… I can’t taste the rum in it, but it’s very strong on the bananas & caramel.
Quinn says
That stinks you got caught in the rain, but definitely an experience! That beer sampler looks so cool! And, who could say not to B&J’s? If you’re ever in Vermont, you have to take the tour at their factory – really cool and there are samples!
Hot Garlic says
Ahhh! I guess that is the SLIGHT downside to bikes right? Glad you finally got what you were after, dinner looks great and so do you guys! Seriously, THAT is what you look like after biking in the rain?! SERIOUSLY!
Bev says
What a fun night. That’s the best to just to go with the flow. The beers look so good. I had some surgery and I have to take some meds so no beer for me until I’m off the meds. So I’m salivating right now ! Those are some of my favorite . I love Oktoberfest (Great Lakes) 🙂 You can only get it this time of the year. Have a great last summer holiday 🙂
Heather says
sounds like a fun night! I just read the Shape article by the way. Congrats, Kath! soo cool!
Katrina says
I can’t believe I’m going to say this, because I think you are amazing as well as “the husband” and your great relationship and your blog inspires me everyday, but I’m surprised that you guys drove after drinking. I know, he just had a couple beers, but you should NEVER drive after any drinking! I guess I just worry, I’m the “mom” type. Plus I know that a lot of the celebrity DUI accidents that I hear about they weren’t DRUNK, they’d just had a beer or glass of wine and thought they’d be okay.
Anyway, I’m not trying to preach, but PLEASE be careful!
I splurged for ice cream last night, too. It was SO good, because I usually only buy fat free, but this was at a little local ice cream shop and it was SO good.
Take care and please don’t hate me! 😉
Amy says
I think after the rain and mud you had to endure all evening that the ice cream was well earned 🙂
Kath says
Foodie ,
🙂 He was so funny – said “Do you want to hold hands” when we were on a nice strip of wide sidewalk. I rolled my eyes!
Katie,
I’d love to get together!! It’s always exciting to find new Charlotte readers.
Jordan ,
Oh my gosh – sounds heavenly!! I didn’t see it last night, but I didn’t look very hard either.
Katrina ,
I appreciate your honesty! There was a lot of time (and excercise!) between beer round #1 and 2. He only had 1.5 when we left, and a big meal with them. I certainly knew better than to drive with my 1.5 in me.
K
the husband says
Hey wait a minute, that just makes me sound like a weiner! I believe the “do you want to hold hands” was a joking response to your rolling of the eyes when I said I was having lots of fun!
Let’s do it again tonight, I’ll come into the other room to discuss.
Amy says
To: the husband,
It doesn’t make you sound like a weiner-just a nice guy who would rather spend time with his wife than an Xbox 360-it’s a wonderful thing 😉
Justy2003 says
After seeing that you love wheat beers so much, you should give this one a try: Franziskaner Hefeweizen. I hate beer, so I don’t like it (obviously) but my boyfriend LOVES wheat beers and this is his favorite. It has hints of bananas (!) and clove, so you may like it if you haven’t tried it before!
Katrina says
Thanks, Kath! Good to know you at least thought about it and knew You shouldn’t drive. Be safe and have a great weekend!
HangryPants says
Kath, Sounds like a fun night (minus the rain). I love to try beer, but hardly ever want to drink a whole glass, so your tasting sounds perfect. Pizza and ice cream are also wonderful together.
Oh and I think your hair looks cute back.
Heather
runjess says
Oh yes. I love beer samplers…and pizza…and B&J’s…