Good evening my blog friends!! So happy to be “home” 🙂
We had a fabulous afternoon spent at the mall. Gram took a rest while mom, Larbs and I went mall walking (and just a little spending!) Larbs got her jeans hemmed –
And I got sunglasses at XX21!!
We came home and got a 20 minute rest before we got dressed for dinner. Aunt Mary Ellen and Uncle Chris took us to Baltimore’s Little Italy to Gia’s Cafe. I found out at dinner that they actually knew Julia Child and dined with her on several occasions! How cool 🙂
Here’s Larbs and me with our cousin Mary Jane a.k.a. Spud
Does this look familiar!?! I think this bench is the same pattern as my patio table!!!
We had a couple of bottles of wine for dinner enjoyment!
The Molly Dooker was fab. u. lous. A blend from Australia
Gia’s was cozy and authentic
We ordered calamari, which was super fresh, and bruschetta for the table.
My tastes
Spud also shared her grilled Caesar salad 🙂
For dinner I ordered the Penne Rapini with wild broccoli, garlic, olive oil and sausage. Yum!\
Larbs got the Seafood Ravioli, which she shared with me. Fabulous!
Wine flowed. Don’t give me an open bottle to pour!
Desserts also flowed, and we shared them at the table of 8. I had a bite or two of each. Tiramisu, which was dense and delish, a Canoli, which I loved, and a Lemon Ricotta Cake
After dinner we stopped into our aunt and uncle’s to visit their mastiffs Winston and Isabelle. Winston is 210 pounds – he was adorable!!
Isabel is bit timid, but such a sweetheart
We’re hanging out with Gram and Pop now! I can’t guarantee a chocolate didn’t pass my lips. I also need to chug some water and get to bed early!
FYI, Mimsey got her feelings hurt after so many of you said she was creepy 🙁 She might never recover!
G’night!
kelly says
Looks like you had a great day – what fun! I LOVE those dogs…
Rebecca says
That dog is humongous! All of the food looks amazing!
Leianna says
wow, those dogs! and the pasta restaurant looks amazing and super authentic!
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says
I LOVE your dress! It looks great on you!!
That dog is like twice the size of you haha!
Daria (Summer of the CSAs) says
Looks like a fabulous day. And those dogs are beauties!
kay (eating machine) says
forever 21 is the best of accessories! cute, trendy, and affordable (so i don’t feel bad when i break my sunglasses. again. and again)
and that dinner-yum! i always love broccoli sausage combos when i eat out, but i never think to make it at home…
Faith says
What a cute dress! I can’t believe you found a bench with the same design as your patio table, how funny! That grilled caesar salad looks so good!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
You dinner at Gia’s looks AMAZING! Wow! I love Italian food. Well, I am Italian so I guess that would make sense lol.
Canolis with chocolate chips are my fav!
OMG, HUGE doggie 😯 He’s like twice the size of you!! I want
Don’t think our kitties would like though lol.
Jenn
Tammy says
That is one hugely adorable dog! Penne and broccolini is always such a fantastic combo. Glad you enjoyed your evening!
Kristen says
That canoli looks so decadent!
Your penne entree looks lovely and reproducible as well!
Meghan@traveleatlove says
Awww I totally love that dog! So sweet.
Andee (Runtolive) says
I love that dress! You look so chic and modern in it. Authentic Italian restaurants are the best, dinner looks great!
Marissa says
Winston is so cute!
Penny says
Feel entirely free to pack Winston up and send him right to my front door.
Deva says
Your dress is so awesome, and your dinner looks fantastic. I love tiramisu…
Shannon, The Healthy Beach Bum says
Love your dress! That calamari has my mouth watering 🙂 And holy moly that is the biggest dog I’ve ever seen. He’s such a cutie though! I wanna cuddle him up and take him home with me lol.
Greta says
210 lbs??!! I think Winston deserves his own food blog…
emmy says
that all looks amazing! I’ve visited relatives in Baltimore a ton but I had no idea there was an Italian district.
Lisa says
Holy moly that’s a big canine! And those desserts look delicious.
What’s the story behind Spud’s nickname?
Sues says
WOw, that is one big dog!!! And the meals look delicious!! Cute dress, too 🙂
MackAttack says
Wow that dogs feet are as big as yours! Great pics, as always! Glad the blog has a new home!
amanda says
Hi Mimsey! I am sorry many people made fun of you, you seem like a pretty cool chica! Dont let the hatahz bring you down homegirl!
Lainie says
Cute dress Kath! Where is it from???
Tracy says
LARBS! I LOVE your jeans!!! My fav brand ever. Always have to get them hemmed though….:)
Angela (Oh She Glows) says
hahahah @ Mimsey being called creepy!
LOVE the dogs…wow!
That grilled salad looks crazy good. I love how the leaves aren’t chopped up.
Christina Mindful living says
looks like you had a nice time! tiramusu is my favoriteeee!!
Jessica says
love the dresses!
lol i thought the same thing when i saw that bench before i read what you wrote.
AWwww i love mastiffs 🙂 they make me think of male football player great danes. great danes are a cross between a mastiff and a greyhound, so who knows right? LOL.
-muffy
Sheila says
Love the dogs. Love the desserts-look too yummy.
I’m amazed to know there is still a department store somewhere that does alterations. Now that’s amazing!
Bec says
It sounds like you are having so much fun, enjoy the rest of your holiday!
Madelin @ What is for Breakfast? says
Yay for Aussie wine! I love all the D’arenburg Stump Jump wines 🙂 did you know they are low allergen too!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
your dress is so cute!!!
thepinkpeppercorn says
What a fun day! LOVE the pic of the three of you – adorably awesome outfits!!
Leanne says
Hi, I am a long time reader from Australia and I must say I love your blog, the way you present your food and the way you live life to the fullest!
I also wanted to say that we live only about an hours drive away from the d’Arenberg winery -in beautiful McLaren Vale.
We are actually heading to McLaren Vale next weekend for a winery tour with friends, and now that I have googled Molly Dooker and found they are in the same area – well we will have to go and have a try!
I will pass it on to them that you loved the wine!
Cant wait to try it myself.
Lea.
Diane says
I am so glad I looked at your blog. My husband I are stationed in Germany but I have a conference to attend back in the states. I plan to swing through my hometown of Columbia, MD. I am definitely going to go to Gia Cafe in Little Italy while I am there. Everything looks so good! Also your website rocks. I am so tired of heavy German food-snitzel and beer. Your meals are so wonderful. I made the banana ice cream last night. It was wonderful. I have about 20lbs to lose and your story is an inspiration. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard. I plan to pick up some barney butter when I get home.
M says
Love your dress!
I always love how you can go out to eat, sample a bit of everything, and just feel good about it. It is SO easy for me to just go all out-nuts, then figure i blew it and clean out the fridge when i get home (“might as well”).
Your restaurant habits (and Tina’s, and Caitlin’s, etc) have really helped give me perspective — doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Marika says
Yay, I love Baltimore! (I grew up in Maryland). I’ve eaten in Little Italy a bunch of times before, but never at Gia’s.
Also, those dogs are sooo cute… Mastiffs are huge but ususally so nice as well. 🙂
Ada says
Sorry Mimsey! 🙂
Those dogs are the cutest pooches ever! I’m glad you had a nice time at dinner:)
Christie @ Quit Your Diet says
All of the food looks amazing!!
I had no idea that 200lb dogs even existed!
Eve says
wow those are the hugest dogs ever! but they do look super sweet 🙂
Tina says
I like your dress! It is coming to Boston???
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Winston is absolutely *adorable*!!! I love big, loveable dogs. 😀
Your dress is too cute! Love the colors!!!
Lee says
That is the biggest dog I’ve ever seen.
karla says
My great pyrenees dog is also named Winston (Churchill) hehe
What a lovely family dinner! Enjoy!
Recipes for Creativity says
I’m sorry, Mimsey, didn’t mean to offend 🙂
Kath says
This is Kath’s mom. Mimsey says all is forgiven. She is hoping to come to a blogger summit someday, after my mother buys her a more contemporary outfit.
Alison says
Holy mastiff! And yo, you totally need that bench at your house!
Sarah says
That is one large dog, hehe! Aww, poor Mimsey 🙁
Glad you girls had a good time…makes me want to call up some of my family here soon 😉
Mara @ What's For Dinner? says
I love huge dogs like that… we have a Rottweiler and she’s only HALF the size of the mastiff! Looks like a fantastic meal too
Sara says
Whoa! I didn’t know dogs could get that big! He’s so cute.
Pam (Highway to Health) says
That dog is huge! He is really cute though!!
I love authentic Italian meals. It all looks amazing.
Sarah says
OMG I love mastiffs. Such great dogs!! Those ones are beautiful – you lucky girl for getting to hang out with them!
Whitney says
Poor Mims! I liked her.
Stacey says
ha! and I thought MY dog was big..holy moly! He’s got a cute face though 🙂
brandi says
looks like you guys are having a great time.
I love mastiffs – they are so sweet.
Danielle says
I love love love your dress!
It’s so beautiful!
What a fun dinner, and those dogs are massive, but super cute.
Cait (Cait's Plate) says
HAHA! As SOON as I saw that bench I was like “Hey! Kath has that in the form of a table at home!!” 🙂
Glad you’re having fun!!
Caronae says
I love Italian food — now you’re making me want to go to a nice Italian restaurant!
That is a HUGE dog!
Poor Mimsey…but she was a little odd looking…
Rose says
Looks like a good night out in B’more. I love your dress!
Kath says
Thanks for your sweet comments everyone!!
Lisa ,
I’m not even sure, but we’ve called her Spud since she was a baby. Her sister’s nickname is Beaner!
Lainie ,
Loehmann’s
Leanne ,
Oh cool! This was the Two Left Feet blend and it was excellent!
Tina
Yes!
Kath
Amanda says
I love love love Little Italy 🙂
Becci says
Those dogs are beautiful! And the Italian food looks devine!!
Jessica says
Who makes those jeans???? I have never tried, or really wanted to try, skinny jeans before but those are super cute!!!
Love the bench & of course the food looks awesome!
Holly (The Healthy Everythingtarian) says
i LOVE your sister’s dress – by chance do you know where she got it?!?!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Sounds like you had a fun day! Glad you got to get in a little shopping/spending… that’s always fun! 🙂
That penne dish you ordered sounds amazing!
OMG, those dogs are huge! They look so harmless though.
LOVE the dress btw! 😀
Audrey W. says
looks delish..are those onions i spy in the bruschetta??
Jess says
Wow, a beautiful dress, amazing food and some fabulous mastiffs? What a night. I’m jealous, Kath!