Amateur Eater Followup, II

In true European fashion, we strongly adhere to the large lunch, light dinner (light meaning cupcake) schedule. Today was the perfect vacation day: kind of sleep in, read, take a morning jog (in 68 degree weather, no less. Sorry, East Coast friends), do some yoga, get ready, and head out for lunch. After lunch I promptly found myself in a lovely nap while the kids watched Extreme Makeover, Home Edition and Phineas and Ferb (hilarious show, check it out). My sleeping arrangements included a memory foam pad, so life was goooood.

Tonight will include some fresh, homemade pesto, and we already made the run to get some cupcakes. Yes, folks - two trips in less then 24 hours. Be rest assured, it really is that good. I'm actually still full from lunch but eating a Madagascar Vanilla Vanilla as we speak. With that, you are warned of any food-drunk typing. Actually, you must be doubly warned, for all pictures are taken with my iPhone. Not the best quality, but I think you can get a decent idea.

Onward to the food.

Pizzeria 712: check. The meal started with complimentary homemade pita bread and hummus. Best pita bread I've ever had - soft, thin, and a little taste of the fire it was cooked over. We began the main course with a shared spinach salad mixed with house smoked bacon, croutons, pickled shallot, whole grain mustard vinaigrette (AMAZING. I must figure out to recreate it), and goat cheese. Simply put, perfection in a bowl. Each flavor came out, complemented each other, and left me completely satisfied. I loved the little kick of the mustard behind it all.

Next, we decided two pizzas were in order - we could bring home leftovers, no doubt. My co-eating partner in crime got the potato, red onion, parmesan, and ricotta pizza. It was good, but I definitely preferred my order - tomato sauce, scallion oregano, serrano chile, hand pulled mozzarella, and farm egg.  They crack a fresh egg atop the pizza just before baking and comes a perfect over easy to sop up the yolk with your crust. I N C R E D I B L E. By my last piece, I picked off a few chilies, because it was getting to be a bit too much heat for me. Again, this came together perfectly. The tomatoes were a perfect fresh flavor and I loved it with the egg.

For the grand finale, we had fantastic plum tart. It was in a kind of phyllo bread pastry, topped with some vanilla ice cream. Yum. With the receipt, we received a free sample of Amano Chocolate. 70% dark, Madagascar. It is locally made and the best dark chocolate I've ever had - not super bitter with some fruity hints.

This was worth the entire trip out. While leaving, I commented that I hope I die after a meal like unto this. I would die a totally content, however full, but definitely an extremely gratified woman.

Sigh.

Oh, here are the cupcakes, for later. I want to try a bit of each flavor (Mexican Chocolate, Madagascar Vanilla Vanilla, Party in Your Mouth aka Nutella filled, Grasshopper, and Coconut Lime). Tomorrow I'm going back for the raspberry cheesecake (I'm limiting myself to half a dozen a day max, and I got two Vanillas, because all of the kids love the vanilla). I should have a review of the various cupcakes by tomorrow, also.

Go ahead, keep on drooling. I know I am.
TMI again? Sorry.