Happy Hearts!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Andrew and I started our celebration last night. He surprised me by making a reservation at Play, a new’ish/trendy restaurant in Ottawa.

Play created a special 4 course meal for Winterlude, and when I caught a glimpse I was SOLD!

I apologize in advance for the crappy pictures they’re all courtesy of my blackberry.

My first course was a roasted carrot salad with fennel, raisins, grapefruit, pesto and goat cheese.

The best part of this menu was that there was an optional wine flight, which I of course HAD to have. I love food and wine pairings!

The salad was matched with Refosoco Rose, Bastianich, Friulli, Italy, 2008.

Course #2 was my favourite. Grilled Shrimp with pineapple, water chesnut, procuitto, savoy. Pair with a crisp Pinot Blanc, Konzelmsn, Niagara, 2008. This wine really brought out the citrus flavour in the shrimp dish.  Course #3: Grilled Hanger Steak with mushrooms, frites and aioli. Paired with an unpictured wine called “House Wine” from Washington State. It was a very full bodied red which stood up quite nicely with the steak. The steak was amazing, and sooo tender. By this point I was getting full, so I left most of the frites.

My handsome date. Love those dimples!

Last but not least, the dessert course.

A chocolate macaroon with cashews and gelato.

This was paired with Maury, Domaine Fonanel from France 2004. On my first sip, this wine was verrrrrrrry sweet. However paired with the dessert, it really brought out the chocolatey tastes of the wine.

The service at Play was wonderful. To anyone in the Ottawa area, check it out. It won’t disappoint.

I started out today by hitting up the gym for Body Combat. I felt the need to get a good sweat on after indulging last night.

I came home and made a decadent breakfast for my valentine, Chocolatey Oats. In the pot: 1 cup oats, 2 cups unsweetened chocolate almond breeze, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, agave and one sliced bananas.

I attempted to make a coconut heart for Andrew’s, but it didn’t turn out so well.

My toppings included: peanut butter, coconut, chia seeds, and dried cranberries.

We spent the afternoon playing referee to the doggies, and doing a power clean of the house.

Around 6:00pm I whipped us up some Valentine’s Day pizzas.

Hers: Homemade crust from ESBM (I added chia seeds!) alfredo sauce, chicken breast chunks, broccoli, green and yellow peppers, spinach, mushrooms and zuchinni, YUM!

His: Store bought crust, pizza sauce, italian sausage, chicken, bacon, peppers, mushrooms.

Served with a side of cesar salad.

Desert was pretty kickass too. I made mini peanut butter and jam cups that I saw over on Oh She Glows.  Now, I’m the first one to admit I suck I baking… mainly because I don’t measure much.

My cups turned out a little crunchy, I think mainly because I didn’t use enough butter and maybe too many graham crumbs. Either way they were tasty. I served them on top of 1/2 cup of fat free vanilla ice cream with a drizzle of sugar free caramel sauce. YUM!

In other news, congratulations to my cousin and his wife who gave birth to their first child yesterday, Connor Andrew James!

We survived our weekend with Jasper. But as a result I’m exhausted. So is Jersey. Ditto for Andrew. Good night!