August 21, 2008
At five o’clock, I walk in our apartment door to find a dozen red roses on the table with a note that reads “You are my life, my love. Happy Anniversary.” Who says men aren’t romantic?
First, we grabbed a few drinks at our first-date-hot-spot, Justin’s on Lark. All week I have been wondering where Sam would take us on our anniversary, but he gave away no secrets. Finally, after an hour of naming every restaurant in the Capital Region, he told me we were going to McGuire’s, the fanciest and most expensive restaurant in Albany. Sam reserved a cozy table in the corner by the window.
Our menu for the evening:
WINE: Greg Norman Cabernet Sauvignon
APPETIZER: grilled tuna– seared rare with a hot pepper and soy dipping sauce
FOR MOI: Duck prepared medium rare with ginger and hoisin sauce and a side of sauteed veggies
FOR SAM: Lobster francaise– twin lobster tails, lightly battered in an egg, basil and lemon butter sauce
DESSERT: two homemade sorbets, passion fruit and mango encased with white chocolate, fresh berries, whip cream, paired with a chocolate cheesecake truffle [on the house- Happy Anniversary]
After dinner, we stopped in next door to try the Wine Bar and Bistro, a basement cafe with original stone walls, dim lighting, and fireplaces, which to a romantic guru like me was the perfect ambiance. We were intimately seated in the “garden,” a small enclosed outside space with tall stone walls with vines that seemed as though they reaching for the stars. Every seat in the garden was full, and their occupants were sipping wine and eating tapas, soothing jazz music was playing faintly in the background. We ordered a 1/2 bottle of Ken Wright Pinot Noir from Oregon.
On the way home, we bummed a ride off of Albany’s first and only rickshaw, seen here in the Times Union
The entire evening was like a scene from a movie, a perfect way to celebrate our three years.
