When Eating Out Is Worth It

We are not big on eating out.  It’s not that I don’t like restaurants, but I like cooking and saving money too much to go to out on a regular basis.  If we eat out more than once a month, its a rarity. But once in awhile, we make an exception.

Prior to last Sunday, Brian and I had only been to Mezze Bistro and Bar once–last fall when my aunt and uncle were in town.  I’ve been looking for an excuse to go back ever since; I love their mission and menu:

Mezze serves contemporary American cuisine highlighting the best of the season in support of independent farmers and artisan producers.

The food is handcrafted by our chefs who take great care to source local and seasonal ingredients including farm-fresh produce, meats, cheeses and breads. Menu items are paired alongside small-batch microbrews, locally distilled spirits and seasonal, small-production wines.

Of course, Mezze’s pricing generally matches their quality and since we eat out so rarely, we like to try out new places when we do.  But Mezze is currently running a special menu on Sundays, a menu they’re calling “Comfort Sundays – cozy winter dining”, a different 3 course, $25 prixe fixe menu each week.  We managed to resist the Mexican-style menu, the breakfast fare, and Italian food before this popped into my inbox last week:

First Course
Shelburne Farms Cheddar Mac + Cheese

Second Course
Gammelgarden Buttermilk-soaked Fried Amish Chicken
with Biscuits, Mashed Potatoes + Gravy

Dessert
Lemon Meringue Pie

I can’t tell you the last time I had fried chicken.  Everything about this meal sounded delicious.  How could I say no?  I knew it was going to be good (I love knowing where my food comes from!), but the meal exceeded expectations.  The macaroni and cheese was the richest I’d ever had and the flavor was amazing.  I would’ve been happy with just that for my meal.  When the second course arrived, we were greeted with the smoothest mashed potatoes I’d ever had and 3 pieces of fried chicken.  I was so impressed; I didn’t expect to receive so much food for such a reasonable amount of money.

(please excuse the poorly lit restaurant photos)

The menu was changed from lemon merigue pie to lemon semifreddo in licorice sauce with licorice soaked Kalamata olives.  Strange, I know, but it worked somehow.

Between the two of us, Brian and I took home 3 pieces of chicken.  We ate pancakes and fried chicken for dinner the next night.

Brian says we’re done eating out for a while, but I’m still looking forward to seeing what’s on the menu for this Sunday.