Every girl dreams of hearing those magical words from their prince charming..."Will You Marry Me?
My wonderful boyfriend of three years, Eric, popped the question last weekend and I can confirm that I did say YES and it was one of the most wonderful and magical moments of my life, complete with a whole day of celebrating that included the most wonderful gluten-free meal.
After the amazing proposal overlooking the falls at Great Falls, MD, Eric whisked me off for a romantic evening at the Lorien Hotel & Spa in Alexandria, VA. The hotel had been briefed about the celebration and already had champagne and chocolate covered strawberries in the room for us....both were gluten-free of course!
But the real gluten-free gem was at dinner at Restaurant Eve. Chef Cathal Armstrong cooked up a fantastic five course (although it felt like 10 courses) chef tasting menu for us that was personalized with our names and several gluten-free options for me! He even baked up a loaf of homemade gluten-free bread so I could partake in every piece of the meal.
The first course was Manni "Per Mio Figlio" Custard with Garden Basil, Sungold Vinaigrette, Micro Basil and a Parmesan Crisp. The best way I can explain this was a custard salad. It had all of the flavors of a delicious salad, but looked almost like a custard dessert. It was exquisite! The second course for a Filet of Salmon with Garden Basil, Castelmagno Risotto and a Tomato Coulis. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the risotto had a rich cheesy flavor that was divine.
The third course was a Roasted Breast of Squab with Cassoulet of Summer Beans and a Wild Plum Jus. Now parents, if you're trying to get your kids to eat their vegetables, then this is the dish for them! The sauce was delicious and I'm going to try to figure out a recipe to make it at home!
The fourth course was a delicious cheese course. I had the Pipe Dreams Farm Ashed Log cheese which came with Pickled Heirloom Beets. It was sooooo good! The final course was of course dessert. The chef came up with the most incredible chocolate concoction. There was a chocolate mousse, a coconut Mouse, dark chocolate and a variety of fruits. It was amazing!
The Eve Tasting Room is definitely an expensive night out, but if you're looking for a big celebration--like an engagement--it's a perfect place to go for a very classy gluten-free meal!
And, of course, I couldn't resist adding in the photos...Isn't my fiancé the BEST EVER!!!! Now it's on to planning a gluten-free wedding!
Every girl dreams of hearing those magical words from their prince charming..."Will You Marry Me?
My wonderful boyfriend of three years, Eric, popped the question last weekend and I can confirm that I did say YES and it was one of the most wonderful and magical moments of my life, complete with a whole day of celebrating that included the most wonderful gluten-free meal.
After the amazing proposal overlooking the falls at Great Falls, MD, Eric whisked me off for a romantic evening at the Lorien Hotel & Spa in Alexandria, VA. The hotel had been briefed about the celebration and already had champagne and chocolate covered strawberries in the room for us....both were gluten-free of course!
But the real gluten-free gem was at dinner at Restaurant Eve. Chef Cathal Armstrong cooked up a fantastic five course (although it felt like 10 courses) chef tasting menu for us that was personalized with our names and several gluten-free options for me! He even baked up a loaf of homemade gluten-free bread so I could partake in every piece of the meal.
The first course was Manni "Per Mio Figlio" Custard with Garden Basil, Sungold Vinaigrette, Micro Basil and a Parmesan Crisp. The best way I can explain this was a custard salad. It had all of the flavors of a delicious salad, but looked almost like a custard dessert. It was exquisite! The second course for a Filet of Salmon with Garden Basil, Castelmagno Risotto and a Tomato Coulis. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the risotto had a rich cheesy flavor that was divine.
The third course was a Roasted Breast of Squab with Cassoulet of Summer Beans and a Wild Plum Jus. Now parents, if you're trying to get your kids to eat their vegetables, then this is the dish for them! The sauce was delicious and I'm going to try to figure out a recipe to make it at home!
The fourth course was a delicious cheese course. I had the Pipe Dreams Farm Ashed Log cheese which came with Pickled Heirloom Beets. It was sooooo good! The final course was of course dessert. The chef came up with the most incredible chocolate concoction. There was a chocolate mousse, a coconut Mouse, dark chocolate and a variety of fruits. It was amazing!
The Eve Tasting Room is definitely an expensive night out, but if you're looking for a big celebration--like an engagement--it's a perfect place to go for a very classy gluten-free meal!
And, of course, I couldn't resist adding in the photos...Isn't my fiancé the BEST EVER!!!! Now it's on to planning a gluten-free wedding!