(As usual, click for larger version) One of many spectactular views from Highway 20 near Galena, Illinois. The photograph (as well as the few others I took) do not in any way do this justice. Highway 20 (and Galena itself I think) is quite elevated above everything around it. Along several of the local routes, you get this refreshing feeling as if driving through the middle of an Americana portrait. It feels like you are just hovering above this surreal bit of scenery of rolling hills, floating along like a cloud. Barns, tractors, cattle, and sheep dot the landscape along the winding gravel and dirt roads. I love it.
On to why we were there and how the weekend went...
This was the boyfriend's birthday weekend. I'd been planning for a while to take him out to a fancy dinner on Saturdayat a local B&B that serves an elegant ethnic 4-course meal to a maximum of 8 per night. It was wonderful. We were both "all gussied up" (I'd shopped for the perfect attire, jewelry, shoes, sported a new hairstyle...you name it!) and ended up being the only two the innkeepers were serving that night.
Authentic Italian was the order of the night, starting with fresh thick-cut white bread with the traditional oil-balsamic-parmesan fixins. Quickly came the first course, minestrone. I questioned this choice when I'd gotten the menu for the night, but I must say we were both impressed. The boyfriend commented he didn't want to waste any of the juice, hungrily dipping his bread in it. The 2nd course was risotto. Neither of us had ever had it, and we both agreed it was absolutely superb. For those who've not this, it is basically a creamy rice dish...x1000, and made with a different rice than the long grain, brown, or minute rice we all grew up with. During the somewhat tedious process of making risotto, the starch cooks out of the fat, fluffy rice to create a thick creamy "sauce". Anyway, topped with italian parsley and parmesan, we wanted to sneak the whole bowl home with us! I do wish I knew what else she seasoned it with, but was afraid to ask for a culinary's secrets. The main course was chicken parmesan and italian green beans (green beans with seasoned tomatoes). I'd actually never had chicken parmesan before, but it's the boyfriend's favorite. He gave it two thumbs up. Dessert was ricotta cheesecake with cherry reduction. Neither one of us had that before either. Wow, I'll never go back to regular cheesecake again! (guess I'd better get craking on how to make this...) My first impression of ricotta cheesecake was to say that it tasted like "the ultimate Twinkie" but that was wrong. Twinkies are much sweeter and dry complared this. My final opinion is to say it's a cross between meringue and Sara Lee pound cake. Not near as light as meringue, but not near as heavy and dense as a pound cake. The boyfriend ate every last bit of the dessert, which is amazing. He usually doesn't do dessert, and I honestly only expected to see him take a couple of bites.
It was all truly fabulous. I was so relieved that the boyfriend enjoyed it, as after all this was his birthday gift. Yay! I done good!
The boyfriend got a dog-sitter for Sat/Sun, so that made for a peaceful evening/morning at his place. It was nice, for both of us I think, to actually be able to wake up next to each other (the dog prevents any sort of romantic interlude from happening). We sat around and chatted for a bit over coffee until I had to run off and get ready for the day. We were meeting a group for an Italian lunch in the historic (quaint!) little town of Galena, about a 2.5hour drive from here.
The rides up, back, and the lunch get-together were great. I just love the restaurant we went to: http://www.vinnyvanucchis.com/. While I don't believe it to be 100% authentic, they do a much better (closer) job than chains like the Olive Garden, bar none. I could just go and eat their salad & garlic bread and be content. Actually, one of the ladies in our group does that and takes her entree home. After a few bites of mine, I decided to do the same. Best o both worlds. On the way home we decided to stop by Long Hollow Tower, a high staircase lookout that from what I gather gives you a view of 3 states at once (IL, IA, WI). We've passed the tower a million times, but neither of us have ever been up there. The staircase was for some reason closed off, so I took the above photo from the parking lot. Ah well, maybe next time (if it's warm out!).
By the time we got back it was time to eat again so I dug into the leftovers. Mmm...heavy seafood fettucine alfredo and garlic bread at night after a long day. In less than an hour I was sound asleep. Zzzzzz...
So that was the weekend. The boyfriend really enjoyed it. Now I hope I can pull something off equally as good next year!
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