in britannia

Had an excellent day yesterday: tutored in the morning, then went to Princeton to walk around and catch some old professors. Saw my old boss from Forbes college: a fabulously nice person whose capacity for giving advice is matched by his encyclopedic knowledge of pretty much any subject.

Went to dinner with my hosts this summer and some of their wacky friends. Dinner at the Alchemist and Barrister: I had the Irish Lamb Stew: it was excellent. Had a taste of the crab risotto (part of the Seafood Medley): not bad, but the aroma of cheese (already a little funky) mixed with the aroma of seafood lent it an odor I normally associate with cleaning out my refrigerator. Also had taste of the Roast Turkey Sandwich with pear and brie on cranberry walnut bread: excellent, but it was hard to taste the pear and the brie. Perhaps a sharper brie matched with a less ripe pear?

Dessert honors go now to The Bent Spoon in Palmer Square. Owned by Gabrielle Carbone and Matthew Errico (married). This "artisan ice cream" shop was opened on May 16th by two TCNJ alumni in the Italian tradition of creamy gelato. I had the dark chocolate, which wasn't as bitter or dark as it should have been, but delicious all the same. Wanted to try the coffee swirl, with coffee from Small World Roasters (also in Princeton), but they ran out. I was also intrigued by the Sicilian Blood Orange sorbet and organic pineapple sorbet. Interestingly on the pastry menu: "Cream-Filled 'Winkie". hmmm...