As usual on a Saturday, a dinner review is offered from the Friday evening meal at a choice Utica restaurant. Last nights dining experience was at Daniel’s Valley View. Superb! But first, this mornings glorious run.
At 5:15, I woke up and wandered into the bathroom followed by a German Shepherd that decided I shouldn’t go in there alone. Looking at the clock, it really was too early for a weekend run but Shane didn’t think so. Outside we went. Then we couldn’t stop. It was a perfect morning for a run down the Parkway, up Oneida, turning in at the Cemetery and up to Valley View. We could smell the Zoo when running down the Parkway. It wasn’t unpleasant. It reminded me of the smell of the horse barns at the shows, early in the morning, when the grooms were up cleaning stalls and feeding. Ah…the wonderful memories. It’s times like that, getting lost in the memories, that makes a run perfect. We completed 7 + miles today.
The morning omelet: 1 piece of Brown Rice Toast. 3/4 cup Egg Beaters. Asparagus, spinach, left over meatless greens and feta.
We did go to the Munson Williams Mixer last night, but arrived too late for munchies as Ted got caught up in a slow golf game Friday afternoon. We had time to chit chat with our friends before they left to watch the movie presentation. As for Ted and I, we needed to eat.
Dinner at Daniels..
A perfect dining experience at one of our favorite, close to home restaurants, Daniels at Valley View. It is 1 mile up the Parkway from our home and on a warm summer evening, a wonderful walk. We arrive there and are treated like family from staff and guests alike. Everyone was in a fine mood last night. Could it have been that we arrived at the end of Happy Hour? Could it have been the beautiful weather ? Utica had perfect weather throughout the day Friday. Whatever the reason, we had fun.
The wine and beer… we JUST caught the tail end of Happy Hour and were offered 2 fer’s, as marked by the shot glasses…
The bread and pizza…. mouth watering
We had the meatless greens and a crisp, fresh salad. We plunged our forks in almost before the waitress set the food on the table. We were HUNGRY!
Dinner. My favorite… Fruitti Di Mar… Seafood Stew. No pasta, over vegetables, light on the sauce. Perfecto!
The sauce was light and complimented the seafood in a way that could only be bettered if they were still swimming in their natural environment. There were clams, shrimp, calamari, mussels (don’t like), scallops. Did I eat it all? PLEASE! By the time my belly said to brain…”AH…Are you going to stop any time soon because it’s getting a little crowded in here?!!! “(Darn that belly!), it only looked as if 1/2 the dish had been eaten. So much. So good. So little stomach space.
Of course the perfect meal is followed by a perfect Cup-a-Joe. 
Forgot to tell you…..Movie review
Now I have to back track a couple of nights because I forgot to mention our unprofessional opinion of the movie “The Reader”.
We really enjoyed it. The only disappointment was the ending. It was slow moving but the story held our interest right through the end. No one nodded off. That alone says a lot.
Recommended you watch it, but NOT with the kids around. There is nudity and … well, you know.
I’m off to bake with SALBA , grocery shop, yard work before it rains. Love Saturday! Have a great one.
