VOLARE

I am officially on strike from the kitchen. This is quite unusual for me. Rarely do I go two days without cooking...or baking or whirring up something. I didn't plan to be on strike...Banished from my kitchen... certain circumstances made this decision..
1. For the past three weeks, hardly a moment went by without me standing in front of the stove...and then, 2. the mess. WFS is a complete jewel about clearing and cleaning....but, the poor man could not bear another clean-up....so, 3. he coerced me into leaving cooking behind for a few days....Let's eat out, said he...every meal. We haven't entirely adhered to that notion but I have kept my large- scale- drama- mess in the kitchen at a minimum.
We decided to dine at Volare's tonight with our friend, Jennifer. I made reservations but this wasn't entirely necessary. It was a slow evening at Volare's. We were greeted immediately upon entering the restaurant. By the hostess and the owner. Our wraps were taken and we were escorted to our seats....We ordered a Montepluciano, a lovely wine, usually very affordable. This one was excellent and spot on perfect for our varied dinner orders. My dinner was a Caesar Salad, just anchovy, garlicy and eggy enough to be perfect. Not covered with one of those bottled goop concoctions...My main course was the soup special, Lobster Bisque... this can be a hit or miss in my mind...but I dreamed of a somewhat briny broth, finished with cream and floating a few pieces of lobster meat.
Imagine my amazement when this soup rang each of those dream bells, except, it had nearly a whole lobster floating in the smoothest broth I have sampled in a long,long time...including the White Barn Inn. Jennifer had Osso Bucco, perfectly cooked and served with a la dente risotto. She generously shared the marrow bone with me, the bone had its own little spoon and a fresh spring of rosemary. Marrow bones rank as one of my favorite delicacies ... WFS had a Penne Pasta with his beloved Italian Sausage. Our server, Beth was attentive, engaging and funny. A fine combination on a slow evening. We could have, should have stopped right there...But the siren songs were playing the dessert tune and we ordered vanilla panna cotta and bourbon ball gelato.....plus a cappucinno...oh, my...I will have to give them 4 out of 4 stars and go to bed...
Sweet dreams are made of this.