candybar. yum.

To most likely state the obvious, one of my favorite things about living in such a dynamic city is the fact that you could spend years trying new restaurants and bars and still never manage to hit them all.  Statistically I've read that there is 1 restaurant for every 23 people in SF...and though I'm not sure how accurate this figure is, based on my own observations, I totally buy it.  I'm so thankful to have been able to try so many already, and am excited to keep eating my way through all things SF culinary.  I'll continue to post the good eats as they come...both to recommend to fellow SF'ers and to entice my other global loves to come and visit :)

Before my little Noodle hit the skies for Australia, she passed along a Groupon she hadn't used up yet to a wine, dessert and art lounge called candybar. **As a side note, how great are the Groupon, Bloomspots, LivingSocials of the world??  I'm a sucker for a discount and so appreciate this more affordable way to live it up and try new things in my city!** My SFBF Jenny agreed to be my date to check it out :)

Jenny and I agreed that this spot would be perfect for a date night; great lighting, sparkly and fabulous cocktails, delicious desserts, awesome music (while we were there we heard the likes of Death Cab, Cindi Lauper, The Cranberries, Ben Folds, The Cure...just to name a few) and games!  "Great lighting" may sound odd but I bet the ladies know what I'm talking about; that warm candle-lit hue that makes you look about 1,000 times better than you actually do.  Blemishes? What blemishes?  I'm simply radiant and captivating right now.  Even the outside of the lounge had this feeling (pardon the crappy phone pics)...

We rummaged through their board game selection and settled on 2; 80's trivia (I kicked Jenny's ass, thank you very much) and Strawberry Shortcake Memory (also did a bit of Jennifer ass kicking here).  Because...well...why not?  We were having dessert and strawberry shortcake *is* a dessert...

First up to drink, "Strawberry Kiss"; sparkling wine, ginger ale, frozen strawberry.  Yum! And on the happy hour discount menu!  Double Yum!

Then came the flourless chocolate cake with chantilly, citrus white chocolate bark and mango yogurt ice cream (and home-made whipped cream, the not-very-sweet version that makes my mouth water)...

"Mano Tango Bellinis"; sparkling wine, mango syrup and mango-tangerine sorbet...even yummier than the first drink!  We toasted to Noodle :)  Please excuse my hideously chipped manicure.

And finally their Strawberry Limeade; strawberry mousse, vanilla cake, calamansi cream, strawberries.  So different and *so* delicious. (Photo courtesy of candybar...our phone pic just did not do this presentation justice!)

It was truly a lovely little evening with a lovely friend.  Thanks to Noodle's Groupon we ended up only owing $14.90! One thing we discussed that kinda stuck with me was how nice it was to have the flexibility to make this last minute date with each other.  Jenny's sister had her second child on Tuesday (Congrats Megan and Brad!!) and the topic of children brought us around to this conclusion and expression of gratitude; once you have kids, you really can't pick up and take off the way we just did.  There are a hundred more aspects involved.  And while I would never ever judge anyone for their decision to have kids and expand their family...while I would never presume to fully know the joyful possibilities wrapped up in being a parent...I am so....SO...grateful I am not a mom right now.

I have way too many last minute plans to make :)

In Gratitude,

trish