Grappa with Frank

Mr. M and I went to Sushi Den Friday night for our weekly date. As the restaurant is usually packed, we showed up early (around 6 pm) so we wouldn't have to wait for a table. We ate the usual wonderful stuff while sipping green tea (me) and an Asahi (Mr. M) and catching up on the week. In our (continually failing) efforts to save money and calories, we ordered just enough to feel satisfied but not full (which is not our usual M.O. when we go out).

Since we ate so early, we contemplated what to do next, as neither one of us wanted to head home just yet. We felt virtuous after our relatively healthy meal and decided to splurge and go somewhere else for dessert. Remembering the tasty bread pudding we had at Osteria Marco last week, as well as wanting to support this new restaurant, we decided to head back there, grab a table at the bar, and have dessert.

We wandered around downtown a bit, poking in and out of some shops before finally arriving at the restaurant. We waved hello to Jacqueline Bonnano (chef's wife) on our way in, then grabbed a booth at the bar, fully intent on having just dessert. However, the menu arrived, and I was a goner. It started with Mr. M saying that he wanted to have a glass of wine. That sounded good, but of course you have to have something to nibble on while you drink it, and, somehow (I'm embarrassed to admit), I ended up ordering a couple of appetizers as well...

While we sipped our wine, we snacked on the housemade ricotta - fresh and creamy and delicious. We also tried the mozzarella en carozza, a gussied-up version of fried cheese which wasn't really my favorite but I'm sure kids would love. We still had loads of fun though, guiltily partaking of our second dinner.

I guess Jacqueline tipped off her husband to our presence in the bar, as all of a sudden we were graced with Frank's presence. We chatted for awhile, about mozzarella and ricotta, about the challenges he's faced (like building the panini bar with his own two hands) and is still facing (like wine education for his servers) with the opening of the new place. He's worked his butt off opening the restaurant and said he'd been on site for something like 49 days straight. Now that's dedication. (And his wife still loves him!) Anyway, it was really cool that he would stop by and say hello - I appreciated it.

We decided to skip dessert, astutely deducing that we had used up our calorie quota for the evening. The waiter brought the check, but before we could pay and get out of there, Frank reappeared with not only the butterscotch bread pudding we'd enjoyed so much the time before, but also with 3 glasses of grappa. We touched glasses and downed the stuff, he thanked us for coming in, then went back to the kitchen. Now. How cool is THAT.

I have to admit that we shoveled down that bread pudding as if we hadn't been fed in days, talking about how great it was what Frank did. I remembered the lackluster night I'd had at Fruition a few months ago, comparing it to the effort that had been put forth tonight just say thanks. It cost him a few minutes of his time, as well as maybe a few bucks for the dessert and grappa, and what a difference it made! He's effectively made us loyal regulars, so it was a smart move as well as just plain awesome.

So now, I'm the Osteria Marco evangelist. Everyone who lives here must visit soon. Or else.