This weekend JJ's parents came to visit and we did all sorts of fun stuff.
Friday night we went to a Brazilian steakhouse called Rio Churrascaria that we were introduced to by Jamie when we went for Jamie's birthday. Basically men carry big slabs of meat around on swords and ask you if you'd like to have some. So good. JJ, Jackie (his dad), and I were almost like, well, like animals going in for the kill. My personal favorite was the garlic-encrusted beef. Mmmmm. I think JJ's was either that or the top sirloin. Poor Terry, JJ's mom, was such a good sport. She's the sweetest woman alive, and she'd have to be ... she doesn't eat red meat but had to sit there for quite some time watching us gnaw and tear at all that wonderful wonderful meat. Again, she's a good sport. The chocolate mousse she got for dessert wasn't bad either.
The next day we did our tasting at Maggiano's which is where we're having the rehearsal dinner. The Coopers had been in touch with the banquet manager, whose name is Misty, and had set up our tasting for us. JJ and I picked the food we wanted to taste and pick from and away we went. We had a waiter who brought out dish after dish. To start we tried the spinach artichoke dip, bruschetta, tomato slices with fresh mozzerella, basil and a vinaigrette dressing, and cheese ravioli. After each course we all ranked what we liked best and JJ and I made a decision as to what we were having. You'll see the complete rehearsal dinner menu at the conclusion of this mouth-watering description. Following the appetizer course we tasted the pastas. JJ and I had decided to try the gnocchi (a cheese dumpling type pasta) with vodka tomato sauce, fettucine alfredo with broccoli, lasagna with meat sauce, and rigatoni with chicken and marsala cream sauce. Mmmmm. Following the pasta came the meat course. We tried the chicken marsala with mushrooms, roast beef tenderloino served with onion strings and mashed potatoes, and salmon with a garlic butter sauce and lemon. As if this weren't enough ... there was still dessert to come. They brought out cheesecake with whipped cream and strawberries, spumoni, and tiramisu. By the time it was all over there were 4 very full people and lots of leftover food. So they boxed the food up for us and JJ and I took it home. We've been eating it ever since. The whole experience was completely complimentary with the reservation and deposit that the Coopers had made and I am convinced that the rehearsal dinner is going to be perfect. Oh yeah ... our menu ... the best part!
Appetizer: Spinach artichoke dip with crispy bread; thick slices of tomato with fresh mozzerella slices on top with fresh basil and a vinaigrette dressing
Salad: Caesar and house chopped salad
Pasta: Fettucine alfredo with broccoli; gnocchi
Meat: Roast beef tenderloin served with onion strings and mashed potatoes; chicken marsala with button mushrooms
Dessert: cheesecake with strawberries; spumoni
Whew!
Saturday afternoon JJ and Terry went to look at our reception site while I stayed home and watched the Tar Heels take on Georgia Tech. Yes, I know how the game turned out and no I don't want to talk about it. Saturday night we all went to On the Border for dinner (mmm ... chicken quesadilla) and then Sunday there was church and enough time for lunch before the Coopers headed back to Perry. All in all a very nice, relaxing visit.
Oh! And the Coopers brought us our very first wedding presents! They got us our ice cream bowls and salad plates and our sheets and throw pillows. Aren't they pretty? I love our everyday china that we're getting. Blue blue blue! And our linens! Blue! I guess on some level JJ just has to be grateful my favorite color isn't pink!