easy mondays

I haven't quite been feeling well since late last week, but it's nothing more than a nuisance. I've got a bit of chest congestion and an occasionally nasty-sounding cough, but I've managed to avoid most of the icky symptoms most colds/flus bring like headaches, all kinds of nasal problems and body aches. That's great and all, but I somehow managed to get a tiny canker on the inside of my lip. Where the heck did that come from? I rarely ever get them, maybe once every 3-5 years.

The whole point of me filling you in on my minor sickness is to show you what I bought to treat myself. Do you guys do that, buy yourself something nice to make you feel better? At least this time my gift to myself has a meaningful purpose. I bought some tea from David's Tea! Nothing like hot tea to soothe a scratchy throat...

I brewed myself a cup of the oolong as soon as I got home and I must say, it was pretty flavorful. The peachy, nutty smell was so inviting! The flavour was not as intense as I would have liked, but next time I'll just steep it a bit longer. I drank it in bed while reading a few pages of my newest library find and chatting with D while he folded some laundry.

And this is how I ended my night.

Cuddled up on the couch with my unusually affectionate dog, sketching my future home, making fun of Cee-Lo's crazy outfit on the Voice and eating sour cream and onion chips. Perfect.

As much as I lament (and dread) Mondays, sometimes they just aren't so bad. Sometimes they're pretty good.

Restaurant Review: Havana Night

On Monday my friend, who I'll call Sucia, and I tried out one of Spring Garden's newest restaurants, Havana Night. We arrived around 5:30 or 6 and the place was completely empty. We were greeted promptly and opted to sit outside on the patio. We had an awesome view of the Spring Garden shops and the weather was perfect. Our waiter came over and asked us if we wanted drinks and handed us a menu, but we said we needed a minute. It took him about 15 minutes to come back the second time, and then we ordered our drinks and mains. My drink, a G&C, was served in a martini glass and was so dangerously delicious. I couldn't taste the alcohol and probably could have definitely downed it. Sucia said her mojito was delicious, so I had a little sip and it tasted so fresh and leafy. Yum.

About 5 minutes later our waiter came back to tell me that my choice Mi Ropa Vieja would take a long time to make, which was understandable because the restaurant was empty so it's not like they would have had any prepared. I was a little bummed though because the beef with tomato and wine sauce sounded pretty amazing. I told him I needed a minute, chose what I wanted and got up to tell him so that we wouldn't have to wait.

I was pretty happy with my choice of La Guajira, which came with seasoned chicken, pork, yucca (a rooty vegetable, with a potato-like texture) and fried plantains. The one thing that stood out was that the meat was over-cooked to the point where it was very dry. This was a shame because the flavour and the spices of the meat were very good. It was unlike any other spice I've had. I really hope they change this, as I would definitely like to go back and give it another go. Sucia's pork was also very dry and tough. The yucca, which I was trying for the first time was very juicy and soft as it was served with chopped garlic and lemon. Also my fried plantains were a nice departure from the usual fries. I should also mention that the portion sizes were pretty big. Neither of us could finish, so we brought some home. In total, my bill (including drink) came to $23, which was pretty reasonable.

During our meal, who I assume to be the manager or owner, came out to ask us how our meal was, which I thought was a nice gesture. Overall, our waiter was friendly, pretty attentive but seemed a bit inexperienced or unsure of himself. Sucia and I did have a great time though, we didn't rush, enjoyed the patio and caught up over an authentic Cuban meal with tied back to our Spanish-class roots! I would like to go back on a Friday/Saturday and see how the atmosphere changes at night. The decor inside was warm and cozy with dark wood furniture and bold wall colors and an open area for a dance floor.

If you're in Halifax I would say give it a shot. I try to make an effort to support new restaurants in the area, especially ones that bring a new culture and cuisine. Our waiter informed us that Friday and Saturday there are free Salsa lessons and on Wednesday the mojitos are just 5 bucks. Since I won't be taking any type of substantial vacation this summer, I guess I'll have to settle for a little taste of Cuba from Havana Night. I'll take it!

xo Janelle