St. Patrick's Day at the Empress

What was I thinking eating breakfast at 10:30 when I had lunch plans at 11:30? And, let me assure you, 11:30 lunching was not my idea.

But I made the best of practically overlapping meals by choosing one of my favorite places, The Empress for us to eat. My friend had never been in and was tired of hearing me sing its praises (the food, the pricing, the relaxed ambiance) without some practical experience of her own.

We walked in to find only one other table occupied and they were ordering wine at 11:45, so my friend was sold right off the bat. It wasn't long before other tables began to fill up, including one of green-dressed women (and that would include one who had on a green shirt, green bracelets, green necklace and green earrings). Happy St. Patrick's Day overkill!

My friend chose the Prosciutto panini with sun-dried tomato, Gruyere and basil pesto on challah with a side of brocolini; I got the always-excellent arugula salad with garbanzo beans, sunflower seeds, chicken, aged Fontina and red wine vinaigrette, but in the half portion given my all too-recent breakfast. In the spirit of the day, we both had lots of green on our plates.

Tucking into our tasty lunches in a sunny window seat, I could see that my friend was completely sold on the place. When Chef Carly came by to see how we'd liked her handiwork, I complimented her inclusion in Style's State of the Plate's favorite dishes section.

Her bacon-wrapped dates, of which I am a devoted fan, were more than worthy of being showcased, but I told her that if it had been up to me to choose an Empress favorite, it would have been the green eggs and lamb. They are a brunch superstar in RVA as far as I'm concerned.

Carly grinned and said, "And if it had been up to me, I'd have picked the stuffed and roasted acorn squash," a delight of wild mushrooms, feta cheese, oats, caramelized onions, and roasted grape tomatoes.

Which just about proved the case I had been making to my friend about The Empress: the range of creative and memorable food will never disappoint.

If it weren't for having just consumed two meals in two hours, I'd have put the final touch on my closing argument by ordering one of the stellar desserts, but I just didn't have it in me.

And then I would have had to make the always-tough choice of which one...the chocolate soup? the chocolate/banana crepes? the award-winning chili chocolate pate?

But that might have been taken as more St. Patrick's Day lunch overkill, just not of the green variety.

Heaven on a Plate

I'm not a big fan of dried fruit, but I sure do love some bacon-wrapped dates like the ones I had last night at Bin 22.

Just about every tapas and small plate restaurant has some version of dates on its menu these days.

Some are fried, some are stuffed with cheese, but, as well know, bacon makes everything better, and that includes dates.

Moments after I ordered them, the restaurant began to smell divine as the bacon was being fried up.

The owner even tried to entice a girl on the patio to come in, saying, "Mmmm, bacon. Don't you want to come inside?"

I just sipped my Cabernet and waited patiently.

And I was not disappointed.

When the plate arrived, there were at least half a dozen dates, each wrapped in a full rasher of bacon (which meant repeated wrappings), and arranged atop and beside a lovely salad of mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette.

So I got sweet, salty and bitter and thoroughly enjoyed every bite.

Okay, so maybe I do like dried fruit more than I give myself credit for.

Mmm, bacon is always worth coming inside for.