Kirios and I planned to spend quality time together during his last weekend home before his big European vacation. I had to be in Chattanooga, Tennessee(which always makes me think “choo-choo”) for an almost-all day meeting on Friday. My flight was scheduled to arrive back at Reagan National Airport just before 6, and takes about an hour to metro/walk back to my apartment. I thought it would be super exciting to return to a home-cooked meal ready to eat and being the sweetheart that he is, Kirios agreed to come over and cook while I made my way back home.

Of course, life never goes as planned, and through a series of coincidences we ended up having a completely different yet enjoyable evening. Kirios arrived at work Friday morning to find out that it was going to be a long day preparing a proposal with an approaching deadline. He originally told me he didn’t think he’d be home before 10pm. Clearly the only way I was going to get a home-cooked meal was if I made it. My meeting in Chattanooga didn’t go as expected either. We were learning so much from the folks we met with and the clock was ticking closer to our flight departure, so we decided to skip lunch in order to keep the conversation going longer. I eventually got a veggie wrap from the only food vendor at the Chattanooga airport around 3:30pm.

By the time my flight landed, the proposal prognosis at Kirios’ company had improved. Kirios also received a late in the day call from one of his best friends from high school who has since moved away saying that he and his girlfriend were in for the weekend and free that evening. So Kirios went ahead and made 8:30 reservations for the four us to have a dinner at the new(ish) Potomac location of Founding Farmers. (The original DC location is where we went for my birthday dinner.) Kirios made it home minutes before 8pm, and quickly changed his clothes. I met him at his house, and we arrived at the restaurant right on time.

Meanwhile, I had texted my great friend from college who happens to be a talented actor/Founding Farmers Potomac server, and learned that he was working that evening. We were seated in his section, and as a result of the good company and good service, Kirios and I decided to indulge. Founding Farmers is known for their prohibition style bar, so I first ordered a Clementine; clementine and seasonal chili-infused Reposado Tequila, Benedictine, lime and pineapple juices, and agave nectar. It was served in a sugar rimmed glass – yum. To eat, I had a ricotta, pistachio, and date flatbread as an appetizer and butternut squash ravioli with brussel sprout leaves as an entrée. Kirios ordered oven-roasted cracked black pepper wings and a rack of ribs of which he could barely eat half. Our friends ordered similarly decadent drinks, appetizers, and meals.

Unlike my companions, I was not successful in fully indulging. Our friends ordered a chocolate mousse bowl fit for two. Kirios ordered beignets served with three separate sauces. He tried in vain to have me split them with him. Eventually I gave in and had one bite. They were delicious. But if I stop at one bite, I’m definitely full. We finished the evening victoriously, with a doggy bag and food-coma induced night of sleep.