October 10, 2012
To realize the value of four years:
Ask a graduate.
To realize the value of one year:
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.
To realize the value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
To realize the value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of one minute:
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.
To realize the value of one second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.
To realize the value of a friend or family member:
Lose one.
Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.
~Author unknown
My dad sent me that! My dad, who is a bit behind the email curve (but bravely immersing himself in the email world nonetheless), emailed me those words, and the message really struck me. I’m not going to acknowledge I am getting older (exhibit A), but time does seem to be passing me at an alarming rate! The passage of time can be overwhelming, but it can also be celebratory. Eleven months in a relationship might not be a widely acknowledged anniversary or have an associated gift, but why not celebrate each other anyway? We did! We chose a place that was new to both of us: Sienna Sulla Piazza.
WILD MUSHROOM BRUSCHETTA
focaccia, truffle, tomato, parmesan, arugula
Meaty mushrooms and a mound of cheesy arugula is an excellent way to start a meal!
POACHED PEAR SALAD
grapes, frisee, hazelnuts, roasted garlic mascarpone port vinaigrette
I do have a penchant for a touch of fruit atop a salad, but I was even more intrigued by the salad dressing. Mascaprone and port?!? The descriptors were not exaggerative. The dressing really did deliver the sweet acidity of port and the creaminess of mascarpone, and the entire salad was served on a slate board, which really struck my presentation fancy!
LOBSTER RISOTTO
brazilian lobster tail, tomato,zucchini, mascarpone, parmesan
Huge chunks of lobster were buried in that mound! Also of merit were the libations. My special one sipped the Boulevardier, a combination of bulleit rye, carpano antica and campari. I chose the red wine route, and our server went out of his way to help me make my selection (ie: two taste tests later…).
CHIANTI BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIB
orzo mac ‘n cheese, parmesan, mascarpone, tomato-basil jam
The beef was unbelievably tender, and the tomato-basil jam added a really sweet, intense accent flavor.
ZEPPOLE
housemade hazelnut sauce
LEMON TIRIMISU
lady fingers, espresso, cocoa, mascarpone cheese
Though any downtown restaurant draws an oddly mixed crowd, I salute the brick and dark wooden ambiance of the restaurant. The part of the meal that really stuck with me was that tomato-basil jam on the short rib. Concluding with a citrus burst in tirimisu and a chocolate hazelnut drizzled zeppole concluded the evening deliciously. In closing, it’s highly likely I’ll venture to downtown Pittsburgh again for another dinner at Sienna Sulla Piazza. Maybe for a 14th month anniversary?!
