second star to the right
Shall I regale you with the most titillating experience my palate has had in quite some time? Ok! Well, as you know, my Darling Rich Lovvuhhh likes to surprise me every now & again so who I am to deny his most heartfelt desire? I indulge him, of course, and allow him to take me to this “perfect” spot he picked out. Now, I’m not usually one to relinquish power, but he bribed me with a shopping spree so I acquiesced. Why does this dashing gent take me to this cute little ITALIAN VEGAN spot in Vegas, and My Pretties, I literally, as soon as we walked in the door, was liiikkkkkeeeee
Ladies say, “Eeeoowwwww.”
Ok so boom, let me set the scene:
Meet Cute: An unsuspecting urban shopping center. A pretty fine thang and his pretty finER thang pull up in a steely grey Aston Martin Vanquish. He’s dashing and debonaire and she, effortlessly, exceeds his fly. He exits the vehicle sure, confident, knowing. It’s not the car. It’s him. He reaches around his seat—it’s a 2-door in case you didn’t know—and grabs his Brunello Cucinelli sport coat, placing it on with a cool precision that only one who drives an Aston Martin possesses. He walks around to the passenger side where his Darling Princess (me) waits patiently, applying the final touch of her—my— lip gloss just as he opens the car door for her. Me. He holds out his hand. I graciously accept and step out of the car, swinging one heeled foot around to meet the other before standing up and exiting the vehicle. I’m wearing a bespoke piece from an up & coming Senegalese designer taking the fashion world by storm. Pics TBD. Ironically I only took pics this day of the two of us. He was being extra specially sweet so I wanted to try to capture the moment. Anywho, you know my rule: Until he puts a rock on it, I’m still the baddie most wanted. Eeooowww!
Anywho…
I was absolutely delighted by this very cozy, unassuming ristorante. And it was vegan & Italian?! Does this friggin’ guy know the key to my hawt or what? The waiter was telling us the menu is all homemade, from scratch, plant-based fare, and everything on the menu is absolutely delectable. Really and truly. I asked him what the most popular dish was on the menu and he proceeds to go down the entire menu 😂 Immediately sold.
I settled on the gnocchi. Ugh. I haven’t had quality gnocchi since I left New York. Really Jersey, but fuggedaboutit. You guys!! It was DEE-VINE! Like if each one of my tastebuds could speak, they would testify that that was one of thee most flavorful, decadent (but still light), transcendent, satiating, satisfying (do those mean the same thing?), perfect meals I’ve had in a really really really really really really long time. I was grinning from ear to ear the whole way back to the Penthouse from how good that meal was, honest to God. Wallah! Just cheesin. But before I get ahead of myself…
The cashew ricotta on here? Fuggin A!! 🤌🏾
The pepperoncinis and white balsamic were a nice twist to an otherwise classic house salad. I was about 2 bites into this when the gnocchi came out she stole the show.
I was stuffed to the brim, and of course darling RL says, "We have to get dessert.” I couldn’t eat another bite, honest to goodness. I said, “I would love to but, if I have one more bite I’m turning from Buddie Love back to Sherman.” He didn’t know what I was talking about, but he knew what I was saying. He replies, “Fine, you’ll take it to go.” He loves his Faddie Baddieeeeee.
And of course I did. Unfortunately I didn’t get any pics of his meal because he dug into it before I had the chance and it wasn’t looking very photo opp-y, but that’s ok. Some experiences are meant to be lived in the moment. I like that about him. I don’t always have the urge to pull out my phone. I don’t always feel the need to fill the space with idle chatter. We can simply be and enjoy the presence of one other’s company. It’s a calm kind of lo—location. His orbit. His aura. His being. I mean. Around him. He. Himself. Is a very grounding presence. It’s nice to feel safe. No. It’s more than that. It’s a blessing.
If you’re in the Las Vegas area, stop over to Tarantino’s Vegan. The place started filling up as soon as we stepped through the door. Better reserve your seat today. And remember, before we eat, we say?
Of course I got the tiramisu to go and it was gone in 1.5 minutes. Tarantino’s Vegan: 10 outta 10 outta 10.
Some of my Pretties out there might be a bit younger than me, some a little older. No matter what stage you are in life though, have you ever caught yourself longing for your younger years? Not in a, I wish I could go back there and do it all over again kind of way—at least not for me—but more in a, Aw man, these kids don’t even know how good they have it! kinda way. The joi de vie of youth is unmatched! There was a younger couple sitting across from us at the restaurant and then I was reminded again yesterday of young love, of innocence, of that feeling of being totally and completely enamored with someone at that age and it’s like, ugh. That feeling of unmitigated ignorance! Bwahahahaha!
That sounds worse than it’s meant. And maybe I just don’t quite know how to encapsulate that feeling with the written language but you know what I mean, write? That feeling of giddy elation. Not quite head over heels. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt that. But like, you have a crowd of little tiny yous on the inside and they’re all jumping up and down, fists pumping in the air, screaming YES! YES! YES! 🙌 And it’s just fun and happy and exciting and new and thrilling and you want to spend time together and learn each other and all the things. That. I don’t know that I’ll ever feel that again. I don’t know if I ever want to feel that again. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but more of a I wish I knew in the moment to bottle this feeling while I have it, kinda thing. A sweet remembrance. Of that feeling. Not that person. Bwahahaha! The baddies that get itttttt…
Anyway, me, myself, personally, I’m just takin’ it one day at a time, as per usual, making the most of everything, making everything the most, and just living my childhood dreams like Peter Pan—second star to the right & straight on until morning.
Just think of a wonderful thought…
Because why not? Oh! Did I tell you, RL let me drive the Marty? Like he really had a choice. I think I was a speed racer in another life because why did he take me—somewhere I dunno—to a place I could speed with reckless abandon, and honestly the way I was whippin’ them turns, you would think I was an F1 driver. And it was so easy too. Like I’m kinda nice wit it for real. I dunno. Is it too late for me, My Pretties?
I’ll tell you what is late. The time. And with that, I must bid you goodnight, mon petite cheries. Wherever you are, wherever you may be, you could be anywhere in the world, but here you are with me. And I love that of you. I love it even more for me. I hope you have a glorious rest of your week. Stay blessed EveryBuddy, and God speed.
Love Always (& besitos!),
Your little windstorm of faith & sight of her Dios