Dinner and movie

Another entry in the "what I had for lunch" category.
Again, my job allows me to try out some new restaurants and other venues in metro Atlanta, and yesterday I went to the new CinéBistro movie tavern that opens today.
It is an adult only movie theater (no crying babies!) that sells food -- and not just typical movie fare like nachos and hot dogs (although I did see some popcorn, so I know they serve that!)
The theater has an actual chef, Isaac Stewart, on staff and he rolled out a sampling of the menu.
I think I'd go for the full bar alone. There are a few movies I wish I'd seen while drinking. Might have made the movie better.
But I'd also go for the calamari. Maybe just for the presentation. How clever!

Fried calamari

But I also loved the bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with Gorgonzola.

Bacon-wrapped dates

And the lamb lollipops were really yummy with pomegranate glaze.

Lamb lollipops

There is even a crab dip that had actual crab in it.

The Bay crab dip

All of the above are listed on the appetizers menu. For full on yummy, I also sampled off the entree menu, like the Habanero-glazed pork tenderloin, blackened ribeye, salmon, shrimp risotto, and seared free-range chicken.

 Habanero-glazed pork tenderloin

I will say the risotto was undercooked for the media lunch and chef Stewart and I had a conversation about it. I didn't mean to embarrass him, but in my opinion, risotto shouldn't be crunchy. :)
Now, who's up for dinner and a showing of "Moneyball"?

I can outrun the po po

I can out run SOME of the po po, anyway.
This morning I did the Beat the Badge 5K in Tucker. I clocked my fastest 5K so far this year on the very flat race course, pretty much an out and back on LaVista Road.
The day started out a little wobbly. I forgot to set my alarm, and was very thankful that 1) I woke up before 8 a.m. and 2) it was a 9 a.m. race start!
But I could tell I was flustered by the late wake up. I put my contact lenses in the wrong eyes this morning. I kept wondering why I couldn't see clearly as I drove to the race start. A quick switch in the parking lot before the start and I realized my mistake!
The race started and finished near police headquarters, and this is the new 9/11 sculpture that was dedicated about a week ago. I really like it, and there is a piece of the Twin Tower structure at the base of the wing.

New 9/11 sculpture at DeKalb County Police/Fire Headquarters

I found a penny on the race course, and then two pennies later today when I walked to and from the car repair shop. My car will now pass emissions and it will also now stop. :)
That will keep me ahead of the po po, too.

What I had for lunch yesterday

I will say that sometimes my job is fun. I mean REALLY fun.
Take yesterday for example. I got to go to a chef's table tasting in metro Atlanta. (I write about restaurants in real life, so I do get invited to these types of events.)
Chef Nick Walker prepared watermelon and toro as our first course.

Watermelon and toro

I would never have thought to pair fatty tuna with watermelon, but it was really good.
Next came chilled sweet corn soup with roasted red pepper flan. I ate it before I thought to take a picture. :(
The third (and main) course was pork, pork and more pork. I think chef Nick likes pork. :)
We had sweet tea braised Berkshire pork belly, parsnip puree, crispy fois gras trotter tot, smoked tomato jam and pork demi glaze.

Pork belly and fois gras trotter tot

The pork belly was so tender you didn't even need a knife to cut it and it just about melted in your mouth.
Just when I thought it could not get better, out comes dessert, chocolate pavé with dark chocolate granache and peanut butter sorbet.

Chocolate pavé with dark chocolate granache and peanut butter sorbet

The peanut butter sorbet was to die for.
It is a wonder I did not slip into a food coma when I got back to my desk at the office.
He sent the guests home with candied bacon strips. They did not last the drive home last night.
So it should come as no surprise that I ran yesterday, and today.
The recent runs have been profitable.
Sunday, on Sept. 11, I actually found 11 cents, a dime and a nickel.
I found a penny yesterday and I found two pennies tonight. Tonight's pennies were nice and shiny, which was good because it is getting darker earlier and they needed to be bright for me to spot both of them tonight.
I'm going to have to keep running this week to work off yesterday's lunch, but it was so worth it.

Green means go!

This weekend has been absolutely spectacular in Atlanta. The kind of weather we delight in.
As a runner, this weekend has been near ideal.
Saturday morning's Green Awareness 5K saw temps in the upper 50s at the start. And fortunately for me, my speedy friend Michelle helped push me a bit at the beginning of the race through Georgia Tech's campus.

Michelle and me at the start of the Green Awareness 5K

I just wish I could have KEPT pace with her. She went on to win second in her age group!

Michelle gets the plaque!

Turns out, I was no slouch in this race. I posted my second best 5K time this year.
I didn't find any cash during this race. I was too busy running! :)
This morning's weather was also near perfect for running.
I was ready to get out this morning.
I had turned on the news and started watching the coverage of the Sept. 11 memorials and it was just too much for me. Just watching the video of the first tower coming crashing down did me in.
I ran this morning to do my own reflecting on Sept. 11 and those lost on that horrible day.
I hit shuffle on my iPod and the first song up was Simon & Garfunkel's "Only Living Boy in New York." A little later on my run, S&G's "Bookends" played. I started crying when I heard that.
I'm certain "Bookends" was written about the Vietnam War, but the lyrics are so appropriate for Sept. 11, too.
Here they are:

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, a time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories, they're all that's left you

My quiet reflection on that run included prayers for the families and friends left behind. Sometimes it is very hard to be a survivor, no matter what kind.

A rainy end to a sizzlin' summer

I ran the Big Peach Sizzler 10K this morning.
I have to say, I was not looking forward to this run. I signed up early, thinking a running buddy was going to sign up too, but she didn't. Then the weather forecast made me regret the race sign-up, too. Tropical Storm Lee was going to make this a wet run.
But, as with many things in life, what I did not look forward to doing, turned out to be fun and rewarding.
First, the rain held off for most of the race. There were occasional drizzles, but not the driving rain I was expecting. I've run a race in driving rain and it is no fun.
Because the sky was overcast and there was rain, the temps were cooler, making this nearly ideal running conditions.
Second, after the finish, I got to talking to a fellow runner and we realized we were about the same pace, so we exchanged phone numbers. I hope to run a race with Cassie soon.
Lastly, I actually did very well on this race. I came in 1:17:42 -- beating my Peachtree Road Race 10K time this year! That made me very happy. I can tell I am regaining some of my speed and strength. That's the most rewarding part of today's race.
Well almost.
I found a penny along the 6 mile route! I found 4 cents earlier in the week when I changed up my running route near my house, so this week the pig got fed.
Here I am at the start. It was early, and overcast, so it's kind of dark.

At the start of the Big Peach Sizzler 10K. It's dark out!

And here I am at the finish!
http://truespeedphoto.com/Races/View_Picture.speed?Picture_ID=490545
All in all, a very good race. I definitely put some sizzle into one of the last runs of the summer season.