Dec 5, 2010

Family Night at Sette with a Sweet Stop at Menchie’s

As it is Grammy’s last week in town (boo hoo Crying face), we decided to go out for one last dinner before she left. She has been here for over a month, but it flew by so fast and we hate to see her leave again. Luckily, she’ll be back in May and will be here for Christmas 2011.
Kelly left the restaurant decision making up to Gabrielle and me. I had narrowed it down to three of the Dine With Sal restaurants: Long Point Grill, Mustard Seed, or Sette. Gabby, on the other hand, had it narrowed down to one cuisine: Italian. Off to Sette we went!
We were cheerfully greeted by the manager and immediately brought to our table. Per Tyler’s recommendation, I ordered Goat Cheese & Tomato Fondue appetizer with house made crostinis. Oohh you know this warmed my heart. Or maybe that was my glass of pinto grigio. Ooeey gooey cheesy madness. DSC_1433 (1280x914)Sette’s menu has salads, pasta specialties, and traditional Italian entrees with a modern twist. All of us were torn between a couple – luckily our waiter was very patient! Surprisingly, Grammy was the first who ordered her entrée: Lasagna with Bolognese sauce, ricotta, parmesan cheese, and asparagus (13):DSC_1436 (1280x917)I ordered something that was soooo my style: Pine nut crusted chicken with fontina, prosciutto, sage, salsa cruda, served atop parmesan polenta and asparagus with a balsamic reduction (14). Hot damn this was pretty. And heaven in my mouth. I was obsessed with the parmesan polenta – I could not get over the lovely texture.DSC_1440 (1280x915)Kelly went a dish very similar to the shrimp linguine entrée at Mustard Seed: Shrimp pasta with capellini, garlic, parsley, lemon, capers, basil, and tomato in a white wine broth (16). We loved this dish because even for a pasta, it was light and refreshing.
DSC_1435 (1280x853)
Baby Zachary got a house made pizza that was the size of his entire 3-year-old body and Gabrielle got a children’s sized portion of the Chicken Marsala. Everyone was very happy with their entrees and stuffed to the brim!
Sette on Urbanspoon
But no, we didn’t stop there. I originally tried to convince the family that we should just have frozen yogurt for dinner, but Kelly told me that Uncle Johnny wouldn’t be okay with that. Drats. So after we ate “a real dinner,” we headed to Menchie’s!! I was so excited for my cousins to experience the wonder that is self-serve froyo. We all got such different treats…
My bowl – Country Vanilla, a bit of Strawberry, cookie dough balls, heath bar bits, and thin mint cookie bits:DSC_1441 (1280x917)Gabrielle’s – Pomegranate Raspberry Sorbet, Strawberry froyo, rainbow sprinkles, cookie dough balls, and gummy worms:DSC_1443 (1280x853)Kelly’s (chocoholic #1) – Cappuccino, with oreo bits, heath bar bits, walnuts, fudge sauce, and peanut butter sauce: DSC_1447 (1280x853)Grammy’s (chocoholic #2) – Country vanilla with oreo bits, walnuts, and chocolate sauce:DSC_1448 (1280x915)By the time I had photographed everyone’s cups, Zachary had demolished his and had moved on to the chalkboard. Here he is having a shy moment: DSC_1449 (1280x853)And then embracing the camera like the baby super model he is!DSC_1451 (853x1280)Then I joined the kids for some chalkboard fun. Sharing is caring, people. DSC_1453 (1280x853)What is with all three of us having droopy jeans?! Guess we need more froyo to poof up our bums! DSC_1452 (1280x853)

28 comments:

  1. Sette is one of my favorite restaurants. Everything we've ever had there has been awesome. ESPECIALLY their specials. What happened this morning?

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  2. This post is delicious!!

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  3. Goat cheese and tomato fondue? Yum!! I want to be chocoholic #3 for the froyo stop!

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  4. ooeey gooey cheesy madness is the BEST way to describe that. I want to make this NOW. oh holy YUM. all of it looks great.

    Zachary is SO cute.

    <3

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  5. I agree with starsinthecity!

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  6. Your dish looks amazing, I am jealous!! And I love your comment about the puffy jeans!

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  7. Omg, that icecream looks phenomonal. I would have chosen your combo!

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  8. Is it bad that I want to bathe in that goat cheese?

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  9. HOLY MOLY that appetizer looks to. die. for!
    & that entree you picked looks so intriguing- something really different. I would love to figure out how to re-create that. Polenta is the bomb :D
    At first I thought that Zachary had a pickle in his hand when I first glanced, but then I realized it was the chalk. I was thinking they have pickles at Menchie's now?! haha :)

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  10. mmmm all that looks sooo good. ill take frozen yogurt over ice cream anyday. my fav all time frozen yogurt flavor is peanut butter- BEST FLAVOR EVER!! although all of the ones you have pics of look quite delish as well :)

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  11. the prices at Sette are unbelievably reasonable. You could NOT get entrees of that caliber (they look amazing) in my neck of the woods that inexpensive!

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  12. Oh my YUM. I agree with Holly--That appetizer NEEDS to be re-created!

    I'm a huge fan of polenta as well, especially when it contains cheese (similar to cheese grits!). Topped with chicken and veggies? Yes please!

    You're really taunting me with these Menchie's posts... Gah, everything here looks amazing! And Zachary is adorable!

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  13. Wow, look at those portion sizes! It all looks amazing.

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  14. I have got to go to Sette! I can't believe I have never been there. We eat at Mustard Seed all the time and it never disppoints. Looks like we have similar taste in food, I would have ordered exactly what you did! That goat cheese appetizer is taunting me, looks so darn good!

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  15. Your entree looks like something I would have ordered too. I love pine nuts!

    Sorry your Grammy is leaving soon. :( At least that must have been nice to spend a whole month with her!

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  16. that goat cheese and tomato fondue looks rave worthy- omg YUM!

    And I hate when my jeans get droopy! It does absolute nothing for my behind... and I have a nice butt! ;)

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  17. Aww sounds like such a fun time!! It's so great to be with the fam and share good food, especially around the holidays!

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  18. Hi there! I'm a new follower, from Charleston also. :) Love all your food related posts. I haven't been to Menchie's yet, but downtown is getting infiltrated with froyo spots. Hah, there's three within one block!

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  19. I just don't even have words for that appetizer. I-- I'm speechless.

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  20. Wow so many good foods in one post! haha and family dinners are the best :) No one I'd rather eat with!

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  21. Oh my goodness, I don't know what I want more right now, cheese or yogurt!

    CUTE:)

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  22. That polenta concoction looks amazing! Sounds like you had a great night with family!

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  23. Holy moses. That meal looks incredible!!!

    Jen
    http://jenslosinit.blogspot.com/

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  24. that appetizer looks amazing, and i would have totally eaten everything your grammy ordered at sette and menchie's!

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  25. All that food (and dessert!) looks super delish! A great italian meal is always welcome in my books!

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  26. Your food literally made me drool. I am all about frozen yogurt for dinner:) Gabriella and I use the same toppings:) What a fun night with your fam! I am pretty much obsessed with your blog! Have a great night!

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  27. wish there was a menchie's around where i live...actually any type of froyo place in the NE would be fabbb!

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