Day Three Hundred Forty-Nine: A Day in McKinney

We have been to McKinney but mostly just for kids' sporting events. But, on day two without the kids, Jeff and I decided to go over to just hang out. We had lunch at Sugarbacon Proper Kitchen, visted Landon Winery and Lone Star Wine Cellars, and did a little shopping in the historic dowtown area. Later, we had an appetizer dinner a Sol, picked up a few things at Trader Joe's, and browsed in Half-Price Books. It was a lovely day, and we enjoyed it very much!

Fun in McKinney

Day Three Hundred Sixteen: Three Restaurants in One Night

For our last night in Mendoza, we went looking for a special experience. We had heard about a rooftop restaurant at one of the hotels with amazing views of the city and the Andes in the distance. We arrived around 7:00, only to discover a sign that stated the restaurant didn't open until 8:30. (This is the normal time for restaurants to open for dinner here, but a few open earlier, and we took a chance.) Since it was a hotel where we have "gold" status, we went down to the front desk to ask if we could hang out in the member's lounge until the restaurant opened. That's when we learned that the restaurant was actually not opening at all tonight. We were still able to appreciate the amazing view and snap a few pics, but obviously dinner wasn't going to work out. Ruth remembered seeing what she thought was another rooftop restaurant at another hotel we passed on the way to this one, so we headed over there. When we arrived, the restaurant was open, but only for "Happy Hour." We decided to go ahead and have a drink so we could enjoy the lovely views of Mendoza from the patio. Lacking a Plan C, we just started walking in the direction of our house, knowing there are a million wonderful restaurants in the city and assuming we we would encounter one we wanted to try. Eventually, we came to Estanacia La Florencia, a restaurant we have passed by many times and which has always looked enticing. Third time's a charm, I guess, because they were open and serving dinner, and we were seated immediately. Everything was absolutely delicious, and it was a great way to spend our last night in Mendoza, even if it wasn't our first (or second) choice!

The view from Mirador, Restaurant Number One

The view from El Faro Bistro, Restaurant Number Two

Third Time's a Charm

Day Two Hundred Eighty-Nine: Locro and Malbec Gelato

Today was full of Firsts, but I'll just focus on the new foods I tried. (If you want to see more details from the day, you can visit our family blog.) Yesterday, we found out about a food called locro, which is a bean and squash stew traditionally served on Independence Day since people have time off work and have more time to prepare it at that time. We meant to pick some up at the festival yesterday, but the crowd and lines and loud music were a bit overwhelming, and we simply forgot to order it. So, we were pleased to find that the little food counter/grocery store across the street from our house had some in stock today. (They haven't had it any of the other days we've been here, confirming that it's something of a specialty item that is only served occasionally.) It has a unique flavor, which I can't really describe. I would say we liked it but didn't love it.

Locro

Later, we took Weston out for gelato to celebrate his half-birthday, and Jeff boldly ordered one of the three Malbec gelatos on the menu. Because when in Mendoza... It was my first time to try a wine-based ice cream, and I was not a huge fan, though I was glad for the experience. I think I'll stick to having my Malbecs poured rather than scooped.

Malbec gelato with cherries

Day Two Hundred Sixteen: Pie for Every Meal

Pi Day is one of our family's favorite holidays and we've been celebrating it in various forms for years. But this year, Ruth had a vision to mix things up by having a different kind of pie for every meal, and she made that vision a reality by making four amazing pies for us. We started the day with an fantastic egg pie, with a bacon lattice top, and a delicious apple pie. For lunch we had a wonderful chicken, mushroom, and leek pot pie. And for dinner, a delectable pot roast pot pie. This Pi Day ended with store bought sweet pies in chocolate, pecan, and cherry to match everyone's preference. Celebrating some of the silly holidays is one of the ways our family has found to bond and make special memories, and I'm so glad we got to enjoy so much of a good thing this Pi Day!

Breakfast Pie

Backup Breakfast Pie

Chicken, Mushroom and Leek Pot Pie

Pot Roast Pot Pie

Happy Pi Day, from our family to yours!