The Small Boston Kitchen

It's been a little while since I last wrote but I couldn't think of a better reason to take a break from work (as much as possible at least!). It hasn't even been a month yet since Burger Boy popped the question and even as we start to talk more seriously about plans and numerous bridal magazines are strewn all throughout our apartment, it's still a tough thing to believe - we're getting married! We've both been so giddy and to celebrate the decision to spend our lives together, we took a quick trip to Montreal.

Taking a break from map reading, somewhere in Petite Italie, Montreal

But before I get to the vacation part, it only seems fitting to share the story. (Get yourself comfortable, this has the makings of a lengthy post..) A couple Sundays ago, we had just gotten home from visiting my parent's to celebrate my Dad's 60th Birthday and we had been planning to go on a picnic at a park near us that we love to regularly go. It was supposed to rain so we decided to go earlier in afternoon to avoid any inclement weather. Since we had been away for a couple of days, there really wasn't much food at our place but Burger Boy seemed confident that he could just whip something up and, insisting that I not peek, he got to work in the kitchen while I stayed in our TV room. Within a couple minute's time he had filled up one of our reusable shopping bags and we were on our way.

Canadian Beer Break

Under cloudy skies, we sat at the one and only picnic table at the park. The park was unusually crowded but that didn't stop us from digging into some cheese and drinking wine out of plastic Solo cups. At one point during our picnic, a sandwich-sized foil package was placed before each of us. As I peeled away the foil, I was stunned and asked where we had bread and meat hiding at our apartment. Burger Boy proudly explained that he had pastrami on rye sandwiches shipped from Katz's deli in New York. And at that point I teared up. This man loved me enough to be so thoughtful as to ship me the one item I said was the best thing I've ever eaten. Yes, I cried over a deli sandwich but if you've had the sandwich before, you get it.

The original Katz's experience - December 2011

Pastrami heaven

And I thought that was it. A thoughtful gesture from my boyfriend. I easily lost myself in the briny meat accentuated by a peppery exterior and round slices of rye bread slathered with spicy brown mustard. After we finished our sandwiches, I was stuffed but we still had some wine left so we found some cover from the rain under a big tree. "Ready for dessert?" he said. Me, being stuffed and convinced he was going to pull out a cheesecake from Junior's (also a religious experience and also in New York) but not wanting to hurt his feelings, I said that I was ready for dessert. He asked me to turn around (he knew I'd peek) while he prepared the dessert. With my back turned, I heard silverware jostling so I planned my strategy for tackling some cheesecake. When I was asked to turn around, he was on one knee and it still didn't register what was happening until he said "Beets, will you marry me?". I cried (again) and after being gently reminded that I had to give an answer, I said yes.

Canadian Cheese Plate

Schwartz's Smoked Meat Sandwich

Coffee Break

Duck in a Can

Since our engagement it's been a total blur as we prepare for our busiest season at work and now, put together a plan for our wedding. To celebrate our engagement and to sneak away before things really get hectic, we went to Montreal this week for a mini-vacation. There, we had our fill of Poutine and foie gras as well as splurged on the infamous Duck in a Can when we snagged a late night dinner reservation at Au Pied de Cochon. We filled up on hearty Canadian beers, ate smoked meat sandwiches at Schwartz's and walked through historic and European feeling Old Montreal. We had coffees at cute little french cafes, ate Montreal bagels that were hot from the oven and we walked until we thought we couldn't walk anymore. Throughout the majority of our trip, I found myself staring at my ring and thinking about how damn lucky I am to have found my match and how great it is that we've decided to spend the rest of our lives together. So this is what it's all about.

Couldn't go to Montreal and not have Poutine, now, could we?

Various Montreal Bagels