It is not unusual  in Manitoba to have snow that stays on the ground at Hallowe’en.  There are some years that we’ve had snow for Thanksgiving.  This year though, it is still summer on the prairies.  So when a couple of business friends suggested a Friday afternoon rendezvous at Mise on Corydon Ave., I was stoked to see if the patio might still be open.  Except for the wasp that landed in a glass of Malbec, it was a perfect way to kick start the Thanksgiving weekend.

Both my friends had dined at Mise previously so they already had thoughts about what to order.  I was tempted by the “Confederation Cove Mussels” but because I thought that it would be hard to top Inferno’s and 7 1/4’s “Moule & Frites”, I let my eyes wander further down the menu.  Food Musings readers know that I am crazy about both eggplant and artichokes so to haveboth in one pasta dish-bliss!  While we sat in the sun, a basket of chewy baguettes was served with sunflower oil (instead of the typical olive oil).

Lunch arrived.  The “Angel Hair Pasta with Grilled Vegetables, Roasted Red Peppers, Concasse Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, Feta Cheese, Pickled Eggplant, Wilted Greens and Artichoke Hearts” was sublime. Salty from the olives and cheese, oily (in a good way), spicy (from the vegetable marinade I suspect) and smooth from the perfectly cooked pasta.  With such an explosion of tastes, I was content with the portion size which was generous for lunch but not excessive. 

I’m thankful for good friends, good food, fine wine and a lingering summer.

Kath’s quote: “ Grilling is like sunbathing.  Everyone knows it is bad for you but no one ever stops doing it.”-Laurie Colwin

Share on Facebook