May The Stars Light Your Way
For our last HAPPY MOUTH of 2005, we met for dinner at Ed’s pick, QUARTER BISTRO in Mariemont. Dave, Robin, guest Jeffrey, Tracy, Ted, Ed, John, guest Paul, Wendy, and Drew met in the cozy restaurant to sample their offerings.
 On Friday, December 30, 2005, I worked at Jean-Robert at Pigall’s for my tenth night of 2005. It was January of 2005 that I started volunteering at the restaurant. Today, I arrived around 1:00 and walked in to find the place buzzing with activity.…
Tonight was a busy night and a lot of fun.
After a full work day, I headed to a local tavern called Holy Grail where I was meeting my old boss (he just retired), two colleagues, and their spouses for drinks. Because I got there an hour before everyone else, I worked on some notes for the show I’ll be directing soon (DINNER WITH FRIENDS at Falcon Theater) and enjoyed some Reuben Eggrolls.
When everyone else arrived, I stowed my work and enjoyed hanging out with these kind folks. Around 7:00, we headed up to Martino’s to participate in the college‘s charity auction. I was able to stay only an hour before heading over to meet my wife and our friends for a wonderful dinner at Ambar India. Wendy had Saag Paneer — creamy spinach with cubes of unmeltable cheese, and I had Chicken Tikki Masala. From there, we all headed to the Esquire to catch a screening of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN.
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 On Saturday, January 7, 2006, I worked at Pigall’s for my eleventh night. I arrived around 1:00pm, washed up, and quickly got to work. Robbie had me cutting up wild boar and duck meat on the slicer (which I first had to clean and…
Tonight, a group of us (Holly, Ed, Colin, Wendy, Jay, and myself) met at ONE DINING, a new restaurant situated in a converted city building in Mason Ohio, for a surprise birthday dinner for Angel (who turns the big 3-0 on January 8th). Ed, Holly,…
On Friday, January 13 (Friday the 13th!), the HAPPY MOUTH SUPPER CLUB met at Biagio’s Bistro in Clifton for our monthly outing, which was Kristy’s selection. Robin, Dave, Chuck, Kristy, Holly, Ron, John, Paul (John’s guest), Angel, Ted, Tracy, Wendy, and Drew crowded into a back corner of the restaurant to enjoy savory Italian cuisine, produced by Biagio himself.
Biagio’s has a great tomato soup which many of us enjoyed; along with hummus; artichoke dip (awesome); lasagna; and plenty of pasta dishes. Drew liked his Angel Hair with Clams and Shrimp entree very much. The portions are large — Wendy said that some friends of hers that dine there regularly will split a single entree three ways. Even Robin & Drew — two pretty hearty eaters — couldn’t finish their plates!
Of course, we did manage to save room for dessert. Drew had the cream puffs, piled on a plate like little cannonballs.
Another successful Happy Mouth!
On Saturday, January 14, 2006, Milan, Brian, Tracy, Ted, Wendy, and Drew dined at the best restaurant in Cincinnati, the incomparable Jean-Robert at Pigall’s. Our reservations were for 6:00, but we’d decided to meet at 5:30 to have a drink in Pigall’s intimate bar. We…