I know I know, everyone hates valentines day. It was created by greeting card and candy companies. So what, who cares! I wish people would lighten up. As I was passing out cards on Saturday, part of my spiel was "Valentines Day Open Bar." I couldn't tell you how many cocaine skinny scantily clad club go-er's would then respond with "FUCK VALENTINES DAY!" in harsh accents that betrayed their looks. Everything I needed to know about human beings, I learned by being the person who is paid to bother them on the street.
When Monday rolled around I gleefully displayed the greeting cards I got from my family and waited for Cameron to come home from answering phones all day so we could go out to eat. We were going to Mama Maria's on Passyunk, and I had been wanting to go there for a long time; it's unlike any restaurant you or I have ever heard of before.
First of all, Mama Maria is a small time TV personality. She had her own show on PBS for a while before opening the restaurant. Second, there are wonderfully few choices to make. Everyone gets the 7 course prixe fixe and pays the same amount of money (around 45 dollars). The only choice you make is your entree, and the menu is read aloud to you. We had a choice between one of four meat dishes or four fish dishes. And third, the true icing on the cake, is that there is unlimited wine during your meal, and after your meal, everyone gets six BOTTLES of homemade liqueurs ploppped onto the table for you to dabble in while you enjoy dessert.
As we walked over from our apartment, I joked to Cameron that I hoped there would be live music and we could eat spaghetti that ends in a kiss like lady and the tramp. Well, wouldn't you know as soon as we walked in we heard the accordion player and I laughed out loud at the realization of my vision. The players name was Mario, and he was as much a comedian/personality as he was a musician. I also think he had a crush on Cameron.
As soon as you sit down the antipasti is all ready on your reserved table. A mixture of grilled and sauteed vegetables greeted us along with a carafe of red wine and fresh rolls! This was good, because Cameron gets fussy when he's hungry and he got to dig in immediately. Can more restaurants do this please? Why do you order your drink first, wait five minutes for it, drink it for ten minutes and then finally get bread to eat? Bass ackwards.
Everything tasted so good that we experienced the 'food high', a phenom coined by Cam describing food that's so good you start feeling intoxicated just by eating it. Everything about the experience was so pleasant, and it was made even better by the fact that I got a 25 dollar gift certificate for 2 dollars on restaurant.com. Mama was there the whole time, she's a pint sized Italian woman with a lovely accent; she cooks up the food herself and makes sure everyone is having a good time! Thanks Mama!
MANGE MANGE MANGE!! (sp?)
