Friday, May 24, 2013

A VERY HAPPY THURSDAY

SWMBO and I visited the Arizona Science Center yesterday afternoon specifically to see the traveling exhibit "DaVinci - the Genius."  It was well worth it.  


There were huge reproductions of pages from DaVinci's drawings - anatomical and mechanical.  His skill is an artist was unequaled.  But his creative mind must have been constantly busy.


Many of his ideas predicted inventions that would be made hundreds of years into the future.  This is a forerunner of today's helicopter.  Many of his ideas never worked in his lifetime but the science that was involved came into play and was developed much later.

And then there was one of his most famous paintings.


The Mona Lisa.  This, of course, is a reproduction.  We saw the real thing at the Louvre in Paris back in the 1980's.  I don't think we knew though that a photographer was given exclusive permission to photograph the painting, unframed, some years back and used today's technology, including infrared photography to determine the actual pigments and oils used by DaVinci to create the masterpiece.  Fascinating display with many different views of the Mona Lisa.

That took up much of the afternoon and since this is Arizona Restaurant Week featuring prix fixe meals at dozens of restaurants, we had made a reservation at one of our favorites - Tomaso's.  Dinner began with some crusty bread, garlic butter and/or a Balsamic Vinegar and Olive oil dip.


Accompanied, of course, by wine - an Argentine Malbec for the lady, a Tuscan blend for me.

Then - the appetizers.  Mine was an Italian pasta selection with an incredible parmesan cheese sauce.  SWMBO chose a delicious crab cake and a Portobello mushroom.  Mine disappeared before I remembered the camera and I've somehow lost a shot I took of hers.

But I DID get pictures of her humongous butterflied pork chop with pasta and my plate, which included lamb, petite filet and sausage over risotto.



She brought perhaps better than half of hers home.  I, typically, ate all of mine!

But there's more!  This was a three course dinner and desserts were the finishing touch, accompanied by tiny cups of espresso.


Mine was a foamy-stuffed profiterole drowned in chocolate with a couple of strawberry wedges on the side.  (And, by the way, I wasn't sloppy - the kitchen had painted the serving plate with chocolate!)


But just to prove that Mother Knows Best, SWMBO finished her meal with a delicious pistachio gelato.

Everything was delicious and it was a fantastic day!

8 comments:

  1. How in the world can you put all of that great and delicious looking meal away? I'd be up walking the floor all night!. The DaVinci exhibition looks fascinating. Phoenix is certainly agreeing with you guys.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Interesting to think that Leonardo is considered one of the greatest thinkers of all time based on approximately 500 pages from his notebooks, but when he died his notebook was thousands of pages. Where are these pages and what's written on them. It boggles the mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apparently, Stephen, some people over the centuries broke up many of his manuscripts and sold them page by page. They then became lost over the years. Truly a tragedy.

      Delete
  3. Now that is what I call a full day! Isn't restaurant week great? I've visited two so far and the third is on the schedule for tonight. I have to get down to the center to see that Da Vinci exhibit.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're definitely enjoying life in the big city. That meal looks amazing! ;)

    S

    ReplyDelete
  5. What an amazing day you have. The foods are indeed delicious.

    ReplyDelete