Yum-e herbs! Yum-e...herbs...???

Yummy yummy experience at Pasta Pomodoro at the Bella Terra Mall in Huntington Beach. Just meeting some girlfriends from work after what seemed like YEARS since we last met at the mall for dinner. And what a nice little surprise it was. After running around to the Cheesecake Factory and refusing to wait 2 hours for a table, we crossed the street over to Pasta Pomodoro. One of my girlfriends had eaten there once before and swore by it so we went on in. "10-15 minute wait?" NO PROBLEM!

Funny how my girlfriend turned to me and said, "So what INTERESTING thing are you going to order today?" I was like, "whah?" I guess apparently, she's used to me ordering some crazy combination of things rather than the typical 1 entree with salad and drink. And by golly, she was RIGHT! I took one look at the appetizer menu and fell in love with their Butternut Squash Ravioli and Asparagus. Not being too hungry, and the fact that I was surrounded by all size 0 (more like size -1) women at the time, I didn't want to eat too much and so instead of ordering an entree, I just went with those two appetizers and decided to leave some room for dessert. To quench my thirst, I thought a nice glass of wine would be really nice after the long drive; and since we'd probably be shuttin' the place down with conversation I thought it'd be just fine. Low and behold, after asking the waitress if she had any wine recommendations, she apologizes for not showing me the wine flights selection that they do just on Fridays (which it was!) and so I immediately ordered a flight of the Riesling, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc.

Boy, was I ever happy with my order. The butternut squash was so yummy! Topped with amaretti crumbs (reminds me of Giada De Laurentiis) and decorated with these tasty herb crisps!

I've never had herbs like this before! they were like these little sweet and salty chips, but they were...sage! This will defnitely be my next experiment! I asked the waitress how it was done and she said that the sage was not dusted with salt or sugar but that they were just boiled first and then baked in the oven along with the ravioli. I don't know about that...all the girls had a try and agreed - there's somethin' going on with something sweet and salty in there. Well, I'll just have to try it and see. But wow - I'd totally order this dish again and good news is that they serve it as an entree also. I'm bringing hubby here for dinner sometime!

The asparagus was excellent. The stalks were of the thin variety, but I didn't mind it much due to the cheese that was shredded on top. I know NOTHING of cheese and I wish I knew more becauswe then I'd make asparagus like this EVERYDAY. (picture missing, sorry.)


The wine flight...now that was fun. Getting to try Riesling, Pinot Grigio AND Sauvignon Blanc all for just $6.50, that is one heck of a deal. It seems that you get about a glass and a half's worth...a typical glass of wine costs at least $7 or more. (I'm used to drinking reds, so maybe the price is cheaper for white)

Short visit but sweet. Amazing Butternut Squash Ravioli, yummy asparagus side dish and cheap wine flights, what more could a girl ask for? Oh yeah...dessert...my bad....

Similar recipe perhaps? (for the butternut squash)