Date Night

 I think it's important for couples to have date nights. So important, in fact, that I am willing to spend the extra time and money on it, even when times are tough!
 There are lots of studies that say going out on dates with your significant other or spouse does wonders for a relationship. Christian authors and DJ's can't say enough good things about dating. All I know is it's fun, it's tasty, and it helps my relationship.
 It's also nice to be able to get out of the kitchen when you are so used to always cooking and cleaning. My Dad used to make it a point to take my Mom out on dates because she not only homeschooled us and was alone with us all day, but then she cooked and then cleaned the kitchen for a large portion of the night.
 And it's fun to look nice every once in a while for the one you love ;)

We chose indian food for this date night because I was in the mood for some hot, doughy nan. Nan is indian bread, baked fresh and served warm and fluffy. We then chose two meals and shared them both. Each meal came in it's own dish with a large bowl of basmati rice to serve it over.
 I can't say enough good things about the indian restaurant we went to. The service was friendly and prompt. The food was fast and fresh, the bread was piping hot and cooked to order, and the flavors were outstanding. I already knew I liked indian food, but these two dishes rocked my socks off. I didn't take pictures in the restaurant because I felt a little awkward pulling out my camera and taking pictures of my food. It was served very nicely and we enjoyed the presentation, but I wasn't willing to alter the ambiance or the quiet, peaceful mood that the restaurant created by whipping out my camera. Some things are better just enjoyed in the moment. We had a lot left over, so we took it home and I took some pictures here.

 Aloo palak is spinach, potatoes and seasonings. The best thing about this dish is how creamy it was. So delicious, flavors exploding in your mouth, not too spicy. Warm and savory. No cream or dairy, or meat.  

 Yellow daal is yellow lentils with indian seasonings, green onions and parsley.

And the best part of the meal was the two servings of garlic nan

Warm, doughy, easy-to-tear, great-for-dipping, heavenly nan.

 We really appreciate how Indian food takes typical, bland ingredients like potatoes and lentils and turns it into something outstanding by using spices alone. Potatoes and spinach? How bland could that be? Extremely. But thanks to spices, it was amazing. We also really appreciate how they had an entire page of vegetarian appetizers and an entire page of vegetarian plates. I wonder if they would even offer as many meat dishes as they do if it weren't for american influence. I noticed all the employees were authentic indian, and not a single one of them was overweight. Just an observation.

We don't go out to eat too often, so when The Boyfriend and I do go on dates, we always try a new place. Our goal is to never repeat a place twice (unless it is absolutely necessary, like in the case of a thai craving) and therefore get to experience a lot of places around Charlotte. We also stay away from "american" food places, like Chilis, Fridays, Longhorn (wouldn't be able to find anything there anyway) and the typical american restaurants. So far we have done Thai at several different locations, Mediterranean, Mexican, Greek, and now Indian. Next up is Ethiopian. When I had Ethiopian food in California it was so great and I can't wait to introduce The Boyfriend to it! What is your favorite non-american type of food?

 Do you value date nights? Do you like to try new places, or have you become "regulars" at a certain restaurant?  I served tables for 2 years in high school and all 4 years in college, and we certainly had regulars, to the point where some of them would ask for my table in particular, or whoever it was they wanted to see. It was nice, but I can't imagine going to the same place every time I go out to eat.