Jessica Dalton Barcelona: Birthday Gift + Tom treats us to dinner!

Yesterday was something out of a dream. We set off going south and ended up in the theatre district with a big show sign on every corner. There was also a New Year's parade that we stumbled upon... but we were heading to a show! No time for dilly dallying!

After getting lost for the millionth time we finally ended up at our destination - Her Majesty's Theatre where Phantom of the Opera was showing! What a phenomenal birthday gift from a phenomenal girlfriend. This is a show that I had been dying to see for so long. The cast was amazing. The set design had me completely entranced. It was just wonderful.

After the two and a half hours of sheer bliss we exited the theatre onto a cold, dark and bustling street. We walked through what seemed to be the busiest tourist area... then through a bit of Chinatown... then through our neighborhood back to our apartment. After relaxing for an hour or so it was time to head out again, this time to a dinner that Mr. Tom Lofthouse had set up for us at a friend's restaurant. Cote is a small French chain comparable in quality to something like Houston's/Gulfstream in quality... but it's French. French restaurants make me and Jessica happy because their portions are small enough to allow for the tasting of a variety of dishes. Also there's good wine. [:

We enjoyed the Goats Cheese Tartine (Chargrilled sourdough bread with soft goats cheese, roasted baby artichokes and black olive tapenade), the Mushroom Crepes (Baked crépes with mushrooms, spinach and gruyère cheese - these were INSANELY delicious), and a lobster dish as our main course. Jessica assured me that it would just be a lobster tail or something because the price seemed so low compared to what it would be in America. When it came out it was a lobster chopped in half with all of the meat still inside the shell. SO weird!!! But she took charge and tore the meat out. It was delicious, though I did not really care for the process. After our main course we enjoyed a chocolate concoction that made Jessica close her eyes... it was so rich and delicious. For beverages I enjoyed a beer called Kasteel Cru which is brewed with champagne yeast. Easily one of the best beers I've ever had. I'll be looking for a case in Paris so I can ship it home and let you all try it. We also enjoyed a bottle of the Maison L`Aiglon Chardonnay 2009, Vin De Pays D'Oc (Melon and pineapple with subtle toasty oak) - which was a very, very delicious bottle of wine.

Here are a few photos!