Just in time ...

Left Berea Kentucky this morning in a driving rain storm. As predicted, the rain started early and with gusto. Flood warnings were already posted for most of the state and all's I could think of was getting stranded somewhere I didn't want to be. We could have stayed put but the rain was expected to continue for several days so our best choice was to get out of town and maybe get ahead of most of the storm. Traffic was not too heavy but what was there was mostly big trucks. We succeeded in getting ahead of the weather but it took about 200 miles of Kentucky and Ohio roads to do it. Tense driving for me but we did make it to our next stop by mid-afternoon.

We're about 15 miles north of Columbus and in a nice family owned facility. Since they just opened for the season we had little problem finding a site. Unfortunately they're better set up for 5'ers and trailers as the turning radius' were very tight for me. After we unhooked, I had to jostle the coach around to get it into our assigned spot but made is just fine and we had a chance to look around at our camp. It looks like a 250 site camp with store, pool and lots of stuff for families. Since it's about six miles from the nearby town of Galena, it's quiet and out of the way.

We kicked back and relaxed for a while then decided to head out for dinner. Since we couldn't be home to celebrate our good friends Bill and June's wedding anniversary today we thought we'd just celebrate in their honor. We'd heard there were about 70 resturants near the freeway so we ventured that way.

After driving by most of the eateries in the area we settled on Italian food and a place called Marcella's. We stepped inside to find a bustling bistro with stacks of wine bottles, loaves of bread, and stacks of cheese. The place smelled great. Our waitress stopped over and explained the resturant was a new concept being developed for Italian eating. Like a tapas, they served lots of different things, but small portions of each. This encouraged you to try new things and to share with your table mates. With a little help from our waitress we ordered the following:

Pecorino Di Pienza. A formaggi (cheese) appetizer that was heated in a small iron skillet. Along with the cheese (a sheep's milk variety), we were served thin toast points along with thin slices of apple and some truffle honey. To eat you dip the toast tips into the hot Pecorino cheese, add an apple slice and drizzle with truffle honey. Oh my. Not a combination I could ever have dreamed up, but wish I had. Completely fantastic. Next was a braised veal meatball with a simple tomato sauce. The most delicately flavored meatball on the planet. Next a Caesar salad of Romain hearts with a very mild Parmisan Reggiano dressing and anchovy. Next Lasagna Alla Bolognese with a slow cooked veal ragu and pecorino cheese. The noodles were as thin as baklava crust and without a doubt the finest lasagna we had ever eaten. Next we enjoyed Penna Alla Arrabiatta pasta with a spicey tomato sauce, toasted garlic and sweet basil. We top it all off with a very graceful carafe of ItalianVeronse. Oh my again. We can hardly describe this food. It was one of the finest meals we have ever eaten. You might think how could they eat all that food but since the portions were small and we shared each dish, it was just the right amount. Surprise surprise but we also ordered dessert. A tiramisu that was almost undescribable. Light and oh so delicious. So if you are ever in the Columbus area, stop in and enjoy. Kathy A. at the office...make a point of getting Jim to bring you here.

When we were about finished eating, we noticed a commotion of some sort occuring just across the aisle from us. A rather large, well dressed man was leaning over his table kissing his date. They were surrounded by resturant staff and other diners and the resturant erupted in applause. Seconds before the kiss he had been on one knee proposing marriage to his girl. She was in tears as were several onlookers nearby. It was a nice touch to our evening too.

As a sidebar to this night out dining... the resturant is owned by the same people who owned Mitchell's Fish House located in Lansing at the East Town Center off of Lake Lansing Road. I say owned (past tense) because they recently sold the property and it will be operated as a Ruth Chris Steakhouse. They apparently decided to get out of the fish business and concentrate on Italian. They are considering opening a Marcella's resturant in Michigan so there is hope.