It seems like a long while since I've been to a dinner meetup - even though I was at one as recently as last week. But then, my short term memory isn't as good as I'd like it to be these days. 😉
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As usual, I prepared for my meetup by finding a nice dress to wear, and refreshing my makeup. (Do I ever go anywhere as Mario anymore if I can avoid it?) Then it was off to La Bocca in White Plains. Although I've been to meetups with this group before, I had not yet met tonight's organizer. (I don't have much to say about her, as she is a pleasant person who I'd like to get to know better as a friend.) The conversation at the table flowed like water, as there were enough different topics for us to chat about without becoming awkward.
But I've neglected the most important past of the meetup - the food!
La Bocca is a mildly upscale Italian restaurant. Being in Downtown White Plains, this restaurant likely has a high rent. So it has to recoup that expense in slightly higher prices than I'm accustomed to be paying for Italian food. But the food is worth every cent. I had the Octopus Salad as a starter, consisting of various greens and thick, tasty tomato slices with several cooked octopus limbs on top. Yum! My main course was Chicken Scarapariello. And it was served without bones. YUM! The only drawback to this place is the parking. If one doesn't know White Plains, there is almost no on-street parking. Instead, there are quite a few municipal parking lots squeezed in between office buildings which one must use. This can be confusing for people not familiar with the area.
All too soon, our group finished dinner, and we were on our way home. I figured that I'd register for some new meetups when I got home, and found out that I was taken off the wait list. I am now scheduled for several more over the next two weeks, including one in NYC for its restaurant week. (I won't say much about the NYC restaurant, save that it is known for a steak named after the restaurant.)
As you can guess, I'm looking forward to eating with nice people again....
