Givanni's

My Saturday night started out like this.  Bellied up to the bar at Graze, sipping a blueberry martini.  If you know me, not my usual Saturday night.

But, gosh sometimes you just need a change of scenery.

With the in-laws in town, a girlfriend and I headed to Iowa City for a much needed night out (and by night out, I mean home by 9:30 p.m.).  Hell-raisers, I tell ya.  I never, ever drink martinis, usually just a beer or wine girl, but I was feeling frisky.  Quite possibly one of the best $9 drinks I've ever had.

After walking around a bit, we landed at Givanni's, devouring this plate of crostini.  We both agreed, we could eat this all night, every night and maybe for our very last meal.  It was that good.  Crispy bread, buffalo mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, basil, pesto and a balsamic glaze.

I definitely need to recreate it.

What's best about many of the restaurants downtown is they make a promise to use as much local and fresh meat and produce as they can.  You can honestly taste the quality.  I wish more restaurants did this.

This lasagna was out of this world.  And huge.  Filled with homemade sausage, ricotta, spinach and love, it was wonderful.  This kiddos ate my leftovers the next day for lunch.  Sadly, I got none.

The rest of our evening including a 40 minute scenic tour of a parking ramp.  We got lost.  Could not find my car ANYWHERE.  After two trips from the 4th floor down and back up, we realized....

We were in the wrong ramp.

Genius.  Once we got to the right ramp, there was my car smiling at me.

Happy Sunday!  We are off to church, then a day of relaxing.  Stay tuned for homemade potato salad, peanut butter fluff brownies and a very, very unique style of pizza.

Good eats!