Hello Dawn,
Here is a report I wrote to the NG. Thought you'd like to read about the chocolate especially!!! When ever I go to that restaurant I think of you and wish you'd come visit so I could take you there. Maybe someday, eh?
Yep, quilts, quilt books, and chocolate ... all in one lovely afternoon. It doesn't get much better than that, even on a very hot and humid day. A friend and I went for lunch yesterday, at the Trellis Restaurant in Williamsburg, Virginia ... kitchen of the famous Death By Chocolate Dessert and other brilliant food. (You may have the books by Chef Marcell Desclaires?? ... sorry, I can't ge that right!)
It is a lovely restaurant. The patio is very attractive and DH and I especially like to sit out there and watch the world pass by on the Square. Yesterday was too hot and humid though, so Carol and I ate indoors. Good choice, given the high humidity. The interior is okay. Simple furnishings occasionally sparkled up with some Art on Consignment. This time there were some BEAUTIFUL art quilts on display. Absolutely stunning work ... stunning prices too! I certainly enjoyed those quilts.
We each had the salad with grilled chicken breast. Very good, especially the red cabbage. Not too filling, as we wanted dessert of course! It was a tough choice, but I finally decided to get the Chocolate Temptation instead of DBC, for a change of pace. Good coffee too. And, Carol paid for it ... a late birthday lunch. (VERY late ... my BD was in January!!) Good food, good conversation, good service ... fantastic chocolate cake with ganache coat and a delicate raspberry sauce. Oh la la!
Then we wandered around the Merchants' Square and a few blocks over. It was like walking thru a sauna, with that humidity! If you know the Colonial Williamsburg stores your probably know the Quilts Etc. Store that was upstairs from a general store. It had lots of quilts ... some old, some new ... quite a few gift and crafted items, and even a small selection of fabric and quilt books. Well that store has relocated a few blocks over, near the Seasons Cafe, by the old hospital. Now it has lots and lots of giftables, the quilts, and some specialty clothing. No more bolt fabric, only a few FQ and Half yard cuts at $2.25 and 4.50 respectively. Considering these are way outdated, the price is too much. BUT .... all the quilt books are 50% off!! I found at least 8 that I thought interesting, but narrowed it to just three. I got the little Jean Ray Laury Organizer book called Keeping It All Together, Quiltmakers of Australia by Karen Fail, and Easy Art Quilts by Christiane Meunier. All that for about $22 ... woo hooo!! It was terrific to find this sale as I 'owed' myself a new book for reward and had planned to spend about $25. This reward was for good job with Weight Watchers. 8-)
Last evening I went to my small quilt group. We gave farewell blocks to a member moving to Colorado. We swapped red 5" strips. Got a demo on some easy 3-D blocks. Nice evening. Saw a couple quilts and other goodies.
Quilts, books, chocolate .... a tough day, but someone had to do it. Did I mention the humidity was a killer??
PAT in Virginia