It's a Holiday thing and completely off any kind of plan: a food porn blog

Photo off the internet..this is really a table from Provinos..their garlic rolls and the big salad bowl with wooden spoons......

Memorial Day weekend..you're thinking , cook out, hot dogs, burgers, bbq , pool time. Chillin and grillin...watermelon... Sounds good.

After church, My husband says 'Let's go to Provinos. ' We debate. We toggle back and forth between seeing "Pirates of the Caribbean" and going to Provinos. Provinos is really THAT good. The last time we went was Easter, the time before Valentines, the time before New YEArs, um and the time before was my birthday.. a pattern? The food is so good and so decadent that we only go to this place on special occasions apparently.

And there is nothing health conscious or diet worthy on the menu. The ice water with lemons? All thoughts of health and diet and weight evaporate.

Provinos is a little unassuming strip-mall restaurant that is probably one of the better restaurants in the Atlanta metro. Better as in really tasty and consistent good food. The big shots in Atlanta proper probably never heard of Provinos because they all eat at Veni Vedi Vici or Nava. And for us folks in our suburb, Who would eat at a Macaroni Grill or Olive garden when you can have this? There are about 4 locations in Atlanta and I've been to 2. In our neck of the woods, EVERYONE goes to Provinos. The fact that they serve a full meal to you on your birthday for free keeps the place hoppin. The last 4 people who mentioned going out for a birthday to me , had all been to Provinos. It's what you do.

When you hit the interior you are suddenly transported to a bricked faux-outdoor patio -at night in Little Italy. With wood trellises, olive oil cans and wine bottles as accessories. There are even stained glass windows in little cubbys and corners and a full mural that make you feel like your little cute restaurant was built next to a church. Some might say cheesy but it's warm, dark, glows with a nighttime feel, and puts you in the mood. Frank Sinatra is always singing. Cozy, and intimate. As a comparison, I've been to Italian restaurants in New York and Boston and this just has a fun feel to me and easily as good food.

Then it has that sort of Disney magic. By this I mean the tone. The hostess and waitstaff all ask you "how you are this evening?", "what would you like to drink tonight?" "Can we get you some tiramasu or cheesecake for dessert tonight?".
Did you enjoy your dinner tonight?"

Um, ok?, it is just after noon right?

No . You were transported to another time and place. Enjoy.

Then, the meal. Always good whatever you get. Salad, Garlic rolls, and then anything you could imagine. The best. My husband likes the Chicken parm and I like to get something different each time..today Ziti. It was relatively low carb since there were about 6 ziti noodles total in the dish and the rest was garlic, sausage , red sauce, cheese. Low carb not low fat. The Mediterranean diet.

Then , once the last drop of red wine is sipped, the last dollop of red sauce is sopped up with the last crumb of garlic bread ,and then the little bits of garlic are licked off your finger, you realize you have to maneuver out of the booth. You are in a haze of Italian 'tonight'. If Tony Soprano was smoking a cigar by the bar you'd nod or wiggle your ass a little. Then you waddle towards the door. Complete shock, it's mid day with glaring sunlight bouncing off the chrome and glass of cars in this ordinary strip mall parking lot. Smoothee King lurks by the edge of the parking lot. It's like "Wha...!". Fantasy over.

It's hard to beat up on yourself for not following your food plan when you experience such a fine meal and fun companionship. Did you make good choices? Yes and no...sort of.. will the scale show a loss this week? probably by the end of the week but not in the next day or so. What will you eat the rest of the day? hmmmmm don't talk to me about food, but something later and lighter.

Guess we'll grill out tomorrow.