What is it about date nights that are so much fun? I think it’s the planning and the anticipation… and calling it “date night.” Instead of it being a casual “So, you wanna grab dinner?” kind of thing, the forethought that goes into date night makes it extra special.
Last night I planned a date for us to continue celebrating Ryan’s 29th birthday. I actually had a whole birthday agenda in place for yesterday beginning in the morning and lasting through the night. I tried to include things I know Ryan loves (like hiking) and made sure the evening activities were extra special.
Ryan and I first ate dinner at La Cuisine with his dad almost a year ago (when we accidentally dressed like triplets) and agree that it’s one of the best restaurants in Ocala. I made reservations for us to enjoy dinner at the French restaurant to kick off the night!
It was a rainy night, so we had to do the “park and run” thing until we found awnings to keep us dry as we walked to the restaurant.
I was excited to use my new clutch! When I was visiting my grandma in Gettysburg last month, my mom and I stopped into a TJMaxx in Hanover where I found a cream version of the yellow Steve Madden clutch I bought at the TJMaxx in Ocala back in August. It holds so much stuff. I can fit my entire wallet in it! If you see it at a TJMaxx near you and are in the market for a clutch that can fit a small child inside, I highly recommend it.
Once we were seated, our incredibly friendly waitress told us that the soup of the day was pumpkin and Ryan and I ordered a bowl to share.
It was the perfect bowl of soup for a rainy evening.
We made sure to use some buttered crusty French bread to soak up any soup that was stuck to the bottom of the bowl.
For my entrée, I ordered the La Cuisine vegan tamale.
It was a traditional corn tamale stuffed with julienne turnip, carrot & zucchini seasoned with thyme, garlic cilantro served with avocado. It was good, but I wouldn’t order it again. I’ve loved past entrees I’ve ordered at La Cuisine much more, but it was fun to try something different. Ryan got the peppercorn filet special and it was fantastic!
As a side, we shared green beans and pumpkin gratin.
I dominated the pumpkin gratin. It was light, fluffy and perfectly cheesy.
I really wanted to order dessert, but it was already 7:45 and we were 15 minutes away from the Ocala Civic Theatre where we were supposed to go next for an 8 p.m. show.
We quickly paid the bill and were the last ones to arrive at the theatre before they closed the doors. Phew!
I bought us tickets to see Self Help since Ryan and I both think that the community theatre in Ocala is awesome. They put on some amazing plays and musicals and after reading about Self Help, it sounded like a show we would enjoy.
The show was hilarious and was the perfect ending to date night!
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What a fun night! The clutch….and your dress are both SUPER cute!
I love TJMaxx. And I’m pretty sure I would put a hurtin on pumpkin gratin. Looks delicious!
I wouldn’t have thought tamales would be on the menu at a French restaurant……
Pumpkin soup sounds delicious, especially with the cool weather we are having today.
Agreed – date nights are the best! I’m glad you two had a great day together! It sounds like you did a great job at planning it.
Love date nights…it reminds me that my husband and I need to plan one!
Your dress is super cute by the way!
YUM! Pumpkin soup sounds amazing!
What a cute clutch! Ill have to check out tj maxx! And pumpkin soup sounds yummy!
Sounds like so much fun! I love going to the theatre. It’s so important to support local community theatres. And the food looked super yummy 🙂
You’re date night looked like so much fun! Those kind of nights are my favorite…makes me want a husband (but I guess I gotta get a boyfriend first). I love your dress by the way!
I love how you are constantly trying new places and new things. What kinds of resources do you use to research restaurants and activities? I use trip advisor but am always looking for something different.
The Kidless Kronicles
The vegan tamale looks really yummy! For my birthday a few weeks ago, Scott and I went to this little organic Mexican hole-in-the-wall here in Seattle that’s decorated in full old-style Mexican wrestling gear and sombrero. We loved it so much, we went back last night for a “just us” date for vegan nachos and sangria!
That sounds like a really fun date night! You’re so thoughtful to plan things all day long for Ryan 🙂 I love your dress and shoes, btw – so cute!
So glad you guys had a good date night! I love community theatres. Josh and I last saw I Love You You’re Perfect Now Change and loved every second of it.
Your date nights are way too cute!! I love all of your fun ideas and dinner plans!! So exciting! (:
Cute dress! All the sides look yummy– I hate it when the sides at a restaurant are boring.
Happy 29th birthday to Ryan!!!
Love the idea of Date Nights, it’s always a beautiful day when you can spend time with the ones you love!
P.S. On the search for the Steve Madden clutch in ivory–I also have it in yellow and I love it!
Fun! So, so jealous that you are still wearing dresses and sandals! It’s struggling to get out of the 40s here today..wayyyyy too cold for early October!
It’s high time we had a properly planned out date night instead of a ‘let’s grab a nice dinner’. Thanks for the reminder!
You look so cute too, love the dress!
Is the pressure going to be on for next years ‘dirty 30’?!
The pumpkin gratin looks so good! I wish we had a theatre nearby – what a great idea for date night. Also I love your dress! Dress weather is officially over here in Canada.
It’s so funny you guys have TJMaxx…we have TKMaxx in Ireland!!! Pumpkin Gratin sounds amazing! Not that I know you but it’s not the entree I would have chosen for you, I would of went with meat or fish…though your dish woulda been right up my street! 🙂
Both the pumpkin soup and pumpkin gratin sound amazing!! Pumpkin gratin seems so innovative yet simple and delish 🙂
Where did you get those shoes?!?!? LOVE!
I always have my eye open looking for vegan tamales, but I can’t ever find them! I made my own a few months (okay, it was for Cinco de Mayo), and they were delish but so much work. Honestly, I sort of regret sharing the four dozen I made with my friends. I could have hoarded them in my freezer until winter. JK, though, I love cooking for friends.
I love your blog, by the way!
Happy belated birthday, Ryan! I love that your tamales came with what seems like an entire avocado, a food I could live on.
oh mannn that pumpkin gratin sounds so good and unique! I’m curious to know how it tastes. And what a fun night! You look very purty in that cute dress. 😀
I love your dress and clutch!
I agree that the theatre in Ocala is awesome! I’m up in Gainesville and have been to several shows there. They always do such a great job. Here in Gainesville, we have the Hippodrome and they are also great. It’s in downtown Gainesville, perfect for a date night. If you ever really wanted a change of scenery and like sushi I highly recommend Dragonfly and then crossing the street for a show at the Hipp. 🙂
It might not have been your favorite entree, but those tamales at least LOOK amazing!!!
Pumpkin gratin?! Yum!!!
How nice 🙂 It looks like you had a wonderful time !
Fun! Live theater is one of my favorite things to do for a night out.
Aww damn for missing out dessert- I hope you got froyo on the way home- did Ryan have a cake? Sounds like a very good day and night, such a spoilt guy 😉
You look so beautiful! 🙂
What a perfect date night! Dinner and a show! I know you didn’t like it much, but the vegan tamale looks delicious 🙂
I love your dress! So pretty! 🙂 That pumpkin gratin looks amazing. I know I definitely would have been eating that.
Sounds like a really great time! I think it’s wonderful you and Ryan do these sweet, romantic things together.
Your dress is adorable!!! And I love community theater, it’s so fun and waaay less expensive than big theaters! I ‘m glad you had a great date night!
I love your outfit! My grandmother lives in Hanover and I swear that is the best TJ Maxx! 🙂 Next time you are in that area you have to hit Tropical Treat (not very healthy) but it delicious food and ice cream! 🙂