flavor explosions. in my mouth.

while in orlando, i met up with a high school friend, bona, for a meal at the ravenous pig! isn't she gorgeous? she's absolutely super and we had a really great meal together. lots of catching up and laughing.

the ravenous pig is a gastropub and it was amazing how delicious it all tasted. it was a little fancier than i thought it would be, with white tablecloths and all; the term 'gastropub' makes me think of gritty and seedy bars. apparently, it's been featured on the food network. the menu changes each day, though there are a few staple items, such as the truffle fries and the gruyere biscuits with smoked sea salt butter.



here's the octopus appetizer. i have no idea how they prepared it, but the texture was less like octopus and more like chicken. it. was. divine. *whimper* now. i want some now.



bona had the mussels and truffle fries - seriously delicious.



i, of course, had the maple duck (i am SO predictable).



and i LOVED IT!



for dessert, we each got 3 scoops of ice cream (for bona) and gelato (for myself). or was it the other way around?! either way, again, FLAVOR EXPLOSIONS IN OUR MOUTHS. they were so good! (ant and i recently went to the refinery here in tampa and their mint sorbet was a huge watery and overly extract-y disappointment.)




like all meals, it had to come to a sad end.



bona with the adorable and perky emma.

thank you, bona, for the lovely meal and wonderful time together! i'm really hoping to see more of my friends in orlando and sarasota - 1 hour drives are nothing compared to austin, tx.