Dine out! Lately, it seems, the answer is always, dine out. I realize this may not be the healthiest option, but it sure is enjoyable.

In the last year, Tony and I have embraced the concept of eating out. I am sure it comes with the stage of life we are in and the age of our children, but we have reached a point when sitting down to a relaxing meal outside the home, with or without the kids, is ultimately satisfying. My waist line isn’t so sure about all of this, but I’m in a YOLO (you only live once) state of mind, so I’m going with it for now.

Then

Let’s be honest, at certain points of child-rearing, a meal was simply a means to an end to fend off hunger. When the girls were little we did family dinners. While the little lovelies fidgeted in their seats, Tony and I sat exhausted wondering who’d have the most energy to do the dishes following the meal. Finger on my nose  – you’re it!

Now

Today, we have teens who are more independent and, suddenly, time is back on our side.

It’s funny – the very thing that prevented us from being able to dine out more often is now the thing that is enabling it…youth sports!

In the past, the kids’ schedules were erratic. We were either unable to or too tired to dine out on a regular basis.

This year, activities are more manageable and, currently, both girls are fully engaged in basketball season. Meanwhile, Tony and I find ourselves with more free time.

We have now made a habit of using the time during practices, after drop-offs and before or after games to dine out. Time might allow for a full meal or maybe just an appetizer or cocktail. We look forward to the time to catch up with one another or friends who join us. The more we go out the more we want to. Basketball has never been so much fun. Take a look at this fabulous food, and drink, we enjoyed at a little Thai restaurant in Tewksbury.  We discovered Mango II Cuisine before a basketball game on Friday night.

I do feel guilty that I don’t cook at home more often these days. Truthfully, I don’t love to cook and there are very few meals I can prepare that everyone in my house will eat. Between allergies and picky eaters (one of whom is an adult and not me!) preparing meals at home is laborious and frustrating. So, I’m over it.

My dream is to be a city girl someday. I want to walk to restaurants of all kinds for brunch, lunch or dinner.  I want to try new foods and dine out in cool, new settings.

So, while I wait for my dream to become a reality, I will live it right here in the suburbs I call home.

Cheers and Bon appetite!

Friends of mine are heading up to Portsmouth, New Hampshire for a couple of nights and I was happy to recommend one of my favorite Portsmouth restaurants. My cousin, Susan, moved to Portsmouth several years ago, which gave me good reason to head up there more often. Thank you Suzie! When we get together and the question of where to make our restaurant reservation comes up, I’m usually the first to say let’s try something different. But we’ve returned to Moxy on several occasions and I’m always glad we do.

If you know the area, you know there are a lot of Portsmouth restaurants to choose from, but there is something about Moxy that sets it apart. Maybe it’s the delicious food served tapas style, or it could be the dimly lit, low-key ambiance. The fact that it’s tucked away on a side street is also appealing. I love going a bit off the beaten path.

Likely it’s the combination of all three that make Moxy a perfect location for our girls’ nights out. It’s easy to chat, the service is friendly and the vibe is so incredibly comfortable. Each time we’ve gone to Moxy we’ve been seated on the upper level. It’s nice because it’s away from the bar, but open to the lower level so we aren’t missing out on the action. Decorative nods to the chef of all chefs, Julia Child, lead me to believe that Moxy has a true understanding of quality cooking with a fun and fabulous flair.

But let’s get serious, if the food weren’t good, we wouldn’t keep going back. The moment you look at Moxy’s menu, you know you’ve stumbled upon something unique. Fried pickle chips are one of Susan’s favorites. I always steal a few. Moxy bread is grilled to perfection with grated tomato and hickory nut farm goat cheese, the pan roasted cauliflower might even get my husband to eat his vegetables and my personal favorite is the beef short rib marmalade on grilled bread with pickled onion and bleu cheese. YUM!

Ingredients are locally sourced, so fresh and full of flavor. The tapas portions are perfect because they allow you to try several options and enjoy a number of creative flavor combinations.

If you’re in the area and seeking a Portsmouth restaurant that will give you a great dining experience, give Moxy – a Modern American Tapas Restaurant, a try. You won’t regret it.