CHEAT!

Yup, I cheated. I confess.
Here's what happened: I just finished telling you about all my challenges coming up and how I was planning on dealing with them. Then I was dealt a blow. My mom called me up at 5pm (when I was trying to figure out what to have for dinner) and she told me that they were having a staff meeting at the Wellington Court tonight (if you have never been there, you should really go sometime, or just look it up online) and I was invited for a wine tasting with the head guy from Henry of Pelham winery, and then a 5 course meal. I told her I wasn't allowed to have wine and she said "Oh, who cares! This is one of those experiences you just can't pass up". So I hmmnd and hawed for about 5 seconds and then I accepted the invite. However, I was planning on being late for the wine tasting so that I wouldn't "have" to have any. Unfortunately I was right on time. I drank the wine. I had sparkling rose, pinot noir and chardonnay. I felt a little drunk, actually.
Then, came the food. Surprisingly challenge-friendly actually, although I am sure there were many hidden cheats, like honey or sugar added to some.
First I had oysters---Never had them before! I was real scared to try them, they were something I always said I would never have, but I had to do it. I was at the Wellington. They were actually pretty f'n good. Paired with a little sparking wine, it really tasted nice. Challenge friendly, aside from the wine.
Then came a pan-fried trout on butternut squash puree with smoked pork neck (yes, I said pork neck) and a carrot salad. MMMMmmm...pork neck tasted like salami!
Then came a gnocci, not challenge friendly as it was in a cream sauce although I didn't eat much of the sauce at all. The gnocci was paired with some shellfish. Oh yea, the cream sauce was made with vodka so definetely not challenge friendly.
Then came a boston lettuce salad with pear which was amazing and possibly challenge friendly although the dressing tasted sweet so perhaps not.
Then came the main meal which was chicken stuffed with wild rice risotto, some swiss chard and some other vegetable--very friendly!
Then-dessert. I was afraid. Afraid I was about to just blow the whole thing out of the water...it was--get this--GOAT'S MILK panna cotta with some fruit sauce. I am SURE there was sugar in there somewhere, HOWEVER I still think a dessert that is mainly goat's milk is pretty cool. It was very good as well, not at all sweet and very light.
So, here's my conclusion:
I walked away tonight, 3 points in the hole, a little drunk, but still feeling light, airy and not at all weighed down or heavy. I had a five-star meal for FREE, a private wine tasting with the guy who is in charge of the vineyards, taught how to swirl, smell and taste (swish) and a good time with family and friends.
I think we do need to take advantage of these oppourtunities when they come our way, and not beat ourselves up for it. I have done amazingly well this past week, eating healthy and loving every minute of it. AND I am honest which has to count for something as well.
The only thing is, I have to make sure that I am just as strict with myself tomorrow morning as I have been all along, as sometimes something like this can change the way you think, and that would be disasterous.
So I promise that tomorrow morning I will forget this ever happened, like a good one night stand, and get back on the straight and narrow.

Here's to smoked pork neck.

Cheers.

Kate