graffiti and polenta

Last night I had dinner with friend and at my favorite restaurant in the whole wide world, Mamma Zu. I have only written about this place about 142 times. It’s that yummy to me. I love that they still don’t even have a website, or at least I’ve never been able to find one when I do a search. Great thing about a place that good and that busy? They don’t need one!

I was one happy camper when I looked up at the chalkboard menu and saw an appetizer that had seemed to disappear for years: polenta gorgonzola. Of course we ordered it. Here’s our serving:

The whole package at Mamma Zu makes me happy: Incredible food, good wine, reasonable prices, funky looking characters working in the tiny open kitchen, seedy neighborhood, dilapidated looking building with paint peeling off the front door next to the “pull hard” paper sign taped to it, and the graffiti on the bathroom walls. (That is just scratching the surface.) Of course I have participated in the allowed delinquency over the years, writing on those walls of the scrubby looking ladies room. This summer before I left for Alaska, I had to get my Mamma Zu fix. The bathroom wall 6 months ago was fairly bare, so I opted from some prime real estate to write my message. Guess what was still there last night? Indeed my message, with a “response” of sorts from a stranger:

In case you can’t read the message above mine, it says: “Alaska was here. Do what you like and like what you do!”

Hoorah to that Alaska…thanks! I left you a message back, so you’ll have to check it out next time you’re in my favorite little hole in the wall house of deliciousness.

To my dinner company~

Here’s to moving at the speed of light, no matter what your age, going to bed happy, and waking up even happier. Thank you.