Back when I was a little girl, I used to dream of the man I would marry one day. I would pretend that we lived in a castle among rolling green hills with white horses running around the moat waiting for me to come out and play with them. The man I married looked something quite like this and we would want for nothing and be madly in love with each other every single day.
I am so happy to report, that my dreams actually did come true. Except of course that my castle is more of a beautiful little starter home, my white horses are more like a small, snoring Boston Terrier, and my husband is way more handsome than Cary Elwes from The Princess Bride. But the part that is perfectly true, is that we are, madly in love with each other, each and every single day. We don’t own expensive things, we don’t take dozens of trips, and we don’t live a fancy life (as much as we try to sometimes). But we do talk, and we do laugh, and we make sure that the other person knows they are loved. Every minute of every single day.
We are saving up money for what feels like SO many things over the next year so we knew that our first anniversary would be a bit low key. Justin planned out the day and made it into one helluva good date! We dropped Frankie off at my parents and headed to Denver early in the afternoon. We spent several hours at the Denver Art Museum and had a good time goofing off with the camera.
After the Art Museum, we went and had some wine and cheese at a swanky little wine bar. I found a new wine that I love, Starling Castle Riesling and then we went to Root Down and had one of the most amazing dinners ever! We try to eat local, organic, healthy food as often as we can and it can be very difficult finding restaurants that serve such foods. So when Justin told me that we were eating at an amazing ‘farm-to-table’ restaurant I was so excited thinking we were going to one of my favorite places in Boulder, the Kitchen. I’d never heard of Root Down before but decided to give it a good chance.
I. ABSOLUTELY. LOVED. IT.
The food was just as amazing as at the Kitchen but the atmosphere felt more like our style. We fit better at Root Down. The whole meal had such a relaxed feeling and yet the place was packed and busy the entire time we were there (which I thought wouldn’t happen on a Wednesday). The service was just wonderful and they brought us two complimentary flutes of champagne to help us celebrate our anniversary. I don’t have one negative thing to say about Root Down, other than I wish it was closer to us here in Fort Collins!
Straight from their menu:
> Reverse osmosis water is used for all our cooking, drinking, ice and sodas
> 100% wind powered and all our cardboard, glass, plastic and cooking oil is recycled
> Locally farmed, sustainable and organic foods are used whenever possible
> Rice Bran oil for all our flash frying:”The World’s Healthiest” edible oil, containing vitamins, antioxidants, nutrients and trans fat free. Delicate and flavorful, it can help lower cholesterol, fight diseases & enhance the immune system
> Approximately 70% of Root Down was built and finished with reclaimed, reused, and recycled materials
> We recycle and compost
If you haven’t noticed yet, I am of course obsessed with food. So I must tell you what we had…
- Salad: Moroccan Carrot & Spiced Black Lentils / Greens, Ras-El Hanout Crème Fraîche, Baby Carrots, Snow Peas, Radish, Pistachios & Ginger Golden Raisins
- Starter: Halibut Ceviche
- Justin’s Entree: Pan Seared Halibut / Pea Tendrils, Heirloom Tomatoes, Roasted Fennel ,Watercress Puree & Toasted Pine Nuts
- My Entree: Grilled “Never Ever” Top Sirloin/ Summer Squash, Sweet Corn, Golden Polenta, Heirloom Tomato & Basil Vin
- Dessert: Banana “Creme Brulee” Pie / Peanut Butter-Chocolate Crispy Crust, Sweet Whipped Sour Cream & Beer Nuts AND 2 Scoops of Sweet Sour Cream Ice Cream
Everything at the restaurant was amazing. The whole day was so perfectly “us.” I wish it was our anniversary every day.
Just before our wedding, Justin and I both wrote each other a letter to open on our first anniversary. (Paper is the gift you give for 1 year of marriage.) We locked the letters in a beautifully carved box (pictured above) during our ceremony and Justin hid the key. (I am of course the only one we had to worry about getting impatient and opening it.) We brought the box to dinner with us and read our letters among the hustle and bustle of good food and happy people. I, of course, cried. It was perfect.
The whole day was perfect.
