After a long day at the office, there is nothing better than a dinner date with Bo!

Tonight was the last night to redeem the $40 Pure Food and Wine Groupon I bought a few months ago. Therefore, our dinner location choice was very easy and right around the corner from our apartment.

We started the evening off with a glass of crisp, refreshing Sancerre wine.

We’ve only been here twice before and both times were for appetizers and wine only. I was excited to try some of their main courses and we therefore agreed to share everything we ordered.

After reviewing the menu for only a few minutes, we easily agreed on our appetizer choice of hazelnut crostini with crimini mushrooms and caper bearnaise, caraway sauerkraut, and local apple cider reduction.

These were absolutely amazing though I could have easily enjoyed three more! The apple cider reduction had a caramel like texture and the caper béarnaise had a cheese texture.

The main course choice was a bit more difficult but I eventually decided on the pad Thai with kelp noodles and baby book choy snow peas, king oyster mushrooms, tamarind sauce, sesame salted cashews, and cilantro oil.

Unfortunately it was better in print and picture than taste. It wasn’t horrible but it didn’t leave a lasting impression on my taste pallet. I’ve come to expect that Pure’s dishes will blow me since everything that I’ve ever tried has been so far beyond what I could fathom.

However, Bo’s dish was mind blowing! He chose the sweet corn and cashew tamales with chili spiced portabella. The texture mimicked ground beef perfectly and the spices made this dish so flavorful! It reminded us of our Mexican favorite and left us satiated and questioning how they could make this without any heat or meat!

Our random, spur of the moment date was the perfect weeknight change of pace! Thank you Groupon for bringing us back to Pure for the first time in ages! I can’t wait to go back again and try the rest of their menu items!