©2009 Amuse-bouche for Two

Aquarium Inspires Fish for Dinner

A late start, kick-started by some freshly ground local coffee, and we were off. Downtown, heat and humidity were percolating. With the car parked in Little Italy, we had three hours to spare. The mission that day was simple, the Baltimore Aquarium. Four tickets in hand, our directives were for a noon entry. To kill some time we emptied our bladders and set out for a nice stroll along the Inner Harbor. Walking Baltimore-style (this would be less than zero mph), our feet barely catching air, we landed in front of the Science Center and turned back. Our timing almost impeccable, we lined up to enter the aquarium only minutes before noon.

We shuffled through, like cattle, in less than 40 minutes.

Lunch brought us to a busy and understaffed Miss Irene's in Fells Point. We ordered calamari salad and muscles to share before our sandwiches arrived. Stuffed, we headed over to Eddies of Roland Park to pick up supplies for dinner. Five Orange Roughy filets, olives, mozzarella, pine nuts and baby red potatoes.

Back at home, we prepped for dinner with our stomach's still somewhat full. Making use of our abundant garden, we enjoyed some of the best pesto ever muddled in a mortar and pestle. The pesto, thick with basil, pine nuts, garlic and cheese nestled in the medium sized shells we opted for that night. I can't forget to mention the heirloom tomatoes we enjoyed with fresh mozzarella bathed in salt, pepper and olive oil beforehand. Our third course of Orange Roughy baked with pine nuts, lemon, salt, pepper and olive oil was accompanied by sautéed baby reds seasoned with garlic, salt, pepper, chives and a mixed green salad using ever more of our abundant tomatoes.

We cleaned our plates, with not a thing to lay leftover in the fridge. For the very idea, would be a crime. Don't you think?