This post is sponsored by Serve from American Express. Sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 7 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account!
**Did you guys catch that up there? Yes, there’s a $100 credit to be given away here!** Scroll to the bottom of the post to see who the lucky winner is!…
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To tell you that I spent the entire day yesterday looking forward to last night would be an understatement…and it was such a good time! Jay and I met up with our friends Brian & Mal for a nice “double dinner date.” It had been way too long since we last got together.
We met up for dinner at Creo’ Restaurant, which you may remember I visited over this past summer with some lovely ladies. Creo’ is an amazing restaurant, but definitely not one that my wallet can handle on a regular occasion, so it was really nice to be able to treat ourselves last night.
We had a reservation, so we got seated right away and were given some bread and butter, which tasted like it may have been some sort of honey butter. It was delicious.
I also ordered myself a glass of Pinot Grigio, which I enjoyed a couple glasses of throughout the evening.
None of us were in any rush last night, so we decided to order a couple of appetizers while we sat and got caught up. When I used to work at Creo’, I would always hear people raving about the Maytag Blue Potato Chips, so I made sure to get an order for us to share.
I could immediately see why people rave about them. Fresh, homemade potato chips, topped with blue cheese and some other sort of creamy sauce that was out of this world.
We also got an order of Grilled Edamame to share. The only way I’ve ever had my edamame is steamed(?) but I absolutely loved the flavor of it grilled.
When it came time to order our dinners, I was at a complete loss. I had been so busy chatting that I never really took the time to look over the menu. I wanted to try something new…then I wanted a salad…then I wanted swordfish…
Finally, I ended up ordering the Crab & Asparagus Risotto…the same thing that I got the last time that I came.
Luckily, Mal and I decided that we were going to do a little sharing, so I gave her half of my risotto while she gave me half of her Lobster Mac & Cheese.
Okay, I’d never had lobster mac & cheese up until last night, but oh-my-friggin’-lord. That stuff is incredible! What have I been doing all this time?!?
When it came time for dessert, I think we all had the “go big or go home” mentality; I say that because each one of us ended up getting our own dessert and shared.
Mal got the Chocolate Cake, which was layers of chocolate fudge cake, dark chocolate mousse, and ganache. To say this was “rich” doesn’t even describe it enough. Holy chocolate. Brian got the Tiramisu, which you can somewhat see in the background here. That was delicious, too.
Jay ordered the Zephyr Cheesecake, which came with a mixed berry coulis, toasted meringue, and white chocolate shavings. This may have been the best cheesecake I’ve ever consumed. Just sayin’.
I ordered the Chai Spice Apple Crisp, which came with homemade cinnamon ice cream and caramel. The apple crisp was good, nothing amazing; but the ice cream was delicious.
And the little sugar swirl thing that came on top of it was super awesome.
When it came time to pay the bill, I used my new Serve account. If you haven’t heard of Serve before, it’s a digital payments platform that helps you organize your money, send and receive funds, and manage payment requests — all from a single online account. Serve is provided by American Express, which means that they use American Express security, technology, and data protection.
Before going out to dinner, we all signed up for Serve accounts, so we could test out how to transfer money to each other. Just for signing up, each of us received $10.00 in our account, which was pretty sweet, too.
Since there is also an app that you can download with Serve, the boys, of course, whipped that right out and started looking through it.
It was super easy to pay our bill, and we didn’t even have to worry about how to split everything evenly and all that other jazz you usually end up dealing with when you’re out to eat with a group. It was great!
By the time all was said and done, we realized we had been at dinner for over three hours. Talk about time flyin’ when you’re having fun! Thanks, Bri & Mal, for a great night out, as always!!
*****
***CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of the $100 Serve credit – Comment #107, Amanda! Please email me at sweettoothcourtney[@]gmail[.]com so we can get you set up!!***
NOW…here’s the deal with that giveaway. Get excited! Serve is offering a $100 credit to one very lucky reader! All you have to do is leave a comment in this post – it can be about anything at all. The winner will be chosen next Saturday, December 24th. Good luck, my friends!!
Remember to sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 7 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account! Official sweepstakes rules and regulations may be found by clicking here. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
Mary says
Thanks for posting about Serve! It sounds really cool!
Hope says
That is an awesome concept! Everything that you had for dinner looks fantastic especially the dessert! :)
Kelsey says
Those desserts look so good! Thanks for doing the giveaway!
Katie says
Pretty cool concept! I’ve got an AmEx, but haven’t used it in a long time. Might check out this new service :)
Heather says
I’ve never heard of Serve, sounds awesome!
elizabeth says
Looks like a cool plan!
melissa (fitnessnyc) says
those dishes look amazing!
Erin-- says
Hope I win, I could treat a friend or two to a nice meal out!!
Casey says
Looks like a perfect friday night! Thanks for the giveaway :)
Mary says
Chips and blue cheese?!?! Best idea ever.
Cait says
how amazing :) i LOVE this!
Megan S. says
Serve sounds very interesting! I’d love the extra $100 spend on some dinner dates!
Karen @ Goofy Can Cook says
Serve sounds awesome, headed over to check it out right now!
Renee says
I have heard a little about Serve! Looks like you had a great night out! Thanks for the info on Serve I’m signing up!
Kris says
There is nothing like a fun date night at an amazing restaurant!!
Kate says
Those potato chips look AMAZING! What a nice dinner!
Rebecca says
Serve sounds really interesting, I’ll have to check it out.
Melissa says
I love leisurely dinners like that! Those blue cheese crisps look to die for! YUM!!
Amy says
That’s so neat and such a treat for the holiday season!
Blog is the New Black says
Very interested in this serve thing…
Jodi @ Southern Flavored Life says
This dinner looks amazing! I would like to lickt hat Lobster Mac-n-Cheese right off the screen! :-)
I would love to win the gift card…..luck be a lady!
Mitra says
Those potato chips look reeeeeally good but not as good as that chocolate cake! yum!
Dana says
Serve sounds really interesting. Thank you for the chance at winning the giveaway!
Megan says
Dinner dates are so fun! :) Looks like you had a great time!
Nicole says
Interesting concept, I’ll have to look more into Serve – thanks for sharing!
Courtney says
ive been seeing serve on a couple blogs… sounds interesting!
Catherine says
ahh i want that chocolate delicious-ness in my belly right now!
Michelle says
Sounds interesting. I’ll have to check it out. Dinner looks like it was amazing!
Annette@EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
What a cool concept! And that food all looks OH so delicious! :)
Susan @Happy Hippie says
Holy cow! That lobster mac n’ cheese looks AMAZING!! You should find out the recipe and post it! :)
Alyssa says
I have never heard of Serve before and I might still be a little confused by it, so I’m definitely going to check it out some more!
Dana says
Wow I think I officially just salivated over the meal you all had, looks incredible. This Serve thing sounds awesome, and I don’t think you could have entered this contest at a better time considering the Holidays are just around the corner! Hope you have a great weekend!
Heather C says
How neat and convenient for dining with friends! I signed up for an account.
Connie says
hahahah this post reminds me about this hilarious excedrin commerical that has to do with splitting the bill between friends..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IFYRyqO5g8
so funny!
Lindsay says
Awesome! I’ve been meaning to sign up for this. I think programs like Serve are the future of exchange. Thanks for the reminder! Dinner looked awesome!
Lily says
Serve sounds really neat! And those desserts looked amazing!! Thanks for sharing! :-)
Shannon says
I have never been to Creo’ before but I do know that it is extremely expensive, according to my mother.
If you like lobster mac n cheese or any mac n cheese really, you should go to the TimesUnion.com Tablehopping Mac n Cheese Bowl Saturday, February 18th, 2012 at the Albany Marriott on Wolf Road. I went last year and had a blast because I absolutely love eating mac n cheese. The best last year was the Farmer Boy Diner’s on Central Avenue. I think I was partial to that one because it was the only original mac n cheese submission. But I did like the winner’s mac n cheese, Valente’s in Watervilet. $15 are the adult ticket price; there will be 2 sessions this year, one at 11:00 am and one at 12:30 pm. I’m sure that I’m going again this coming year.
I’m also a big chocoholic and I really think that chocolate layer cake looks extremely appetizing. Rich or not, I’d eat the whole thing! :)
Clare @ Fitting It All In says
sounds like the perfect app for group dinners!
Mindy @ Clueless Nut says
I am jealous of that entire meal, from appetizer to dessert. What a great time and giveaway!
Emily says
Never heard of Serve before! Sounds awesome! I’ll definitely be signing up!
Meghan says
I’m definitely going to try grilling edamame! I’ve only had it steamed too.
Anu says
That chocolate cake looks amaazing!
Tiffany says
Cool I’m def gonna be checking that out!
amy marantino says
very cool
jc says
awesome!
sarah (sarah learns) says
oh my gosh – everything at your dinner sounds awesome! that lobster mac & cheese would definitely have been my pick!
cool giveaway too – i could use $100!
Kelly says
I’ve heard of a similar program but it didn’t come with a separate card to actually use for payment. It was more of a hook your account info up to the site and others can transfer money that way. I’m intrigued by Serve!
Lisa says
Pick me! :)
Maggie says
Serve sounds like a really neat idea :)
Kelly says
Yum! That post just made me really hungry!
April says
I went to SUNY Albany for my freshman year of college and I used to love Creo! I used to make my parents take me there whenever they came up to visit since it’s not exactly on a college student’s budget
erin g says
I’ve never heard of Serve–sounds pretty awesome!!
Shayla @ The Good Life says
What an awesome giveaway – and love the concept of Serve!
And though all the other desserts look delish, I most definitely would have gone for the crisp too – my definite all time fav dessert to order at a restaurant ;)
Ashley H. says
I’ve never heard of serve before. Thanks for posting about it.
Heather says
free moneyyyyyyy.
Holly says
what a cool concept. I’d love to win!
Casey @ oatsandnanners says
I’ve actually heard about Serve around campus — seems like a good deal to me :) Thanks for hosting such a cool giveaway
Kara says
That sounds awesome! Being in college, it gets tricky when going to dinner with friends and the server won’t split the check!
td says
It would be awesome to add $100 to my Serve account!
Emily says
I’ve never heard of Serve! Sounds awesome! I’ll definitely have to sign up!
Erica @ For the Sake of Cake says
That dinner looks amazing!
Lena @Fit on the Rocks says
Wow that sounds really cool. I hate having to deal with all the crazy splitting when a ticket comes out, especially when there are tons of people.
Emily says
I LOVE APPLE CRISP
Stephanie says
that food looks delicious! thanks for the generous giveaway!
Gloria says
Edamame is my favorite when I go out. I’ve never had it grilled but I imagine it takes on a delicious flavor!
And also, that chocolate cake looks ridiculously good. I need to get some of that!
Tori says
Buddy the elf what’s your favorite color?!
Jillian @ Sprinkle Massacre says
That is such an awesome idea!
Jennifer says
I would love to win, thanks for the info!
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
Sounds like a really cool deal they have going on!
katie says
oh so exciting!! that sounds awesome!! and also- that meal looks SO GOOD!
Judy says
Sounds like an interesting concept! I’d love to try it out!
Alina says
That food looks AMMMAZING! Yum! Now gonna look up what Serve is all about ;)
EGrizz says
I’ve never heard about Serve! I’ll have to check it out
Ashley says
i love love love lobster mac and cheese! So good!!
Claire says
those desserts look AMAZING!
Jennifer says
Your whole dinner looks amazing!
Jane says
Wow, that dinner looked so good!
Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy says
I’ve never heard of Serve before. It sounds pretty cool though!
Stephanie says
Serve sounds amazing! We love going out to dinner with friends, and this would be great!
Erin says
Sounds like a cool concept and that dinner looks awesome. Thanks for sharing!
Denise says
OK. Those chips with bleu cheese? They have those here in town at a local place. They are amazeballs!
Debbie (Accidently Delish) says
good thing i already ate because all that food looks amazing!
and what an awesome giveaway!!
susan says
Sounds great!! How do you find out about all these neat things!!
Maria@La_Piattini says
Oh, how exciting! Looks like you had a great time on your double date :)
Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile says
Such a great giveaway!! :D
Allison says
I would love to win!
Kim says
That lobster mac n’ cheese looks SO GOOD. I want to try it so bad!
Laura says
Thanks for posting about Serve. Can’t wait to try it out.
Nicole says
WOW! What a great way to spend an evening. BTW: Anyone else notice that when restaurants serve cake, they are pretty skimpy with the ice cream? Maybe it’s me, but when I get cake, I like to have an equal amount of ice cream to “wash it down with”. …..but that’s just me! Happy Sunday!
Jennifer says
This sounds cool! Thanks for your giveaways!
Jordan @ food, sweat, and beers says
That Serve app would be so handy going out in big groups. I can’t STAND when folks start to argue about the group bill. No fuss/no drama sounds like a beautiful thing.
Devon says
Wow, the date sounds so fun and the serve account sounds awesome!
Mb says
awesome!
Lindsay says
1. I want that risotto.
2. I want that chocolate cake.
3. I want 100 dollars!
Santa better get on his game!
Nicole W. says
Thanks for posting about Serve! It sounds amazing
Kristen says
The crab risotto and lobster mac and cheese look yummy!!!! Thanks for the giveaway!! Ill be sure to sign up for Serve!
Laurie says
Wow! You guys went ALL out! Sounds like a great night. I’m signed up for Serve too.
karla says
serve sounds amazing! I would totally be ordering chocolate cake and ice cream with that money!
Rachel says
Those desserts look amazing! I’d love to hear more about serve.. seems like a great program!
Casi DeSarro says
OOoo I want a hundred dollar$!
Amanda says
wow that restaurant looks amazing! i wish tha place was closer to me
Amanda says
Sounds like a pretty cool service, and that chocolate cake looked divine!
Emily says
I’m not sure how I missed this post over the weekend but glad I saw it this morning in your weekend recap. Going to look into Serve now.
Sarah says
I’m really interested in seeing how this works. It could save a lot of hassle on all the group dinners I go to!
Brenna says
Those desserts sound so delicious!! Thanks for sharing the info about Serve too. :)
Ashleigh says
ahh that risotto looks fabulous! need it.
Amanda says
Signing up for Serve now! Thanks, Court
Alana says
Oh, I love apple crisp!! …and giveaways ;)
Angela says
Sounds great!!
Nicki says
That is awesome! This exact thing happened to me over the weekend…big group, told the waitress to split the bill, she didn’t, we felt bad, etc etc…so we ended up trying to work things out ourselves. Not easy. Ha!
JN says
Sounds interesting… tried to sign up, but they are having technical difficulties. Will have to try again later.
Katherine M. says
That sounds very interesting! I hate having to deal with splitting checks so this seems alike a lot easier way to do it!
tess says
sounds cool
tcogbill at live dot com
Karen says
What a great idea Serve is! It can be awkward when trying to split up a bill.
Kristen says
Love your blog! And those potato chips looked amazing!
Lindsay @ biking before bed says
Grilled edaname sounds awesome. But not as good as all of those desserts.
Keeley says
Serve sounds great! That lobster mac n cheese is making my mouth water too :)
Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie says
I signed up for Serve! It sounds really cool! And omg all that food looks AMAZING!
fallon says
i want that lobster mac n cheese! yum
Amanda says
What a great idea! My friends and I always struggle with how to split the check!
Jeanne says
Your dessert looks so good!
Meredith says
i love amex, so i would love serve too, right?!
Jerica says
Awesome give-away! I’m always so impressed by the things that AmEx comes up with – going to sign up for Serve now!
Helen says
I just signed up for Serve yesterday and am so excited to use it!
Corey says
I am super intrigued by this now. It is always such a pain to divide everything up in group dinners. This could be really cool!
Jessica says
Serve seems like a great idea — I’ll have to look into it a little more! It sounds like you had a wonderful double date!!
Gee says
I’ve signed up for Serve!
Charissa says
Mmmmm….that asparagus caught my eye. (stomach grumbles)
… And the double date looked like fun!
Aubreylaine says
Looks amazing!
littlegray88 at yahoo dot com
abby says
Serve sounds awesome!!!
Laurel says
Those homemade potato chips look so amazing! YUM! I am signing up for serve right now!!
Ilene says
Serve sounds awesome!
lynn @ the actor's diet says
i signed up for serve too – and would love an extra $100 in my account!
Alexa says
I would love to win $100 in credit!
Zoey says
would love to be able to treat my boyfriend to a nice dinner!
Erica Best says
I signed up for a Serve account!
purple_lover_04 at msn dot com
anna pry says
i signed up
thepryfamily@gmail.com