Every so often you have a meal that changes the way you look at food. After living in Louisville for six months, I have finally found that place. My husband and I go out to dinner regularly and have had some wonderful meals, but nothing like we did this last Tuesday at The White Oak Restaurant at the Artesmisia Gallery on East Market St.

It was a beautifully warm evening so we sat outside in the courtyard.  We felt like we were in New Orleans is the pretty brick courtyard with built-in fireplaces. Since it was a Tuesday evening, we had the place to ourselves. It happened to be our two-year wedding anniversary so that made it all the more special. We started with two glasses of wine and the Sweet Potato Frites with Spicy Apricot Ketchup and Caribbean Cream Sauce. Basically, the yummiest shoestring sweet potato fries I've ever had. The spicy apricot ketchup was an unexpected and fun dipping sauce. I then had the Bibb salad with avocado and grapefruit slices. The bibb lettuce was so fresh, they must have received it from the farm that day.

For our main courses, I had the Bison Ribeye Steak and my husband had the Seared Duck Breast with cherry glaze. Not only were our main courses perfectly cooked and seasoned, but the sides that you could choose from were a delight. I had the brussel sprouts with Sweet Chili glaze and the green beans in a basil pesto sauce, my husband had the grilled asparagus and the sweet potato casserole. No joke, those brussel sprouts changed me forever. I actually tried to recreate them last night at home.  

When you cannot stop thinking about a meal, even days later, you know you've found a special place. I never really liked brussel sprouts before and my husband never ate cherries, but The White Oak showed us different perspectives on common ingredients. That is exactly what dining out should be. Thank you Louisville for having such great chefs! We felt even better about the meal when we found out that every ingredient was locally soursed. Everything was beyond fresh, you could really appreciate the nearby farms.

As my husband so poetically put it after taking his first bite of duck, "It's like Thunder Over Louisville is happening in my mouth." Classic.

Maggie moved to Louisville from Buffalo, NY in Dec. 2009. She has also lived in London, Chicago, and Louisiana.  Find out more about her business Weekend Wedding Warrior, LLC and her private counseling practice.