Thursday, November 20, 2008

God bless the Italian people

If you are ever fortunate enough to visit Boston, be sure and stop in at Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street in the North End. On a Friday or Saturday night, the small pastry shop will be wall-to-wall people. There is no line to stand in, as the clerks there will attest.

Unfortunately, most of the people who go there don't know that. You must boldly push your way through the crowd, shout out your order to a sales clerk behind the counter, and happily ignore the dirty looks when you walk out with your white box tied up in blue string.

All the hassle will be worth it, of this you must trust me. For nowhere else will you find a better cannoli than at Mike's.

Now imagine my delight, when my favorite UPS man (I know, I really must stop referencing that awful story) rang my bell for a package delivery today, and I spied THIS on the outside of the box:


Only good things can come from that box. VERY good things.

And imagine my further delight when I opened up that box to find this:


And this:
The card inside was unsigned, but I suspect the giver of such a fine gift was none other than Christina. Am I right? Was it you?

Christina, who was my best friend growing up, moved to Boston several years ago. It was unfortunate that we had lost touch over the years because we were both living there at the same time and didn't know it. How I would have loved to share one of these with her in person, right there on the street.

Because who can wait until they get to the car to eat something from Mike's?

But today, I will proudly eat one here in my kitchen, raise my cannoli high, and toast to good friends like her.

Oh, and when the Husband comes home tonight, sees the empty box with the Mike's logo on the outside, I'll be sure and tell him it was a recycled box that somebody used to send us, um...well...oatmeal. Yeah, that's it. Oatmeal. Someone sent us oatmeal in a Mike's box. Wasn't that nice?

Definitely not cannolis. And definitely not cannolis that were all eaten by me, right?

Thanks, friend. Love you forever!

27 comments:

Annie said...

Wow what a great gift idea! AS you know, we LOVE Mike's and like to push to the front like the locals we are. Enjoy 'em.

Kimberly said...

Oh, man, I LOVE Mikes!!! So jealous!

3leftturns said...

I think boxes labeled 'Open Immediately; Live Tadpoles' are much, much, MUCH funnier.

Enjoy the Cannolies (Wow, try pluralizing that!)

Andy

Anna said...

Remember going by Mike's on the way home from dinner with Emily & Chris? With our already full stomachs we just had to go to Mike's. Ahhh... good memories. Now, if only my tastebuds could conjure up the taste of a cannoli!

♥Shally said...

Just make sure to hide ALL the evidence. Take the containers outside and bury them in the garbage cans.

I have tons of diapers, so it is easy for me to hide any evidence of sweets that I may or may not have eaten by myself.

...not that I ever do that or anything.

Linsey said...

Mike's is good stuff. I went there once many, many moons ago...but I still remember, vividly.

Christina B. said...

You made my day, thank you! I can't wait until we can share a cannoli together in person someday! I'm so happy to be in touch with such a great friend again.

Love you!

Rae said...

That is definitely one super best friend!!!!! Now I'm craving cannoli!

Amanda D said...

What a great surprise! I'm sooo jealous. Enjoy.

queenieweenie said...

I'm officially jealous!

Bridget said...

Wow! Now she is a friend for life!! What a great gift. There is nothing better than Mike's. For sure.

Woman Interrupted said...

Now that's a good birthday present!!

Laurie said...

Can't believe it hasn't already been said: "Holy Cannoli!"

CJ, The Purple Diva said...

Dang it, Laurie beat me too it! that's what I was coming to say...HOLY CANNOLI!
Looks DELISH!

Emily said...

Ooooh, oooh! I had to laugh when I opened your page since I was going to do a "Mike's" post too. Chris was just in Boston and as he left I casually mention that when the time came for him to come home and he was driving past the North End to the Boston Airport he might chance on stop on 'ole Hanover street. I had it all planned, I was going to unwrap my package, enjoy my "lobster puff" (which has nothing to do with actual lobster) and then write a nice post about it. Unfortunately he had a change of plans and had to go to Dallas from Boston instead of home, so no Mike's for me. Luckily I can enjoy vicariously through your blog. Hmmmm, tastes delicious!

Michael said...

After a week of Godfather showings on AMC, I could really go for some cannoli right about now... And to think, the box was even marked "fragile." God bless those Italians, indeed.

Liz said...

If I get in my car right now and drive straight to you, I can be there before the kids get home from school. Will there be any left by then? I promise, I won't be a bother. I'll wash it down with a diet coke and turn right around to head home.

Anonymous said...

Christina, I think you and I would get along famously. Christie, If I was there, I'd share a canoli with you!!! Happy Friday! =)

marta said...

mmm. never had one before. can i come and try them!? am so jealous oma and opa are going out for a trip, a weekend with you guys is always so fun!

Terra said...

I wonder if I am the only that promptly went to Mikes Pastry to see how quick I can have some yummies delivered?

Holly said...

Leave the gun, take the cannoli. I need to meet this Mike and make a friend like your Christine.

Enjoy!

Musings of a Housewife said...

DROOLING. I heart the cannoli.

Joy & Casey said...

Christina and Christie,
Love you both tons....what the heck is a cannoli? I am an idiot. I know what a no bake cookie is! :)
Let's really do a Boston trip...SERIOUSLY!!!
Love ya!
Joy

calibosmom said...

That is a great gift idea. Actually, it was me that sent those, not that other lady...
You know I'm drooling right now, right? I love those little peices of heaven!

Jake said...

Wow...I am totally impressed. What a great surprise to get in the mail! Cannolis have never been a temptation for me...but those look good.

Lauren in GA said...

Christina is a great lady! What a lovely gift!

I think your onto something...the only way to properly show Christina the gratitude she deserves is to eat them all by yourself ;)

melissa ( : said...

I just want you to know that I ate one of these for you last night... at Mike's. (Okay, okay... and I ate one for myself too! So shoot me.)

LOVED it!