Monday's redemption: Moules Frites at Mateo

It goes without saying; Mondays are rough whether you're in kindergarten or a senior executive.  Who likes leaving Sunday Funday behind to wake up early and dive right back into the workweek? No one does. Trust me, we all understand "Monday SUX!!"- No need to reiterate with a weekly status update. Now, what are we going to do about it?

I don't know what you're doing, but I'm going to Mateo. More specifically, I'm going to Mussels Monday at Mateo.

Mateo is a French Provençal restaurant in Boulder and deserves much more buzz and airplay than it currently gets. Or at least, more than I've heard.  I always feel a little bit fancy (the perfect amount) and totally comfortable at this restaurant.  They have struck a wonderful balance between a sumptuous dining experience and down-to-earth French country ambience.

Add to that list, the happy hour, or après, menu which reads like an anthology of French culinary classics. My personal favorites are the house rose, the artisan cheese plate, pommes frites and mussels (moules). I have a total food-crush on this restaurant, and it doesn't hurt that both times we've eaten there people were speaking in French at the table next to us. That's a twofer of lovely splendid-ness.

At this point, you are thinking, "What does this have to do with Mondays?"  Well, dear friend, Mondays are Moules Frites night, which means a pot of mussels and a bag of their house frites with sea salt all for six tiny dollars. You can order two glasses of wine, a gourmet cheese plate, moules frites, make a date of it, and honor the beloved budget.  That's checkmate, Monday.