...began with dinner at Palazzolo's Italian Restaurant located at 5th and Main. Executive Chef Christopher A. Mallon (formerly of Magnolia's) greeted us at our table and graciously agreed to prepare Ciopinno for my daughter Lauren and me even though it was not on the menu. Ciopinno is a spicy seafood stew made popular in San Francisco featuring shrimp, clams, and mussels in a white wine tomato broth with julienne fennel and onion. Yum! It was delicious. My wife Chris had Aglio Arostate y Olio-fresh basil, grape tomatos, and roasted garlic over angel hair finished with whole butter and parmesan. A perfect summer offering.
For a ten dollar corkage fee we brought a bottle of La Playa Cabernet Sauvignon discovered this past Tuesday at the weekly wine tasting at Sandy's Downtown Grille on 4th and Main. We enjoyed that evening with a couple who are very dear to us and tasted this scrumptious Chilean wine that is both affordable and satisfying.
The service, ambience and, of course, the food at Palazzolo's (and Sandy's) was tremendous and highly recommended.
We then wandered down Main Street and passed a building filled with people which we soon realized was the "invitation only" soft opening of the Red Pony Restaurant. Before we knew it, we were whisked in and being introduced to owners Jason and Fran (Jason was formerly on the chef's staff at F. Scott's in Nashville) and given a grand tour of the very vibey and stunningly decorated restaurant. Upstairs is a beautiful bar, "speakeasy" is what we were told, and also a soon to be 400 square foot deck for outdoor dining. What fun...and what anticipation. For a sneak peek at their "fresh" menu, check out their website by clicking their name. RED PONY RESTAURANT
408 MAIN STREET
Franklin, TN 37064
(615) 595-PONY(7669)
INFO@REDPONYRESTAURANT.COM
We then ventured out to Main Street once more and spied the Franklin PediCab
rolling by, so we promptly hailed the driver and soon the three of us were being transported through Franklin in grand style!
The driver Chris, who incidentally owns the very wonderful "Garden Path" store and garden in Franklin, Garden Path 117 3rd Ave N (615) 
595-8811, willingly dropped us off at the newly relocated Cocoa Tree at 121 3rd Street. We ordered up chocolate fondue with bananas, pineapple, strawberries and pound cake complemented with delicious coffee.
As were leaving, regular chocolatiers and patrons of The Cocoa Tree, Brock and Auny Gill, rolled up on their motorcycle and visited with us for a while.
What a great evening.
A wonderful weekend with the entire family at Round Cove. Beautiful sunrise and sunsets, skeet shooting, English Quail Hunting (we bagged 12 quail for dinner), spelunking and roasting s'mores over a bonfire. 
