Oct. 2008; What's for dinner?

Flank steak, grilled out on the deck amongst the snowflakes.

Simple pasta last night – formed little balls of garlic and basil sausage and sautéed them with some chopped mushrooms, EVOO and butter. Right at the end I mixed in some fresh Pappardelle, peas, a dash of chili and topped with parmigiano. 2004 Ormanni Chianti Classico.

Last nite -

Fresh caught grilled rainbow trout, baked potato and DDO Authur to swill it down

DnVsMom made chili last night. 2005 Sbragia Gino's Vineyard Zinfandel....

Porterhouse Steaks
Mashed Cauliflower

Arguably the best French restaurant in Vancouver, Le Crocodile, is having a 25th anniversary dinner tomorrow. The chef of the exceptional Michelin 3☆ restaurant Au Crocodile in Strasbourg (after which our local place named itself) is doing the cooking this weekend as part of their celebration, and after a couple weeks on the waiting list, I just found out we got in. I've stopped eating until we get there; I have a reasonable understanding of French, but I had to google more than a couple of items to find out what they are. Here's the menu:

Eveil du Palais
Creme de persil, beignet d’escargots
Mousseline de Petits Pois à l’emulsion de Tomate et Poivron Rouge
Riesling, Hugel, Alsace, France, 2006

Queue de Homard Salade d’Herbes Façon Brasserie Parisienne
Chardonnay, Mission Hill, "Reserve", Okanagan Valley, BC, 2006

Filet de Mérou au Champagne Brut et Pousses d’Epinard
Bourgogne, Jean Latour-Labille & Fils, Burgundy, France, 2006

Caille Farçie au Foie-Gras, Sauce Pinot Noir
et

Cotelette de Caribou, Compote de Racines au Gingembre
Coteaux du Languedoc, Château Saint Martin “De la Garrigue”, Southern France, 2005

Sorbet Mirabelle

Feuilletè aux Figues, Sirop d’Erable au Thé Parfumé
Parfait Glacé, Griottines au Kirsh, Coquille de Chocolat Bitter
Colheita Port, Kopke, Portugal, 1997


I'm not so keen on the wine pairings, so we'll find other things on their list once I know better exactly what we're eating.

Sounds like a great time. I agree they could have stepped up to the plate a little more with the wines. Just curious how much they are charging per person for the dinner?

$125/ person plus tax & tip. Wine pairings are another $75/person; I think a half bottle of Champagne and a good red will work better for us. I just realized that it's Halloween tomorrow. Maybe I should go as the Dining Dasher.☠

Garlic mashed potatoes

4 different marinated mushrooms in fresh herbs, garlic and onions.

Fresh Steamed Asparagus

The 2003 Domaine Serene "Grace Vineyard" was incredible! I let it breathe for about 1.5 hours. The wine is so elegant and silky, with a finish that goes on and on. The advantages of using lesser oak, and letting the grapes do the talking!

Wow, sounds like a great meal Seaquam.

I had fine chopped pecan, honey, dijon and butter crusted coho. I love getting the fresh wild salmon for less than the farmed stuff.

Pizza with mushrooms and sausage (had left over mushrooms and sausage from the night before). Paired with H2O. Thrilling I know…

Went to a pumpkin carving party for the boys last night at a neighbors. He made three different chilis. Mild, with jalapeno, and with habanero. And then he had some Nathan's dogs on the grill. I went with the habanero and tossed a dog into it. Chili two nights in a row....

quote:

Originally posted by Dom'n'Vin'sDad:
Went to a pumpkin carving party for the boys last night at a neighbors. He made three different chilis. Mild, with jalapeno, and with habanero. And then he had some Nathan's dogs on the grill. I went with the habanero and tossed a dog into it. Chili two nights in a row....

Have you been taking your Prevacid?

quote:

Originally posted by GlennK:
Pizza with mushrooms and sausage (had left over mushrooms and sausage from the night before). Paired with H2O. Thrilling I know…

“What is the soup du jour?"...It’s the soup of the day..."Mmmm, that sounds good, I’ll have that”

"Feels pretty good mingling with these laid-back country folks, eh Harry? I like it a lot."

quote:

Originally posted by Dom'n'Vin'sDad:
Chili two nights in a row....

Your balloon knot hates you right now

quote:

Originally posted by gigabit:
"Feels pretty good mingling with these laid-back country folks, eh Harry? I like it a lot."

quote:

Originally posted by gigabit:
Have you been taking your Prevacid?

No need. DnVsMom likes to say that I have a cast iron stomach....

Went simple American tonite

Grilled Filt mignon;

Baked potato with our cream, of course;

aspargus;

1999 Oakville Ranch Cab

Now sipping on a nice Paul Bichon cognac and eating Kit-Kats while waiting on the tricker treaters.

korean bbq

Went to a local wine bar called the Wine Gallery last night. I had pork and leek sausage with mash and Mrs. Glennk went for the roast chicken with mash and rocket salad. We scored the 2006 Saint-Cosme Côtes du Rhône of the list for the equivalent of $15 USD. After dinner, we popped into our local pub for a couple of pints. Solid end to the work week.

At the Thursday evening Mas d'en Gil celebration in the private dining room of Insieme in NYC:

Reception wine:

2007 Mas d'en Gil Coma Alta, the first vintage of this new wine, 30% Viognier, 70% Garnacha Blanca

1st course:

Octopus Carpaccio, Sofrito Croudo, Fennel, Cannelini Runner Beans, and Red Wine Vinaigrette

2004 Coma Blanca

2nd course:

Ribollita, Tuscan Vegetable Soup with Black Cabbage, Borlotti Beans, and Parmesan

2002 Coma Vella

3rd cousre:

Spaghetti All" Amatriciana, Spaghetti with Guanciale, Tomatoes, Pepperoncini, and Smoked Fiore Sardo

2000 Clos Fonta
2001 Clos Fonta
2002 Clos Fonta

4th course:

Arista di Maiale Arrosto con Fagioli, Bev Eggleston's Roasted Pork Loin with Beans, Sage, and Garlic

2003 Clos Fonta
2004 Clos Fonta

Meditation:

2004 Gran Buig, a red produced only in special vintages. This is the only Gran Buig since the 1998.

Dessert:

Torta de Nemesis, Flourless Chocolate Cake with Coffee Gelato

2007 Nus, a new dessert wine produced as Mas d'en Gil from their latest hanging Garnacha on the estate

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy Fitzgerald:
eating Kit-Kats while waiting on the tricker treaters.

Kit-Kats are evil! EEEEEEEEEVIL!

quote:

Originally posted by gigabit:

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy Fitzgerald:
eating Kit-Kats while waiting on the tricker treaters.

Kit-Kats are evil! EEEEEEEEEVIL!

Right up there with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:

Right up there with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Nothing is on the same level, nothing!

I finished up the month with my next door neighbor's "Tailgate Stew" - which is essentially chili mixed with cooked spaghetti and topped with lots of cheese and onions. Later, after all the ghouls and goblins were gone, I had some leftover tri-tip....

quote:

Originally posted by wine+art:

quote:

Originally posted by KSC02:

Right up there with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

Nothing is on the same level, nothing!

I'll see your Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, and raise you one Twix.

Salmon, avocado and then cucumber with rice vinegar.