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November 27, 2005
Birthday Dinner
Vince and Donna decided that rather than taking Dawnise and I out to dinner for my birthday, they'd bring dinner to us. So around 5:30, just as I was getting back from retrieving Dawnise and making a quick stop at BevMo, a crew of three arrived at their place and started cooking.
Vince and Donna had found Windy Plum Farms some months back, and had commissioned (do you commission chefs the way you commission other artists?) them for their Anniversary at the end of October.
Dawnise and I had sent some menu suggestions earlier this week, while trying to leave room for the chef to flex their wings.
We ended up starting with bruschetta, followed by a well executed french onion soup and some calamari. A butter lettuce, apple, and candied pecan salad with raspberry hazelnut vinaigrette led way to the mains - which varied around the table. While my "pepper steak" wasn't what I was expecting (I was looking for a pepper crusted sirloin or fillet, what I got was more like a pepper stroganoff) it was very good, as was the spaetzle and veggies that accompanied it. Desert was an absolutely delectable chocolate pots-du-creme, which made a significant impression on all at the table.
The dinner was excellent, and I couldn't have asked for better company. After dinner, we moved Ari into bed from where she had fallen asleep on the patio swing (did I mention this whole event took place on their balcony overlooking the inland sprawl, er, empire?) and screened Batman Begins; which I must say was by far the best of the Batman movies to date in my opinion.
Tomorrow (well, later today if you want to be technical) a smattering of friends - those in town and not otherwise committed - are meeting for dinner at Grapevine in LaVerne.
Then, Monday morning, it's up before the crack of dawn to get on a 6am flight back to SEA.
Posted by dberger at November 27, 2005 12:14 AM