2011 January - Acapulco

Cristina's birthday dinner began with caviar on toast, chopped egg and chopped onion (actually it began with the mariachi band):

2011 January - Whole Foods Dinner By Myself :)

2010 December - Tapas

What better way to spend a Saturday evening with friends whipping a mess o' tapas?

Deviled eggs - Meatballs - Toast with ?
Ham croquettes - Orange Fennel Salad - Spicy Shrimp

Not shown: prosciutto wrapped date with brandy cream

I think that I forgot something. Anyway, thanks for the cookbook Mom (and Dad)!

2010 October - Birthday Cakes

Herewith, photos of two (2) birthday cakes for one (1) birthday. Both from Bittersweet in Chicago and both delicious and beautiful! The rest of the meal involved ribs from Smoque BBQ, Jackie Kennedy's mashed potatoes, oysters and shrimps, a selection of cheeses from Whole Foods and one of my salads (I don't remember which one but think that it was arugula, almonds, cheddar and pears or apples).

2009 November - Chicken Stew

I don't really remember this but like the photo. The greens are fronds from the fennel.

2006 September - Chicken and Brussel Sprouts

I am mostly posting this for sentimental reasons: glimpses of the 1950's kitchen that was replaced several years ago (not that I miss the kitchen). Anyway, here is a meal from Ina Garten that involves brussel sprouts, golden raisins, chicken, lots of garlic and a delicious sauce.

2005 November - Paris

For years I passed on Paris: snobby people, boring architecture, good food. However, for a "special" birthday I decided to give it a try and "hop" over the channel (from London). Paris is, truly, magical: friendly people, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful city and food that is far better than expected.

The moral of the story is to reserve your opinions until you really know what you are talking about. Sadly, the moral hasn't stuck. :(

Our first meal (lunch / dejeuner): Paul had beef tartare with fries (frites). I had a salad with lardons (ham), foie gras and greens. Bienvenue a Paris!

Dinner: our waitress was English-disabled (and why wouldn't she be?) It took a few seconds to understand that Paul was ordering a calve's brain but he was game and loved it. I had steak with red wine sauce, frites (my turn) and a bit of bone marrow and salad. Fantastic.

A typical breakfast. Enough said.

After a long walk, on a warm November day we were thirsty: multiple Cokes avec limon and salmon (raw) club sandwiches. Just across the river form the Eiffel Tower (la Tour Eiffel).

Crepes au Paris? C'est si bon! Not really. Around the corner from the hotel. The only disappointing meal - and, anywhere else, it would have been great.

The last meal near Montmartre: a beautiful start with a pea soup with shrimp.

... followed by a lamb cassoulet (top) and chicken (below).

... and ending with dessert (a cheese course).

Le fin.