Last call for 2009: A Dinner Party

Chicken drummettes stewing in Dutch oven

Fresh papaya for our calamari salad

Well, there it was.  Our last dinner party for 2009 with old friends (not chronologically old) and new ones!  Last night’s menu’s Asian theme  inspired David to bring two bottles of sake. That, along with a nice Pomerol, courtesy of Kevin & Regina, as well as some delicious whites, insured a celebration worthy of New Year‘s eve, albeit one night early.  The menu consisted of crab spring rolls, bite size fish balls, each with its own dipping sauce, and chicken drummettes with Asian sauce served at the kitchen island and by the fire place, where everyone was shaking off the winter chill brought on by the impending snow.  At the table we served sautéed calamari over frissée and papaya salad with a sweet and sour pepper sauce, followed by Asian noodles topped with scallops, lobster and shrimp in a lemongrass-coconut, lobster reduction sauce.  For dessert we finished off our coconut-rum sorbet, paired with blackberries and biscotti dipped in Cointreau.  By the time it came along, I could barely touch my dessert, but luckily Claire was ready for more and, like a good friend, she helped me out.  All along David had been talking about the energy level here at 2GourManiacs that goes into all the food we prepare.  Well, I must say that last night I was quite pleased by David’s energy level as he pretty much single-handedly cleared the table of empty plates and brought out the next round of dishes.  Thank you my friends, and Happy New Year, or Felice Anno Nuovo.

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