leftover torta rustica

Last night we welcomed for dinner a newer teammate, Luis, and his partner Dan. Luis swims down in Conrad's lane, and he seemed like someone we could get to know and become friendly with. After all, he apparently didn't let my mean coach act put him off so much that he didn't come back to Smelts. That's reassuring!

Anyway, given that we were just getting to know them, we thought we'd not subject them to food photos. Just feed 'em some dinner and enjoy their company. Thus, tonight's photos are the leftover torta rustica I made, reheated in the oven.

It's a simple recipe in so far as it's essentially a meal in a pie. There are several components, though, so it takes a bit of time to put together. The pastry is a soft dough made with eggs and milk. The filling consists of layers of spinach mixed with egg, onion, bread crumbs, and romano; provolone cheese; roasted red peppers; and slices of chicken breast. I do love that it makes great leftovers, mind you, so I don't mind the effort.

The recipe is adapted from one in Evan Kleiman's Angeli Caffe Pizza Pasta and Panini: Heavenly Recipes from the City of Angels' Most Beloved Caffe. Recommended if you want a casual meal but have the time to put the parts together. I served it with a simple salad last night and again tonight.

Dinner at Whistling Straits

Neither Conrad nor I are golfers. In truth, it's a game I can't relate to, though I think that golf courses are often stunning works of landscaping. Consequently, I struggle to remember when last I set foot in a golf clubhouse.

Last night we caught the resort shuttle out to the Lake Michigan shore for dinner at the Whistling Straits Restaurant. I wish we'd gone early enough to see some of the place in daylight, but that would have meant a 4:30 dinner. At 7:00, all was inkily dark out there.

In the end, I think that Conrad and I agree that it was a nice experience and one that would be reasonable to repeat, but that the food was a little lacking. Not bad, but we've had some very good and interesting food in recent weeks, and it's difficult not to compare. I did enjoy the sweet treat of sticky toffee pudding for dessert, and my pan-seared Chilean sea bass fillet with leek and pancetta risotto, roasted-tomato cream, and French beans was the better of our two entrees (Conrad's seared halibut with shiitake and morel mushroom risotto, grilled asparagus, and sherry cream sauce was overcooked, though it photographed well!). The spinach salad with aged white Cheddar cheese, Granny Smith apples, and warm smoked-bacon dressing was pretty basic in the end. Conrad's Whistling Straits sautéed escargot with applewood-smoked bacon, wild forest mushrooms, port wine sauce, and tomato concassee was both substantial and very tasty while my Georges Bank scallops crusted with Stravecchio cheese and served with crisp prosciutto and a sherry gastrique were a bit bland and chewy.

The wine surprised us some: on the menu it was listed as a Carneros Pinot Noir, which was true in so far as the origin of the grapes. In fact, the wine was produced and bottled in Door County, WI. That set us into snob mode immediately, but the wine quickly and appealingly opened up in the glass, and we had to admit that we would enjoy it for what it was if we didn't know it was a Wisconsin wine. It kept us good company through dinner.

The staff was very friendly, and the room had a warm lodge feel to it. So, the food struck out a bit. The dinner was still a welcome part of a two-day getaway.

American Club

We're just back from two nights in Wisconsin, and neither of us got the amount of work done that we'd intended. I did have my first visit ever to Old Orchard Mall out in the 'burbs, though, and the happy result was two suits deeply discounted. I feel so grown-up all of a sudden.

More photos from the American Club in Kohler. We sort of figure that 3 nights would be ideal, unless we intended to golf. It would be good to do a culinary/wine package or a spa package and enjoy the resort a little longer than we did.

What struck me most was how well used the common areas were. The photos here of the library bar area were from a time of day when only one other person was in there during any of the time we were. Later in the afternoon, many of the reading rooms and nooks about the building were quietly filled with people enjoying a tranquil read. I think that speaks well of the place.

Views of the front of the hotel.

Views from our west wing room.

Escape to Wisconsin

Lots of postings thse last few days, I know. Now that the hubbub of the holidays is mostly over (oh, who am I kidding? We have New Year's to get through and have a swim team mate and his partner due over for dinner on Friday) and we're rather drained from the effort of cleaning/cooking/hosting, we've escaped to Kohler for two nights at the American Club.

Ahhhhhhhhh.

Yes, I will do the mighty gay thing tomorrow and head over to the salon in order to get a men's hand treatment done. Do you know what all the handwashing and dishwashing the last few days have done to my hands? I deserve it!

It is lovely here, though. Our room has an enormous bathroom that probably rivals the puny place I lived in when I was in Montreal. We took great advantage of the tub tonight for a relaxing bubble bath together when we arrived. No, I will NOT subject you to photos of that.

We're unwinding with the laptops and blogging now, but earlier it was a corner of the Winery Bar, some wine, sushi, olives, and Wisconsin cheeses, and some talk of all the things we'd love to do in the year to come. Back to Chicago on Thursday!

Blessed Boxing Day

Ridiculously enough, it wasn't until early this afternoon - around 2:00 - that we opened presents. And because one good turn deserves another:

Have I mentioned lately that the NBF and his utterly adorable BF really and truly rock? Let me add that we were very much delighted by the bounty sent us by other friends and family as well!

Christmas dinner

Maybe I need to reconsider this librarian thing. Jeepers, if I can put together a dinner for 11 for Christmas, maybe I do need to go back to restaurant work.

Nah.

Who am I kidding - many people do bigger dinners for the holidays. I'm pleased with mine, but it wouldn't have happened without Conrad cleaning the house and otherwise putting up with my ultra-intensity in the kitchen.

We had an eclectic bunch there last night. Kenn and Cliff from swimming, Conrad (another one, this one a friend from library school who lives and works in Niles, MI) and his wife Heidi, Conrad's (my Conrad - this is too confusing. Henceforth, other Conrad will be known as Darth. Darth Rader - get it?) colleague Jim and his partner Dan, Scott from Yoshi's, and Kevin and Richard from UIC. It ended up being a decent mix - many times I heard laughter erupting from the living room while I was in the kitchen.

The night was not rushed. After the main course I had people sit and relax and open the presents we had for them. The last people (other than Darth and Heidi, who stayed the night) left at 10:30ish. Not too bad.

The menu is on the example of the place card we set at each person's setting. We didn't photograph the soup (decent - and I really don't care for mushrooms!) or the biscotti and cheese course, but they were well-received. Otherwise:

Pre-dinner snacks.

Salads.

Cornish game hens.

Slices of the chocolate and meringue cake - it's a super recipe that I will gladly share.

And guests - we're still a little floored that Jim actually consented to wear the crown from inside his cracker - most of the 'mericans didn't even know what the crackers were.

Darth and I had much to explain to the Yanks. Thank goodness we had each other!

Christmas day photos

Not much to write here but some photos instead. Here's a funny thing: it's 1:00 in the afternoon on Boxing Day. Conrad and Heidi have left on their return to Michigan. I've done the silverware and crystal. My Conrad is not yet home from his short day at the office. And you know what? We still have to open our presents. Busy day yesterday in other words.

And a long one. The first shots are of the view out the spare room window at around 6:30 in the morning yesterday. I was up at 5:50 and to bed last night sometime around 12:30. No nap and barely a break in their. It's worth it.

Other photos show the tree, the results of opening our stockings and gifts to each other (the only things we have opened thus far), and the table that Conrad took before the carnage of dinner time. The centerpiece bouquet from Chicago Plant and Flower was beautifully done, I think.

Santa visits

Apparently Conrad was a good boy this year. Marshall stands guard while Conrad still sleeps.

Christmas Eve with Rachel at Yoshi's

It's rather early - too early for Conrad, and even a bit early for me in light of all that needs doing today and how rested I should be. Alas, mild overindulgence last night has me out of bed and playing on two laptops. At least I can do a few things like blogging without waking Conrad.

Our place is really shaping up nicely for dinner tonight. Still lots to do, but it will get done. I baked three batches of biscotti yesterday and made the two meringue layer for the cake tonight. Once Conrad is up I'll get the cake baked first, then on to the rest of the stuff.

Although we spent much of yesterday cleaning, we still made time to go downtown for a while. A sunny if cool day in Chicago, and Michigan Avenue was not terribly busy. Consequently we had a leisurely couple of hours with lunch at the Nordstrom's cafe and an errand to buy some tapers for the table tonight. Last night was also spent out, this time at Yoshi's with our friend Rachel.

Busy night at Yoshi's. His was one of the few establishment in the gaybourhood to be open, so it was thronged. We're glad we booked seats for three at the bar. The food was fine, of course, and a number of our friends wandered in. The wine poured a little freely as well, but a lot of water and maybe a mid-day stroll will help considerably! We exchanged a few gifts and were delighted all around. And Conrad played with his garnishes.

Our dinner:

Some edamame that Rachel mostly devoured.

Yoshi's maki. It's one of the rare Japanese items on the menu - most people think the restaurant must be Japanese, but Yoshi trained in France.

Grilled radicchio with pine nuts, goat cheese, and basil.

Skate wing.

Wagyu beef burger with wasabi blue cheese.

Cassoulet.

Molten chocolate cake.

Raspberry tart with lemon mascarpone.

Bûche de Noël. Not cut from the one on display at the corner of the bar.

Conrad and I got home at about 11 after a nice walk through the neighbourhood. I was out not long after that. Hmmm, now that this is posted, should I go finish work on the silverware?

Merry Christmas!