(FXK, if you're reading this post, I darn well hope you catch the song reference in that title!)
2007 is now upon us. Forgive me if I'm not enormously excited. It's not that the weather is grey or that it's Monday. It's not exactly that it's just another day in some ways. I simply have never cared for New Year's Eve as a holiday. It's right down there with Hallowe'en. No matter. I'm not a curmudgeon and I wasn't out to kill anyone's night last night, though. And yes, we have food photos.
We spent much of yesterday doing work we'd brought home before stopping in at Francis and Kim's party. They were co-hosting with their neighbours John and Erin, and I have to add in here that Erin had put together a spread of tapas that was truly remarkable. She and John were setting out to fry cheese croquetas as we arrived on the early side. Wow.
Conrad and I stayed almost an hour, and we were quite sorry to leave. We'd made our Yoshi's arrangements quite some time ago and were looking forward to it, but between the good food and the really friendly gathering of people early on, we were having quite a nice time.
Alas, most of the photos were too fuzzy to keep (we're still getting used to the various settings of the new camera), but one shot survived, and I'm glad. Kim greeted us when we arrived, and I thought she looked stunning in this top. Quite an impression to make on the guests, seeing her in the bold and glorious print. Yes, I'm sounding reeeeeeally gay, I know.
Off home for a quick change and then a walk through the gaybourhood to Yoshi's. A lot of people were out last night, of course, and many of them seemed to think that the magic of wearing skimpy party clothes would overcome the fact that it was only a little above freezing. Kids! Gone were the picketers from in front of X/O as well. They had set up an anti-foie gras demonstration. Added some colour to the night, I suppose, but where were all those people and their campaign before the city banned foie gras? I don't recall seeing them any other time, and while they might say that New Year's Eve is a high-visibility night because of the occasion and number of diners, if they aren't willing to be there on a regular Saturday in the middle of a crappy winter storm, I guess they don't care all that much about the animals.
But I do wonder: Were they rotating the protest to all the restaurants in the city that were illicitly serving foie gras? I disagree with the ban, but it is in place, so I do not agree with the illicit service of it.
End of sermonizing. I'm not in a bad mood today, I swear.
:)
Yoshi's. Packed, filled with balloons and music and people.
Conrad and I had been given the coveted "Laura and Michael" spots in the corner of the bar, and just as on Christmas Eve, Obed was next to us.
We had nice chat with him through the night, as well as with other regulars who came on round. Service was paced nicely so that we were just finished dessert when it was time to ring in the New Year. As for the food:
Kaiseki style appetizer (domestic sturgeon caviar in purple potato, Wagyu beef with white asparagus, king crab leg motoyaki, lobster bisque chawanmushi, miniature sushi).
Shark fin consomme.
Warm vegetable salad of beets, turnips, mushrooms (yes, I ate them!), green and white asparagus, tomato coulis, and truffle oil.
Combination plate (grilled beef tenderloin au poivre and grilled Hawaiian escolar - white tuna - Cajun style with chile guajillo sauce).
Combination of New Year's Dessert 2007 (green tea genoise charlotte with azuki beans and white chocolate mousse, warm chocolate cake, caramel pecan ice cream).
All was good, not a bad bit in there. Favourites bites? The steak, the wasabi used with miniature sushi, the warm chocolate cake, and the ice cream. We had a bottle of Morgon, and Obed shared some champagne with us at midnight. Hats, noisemakers, much cheering ensued.
More chatting with friends and many hugs followed dinner, then we strolled home through the mild night. It was almost 2:00 when we fell into bed - happily not as overindulged as we might have been - and 10:00 when we got up this morning. Half the day is done, and we'll go off in search of ways to fill the rest.
Happy New Year to any who read this blog. I know that Jeph, Brenda, FXK, Dom, and Daniel all do, and others too. It's a lot of food rambling, and that won't change in the year that has just started! But I am glad that y'all check in on things here and let me know about it. I hope your New Year celebrations went well!
the cool climes of the uplands,
the comforts of this gorgeous lodge,
the relaxation.
makes us feel as though we're vacationing in Colorado or somewhere vaguely Rockies-ish. Not much to do here, and we love it. Oh yes, we're already thinking of how/when we can return.
Conrad and I had been given the coveted "Laura and Michael" spots in the corner of the bar, and just as on Christmas Eve, Obed was next to us.
We had nice chat with him through the night, as well as with other regulars who came on round. Service was paced nicely so that we were just finished dessert when it was time to ring in the New Year. As for the food:
while I spent much of the early part of the day in the kitchen.
had made a couple of pies as well. She made a key lime pie that was a big hit tonight while he made a pecan pie that I enjoyed. For my part, I was out the door just before seven to walk to Jewel, buy some things, stop at Starbucks for a coffee, then home to get going. Jam tartlets were up first - a warm up exercise, in quince and blueberry. Then it was the pumpkin cheesecake (from the cookbook I gave you, Jeph - if you try it, bake it a little longer, perhaps). Brown butter blueberry tart was the third thing. When it came out of the oven, the two layers for the almond torte with lemon glaze went in. I also got soup mostly made up for tomorrow's tree-trimming (split pea with smoked turkey) and pastry and candied sweet potato for the meat pie I'll also make.
are the hosts of the dinner, but it has outgrown their place. We now have it at the restaurant (which makes it easier for Yoshi
than having to transport the turkeys). People still bring food - we weren't the only ones with desserts, in fact. A good crowd there.
(Michael and Mari, Yoshi and Nobuko's daughter)
(Nobuko and Yoshi)
(Fernando and Scott)
(Debbie - dessert goddess, truly! - with Conrad and Tom - lucky boyfriend of Debbie)
(Laura, Kobe, Michael)
(Conrad and Laura)
(one of the three turkeys - the deep-fried one, I believe)
You may be stuffed (unless you're a Canadistani friend, as FXK would call it), so I hope the sight of more food will not be too dreadful!
Francis and Kim are wonderful hosts, and tonight's crowd was a terrific mix of library and non-library people. I hope any of them whose names I bludgeon will forgive the errors.
Pia and I have a deep deep friendship. Don't tell the other Circ Managers, or Conrad.
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