Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2010. That is so strange to write/type/think!

We had a great day! It started out with a visit from Vicki and Patrick. They stayed in town an extra day when they heard we were coming through and seeing them is always special.

Then we went to the hospital to visit Big Richard. We had plans to see him and Aunt Nancy but between the time we made the plan and today, Big R wound up in the hospital with a blood clot in his leg. They expect him to be fine and home by the weekend!

Then we went to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants - La Truffe Sauvage. The food and service were, as always, divine!

Here is the New Year's Eve dinner menu:

1st Course

Maine Lobster & Porcini Mushroom Risotto
^{with asparagus tips}
§
Natural Sea Scallop, Jerusalem Artichoke & Black Truffle en Croûte
^{vermouth and leek sauce}
§
Fresh Tagliatelle Pasta with Shaved Winter Perigord Black Truffle
^{Parmigiana Reggiano, truffle cream sauce}
§
Smoked Wild Alaskan Halibut
^{potato galette, caper blossom, vodka crème fraîche}

2nd Course
Oxtail Consommé
^{shrimp quenelle, white truffle oil, cheese straw}
§
Morel Mushrom Velouté
^{colossal lump crab, celery root chips}
§
Arugula, Clémentine & Ruby Red Grapefruit Salad
^{Parmigiana Reggiano crisp}

3rd Course
Angus Beef Tenderloin au Poivre
^{Gorgonzola cheese dauphinois potato & spinach au gratin}
§
Colorado Rack of Lamb Navarin
^{with ratatouille & black truffle mashed potato}
§
Filet of Dover Sole
^{with colossal lump crab, asparagus, tomato confite, pomme vapeur and sauce Cardinale}

4th Course
Chocolate Bûche de Noël
^{traditional holiday dessert with moist sponge, chocolate butercream & dark chocolate ganache}
§
Raspberry Crème Brulée
^{our white chocolate crème brulée with fresh raspberries in a crisp puff pastry shell}
§
Baba aux Rhum
^{brioche with currants and lemon, made tender with dark rum and topped with vanilla whipped cream}
§
Petit Pot de Crème au Chocolate
^{a small, rich and powerful chocolate custard with a hint of coffee}

Between us all, the only things we didn't try were the Smoked Wild Alaskan Halibut, the Filet of Dover Sole and the Baba aux Rhum. Everything was delicious and I had a cappuccino with my dessert. We also had a wonderful bottle of Zinfandel - a 2005 Turley from Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles. It was lovely.

From there we headed over to visit cousins of Ken's and Aunt Nancy who is staying with them until Big Richard can go home. We had a great time catching up and discussing all sorts of things (including religion) and playing with pet rats and watching the ball drop while sipping champagne and then watching fire works! I will post some photos tomorrow (I hope).

In the mean time let me take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very happy and healthy New Year. Somehow, the years seem to be going by faster and faster and it's never too soon to tell the people you love how you feel. I hope my friends and family know how I feel and I hope all of you let your loved ones know how you feel, too.

Happy 2010!
~ Kass