wednesday nite dinner no. 1

i'll let the pictures do most of the talking...

a quaint bistro setting...


last minute preparations of the main entree...


francesco doing the honors. poggio bidini nero d'avola, a sicilian rosso...


cheers to the first wednesday nite dinner!


dinner is served!


1st course: herb butter toast with red radish and a cup of of sea salt...
sweet butter was whipped with dill and thyme and a pinch of salt (see above picture)...


anne, you dip the radish in the salt, but don't dip too much!


2nd course: short ribs braised in chimay ale served with wasabi mashed potato and celery root and sauteed greens with nutmeg. the ribs were glazed with a smear of dijon mustard. the onions simmered in the ale...


there weren't many leftovers...


explaining to leslie my reasons for wednesday nite dinners and how it might evolve...


wayne is still "savoring" the meat...


everyone else is done...


3rd course: frozen honeydew slices. the melon flesh is scooped out, then blended with polly ann's coconut ice cream, then refrozen in the honeydew shell...



sterling vineyards malvasia bianca 2004. sweet and crisp with lots of lychee, pear and a hint of apple...


alycia, the guest photographer for the evening (and thank you for the dessert wine!)...



my teeth are frozen...


why's mine so big?


thank you leslie, francesco, alycia, anne, and wayne for supporting my first wednesday nite dinner! so happy you could come. please feel free to share your comments on the food and nite. and i'd love feedback (positive or constructive!) on the dishes too. i'm looking to improve in every way i can!

if anyone would like to see a recipe posted, post a comment and let me know which one.


and now what you've been waiting for...


the next lucky five guests for wednesday nite dinner no. 2 are...


victor!


kendrick!


edmundo!


andrew!


and last but not least... ali z!

congratulations! the next dinner will be held on wednesday, november 1st. menu tbd but expect something hearty and roasted. i'm all about roasts and braises these days. =)

thanks again for everyone's support and see you at the next wednesday nite dinner!

(we now return to our regularly scheduled recipes, restaurant reviews and homecooked meals.)