Saturday, July 17, 2004

A perfect evening As my friends can tell you, there's nothing I like better than cooking a great meal (even a just good meal) for friends. Tonight's dinner, for our friends John and Robert, and their daughter Grace, who just moved to our neighborhood, was just about perfect. Another couple and their son were able to join at the last moment, so there were lots of kids, and lots of happy well fed adults--especially when they were presented with the following menu. I'm not going to post the recipes, because, for once I didn't really adapt anything. I added some grilled tofu from the deli at the market to the spring rolls (sliced thin, added along with the papaya; read the recipe and it will make sense) and everything else came straight from this FABULOUS book by Lora Zarubin, who writes wondeful food notes for House & Garden magazine. It was one of the best meals I've ever made, and one of the easiest. Perfect summer night. Maker's Mark Sours (p. 178 in the Zarubin book. but made with only 2 oz bourbon each, instead of 3--3 might kill you) Papaya spring rolls with tofu and peanut sauce the "You say tomato" menu from the book: --Grilled lobster with curry sauce --Corn pudding --Heirloom tomato salad And for desert, sliced nectarines and strawberries, fresh from the farmer's market, with a little mint, a little vanilla sugar, and ice cream. Champagne and then viognier with dinner. Good night. 10:11:34 PM     comment [] trackback []