Final & Flexible Menu

The final meal in my seemingly endless quest was an slightly modified version of the "romantic dinner" menu. I had planned on sharing the meal with a friend that, while not the personification of romantic, I always enjoy spending time with. But real life happens, plans got changed and the food still had to be cooked or go to waste. So I turned the meal from meal for two into a fancy chick flick meal. Not as pathetic as it sounds (or maybe it is).

Menu
Seared Duck Brest w/Cherries and Port Sauce (pg84)
Penne w/Hazelnut Gremolata & Roasted Broccolini (pg85)
Chocolate Budino Tartlets w/Fleur De Sel (pg14)
Woodward Canyon Artist Series -Cabernet 2003 (I supposed I should drink the 1990 first but then it will be gone)



I am not typically a big fan of duck, in the past I have found it too rich and just have not loved the flavor. Now I am wondering if maybe I just was not served the best recipes because this turned out great. I ended up with a couple extra duck breasts in the freezer and will try another recipe just too double check-maybe I do like duck after all. The sauce was also delicious.

The pasta was okay, but not in the top 10.

The Chocolate tartlets were unusual and topped with a little salt and olive oil. I love the salted caramels such as Frans gray salt or smoked salt caramels so thought this would be fun to try. The recipe comes from some place in San Fran called A16. I looked up the restaurant and it has lots of rave reviews and even a picture of this tart right on the web site. The chocolate was very good, I put a tiny bit too much salt on mine but it did go well with the chocolate.

As for the wine, I have this weird thing that I can't drink the good bottles alone. Trust me, I have NO issues drinking wine alone, but I seem to think the good ones should be shared with good company. I opened a fun bottle of prosecco instead.

The chick flick sucked but the food was good. (why oh why can't they make good rom-coms anymore).

All and all a good meal to end on.