Odds n ends before I leave

[theatokos]

*We arrived early and went upstairs to have a glass of wine in the cafe before being seated. I had a fabulous glass of something white. We moved downstairs and were served a caraffe of water and crostini with duck liver spread. It was delicious, and at this point I realized I should have taken some cold medicine.
*An apertif was served: sparkling white wine with quince syrup. Interesting but not really for me.
*1st course: dungeness crab and scallop feuillete with leeks and black trumpets (feuillete a is puff pastry box). Puff pastry, also not my thing - but the flavors were incredibly perfect. I'm not sure I've ever had better scallops.
*We order a bottle of French bordeaux
*2nd course: steamed Atlantic cod with cauliflower and fried caper salsa. Delicious! Everything was delicate and perfect.
*3rd course: grilled duck breast with warm chickory salad, roasted root vegetables and chanterelles with roasted chestnuts. This was also very good. The chestnuts and duck went together perfectly.
*At this point we were offered a tour of the kitchen. Adam, who has spent many years in food service, said he's never seen a restaurant kitchen like it. It was larger than the dining room, and the decor continued throughout. For example, the lighting fixtures were the same in there as in the dining room. It was beautiful! No one was cramped. No one was put out that we were walking through. It wasn't so much a tour as we were allowed to just wander through. The head chef, a Frenchman, bumped into Adam's elbow and stopped to apologize. No one was rushed. Everything was clean and easy, like these were our friends and we were over for dinner. Amazing.
*Dessert: Chestnut crepe with caramelized apples and wildflower honey icecream. Never has a dessert gone so well with a cup of coffee.
*Lastly, we each got a tiny chocolat and a candied orange rind.

Everything was lovely. The service truly worked together as a team and somehow the guy in the coat room knew which items were ours when we walked up. Whoa.

How often do you finish a meal feeling inspired? And not just by the food, but by the service? I feel inspired to give my all to my passions. Fer real, it was that kind of experience.


And today I am quite sick with an awful head cold. The poor housesitter will have to make do with spit-up crusted floors. Disgusting, but true.

******

* = skimmed, + = recommended
What's the Matter with Kansas - Frank
*Planning Your Pregnancy and Birth
*Birthing from Within
Various BPRD - Mike Mignola
Easing Labor Pain - Leiberman
+Bone - Jeff Smith
The White Wand - Anaar
Goldfinger - Ian Fleming
Arrowsmith - Busiek
+Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin
*Spiritual Midwifery - Ina May Gaskin
Romance of Tristan and Iseult - Bedier
Pushed - Jennifer Block
Essays of Revolt - Jack London
How Sassy Changed My Life
For Your Eyes Only - Ian Fleming
*9 Steps to Financial Freedom - Suze Orman
*The Two Income Trap
*The Happiest Baby on the Block - Harvey Karp
+The Bhagavad Gita
The No Cry Sleep Solution
The Places that Scare Us - Pema Chodron
Zen and the Art of Archery - Herrigel
*Naked Pictures of Famous People - Jon Stewart
*Good Nights - Dr. Jay Gordon
I Was Told There'd Be Cake - Sloane Crosley

It feels like I've hardly read this year, but evidence points to the contrary. Maybe it's because so much of that reading was skimming for information. I'm very good at skimming; it is a skill useful to academia and book selling.


Now, to go nap with my boy.