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DINNER: Wednesday, July 16, 2003

DINNER: Wednesday, July 16, 2003

Tonight, we went for an exploratory dinner to the Chokolate Morel (Dayton Daily News review) in Mason Ohio. We went ‘exploring’ because Wendy is considering it for a future Happy Mouth outing.

The place is LOVELY — it is a lovingly-restored Victorian house and each of the rooms are dining areas for small groups. The room we were in, the green room upstairs, had four or five tables in it.

We started out with a blue crab and havarti fondue which had a very nice if somewhat one-dimensional flavor. I would have enjoyed a bit of spirit in the fondue. If any was present, it was too muted to taste.

I enjoyed the tenderloin medallions rolled in finely ground espresso then seared and served with a red bell pepper and chipotle reduction, served on a piece of brioche next to roasted potatos. The Rabbit Ridge wine I had with it was a nice pairing. Wendy loved her Conquistador Stew (a cross between paella and risotto) of chicken, chorizo, and seafood with a buried treat of a nice, creamy rice.

For dessert, I had a piece of cherry-topped, custardy bread pudding with the requisite caramel sauce and Wendy had Chocolate Mousse served in an espresso cup with ganache and a sweet little cookie on top.

It was a good meal!

DINNER: Tuesday, July 15, 2003

DINNER: Tuesday, July 15, 2003

Tonight, I took part in the monthly WINE DINNER celebrating the wines of California’s Sonoma Valley at the Iron Horse Inn in Glendale. I attended with my friends Doug & Meg (both chefs), and we sat at a communal table with Annie (the pastry chef…

DINNER: Sunday, July 13, 2003

DINNER: Sunday, July 13, 2003

Kind of a humbling dinner tonight… I wanted to try the SKILLET CORN BREAD again, so I made another batch of it. We slathered it with the Maple Butter, and that was pretty much all we ate for dinner.

That skillet corn bread is plenty tasty!

DINNER: Saturday, July 12, 2003

DINNER: Saturday, July 12, 2003

We decided to cook at home tonight, something that our schedules of late have made impossible. Together, Wendy & I prepared Moo Shu Pork, Spicy Long Green Beans and skillet corn bread with a maple butter. It was a lot of work, and I felt…