Bye Bye Turkey(less) Day..

By now, we’re probably all pretty tired of thanksgiving related patter from this office, but to tie a bow (clever reference to the next holiday) on it, a quick recap of the day at the digs… the morning was spent getting ready, laying out silver, figuring out serving dishes, glassware, settling the final timing and mercifully no wrestling with an unwieldy fowl, just that elegant Niman Ranch pork loin.




The fish was pretty easy, just going to bake it with roasted garlic and meyer lemon oil (more on that in the future).



The pork was coated with mustard, then fresh herbs applied,


and then it went on the grill for a bit before finally heading for the oven..



Meanwile, MFO busied herself with the sides, Root Vegetable Gratin, Green Beans and Walnuts with Lemon Vinaigrette, Cranberry Mustard Sauce.

Soon enough the guests arrived and were greeted with a demi glass of:



One friend brought cheeses and olives to go with the uncured Niman Ranch Uncured Salame, paired with a lovely ’01 Bruno Giacosa Sparkling Wine, Neive, Italy




Then another interlude while the Poached Pear Salad w/Blue Cheese and Champagne Vinaigrette was prepared,




By this time both meats were done and safely rested in the indespensible warming drawer



And dinner was ready!




After enjoying the poached pear salad with sparkling water, the first course was the garlic roasted rockfish with Meyer lemon oil, lump crab and buerre blanc sauce, paired with an ’05 Apolloni Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon



Then the pork roast was carved



And served along side a ’06 Buehler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon from St. Helena, California.

Lastly, we shared pieces of MFO’s, Apple, Pumpkin, and Pecan Pies.






Oh, and although FOJTE could not join us so they could attend to their (now improving) sick dog Buddy, they were able to enjoy part of our menu through a rare chance to have the elusive Missouri Rock Fish



A wonderful dinner, made even more so by enjoying with friends and even families by phone. And so Thanksgiving 2009 passes into history, memories locked in, rough edges (where's the damn....?) rounding and soon will be forgotten. The food was wonderful (IMHO) from the appetizers to the pies. The fresh rockfish actually tasted like rockfish, I discovered Kellums, the pork reminded you of the pork you remembered when it actually had fat, and I would not hesitate to go back to Niman Ranch for any of their products. The roast and Salame were pefect. Expensive? yup. who cares for special occasions.

Last night we went over to Leonardtown and exprienced the "lighting of the tree" ceremony which (i am not sure how these relate) included almost every piece of fire and rescue equipment in the County, along with the arrival of Santa. There was also an interpreter telling an abbreviated version of Dickens "A Christmas Carol" in the book store. She was just great. Also visted the North End Gallery before dining locally.

Too darn bad there's nothing to do in Southern Maryland, I can only hope that everyone enjoyed their day as much as we did, even if it did contain Turkeys, and also hoped that you all

DFD