4th Annual New Year's Eve-Eve Dinner

December 30th, 2006

It took 4 years, but we finally managed to get a third (complete) couple in on this tradition. Not only did Amar & Malini join Nimo, Nisha, Andrea and myself, but we added another pair of slightly smaller dinner guests in Mya and Senna! Still, we had MORE than enough food to go around.

Maybe TOO much food.

Crab-stuffed mushrooms, chipotle chicken nachos, and parmesan-crusted blue cheese toasts can use up an appetite very quickly! Next time, I have to remind myself to pass on a few servings of starters before dinner.

Some highlighs:

2001 MERRYVALE PROFILE MAGNUM


BLUE-CHEESE-CRUSTED STEAKS WITH RED WINE SAUCE
TWICE-BAKED POTATO CUPS WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS
COCONUT SHRIMP

Note: Being the oddball of the group, Amar got a grilled portabello with the same blue-cheese crust treatment as the steaks. He seemed to like it, but he doesn't know what he's missing.

SUNI & ANDREA


THE WHOLE GANG

NOBHILL, Las Vegas

Nobhill Trios

After Andrea and I sampled our trio of breads (sour dough, maple, olive) with a trio of butter (sage, curry, sweet cream) we ate the following FIVE courses, each with a different trio.

I'm STILL full.

S.

GREENS

'PALACE' GREEN GODDESS SALAD ~ WATERCRESS, RED ONION MARMALADE
SEARED SCALLOP ~ ENDIVE, CAVIAR-CREME FRAICHE
'SOLARI'S GRILL' DUNGENESS CRAB LOUIE ~ AVOCADO, CLASSIC LOUIS DRESSING


SASHIMI

BIGEYE TUNA ~ HEARTS OF PALM, HONEY-LIME
WILD SALMON ~ AVOCADO, GREEN APPLE PONZU
HAMACHI ~ SCALLION, MUSHROOM-YUZU


POULTRY

HOT & SOUR DUCK ~ SHITAKE MUSHROOMS, DUCK CONFIT-POTATO HASH
SONOMA CHICKEN 'TETRAZZINI' ~ TRUFFLED MACARONI AND CHEESE
QUAIL BREAST ~ PANZANELLA, PLUMS, GINGER


TENDERLOINS

LAMB ~ STUFFED PEPPERS, OLIVE VINAIGRETTE
BEEF ~ SEARED FOIE GRAS, SHALLOT-POTATO CAKE
PORK ~ SUMMER BEANS, SAGE GNOCCHI


DESSERT

BERRIES ~ BUTTERMILK BISCUIT, MASCARPONE MERINGUE
CHOCOLATE ~ PEANUT BUTTER CAKE, MILK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM
BUTTERSCOTCH ~ BREAD PUDDING, OATMEAL LACE COOKIE