I hope everyone is having a wonderful Valentine's/President's/Darwin's 200th birthday weekend. I've been spending, oh, 97,000% of my available moments playing around with our new toy, a MacBook we purchased through the wondrous consumerist marvel knows as credit card points. Somehow, we had enough of these magical little sprites to get lots and lots of Amazon money, which then became (poof) a Macbook!
But I did take a break from babbling about iPhoto and squeeing over the trackpad-based controls to sit down to a lovely celebratory meal prepared by my dynamo of a man.
Perhaps you can tell by our sort of laughable tablescape that I dislike buying cut flowers? I hate washing vases, hate the fact that our cat Stinky always tries to eat them, and most of all, I hate the guilt I feel when time marches inexorably on and I have to throw away their brown rotting carcasses.
Not that I'd turn down a sunny springtime bouquet.
Our first course, plated ever-so-sweetly by the Mr. himself, was a truffled duck and pork pate, served with all manner of sweet fruits (beautiful dried figs) and pickles. This proves that you really don't need to do any cooking to plate a beautifully decadent appetizer.
After a break of several hours, on to the main course! My man has a real way with shellfish, but we don't eat them very often because we've been on this local food kick for quite some time, and, well, we haven't found any local clams or mussels. Lots of Gulf oysters, of course, but nothing with those thinner shells that could, say, get steamed with white wine, tomatoes, garlic, chili flakes, and a little clam juice, then get finished with a teensy knob o'butter and basil and topped with quick-pickled onions to, hypothetically, make this:
Because, deep down, we're belgophiles, we had our mussels with fries. Moules Frites! What a happy-making concept. Especially when served with the Mr.'s best aioli yet and some ketchup, because we are, after all, American. And Husbear also tossed the fries with a little grated parmigiano-reggiano, basil, and salt, because just fried they weren't nearly fancy enough.
OH so much food. This was just overmuch! Even having the ability to take long, luxurious breaks between courses didn't disguise how much food this was. Which is why we had dessert at midnight.
How about a pear frangipane tart from Central Market? Unfortunately, this tasted mostly of almond extract. Sure was purty, though.
The lemon bar was much better. And the fact that the Mr. plated it with blueberries? Well, that went over really well, since our wedding colors (way back in the olden days... 2004) were lemon yellow and deep blue.
I'm always a fan of holidays that encourage decadence in eating. Next - shall we corn some beef for St. Patrick's Day?
Love, Girlie.
Congrats on 10 years! It's been so nice to get to know you and Logan in the past few weeks (online and now off!) and congratulations on making it so long. Ian and I are just at 4 years and it seems like a lifetime in some ways.
Best of luck and happy blogging!
Addie
Posted by: Addie | Tuesday, 17 February 2009 at 11:02
What a wonderful spread! I am especially envious of the frites - they look just perfect!
Posted by: Albany Jane | Tuesday, 17 February 2009 at 12:03
Thank you, Addie! 10 years seems like a long time, and also not. It's our 5th wedding anniversary in May, and I'm almost more freaked by that! It's been so wonderful meeting you and Ian, as well. Thanks for all you've done (and are doing) for the Austin blog scene!
AJ, the frites were really yummy. Logan couldn't justify the frying process for the two of us, so he bought Alexia's fries: http://www.alexiafoods.com/. Surprisingly good, and WAY simpler than DIY.
Posted by: Boots in the Oven | Tuesday, 17 February 2009 at 14:52
what a wonderfully romantic valentine's day dinner. i really wanted to do something nice like that for the hubby, but we had a bar to run (ick, right? what a v-day buzz kill).
Congratulations on 10 years!
Posted by: Krista | Tuesday, 17 February 2009 at 20:00
Krista, ah - stupid work, always getting in the way of.... well, non-work! Thanks so much. We started dating in September of 1998, holy crap.
Posted by: Boots in the Oven | Tuesday, 17 February 2009 at 22:20
Wow, that dinner sounds absolutely mouth meltingly fantastic! I've just started reading your blog but I absolutely love it! It certainly makes this displaced Texan yearn for home, New Jersey just can't compare.
Posted by: Erin | Friday, 13 March 2009 at 14:55
Aw, thanks, Erin! I'm so glad you found and like the blog. Logan has a lot of fun going all out on Valentine's Day!
Posted by: Rachel of Boots in the Oven | Friday, 13 March 2009 at 19:26