The Annual Dinner Party - With an homage to Maine
Right now I am in the final day of prepping for our annual end of year gathering. Mom and SD are here from VA and are out today visiting SD's daughters and grandkids.
I am in the final throws of prepping. Still need to make port reduction sauce for the duck, vol-au-vent cases for smoked salmon and creme fraiche.
Here is the breakfast Coffee Cake
Cooling is my pithivier.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie pies are assembled.
The lobster salad is made for the appetizers atop buttered gridded challah.
There are marinated olives in fennel orange and lemon.
My vacuum machine arrived Friday and I will be setting up the duck breasts soon in their little pouches for their bath in 56C water.
There is still celeriac and potatoes to peel, leeks to clean, and raclette to grate for the gratin. The playlist on the ipod is ready. Sparkly things are chilling, bottles of red stuff are breathing, Now I just have to figure out how to get 8 people around the table and then 4 of our friends from the lake will be coming down from their winter homes in Somerville and NH and we will all reminisce about warm days and lazy cocktail cruises. I hope you are all similarly ensconced in wining and dining with friends and family.
Later we'll talk about the newbook my wonderful Brother in Law sent me for Christmas...I can't wait.
Totally scrummy!
I am trying not to be jealous of your fabulous feast!
A very Happy New Year to you & yours!
Posted by: margaret | December 29, 2008 at 05:27 PM
I slipped over here from Blogeois' blog. Your meal does sound like a fabulous feast. You make it sound so easy, too!I know it couldn't be that easy.
Happy New Year,
Nancy
Posted by: NJ | January 02, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Hi Jo,
Would you be willing to share your recipe for that scrumptious-looking breakfast coffee cake?
Posted by: Terri from Sunnyvale, CA | January 06, 2009 at 02:17 PM
Wow, what an amazing feast! I come to you by way of the Boston Blogs site. I am planning a short jaunt up your way in April and I was looking for restaurant recommendations, among other things, and thought you might be able to help! I'm interested in Boston's best - whether that be some local dive, a 5-star restaurant, or just a great meal. Thank you in advance for your help! My email is ddeskins (at) dupree-funds (dot)com.
Posted by: Danielle | January 06, 2009 at 04:45 PM
My cousin Joanie is correct, I am 8 days her senior, which gives me a slight advantage in a big italian family. I do make use of that advantage periodicaly.
Also, everything she says about our Christmas Eve gathering is so very true. We have seven different fishes which as the story goes - one fish for everyday the (3) wise men traveled to see baby Jesus.
Our Christmas Eve Dinner is better than any movie or play that would you pay to see, if you are looking for entertainment.
It is every bit confusing and loud as she describes - eating, drinking, singing, swearing, laughing and hands flying everywhere.
My wife is French Canadian and very laid back, when I took her to our first Christmas Eve Dinner, she thought she was in downtown Bagdad.
Now she looks forward to it every year -- it is a blast ! and rest assure every year brings a new stack of great memories that will be talked about for a lifetime.
I would like to thank cousin Joanie for posting one of my CD tracks - I actually felt famous for a second.
and one more thing - Damn that coffee cake looks good !!
Posted by: Cousin Johnny | January 08, 2009 at 07:01 PM
We just stumbled upon your blog, and those bake goods caught our eye! Especially the whoopie pies. What a fun dinner that must've been!
Posted by: The Duo Dishes | January 22, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Have you heard about the Fat Duck possible food poisoning scandal which broke today - here's a link http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/feb/27/heston-blumenthal-fat-duck
I ate there a few years ago, it's fantastic although the paintings are vile. We went into the kitchen and it was totally spotless and totally tiny.
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