DEC 2010 dinner party

I had done a private party 6 years ago (right out of high school) for a small business firm celebrating for the holidays. The event was to be held at one of the 12 guests homes and have a selection of items. The dinner consisted of 8 different ala cart style items, my brother Nicholas preping hor dourves and brittany ginger serving every course.

Any way, they called me back to do yet another dinner for them, I called upon one of my best friends and co-workers Randell to handle desserts as well as my little brother (my partner in crime throughout all these events) to set this one off.

The menu for 14 people went as follows:

Balloon sphere cocktails - Refresher

Cucumber juice

Lime juice

S.S.

Lemongrass vodka

Lillet blanc

Ginger Ale

Lavender spray

Lemon bitters

Wrap frozen cucumber around ice sphere, onto straw, mint blossoms

Fried brioche goat cheese twinkies (warm)

Walnuts (spiced and toasted), arugula, herbage, good olive oil

Rehydrated basil seeds (olive oil)

Red / golden beets, roasted and dressed

Beet purees

Pickled peal onion (vinegar, spices, Bourdeaux)

Prep 5 soup,

baked Yukon potato

black truffle

Pumpernickel, seared gnocchi

Sous-vide protein - squab <-- at work

Roasted squash (balled, thyme, BS, maple)

Thyme, honey and root-beer reduction

Cranberry, vinegar puree fluid gel

Roasted Figs

Fried sage

Chervil

Thyme scented butter candle

Pork belly(no picture on this one)

Reduction sauce (air brush plates + stencil)

Smoked molasses gel strips

Rehydrated mustard seeds, vinegar, caramelized honey

Dressed fennel / appleS, honey, peppercorn, coriander, vinegar

Fennel frond

Fried fingerling potatoes, BB, thyme, rosemary

Frisee hearts

Burnt wood / smoked plate

Palate cleanser

Menthol and pear pate a fruit

Giant smoking cinnamon

"chocolate cake"

Chocolate cake, shredded

Mint mousse

Bitter chocolate crumble

Sherry gastrique

raspberry ice cream

caramelized white chocolate "noodle"