Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone! In years past, when we used to travel to NY every Xmas to spend it with David’s parents, we never celebrated our own until we got back home. New Year’s day was always our Christmas. And David loved Christmas. Yesterday I wore a pair of earrings I’d bought for myself in Guatemala. Today I’ll wear a pair he gave me — which I do most days, because he always gave me earrings for birthdays and Christmas, and he got mad if I bought jewelry for myself, so I seldom did. Having been to The Chef's Table last night, where there is a wine pairing with each course, I learned that it is not a good idea to have two Mohitos before dinner. Tonight, I was good and had one seltzer. (Not counting the mimosa at the brunch, but that was hours ago.) Tonight’s menu was ’French Bistro,‘ and included consommé with truffles (ok, one truffle sliver), goat cheese en croute, a palate-cleansing Beaujolais granita that was quite tasty, sole, and a mille feuilles dessert. On another day, Mark had asked a waiter about a similar dessert and the waiter had explained the ’milly foolie’ recipe. After Mark explained that ’mille feuilles’ means ’one thousand leaves,’ the waiter was very appreciative of the information, but continued to call it ‘milly foolie.’ Ours is pictured below — complete with gold leaf !

French Bistro menu and granita flavored with Beaujolais....

Milly Foolie with edible gold leaf…

Different glass for each wine: Red, White, White Bordeaux (also used for a Pinot Noir) and Dessert.

My escorts, Mark and Steve, just after the performance by the four singers of Vivace…

Sue, Juliet and Margaret: Note the tunic — probably the last time I’ll wear it ! Note the bartender: Steve had tipped him well in advance, and he remembered: He brought us bubbly and whispered, ‘Don’t tell my boss.’ It was the real thing! #