The past week has been a difficult one, with close family members having health issues, and doubts about the wisdom of following through with some eagerly anticipated vacation plans. It was with a mixture of relief and appreciation that my husband and I left the house last night to attend a party at a dear friend's home. We were welcomed with a cozy fire in the fireplace and a table laden with delicious cheeses, pates, and prawns. Not to be missed, the sideboard held this tempting sight: a bottle of Italian Proseco wine chilling.
The weather being fairly mild lately, our hostess planned to have us dine outside under the stars (and three portable heat lamps). Her table was set with great care--fine linens, beautiful china, and exquisite Italian glassware. This gracious hostess really knows how to pamper her guests.
We spent a pleasant cocktail hour sipping bubbly wine and getting to know some of the other guests. Our dinner began with a fantastic salad of fresh greens and strawberries, served in a bowl made of crisped Parmesan cheese. I have it on good authority that those cheese bowls took forever to make properly, but can tell you without a doubt, they were worth the effort! I ate every crumb of my bowl.
Our entree was Osso Buco, an unparalleled dining experience. If you eat meat, and haven't ever had this dish, I seriously recommend that you give it a try. It is one of those flavorful meat-so-tender-it-falls-off the-bone experiences.
After spending a very agreeable and satisfying hour or two enjoying the fine company, excellent wines, and fabulous food, our plates were cleared away and the desserts brought out. The word dessert does not quite capture the complete over-the-top fabulousness of what was placed before us. We are most fortunate to have amongst our friends, a true French pastry chef, with a bakery, restaurant, and years of training and experience. Only an expert could create Croque en Bouche, a tour de force the average cook would never attempt. The man is a creative genius and a delight to know.
This masterpiece consists of dozens of tiny cream filled puffs, stacked high and drizzled with a sugar mixture that hardens and holds the whole structure together. The tower was surrounded by petit fours (also made by our friend) and topped with a sugar sculpted exotic flower. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? Eating it is a simple matter of breaking off the cream puffs and popping them into your mouth. Once you get past the idea of actually destroying this magnum opus, you can't hold yourself back. Oh, and in case you can't see it in my photo, there is a light placed inside the tower, so that as night fell, the structure glowed with its own source of illumination.
And as if that wasn't enough, our talented chef provided a second dessert in honor of our hostess's birthday--an apple tart decorated with birthday wishes. I am not much of a dessert eater in general, but I must confess I resisted nothing and had large portions of every heavenly offering. After the week we had, believe me, I figured I deserved it.
