Ode to Joy - Good For Spooning

First off I want to thank you all for continuing to read and share my musings. Each week the number of people I reach is bigger and bigger. THANK YOU! You have no idea how much that excites me. Did you know you can SUBSCRIBE to my blog so you never miss it? Well you can!

As Valentine’s Day approaches I am researching and seeking out a special meal for my beloved. I know, you are asking yourself, “Why don’t they just go out to eat?” Well, here’s the answer.

Several years ago while living in San Antonio, John planned a special V-Day evening out for us. He arranged a sitter, made dinner and hotel reservations on the Riverwalk and even sought out entertainment options for the evening. He did all of this WELL in advance, and NOTHING went as planned! The hotel was fine, but the restaurant in the hotel where he had made the dinner reservations had changed its set up and it was NOT what we were expecting, so we went somewhere else. As was to be expected, we had to wait 2 hours for a table because we didn’t have reservations, but we drank and snacked at the bar while we waited. After dinner we took a cab to see a drag show (Moment of Truth – I LOVE a good drag show), only to find out that the regular show was cancelled because of V-Day – I guess the Girls were all getting their happy love on. We won’t even go into what happened at the hotel upon our return, let’s just say rude neighbors, and leave it at that. We can chuckle about it now, but at the time, it wasn’t funny because John really did try to pull out all the stops.

Some people call New Year’s Eve “Amateur Night”, but John and I think of Valentine’s Day as the REAL Amateur Night. This is the night where folks who almost NEVER go out to eat, decide to try out their dining chops and make my evening miserable. When I was a waitress, I knew I would get screwed on tips because infrequent diners always thought 10% was acceptable (probably because they spent more than expected on dinner and that was what was left). And of course there is always the one person who snaps his fingers at you and shouts, “Garçon!”, like he is in some movie. and for the record folks, I have never yet met a waitperson who likes being “snapped” at. As a fellow diner I receive poor service because I tend to be polite (having walked in those shoes) and sometimes the “squeaky wheels” get the grease in the form of service and attention just to shut them up. All that said, I now cook at home for my loves.

When I do V-Day, I go BIG! I try things I have never tried before. I stretch that ever growing comfort zone. I spend the entire day shopping, crafting and tasting. I use expensive ingredients. I set a lovely table, complete with flowers and I pull out all my culinary tricks. And sometimes I try to make it a favorite of the men in my house, but also something I love as well. A past breakfast has included pannetone French toast stuffed with almond paste. Dinners have been a mixed grill, stuffed colossal shrimp (I know it’s an oxymoron), my very own “redneck” Chateaubriand and on and on. This is my first Vday alone with my hubby in 18 years. With Jack in college our eating has changed a bit. This year I am doing something I have NEVER attempted. Good or bad, you will hear about it after the event. I won’t tell you what it is, because I want it to be a surprise for John and yes, he does read and share this every week. I will give you a couple of hints:
• It’s “old school” to quote chef and friend Beni Velazquez
• It involves food from the sea
• It costs a small fortune when eaten out because it is labor intensive
Feel free to comment with your guesses! I will only publish WRONG answers so it is still a surprise for John and you’ll help him weed through guesses.

Oh, and a little more personal Valentine’s Day info – we moved into our “forever” house 4 years ago on Valentine’s Day. It was so hectic, it was take-out pizza week surrounded by friends and boxes of belongings. John said, “I forgot to get you a gift. Do you want anything special?” My reply was, “You bought me a house. Don’t you think that is enough?” That same month I met a new friend Kari – she owns and runs Retro Bakery with hubby Brian – check out her blog here

This week’s Food Memories are discovering I love Greek Yogurt with agave syrup, my first experience with Bountiful Baskets Food Co-Op, doing Restaurant Week Briefings for three of my favorite dining establishments, homemade Indian dinner with friends at home and bar dining at rm Seafood with friend Lynn. Note: Lynn and I were hit by a drunk driver on the way home from that dinner – PLEASE PEOPLE – have a Designated Driver when you go out! We are fine, but it could have been SOOOO much worse!
The pick up area for my location for Bountiful Baskets!