When Katie arrived, she and the little guys were getting over a virus they'd been down with at home. Just a few days after her arrival the members of this household began dropping like flies. Soon the house was full of the worst flu of the season and Valentine's Day was celebrated with big pots of chicken noodle soup and hot tea.
Yesterday Katie was feeling well enough to break out of the house for a planned girl's night out in the big city.
We started with a bit of big city shopping. Andrew came along for the ride, as did our friend and Katie's sister-in-law, Loraine (who, as a mom of six, needed a little girl time out).
The special treat of the night was an invitation from Brother Kris to indulge in some fine dining at Blue Hour.
I told the girls how I had walked past this restaurant about ten years ago and peered in the windows, wishing I had the financial means to eat there. I had been reading all the restaurant reviews and knew this was the place to go for a memorable meal.
It was actually fun to watch the kitchen and staff in action. We also got to meet the important cogs in the wheel, most notably Chef Thomas, the new chef who left the domain of Wolfgang Puck in Hollywood for the Great Northwest.
My son Kris arranged for food to arrive at our table at regular intervals. He took a moment with each course to explain the composition of the dish.
With her first experience in haute cuisine, Alyssa got to try victuals way outside her comfort food zone.
Here's a poor photo of some fabulous house-made charcuterie that included head cheese, divine foie gras on brioche and (Alyssa's favorite) blood sausage.
This sashimi melted in our mouths with delicate flavors of sea and soy.
The octopus terrine caused trepidation at the table but won everyone over with its deliciousness.
I was too busy eating gnocchi with rabbit ragout, seared scallops and drinking some fine libations to take more photos until.....
Dessert! House-made truffles with surprising flavor varieties.
