Dad outdid himself
We had dinner last night in Oakville with the parental unit and 2 other couples that are cousins of my Mom’s.
The appetizers were a plate of cheese with pear pate and a salmon mouse decorated with grapes and strawberries. The second platter had fresh figs wrapped in prosciutto, dates sliced length-wise stuffed with garden-herb cream cheese, cucumber slices filled with tzatziki, and was decorated with baby carrots.
The main course was steamed broccoli & cauliflower, wild rice and steak with a garden salad. I made a simple dressing of 1:1 olive oil and lemon juice with a few rind scrapings and ¼ c of shredded basil from the garden.
While I was helping prepare, I tasted the Southbrook 2006 Cabernet Merlot Shiraz. It’s a VQA from Niagara (12%, 750mL) but found the taste to be weak. I wouldn’t choose to have it again. Instead, I settled on the 2008 Syrah by Val Joanis, France (13.5%, 750mL). Dry and very easy to sip – as in where did it go, I think I need a refill? My parents had picked it up at a winery outside Provence and I was delighted that they shared it with us last night 🙂
Mom made a glutton free pastry for dessert (one of the guests has allergies). Apparently it was truly a labour of love – stuck to everything – but it turned out really well. The filling was strawberry rhubarb topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries and vanilla ice cream.
