Valentine's Meal

The Waiter explained it very well-- Valentine's Day is the worst possible day of the year to eat out. The food you get is never what the restaurant is truly capable of. It is instead whatever has the best profit margin, and what can be turned out quickly, in large quantities.

So, of course, the Chockleys had Valentine's Dinner at home.

We decided to do "small plates" this year-- smaller portions of more dishes, so that the cooking, eating, and photographing would last just that much longer. Steph said that it "felt too much like eating hors d'oeuvres at a party," but I loved it. I thought it was all excellent. I know I've said it before, but my wife is a genius. The time and thought that she puts into planning, shopping, and cooking all of this is really impressive.

So here we go. (I used some new lighting techniques, for you photography geeks out there.)

Prosciutto di Parma with Pecorino Romano Crackers

Goat cheese with pesto and cracked black pepper and sea salt crackers

Roasted Eggplant Dip

Mushroom pesto and parmigiano bruschetta

Wine with those courses: Chateau Senejac Haut Medoc 2004.

This had lots of smoke and herb notes with restrained fruit. A very subtle wine compared to our usual.

Smoked trout ravioli with tarragon butter

Bosc pear, walnut and pecorino romano pizza

2005 Johannishof Riesling Kabinett "G" 2005

Amazing Riesling. Intense orange and mineral flavors, with strong acidity.