Tradition

Last night Zach and I hosted our 19th annual New Year's Eve dinner party. We realized with something of a start that we hadn't entertained since last New Year's Eve, which is undoubtedly the longest hospitality drought in our history together. I guess we were trying to make up for lost time when we came up with the menu:

Toasted Homemade Whole-wheat Pita Chips with a Trio of Homemade Dips: Romesco, Tzatziki, and Hummus with Parsley Oil

Deconstructed Chardonnay: Buttered Toast Points Topped with Explorateur (triple-crème cow's-milk cheese), Golden Raisins Steeped in a Chardonnay-Vanilla Bean Reduction, and a Drizzle of Chardonnay-Vanilla Syrup

Mesclun Salad with Broiled Figs Stuffed with Bucheron (goat cheese) and Wrapped in Bacon Dredged in Cumin and Brown Sugar

Individual Beef Wellingtons (filet de boeuf en croûte) with Mushroom Duxelles and Truffle Paté Nestled in a Port-Wine and Demi-glace Reduction

Pommes Soufflées (puffed potatoes)

Caramelized Cauliflower with Currants and Pine Nuts

Frozen Lemon Soufflés with Crumbled Almond-Lace Cookies

Knower Family Eggnog (aka A Fluffy White Cloud of Booze)

Many thanks to our wonderful guests, including several new friends, for the loveliest possible evening. And best wishes to everyone for health, happiness, peace, and prosperity in 2009!