After we walked around the lake, I enjoyed a breakfast of coffee, grits, toasted home made bread and eggs with the wife. We went our separate ways after that - she hung out with a friend, and I perused some stores. I ended up buying a tall, narrow cabinet at Crate & Barrel for our stemware. I put it together while sipping a beer.
Lindz and I installed a new medicine cabinet in the master bath. I went out and perused the bookstore, and I purchased Clone Wars, a very entertaining animated series (I saw my nephews watching it, and I admit to my shameless covetousness).
Finally, thoughts of dinner crept into my head. Lindz was content to stay home, so I went to Whole Foods. What a wonderful place. That store makes me feel good. Here's what we had:
-Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon Steaks, Broiled in an Iron Skillet with Salt and Pepper
-Risotto of Arborio rice (courtesy of my sister's pantry) and Crimini and Oyster Mushrooms
-Organic Baby Red Carrots and Baby Round Carrots, Briefly Sautéed with Butter, Fresh Thyme, Salt and Pepper
baby red carrots and baby round carrots
baby red carrots and Ringil
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I particularly enjoyed the carrots. I didn't want to cover them up; my preparation tasted of very high-quality carrots, and nothing else. I was pleased. By the way, Lindz took the photos.
Lindz and I sipped Boxing Roo Shiraz the whole time.
For dessert, we nibbled on a bar of Dagoba Xocolatl 74%. The label reads: forest grown organic dark chocolate infused with chilis, cacao nibs, maca, vanilla & nutmeg. Here are my tasting notes, dedicated to my sister (for me, she single-handedly raised chocolate from "very enjoyable substance" to "subject worth avidly studying."):
Smells clean. The chili is evident. Crisp bite, quite pleasingly bitter. The heat comes out in the finish. Absolutely fine texture. Unadulterated chocolate flavor in the palate, and then a long, spicy, buttery finish rolls in.
Lindz loved it. It was a fine chocolate experience; it grabbed my attention. We sipped cordials (Chambord for her, Cointeau for me). Very nice.
1 comment:
I am honored. But our chocolate epiphany is happening roughly at the same time, if you can believe it. I have been an afficianado of the stuff since I was old enough to raise stubby digits in the direction of my mouth. And for years I have been in pursuit of the ideal combo of silky satin texture and deep intense flavor for coating biscotti bottoms, adding to cookies, self-medication, whatever. But that bar from Southern Season and a recently consumed Terra Nostra bar from TJ's made me realize there are just as many flavor and aroma notes in fine chocolate as in a good wine. And it's well worth the time to investigate them and savor them slowly. M&M's and Hershey's kisses still have their place, don't get me wrong. But if you want a romantic love story when porn just wouldn't do... I'll be reaching for some more of that high-flown stuff in the future.
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