Posts Tagged ‘anniversary’

Anniversary Dinner Tasting Menu

Usually for our anniversary we go on a weekend trip, but this year we just went out to dinner. CRAZY FANCY PERSON DINNER! An, an “Asian fusion” restaurant near our house, offers a ridic 8 course tasting menu, including TWO desserts. You know I was all over that. It’s designed to walk you through the different sections of the restaurant, which was also cool, because I tried stuff I liked but would probably have never ordered on my own.

Drinks

They offered us champagne because it was our anniversary, and I even had a sip even though I normally don’t drink. The menu started with tea service!! The tea was a white jasmine, so mostly tasted like flowers. Steven was not really a fan, and it’s not my favorite tea either, but it was also so pretty!

Cute tea pot!!!

Cute tea pot!!!

1st Course: Amuse-bouche

This one was the most visually arresting, and Steven’s favorite. Unfortunately, I don’t remember what each of the little things are (on the menu they gave us it just says “Zensai”)

You're eating off a tree!!

You’re eating off a tree!!

2nd Course: Sushi

Moriawase: Nigiri Selection, Fresh Wasabi, Ginger

Moriawase: Nigiri Selection, Fresh Wasabi, Ginger

3rd Course: Soup

Apple Parsnip Soup

Apple Parsnip Soup

This included poached apples, shrimp sausage, and hazelnut granola. I was wary of the shrimp sausage, but it turned out to be delicious. Granola in soup seems weird, but it wasn’t too sweet, and definitely added a nice texture that complimented the apple well. This might have been my favorite course. But you know how much I love soup.

4th Course: Scallops

Steven's least favorite course (he still ate it)

Steven’s least favorite course (he still ate it)

Bamboo scallops with nori tapioca, pearl onion, brioche, and uni cream. The uni cream was really good!

5th Course: Seabass

Steven actually liked this one even though it was fish!

Steven actually liked this one even though it was fish!

Roasted seabass with Thai butternut squash, pineapple, and smoked ham dashi. I was tilting the plate to get all of the smoked ham dashi. No regrets, it was super delicious.

6th Course: Beef strip

Steven and I had lost count so we hardly had room for this guy

Steven and I had lost count so we hardly had room for this guy

Beef strip with miso, pickled mustard seeds, maitake, sweet garlic, and jus. Steven had made us steak the day before, but this one definitely put even his skillz to shame.

7th Course: Dessert 1

FINALLY DESSERT TIME

FINALLY DESSERT TIME

Napoleon with mascarpone, pears, pistachio tuiles, and ginger sorbet. This one was the best dessert, maybe because I’m so into pears.

8th Course: Dessert 2

SO PRETTY!

SO PRETTY!

Gingerbread with cherry, pumpkin seeds, and kobocha squash ice cream. And fancy chocolate writing!!!!

This dinner was so fun!!! The service was excellent and very fancy–they always came out with two people so that they could set it in front of us at the same time. Afterwards, one of the chefs came out to talk to us, which was so great, because we got to thank her in person for how pretty and delicious everything was. This was definitely one of those meals I’ll remember for a long time

Happy 4th Anniversary!!

Happy 4th Anniversary!!

The Best Cider Ever

Yesterday was our first wedding anniversary! I prepared a delicious feast of warm things, because it was really cold and raining outside.

Anyway, one of the recipes I found was a four hour slow cooker apple cider recipe! If you have a slow cooker, there’s no reason not to try this. If you don’t have one, how do you eat on weekdays? You could probably also make it in a pot on the stove.

First you take about 8 cups of cider from the store and put it in your slow cooker with six sticks of cinnamon:

I may have pretended they were olympic divers as I threw them in

Then you take an orange, poke holes in it with a toothpick, and fill those holes with cloves!

The weirdness of how it looked and felt was only eclipsed by its weirdness after cooking

Then cook on low for four hours, until it smells delicious and you’re super cold!

Steven had his with rum and a cinnamon stick, but I went for plain.

But there was nothing plain about it! Delicious and spicy and warming from the inside out! This is a recipe I will definitely be making again. Like maybe everyday this winter? We’ll see.

Also, since it was our anniversary, we finally lit this cool Halloween candle we got as a present! The spooky skeleton bride and groom seem perfect, but the best part is the red insides that drip down gradually like blood!

So romantic!!! And gross

Way more exciting than eating freezer burned cake!

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