ALEXIA'S 39th (Again)
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
VERSION: 2001
A
BIRTHDAY DINNER
for
ALEXIA
Celebrated August 2, 2001
With BOB
GORMAN
orchestrating the Ensemble:
Paul
& Sandy, Marjorie, Gerald and Henry
Bobs
Assorted Nibbles
Smithfield Ham Foie Gras --
Olives Galore --Caponata
Laurent
Perrier Brut Rose Champagne en magnum
***
Vol-au-Vent
aux Fruits de Mer
1993
Druid Wines Meursault Les Clous
1993 Talbott Diamond T Monterey Chardonnay
***
Bobs
Leg o Lamb
Fingerling Potatoes =
Assorted Veggies
1966
Chteau Haut Brion Pessac-Leognan
1966 Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Leognan
***
Plateau de Fromages varis = Pauls Les Pains Maison
1986
Mo-Camuzet
Nuits-Saint-Georges 'Aux Boudots'
1986 Domaine des Comtes Lafon Volnay-Santenots-du-Milieu
***
Le
Salade
***
Gteau
d'anniversaire dAlexia
1979
Chteau Suduiraut Sauternes
We
began with a magnum of Laurent-Perrier Brut Ros Champagne. Quite good!
Bob had baked a few different breads.
Chef Bob Presents his Vol-au-Vent aux Fruits de Mer.
This delicious course was paired with a Druid (made by Dujac) 1993 Meursault Les
Clous and a Talbott 1993 "Diamond T" Chardonnay. The Druid was
quite mature and oxidized, so we opened a bottle of Druid 1991, which was,
sadly, corked. The Talbott was excellent, however.
Our "Team Leader," Dr. Marjorie was in fine form this evening and
enjoyed partaking in the lavish food and wine!
The lamb was seasoned and grilled by Henry Moore. Bob took care of the
Haricots Verts and the Fingerling Potatoes. Gerald decanted the 1966
Bordeaux, both bottles being wonderful!
Gerald assembled a rather lavish array of cheeses, including a curious Italian
number called "Sottocenere con Tartufo" and several blue-veined
cheeses.
Accompanying these platters of cheese were two delicious Burgundies from the
somewhat un-heralded 1986 vintage. A Mo-Camuzet Nuits-Saint-Georges was
rather deep in color and showing little sign of age. It was bright and
cherryish with a mildly woodsy note from the oak. The Comtes Lafon Volnay
was quite good, a shade lighter in color and more delicate and elegant on the
palate.
Bob's breads were delicious in concert with this ensemble!
Dessert was a birthday cake from Burlingame's "The Cakery," a fine
artisan baker.
We paired a strawberry cake with a buttercream frosting with a 1979 Chateau
Suduiraut Sauternes. The Suduiraut was mildly honeyed in fragrance and not
as sweet or rich as, say 1967 or 1990. It was a fine match for this
dessert and, if you own a bottle or two of this, it will hold for another 3-8
years. Maybe more.
Numerous birthday presents were un-wrapped, including a small box from Norbert
& Gaby (our Rodgau, Germany pals) which featured Taco shells and sauces from
Taco Bell, one of Alexia's favorite dining establishments (even though they
don't have a wine list).
The refried beans (Vegetarian version) should help provide Alexia with
additional "power" to ride the "razor" scooter she received
from her husband Henry.
It is unknown if Henry has also purchased an insurance policy for the usage of
this hazardous device.
