March 4, 2012 Dinner – PPI Roasted Duck, Braised Red Cabbage, Baked Delicata Squash and Asparagus.

March 4, 2012  Dinner – PPI Roasted Duck, Braised Red Cabbage, Baked Delicata Squash and Asparagus.

We enjoyed a slice of the German fruit strudel with a cup of tea for breakfast.  It was better this time because it seemed that the fruit had been caramelized in brown sugar and butter.

I had to work all day so we decided to just heat up PPI for dinner.  We plated PPI Roasted Duck, Braised Red Cabbage, Baked Delicata Squash and steamed the last eight stalks of asparagus.  We opened a bottle of Alejandro Fernández 2004 Dehesa La Granja (Spanish Castilla  y Leon unfiltered Trader Joe’s) that was so heavy, that we could not drink it.  It was truly a Duero style Vino Tinto but lacked all evidence of finish.  We did buy a 1994 Reserva Vino Tinto in Soria, Spain that was lovely, but that had had an additional ten years of aging.  I am not sure that an addition ten years of ageing will improve this bottle.  I do not recommend you buy this one unless you intend to cellar it for at least ten years and that may not eliminate its syrupy rough edge.  

The dinner could not have been more lovely if it had been prepared fresh.  The classic combination of red cabbage and duck worked perfectly and the baked squash was really lovely.  The flesh was tender and flavored with the caramelized onions and mushrooms that filled its cavity.  A perfect dinner.  Then back to work. 

Bon Appètit