October 28, 2012 Dinner - Dinner Party at Cynthia and Ricardo’s house

October 28, 2012 Dinner - Dinner Party at Cynthia and Ricardo’s house

I got up early and peeled and cored and sliced baking pears and simmered them in the PPI syrup from our last batch of candied quinces, a sweet wine and a splash of la Chiripada Late Harvest Riesling.  So, when Suzette awakened she decided to make a pear tart for the party.  She found a recipe for tart crust on the internet and while I went to the law Library she made the tart and glazed it with some of the reduced cooking syrup.  The consistency was quite caramelized.

While the pears were simmering, Suzette roasted one of the long pimply yellow French heirloom squashes today and made a cream of squash soup for the party made with cream, chicken stock and nutmeg.

When we arrived at Cynthia and Ricardo’s a bit after 6:00 p.m. we found a platter of cheeses and crackers.  We served Suzette’s squash soup with a dollop of Cacique crema and garnished with minced chives.  Then Cynthia served her main course of pot roast, which was chuck roast cooked with garlic, oregano, basil, tomatoes and mushrooms with baked potatoes and fresh salad.  We drank a lovely Brunello Mike brought and I opened a bottle of 1974 Montevina Amador County Zinfandel and a bottle of 2006 Wellington Noir de Noir.  

Dessert was Suzette’s pear tart with glasses of the La Chiripada Late Harvest Riesling and scoops of vanilla ice cream and then glasses of Korbel champagne.

A lovely dinner with wonderful friends who like to cook.

Bon Appètit