My Dake with Instigator: For the foodies.
I attended the Wine.Dine.Donate event in Chicago, sponsored by Epicurious at MK. I had been invited as a guest of Epicurious and took Instigator, foodie that she is. If you live in San Francisco or New York, these events are coming to your city and I highly recommend them as they are for a good cause (America’s Second Harvest) and, as an added bonus, you can meet Tanya Steel, editor-in-chief of Epicurious and James Beard recipient. Instigator and I were fortunate enough to be seated at her table and I had the good luck of being next to her. She was well spoken and quite charming. On to the food, yes?
The best hors d’oeuvres of the night, in my humble opinion, was the spicy bison tartare on a housemade cracker. Second to that was the wild mushroom bruchetta. We sipped on Pol Roger Brut nv Champagne while mingling. My apologies for the low lighting in the food pictures. Here’s a shot of the restaurant prior to seating.
Dinner was a yellowtail tuna (seared rare, wild watercress, roasted red pepper, new potato, white anchovy, quail egg, black olive) and duck breast (patty pan squash, roasted spring onion, chanterelle mushrooms, pancetta and a red wine sauce.) The tuna was served with a Pascal Joviet Sancerre. Instigator loved the cracked pepper and I thought the anchovy made the dish. The duck was served with a Museum Crianza.
Dessert was a cherry tart with creme fraiche sorbet, bittersweet chocolate sauce and almond streusel. It was served with a Churchill’s 10 year tawny port which tasted a hell of a lot better than my previous experience.
And a generous swag bag came at the end of the meal. Thus concludes my dake with Instigator.
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Just a random attorney writing about daily life with Little Filthy, my rotten dog.
July 26th, 2008 at 10:22 am
I bet Instigator liked the swag bag.
July 26th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I did like the swag bag. But I liked the opportunity to spend time with RE better. RE is a great date. Er…dake.
Thanks again my random frined for letting me tag along, you are the best!
July 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
No I’m not jealous
Not at all
You suck!
July 26th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
SnarkyRunner - Indeed! When are you coming with me to dinner?
July 26th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Instigator - It had been a long time since we’d done anything outside the office work-day. Glad you invited yourself to be my dake.
July 26th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Bev - If I have one of these things going on while you’re here, you’ll be my dake. Woo!
July 26th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
*swoons @ the menu* Oh how I hate you right now. And here I was going to NOT cook tonight, and now I have to make a run to Whole Foods and my local Butcher.
July 26th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
If I might be so bold, what was in said bag o’ swag? I’d really like to know!
I’m a teacher…my swag bags involve erasers and pencils, and, if I’m really lucky, chocolate. Sometimes I get stickers.
July 27th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Bird Clan Diva - What’d you end up making?
July 27th, 2008 at 6:05 am
kt - You may certainly ask. My ex is a teacher so I am familiar with teacher swag.
There was a flexible cutting board, strawberry huller, Epicurious.com apron, a book of recipes chosen by the Epicurious.com editors, a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant. I think that is everything, though Instigator may correct me.
July 27th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Delish… will lookfor the SF event - sounds neato!
July 27th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Teacher swag sucks.
July 28th, 2008 at 12:15 am
Geekgirl - It was impressive. Honestly, I thought the best part was the Epicurious.com people. The woman who spoke on behalf of the Chicago food bank was also very moving. Tanya Steel was quite charming.
Oh…and the food was incredible!
July 28th, 2008 at 12:16 am
KT - Aww!
I can’t believe the amount of money teachers spend for their students. It’s really incredible.
What grade/year do you teach, may I ask?
July 28th, 2008 at 9:35 am
I teach K - 5 music. Most days I love my job, and I feel very lucky to be able to say that…I know lots of people can’t. There are perks, they just don’t include fancy gifts and such. Today, for example, on this lovely Monday in July, I am not at work.
July 28th, 2008 at 11:19 am
It all looks very yummy. Nothing weird, squishy or squiggley with eye balls.
I approve - and I must now go wipe the drool off of my keyboard.
Glad you two had a nice fate-dake.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Oh my. This looks so yummy. I’m not gonna lie. Also, wow, your pictures are looking fabulous these days! I’m impressed!!