We had a wonderful dinner outside with good friends tonight. Funny that it was the FIRST time we have been able to eat outside this year! Up until today the weather has been either too cold or wet to sit outside. When I saw the forecast I was adamant that we'd enjoy it while we could.
When Paul came home from work he set the table while I got things ready in the kitchen.
We started off with drinks - strawberry basil martinis and dry rose from the south of France. Paul and I like to keep dinners casual so we set out a variety of things to nibble on while we chatted. I made some roasted figs with honey, rosemary, and balsamic which everyone LOVED. I set out some parmigiano with honey. We rounded things off with a great assortment of cheeses, cured meats, and olives.
It was amazing to sit outside, sip and snack, and enjoy the company of wonderful people that we don't see nearly as often as we should.
Our friends brought the first course - a parmigiano cheesecake with basil served with tomatoes and roasted pine nuts. WOW This was a dish that we HAVE to recreate!
It was about 8:30 before I fired up the grill and not long after the main course was ready. We served grilled salmon with a jalapeno cilantro sauce, cilantro-lime rice, and tarragon green beans. Everything was made with fresh, local ingredients (except for the salmon). Our friends are famous for their salads and insisted on bringing one - who were we to say no? It sure made me appreciate the season and the availability of fresh, local produce (and herbs from our own garden).
It was getting dark by the time we got around to dessert. We even had to put sweaters on! Paul and I set out candles and got everything together for our last course. I made a fig tart based upon Cindy's Italian plum tart that she posted on her blog last year. It went well with some homemade lavender honey ice cream. MMMMM
What a wonderful evening in the garden. More than once Paul and I were wondering why we didn't do thia more often - great food, incredible wine, and the best company.
LIfe is good, so very, very good.
What a night!
That looks like just the kind of evening I would love.
Posted by: sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | July 30, 2009 at 11:48 PM
This is the best of what summer is all about in my opinion. What a lovely setting, your table looks so nice and the food beautiful. I bet everyone had such a nice time. I love that jalapeno cilantro sauce! Great evening. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Barb Cabot | July 31, 2009 at 12:15 AM
What a great evening it sounds like you had. Everything looks fabulous-the food, the table, etc. I had wondered what filling you used in that tart. I love that tart, and it would be so good with figs! I want to go buy figs and make it! But I'm desperately trying to lose some weight. Why do I have to love food so much???
Posted by: Cindy Ruth | July 31, 2009 at 02:19 AM
YUM!!!! What else is there to say??
Posted by: Barbara | July 31, 2009 at 06:20 AM
Sounds like you had a very nice evening.
Posted by: kendall | July 31, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Hi Jerry, that's such a beautiful setting with the sunflowers and vase. You make things seem so effortless. It would take me a week to prepare and host a fabulous dinner like this. Great setting, delicious food and great conversation. Your dessert looks so good and I want to try your grilled Salmon dish. Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Kathy (Trekcapri) | July 31, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Hello Jerry, Paul did a wonderful job with the table setting! The food look fabulous but that is a given with you. :) All these talents in one household! Not fair... LOL
How lucky your friends are! Enjoy the rest of the summer and may you have more opps to have outdoor / backyard dining.
Posted by: Eden | July 31, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Jerry, your table looks beautiful (I love that ceramic vase) and the meal looks and sounds fantastic. If you get the recipe for the parmigiano cheesecake with basil, tomatoes and roasted pine nuts I'd love to see it It sounds amazing!
Posted by: sandrac | July 31, 2009 at 03:23 PM
It was a great evening. Paul and I both wondered why we didn't have folks over more often.
It was so nice to be able to sit outside again. I guess we're being punished this year for the fact that we sat outside for our Thanksgiving dinner lAST year! The weather gods are a fickle lot. *smile*
Posted by: JDeQ | August 01, 2009 at 07:17 AM