Dinner and Drinking

**** UPDATE*****
I found more pictures that I didn't realize I had...

 

  

  

  

(There were a few more but I felt they were too blurry...)

A few weeks ago Aaron (Chef) and Andrea (also known as the A Team) invited us over for dinner. Also invited were Joel and Jenna(J Team) who were fortunate enough to leave their little girl Elliott with Grandma for the evening. It was decided by the end of the night that Elliott and Olvier would be perfect for each other and play date needs to be arranged. The Sommelier from Clarklewis, Kurt also came to dinner loaded with armfuls of wine and boxes of glasses. Two other women ended up showing up right before dinner as well, 1 a friend of Kurt's who turned out to be from Domine Serene and her friend who is the Sommelier at Fenoil and Joel's boss (from 1 of his jobs). Immediately after Kurt arrived, magnums of champagne were opened and poured. Unfortunately I couldn't partake in the drinking except for a couple small sips and was the one left to baby wrangle. We had a great meal and conversation (along with a pretty bad spill for Oliver). Graham thought that it would be nice to take pictures of what was opened for those members of our family that are wine geeks...I am pretty sure we didn't get pictures of all the wine and Champagne as more and more bottles were pulled out during the night. Here is just the beginning of the night before Graham had too much to drink to think of taking pictures.

 Our contribution.

 

  

  

  

  

  

Oliver also had his first experience with a piano and we were delighted to see that he really took to it. You would expect a baby to bang on the keys but he very thoughtfully and purposefully pressed the keys.

 

 Maestro age 13 months.

Daddy's Dinner

Last Thursday was the beginning of our whirlwind week. Granma and Poppa Rick came up for a visit, a haircut with the FABULOUS Karen Miles, a little shopping and dinner at Olea.

We tried to not be the first ticket of the night, due to Graham's wishes, but alas, we had good luck catching the Street Car and got there almost on time for dinner service to start. We were the only ones in the restaurant and there were a few customers outside enjoying Happy Hour.

We started off the evening with drinks.

The Mojito. mmmm.....with a hint of basil, so tasty!

Oliver chowin' on some cheerios and making a mess.

After we ordered drinks the boys sent out an amazing Roasted Sweet Corn Soup. The bowls came out with a tasty little relish in the center, some little tomatoes sliced in half and chili oil. The waiter then poured the soup for each of us one at a time.

The next course was a Romaine, Corn & Quinoa Salad for Mom, Graham's new mussel dish for Poppa Rick (who couldn't stop talking about how good it was!) and a Grilled Peach & Arugula Salad for myself. ( I forgot to take pictures until half way through dinner!)

Dinner was next.

Granma had the Scallops.

Poppa Rick had the Chicken.

I had Graham's Pappardelle dish, with Morels and English Peas but forgot to take a picture!

Granma's new do.

Daddy got Ollie some peas, he LOVED them!

After Dinner we were each given our own dessert, just when we thought we couldn't eat another bite!

Poppa Rick got Peach Creme Brulee.

Granma's cold Cantaloupe Soup with Strawberry Sorbet and Melon balls.My Panna Cotta with Blueberry Compote.The Pastry Chef Kristy made Oliver his very own animal cookies out of pie crust. She had never done them before and just happen to have little animal cutters.

He ate every last one...


After dinner, Oliver and I headed down to Lebanon to start the next leg of our journey to Southern Oregon the next day.