Conch Salad

This was the best meal I had all week. It was so fresh, sweet and spicy.

How fresh? When we walked around the side after lunch, a guy was standing in the water cracking the shells and pulling out live conch to order. The restaurant – Queen Conch, is located at the waters edge in simple wooden shack. When you order it takes about fifteen minutes because they make it from scratch. Onion, tomato, hot pepper, cucumber, orange and lime juice. A perfect ceviche.

Across the street is a store that sells beer and wine, perfect for killing time while you wait. There's nothing like brown bagging it beach side.

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Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve is usually a night to invite friends over and cook too much food. This year, we were invited to a party at a friends-of-friends. The idea was simple - each person/couple would bring a course to create a five-course meal. We were assigned the amuse-bouche and the appetizer courses. It was also a themed evening, with everyone following a James Bond dress code. I don't own a tuxedo, so I chose casual Bond. Something he might wear on a night off, when he's tired of the suit and tie. It was lame, I know.



In the background, classic Bond films were playing and I snapped a pic of the original Dr. Evil from Dr. No. The drink of the evening was a Vesper, shown above. For the record, I'd like it to be known as a 'Kick to the Head.'


Here are the courses in order:
1. Duck in Endive w/ Orange Chipotle Sauce
2. Oysters Rockafeller
3. Taramasalata, Tuna & Scallop Ceviche
4. Arugula Salad w/ Roasted Figs & Goat Cheese
5. Mushroom Agnolotti in Beurre Blance w/ Shaved Truffle
6. Ribs w/ Rutabaga Mash
7. Cheese Course
8 & 9. Inappropriate use of Marzipan, compliments of Fusilli.



Of course, after a huge meal and numerous drinks we did the obvious thing... dancing and jumping! I'm amazed that no one hurled. Happy New Year!

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