Day 315: Lamb Chops, Risotto, Prawns, Braised Carrots, etc.
And so it begins.The first night of Christmas in November is a welcome reception/party/all-you-can-eat-and-drink-Buffetpallooza that is almost unfathomable in size and scope – I could try listing everything they served in the ballroom and Great Hall, but there’s no way I’d cover it all.
I’ll try:
Roast venison. Rack of lamb (W’s favourite – he ate three “meats on a stick”). Beef bourguignon. Roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. Prawn flambé with whisky. Caesar salad station. Spinach salad station. Risotto and braised carrots and roasted vegetables. Panini station with 5 or so varieties of panini (I had grilled chicken and pesto). At least 5 martini stations. Wine stations. Bison sausage with plum chutney. I came around one corner and found one table with candied pecans and a bowl of tiny, delicate boiled quail eggs (which I at first mistook for bocconcini) and bowls of flaky sea salt. Mugs of vodka-laced tomato bisque (or “hot Bloody Marys” – brilliant, no?). There was an old fashioned popcorn machine with salted popcorn spiked with truffle oil.
And the dessert buffets. A French maple cakey pudding I can’t recall the name of but will double check (we will have the same buffet again on Friday night for package #2 – tonight is just a practice run to determine what the best stuff is) with whipped cream. Maple pecan pie with shortbread crust and chocolate (Mike near died). Chocolate mousse. Brownies. Chocolate Fondue. Mango Mousse Cake. Madeleines. They even had a guy dressed as a lumberjack pouring hot maple syrup over a trough of snow, and playing the spoons in between.
It looks like he even grew and manicured his beard for the event. I have never seen such attention to detail. Seriously, this is such a fun time – hey, we should all go next year! Stay in cabins beside the lake with fireplaces and hot chocolate, mulled cider and wine and room service and never have to drive home? And music and champagne and buffet breakfasts and brunches, and gala dinners and fancy lunches? (Hey, that rhymes.) And an indoor/outdoor pool and hot tub? Does it get any better? Even Santa is here. Life is too short to not spend a few days of it this way.
I am on a mission to get some of these recipes from the chef, who was a little preoccupied tonight. The plum chutney in particular is something I’ll need to make again. If I don’t post it in the next few days, I will on Friday when it’s Me vs. the Buffet round II.
I think I may need to double bag my Spanx.
November 10 2008 09:34 pm | eating out
Elaine on 11 Nov 2008 at 7:14 am #
Good lord, I think I missed my calling in life. Being an editor? Forget it–I’m ditching the books and will pursue professional chefdom!
Meghan on 11 Nov 2008 at 8:06 am #
Oh I wish I was there. Everything sounds fabulous from the food, the wine, to the scenery … so wish I was there.
Kathy on 11 Nov 2008 at 8:28 am #
OMG it sounds divine and I think I gained 5 lbs. just reading this!
Manon from Ontario on 11 Nov 2008 at 8:49 am #
That would be maple taffy, or we call it in french tire d’erable, and we make it here, all year round at our maple syrup house.
Just so you know
Love reading you Julie.
Sue on 11 Nov 2008 at 9:54 am #
Ah Julie!!! I’m always living vicariously through you!! What a wonderful event this is. Enjoy it and keep writing the details so we can enjoy it too!!
Lisa on 11 Nov 2008 at 10:04 am #
Julie! I can’t believe you came into the city to do the Eyeopener!! They better compensate you well.
Popcorn spiked with truffle oil?!? Sounds like it is to die for!
JulieVR on 11 Nov 2008 at 1:04 pm #
Oh I so did not! We pretaped it last week, and I left some soup in their fridge to reheat this morning. This morning I was eating a buffet breakfast (you’d be proud of me – I stuck to maple oatmeal and fruit and nuts and mango smoothie) and doing a session here at JPL!
robyn on 11 Nov 2008 at 2:42 pm #
So. Jealous.
Did they have the mashed potato station this year?? Or the fondue fountain?
sue d. on 11 Nov 2008 at 5:45 pm #
oh bring us more tales from that fabled land! I can try to picture it all with my taste buds before I have my breakfast…
Carolann on 11 Nov 2008 at 7:20 pm #
Excuse me!!!! a practice run to determine what the best stuff is – you’re joking – everything is the best stuff. I’ll make your double bag and spandex in case you need a maid or something, anything – just make sure you have lots doggie bags – what a treat for ‘freebies’.
A on 12 Nov 2008 at 11:33 am #
I’m guessing Mike is on the mend.
JulieVR on 12 Nov 2008 at 12:03 pm #
Yes it is absolutely all great stuff – problem is, I can’t eat ALL of it – believe me, I’ve tried! So you have to strategize and prioritize…