I am still basking in the glow – of being treated like a queen! My boys made me the most amazing dinner on Sunday night. My mouth is still open in awe. Recipes were made that I wouldn’t even attempt. The whole meal, including cocktails, wine and dessert, planned to perfection, made and served with love.
I am so, so lucky.
When I arrived home, I was greeted with hugs and flowers and told to shower. Zach said I definitely smelled like a bike ride. (nice!) I’m sure I did.
After the bath, perfectly chilled martini glasses appeared, with all the proper frost, and Vespers were poured. A drink made with vodka, Gordon’s gin, Lillet and lemon. Divine.
Here is our first course – a drop dead gorgeous presentation!! (They even pulled out the sterling!) This is a recipe from Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry cookbook. I have looked at that book and decided the recipes were too much work and too precious for my style, yet my oldest son uses it a lot! He made a homemade poaching liquid and poached the shrimp, leaving them in the liquid overnight. (so this was a two day affair) Then split them, serving them on the edge of the fork with a small mound of avocado, red onion and cucumber deliciousness. A small bite, perfect with the Vesper. The shrimp were so yummy, infused with flavor from the poaching liquid and sublime in texture. Really, this amount of time spent, I have to admit, is worth it. They tasted similar to the amazing poached salmon at Aquavit, a 4 star Swedish restaurant here in NYC.
Next course was a homemade spicy gazpacho, again, the recipe from the French Laundry, pureed moments before and served in a small glass, with a glass of Vouvray, one of my favorite wines and perfect with the soup. The soup sparkled with freshness, a riot of flavor in your mouth, with the perfect amount of kick from the jalapenos.
Now for the main course, it was potato crusted halibut served with a skillet ratatouille. It was amazing!!! Zach said he watched a video on Food Network on how to coat the fish with the potatoes and that it really took the two of them to do it, needing 3 or 4 hands, and boy did they do it properly. They were beautiful, as you can see! The fish was then sautéed in olive oil that he had infused with garlic, fennel seeds, bay leaves, fresh thyme and lemon zest from a whole lemon. It was so delicious! Crispy and moist all at the same time.
The skillet ratatouille was spectacular – the fresh flavors all melding together – it was really, really yummy. This recipe was from Food and Wine. We had the leftovers for lunch yesterday and it was still spectacular!
And now for dessert. They even did dessert!! Well, sort of. My oldest son’s girlfriend was so sweet, she made a really beautiful and delicious pear upside down cake on Saturday night, the recipe from Smitten Kitchen. Yes, you know it had a lot of butter in it and it was darn good!!! Just look at this beautiful cake!
This whole meal was so impressive, beautiful, fun and scrumptious. Really, as good as the finest restaurant, I’m sure because it was also made with so much love on all sides. And I love seeing them work together in the kitchen, they’re so darn cute! (One of them even said it was nice to have quality time with his brother.)
We ended our evening together watching MadMen, a very perfect day with my boys and husband.
I hope all you moms out there had a fabulous Mother’s Day, I’m sure filled with LOVE as well!!
Best Gazpacho Recipe
Leg of lamb and the best tomatoes
Farmer’s Market Bounty
Midwest Potato Salad at Tanglewood!
Father’s Day dinner
It will be some time before my children (who are 7 and 2) can prepare a meal for me, but how do I start prepping them to make a meal like THAT? It looks amazing. What’s your secret, mom?
I’m reading a bio on Julia Child right now and I am certain that I must start learning more about French cooking. Maybe I’ll check out that book you mention.
Cook for them now as much as you can. When my kids were young, I really only cooked on weekends. We lived in the NJ suburbs and had full time help. But they knew my meals were special – filled with love. I was always trying new recipes and asked them to help – peel carrots, separate cauliflower florets, and when older, chop celery with their Boy Scout knife. Make Sunday dinners a super special time for just your family and pull out the china, crystal and sterling and eat in the dining room. Linger longer over conversation. And don’t let them eat fast food. They will beg, and sneak it in with friends. And when they do, they’ll call you and tell you how sick they feel afterwards. That’s what happened to our Zach when he was twelve. Do check out the French Laundry cookbook, but personally, I’m a fan of Food and Wine magazine for new recipe ideas.
Because you’re on to this, I’m sure you’ll do fine. 🙂
Oh, I love your ideas! I’ll get to work on it.
What an amazing day. You ARE so lucky! What a feast!!
It truly was an amazing feast! Sorry your kids couldn’t be with you.
This is unbelievable. Such well-raised cooks! I thought I was good, but your sons don’t mess around! Thanks for sharing!
🙂 They sure are!! Thanks!
Love your Latin Spanish combo!
What a fab feast! Wish I was there 😉
Thanks! 🙂
Amazing!!! Happy Mother’s Day 🙂
It was really amazing!! Thanks! Happy Mother’s day to your mom too!
Superb. Congratulations to the boys (and the girlfriend). That’s certainly a way to show a Mum she’s appreciated.
Most definitely!! Glad you’re back!
Thank you Mary Frances (and for the ‘like’ on my About). I should tell you that apart from the food, the photos and the writing, one of the reasons I followed your blog was your name. My mother – who sadly passed on a couple of years ago at 91 – was Frances Mary. She can now sit and take in her favourite view at a local beauty spot from a seat my siblings and I put there; I’m sure she was there on Mother’s Day.
oh – what a sweet story!
Wow! What a beautiful meal!!! Your sons are so incredible and talented! You must have had a wonderful night. 🙂
It was a fantastic evening!!
What an amazing feast! The pictures alone are delicious…
Thank you 🙂 Your book looks amazing!
The potato-crusted halibut looks amazing! That’s on my list of things to try, for sure!
It was soooo good! The herb infused oil it was cooked in comes through in the potato crust – just delicious!
I’m sure you absolutely deserved to be so pampered 🙂
Meal sounds divine. I’ve never even heard of that book. Must make a note!
You’re so sweet! The book is a gorgeous cookbook. Just a little more complicated than my style.
Looks like you had a wonderful time…just lovely!!!
It really was fantastic 🙂 The wine was a great addition, as you know it always is!
🙂
I am so jealous but so happy for you!
Thanks Mimi! Judging from your blog you were at no loss for delicious food on the 12th (or any other day for that matter!) 🙂
Wow!! What a treat – well deserved, mama!!
Thank you Ashley!
Lucky mama!
So very true! 🙂
Awesome meal for an awesome Mom! Give them my congrats.
Thanks Marie!! So sweet.
This is so sweet and wonderful! You’re so lucky! It was great to meet you at the test kitchen tour, and would love to talk about ways of promoting your blog on Tumblr! — Jen
Yes you’re right!! Great to meet you and would love to talk further. Hopefully, see you tomorrow?