And Just Like that 10 YEARS are gone!

I can't believe it's been over 10 years since I visited my present to make sure I would remember it in the future. Looking back on the posts and thinking about the past decade, I'm pretty sure the memories are on Facebook.  I seldom think as hard about photos I've snapped or thoughts I've posted as I did about these blog posts. I'm going to try and be better about reflecting and recording...  And, even if it's just for me, that's enough.

It was pleasant to look back at Dubai, and Nick's, and maybe I'll try and reflect on some of the things I've captured in the past 10 years so in the further future I can look back and smile and/or be thankful for the learning. 

To get started, this is what the moon looked like, on the night of the best lunar eclipse in the past or next 500 years from Broad Brook, CT  :-)

2011: New Year's Resolutions

It feels like life is flying by! 2010 blew by and I only managed to summarize what we had been up to once. Last year we did not have any big trips: California in January/February was really the only excitement. There were many excellent meals at Nick's on Broadway (about once a month). We also frequented the Mill@2t. We continue to endeavor to locate and support local chefs that use local ingredients.

At work, I have a resolution to have no more than 10 e-mail in my inbox (not filed into appropriate folders).

At home, I have many more:

• Get the garage built
• Keep up with chores better
• Exercise on the wii to keep my mii happy
• Update the blog at least once a quarter

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2011 is stacking up to be an exciting year!

• January had a trip to New York City - James Beard house dinner
• Planning a trip to California for Easter
• July is Jason's wedding in Michigan

I don't remember what went on between Valentine's day and the end of April - that's why I'm suppose to update this thing... based on Facebook I spent some of those months farming an imaginary farm and tending imaginary fish. Mother's day in San Diego - and of course visits to Nick's on Broadway.

Dinner @ Nick's on Broadway: 4/30/2010

- Spring salad with walnut and honey vinaigrette
- Carrot & Parsnip Soup
- Scallop on pea greens with citrus
- Haddock on carrot puree with spring peas
- Smoked Chicken Salad on a roasted bread
- Roast Duck on fiddleheads and wild mushrooms with barley and star anise au jus
- Amuse bouche: Grapefruit sorbet & Champagne
- Sirloin with roast fingerlings, asparagus and videlia onion
- Chocolate and fruit - chocolate ganache, chocolate sorbet, chocolate custard and sliced grapes, blueberries, blackberries, and mint

And I forgot my camera, so I don't have pictures for the blog, but it was some of the prettiest food that we have had at Nick's! It made me promise myself to not forget my camera again.

Dinners at Nick's on Broadway

After our December dinner, we didn't make it back to Nick's until Valentines Day. Brian and Alice went with us. We were a little disappointed that we didn't get to see the variety of dishes leaving the kitchen, but the dishes that Derek prepared were delicious

http://nicksonbroadway.com/site/valentines-day-tasting-menu/

Saint Valentine’s Day Tasting Menu
February 13th + 14th 2010

Welcome to our Valentine’s celebration meal at nicks! Our very special menu includes four courses (with surprises) for just $50 per person (exclusive of beverage, tax and gratuity). Wine pairings are available with each course ($5 per course).

Please let your server know of any allergies. Enjoy!

‘At first we meet’
Golden potato + watercress soup with crème fraiche + olive oil or Butter-roasted sea scallops with cauliflower puree, frisee + citrus sauce

‘A second glance’
Sweet potato + celery root cake with baby greens salad + black pepper aioli or Crispy-skin salmon with creamy kale, thyme + allspice

‘Dinner for two’
Butternut squash risotto with parmesan, chives + fresh herbs or Petite Hereford Sirloin with French fingerlings, pork belly, onions + spiced port wine

‘Sweets for my sweet’
Tasting of dark chocolate pots de crème, chocolate truffle, clove-cocoa biscuits + red wine caramel with citrus fruits, berries + mint

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at nicks!


By Valentine's Day, we were on an every month and a half plan, so we were shooting for the end of March. I'm sure we made it, but I don't have what we ate written down, and I don't remember, that's why I started writing down what we ate in April...

Discovery of Nick's on Broadway in Providence, RI

In December, we planned to go to Providence, RI to see Avatar on the Providence Place IMAX 3D screen. It was an amazing movie! Of course, in our planning, we considered dinner a critical part of the plan. Stephen went to Trip Advisor, I went to Food Network - we both found this restaurant called Nick's on Broadway. So, we figured that we would give it a try.
It has become one of our favorites, we go back about once a month for the chef's tasting menu - 6 courses, and we have been writing down the dishes in our journal.

Other odd and entertaining things in Napa

There were a couple of crazy things we saw in Napa this time:
The Heitz Cellars Tasting Room had a miniature pincer that loved to sit in the fire place.


One morning we went to a breakfast place that had great muffins and eggs benedict. We sat near the restrooms, and I couldn't help myself - I had to take a picture!

Food in California

There was nothing that compared to "The French Laundry" of the 2009 trip, but we did finally make it to Taylor's Refresher.


We had to go twice, because the first time we got fish tacos and the Ahi tuna burger - which were both AWESOME!


We went back and got beef burgers, and I thought that the Ahi tuna burger was more interesting and better than the beef burger, but it was a very delicious beef burger.

All of the food on the trip was great! Liam's birthday dinner was pretty amazing also!