fancy dress up dinner last night was a success
we ate to the point of exploding. i ate more at dinner than i generally eat in a day and had to unzip the back of my dress for the ride home it was so uncomfortably tight around my bulging belly.
we started off with smoked duck breast with pears and pickled root veggies, it was pretty good but the salt and smoke needed to be dialed back just a bit on the duck (listen to me). then salad, a wedge for him and mixed greens for me.
i had planned on having a few appetizers for dinner, but the husband got a bit growly about going to a steak place and not getting steak, so i got braised short ribs with mushrooms and roasted cippolini over parpadelle with a red wine demi, which i washed down with a few glasses of zinfandel. husband got a filet with grilled asparagus (it was sad little asparagus but tasty) and a potato/blue cheese croquette. the entrees were incredible. the pasta was made in house and was so nice and tender. the steak was perfectly cooked.
we somehow managed to save room for coffee and dessert, creme brule for me, chocolate semifredo with flourless chocolate cake for him. definitely the best creme brule i've ever gotten in town, the sugar crust was a bit thicker and wonderfully crunchy. and you can never go wrong with chocolate.
this was the first fancy, fancy dinner we've ever had just the two of it and it really was a perfect evening. thanks again for the well wishes, everyone 
= new reply since forum marked as read
We haven't been out for a dinner like that in a long time.
When I lived in New Orleans, I went out for special meals frequently, but the food on the West Coast just doesn't seem worth it.
Planning a trip to NOLA in the spring and will eat until I explode.
Glad you had a wonderful evening and hope you have many more.
"the food on the West Coast just doesn't seem worth it. "
I haven't been to SoCal for a long time, but I sure think that Northern California food should hold its own with any other region. It is, after all, the genesis of the whole trend toward fresh, sustainable, local foods that shaped fine cooking everywhere in America in the last several decades. And Pacific Northwest cooking is its own school of thought, using the best local ingredients.
Here's what to do. Get in the boat and turn north. It only takes two right turns to get from where you are by water to my front door, literally! We can experience the best of North Western cuisine!
1) It will never equal New Orleans food
and
2) I am stuck in SoCal for right now.
But we plan a big road trip next spring and I may come looking for you grasswire! When we travel, I am always looking for the best regional cuisine I can find.
Sorry if I offended, but I am and will remain a New Orleans food snob.
I love short ribs. 
Nothing pretentious about it, and your descriptions of the food made my mouth water. Besides, anyone who has to 'unzip' on the ride home could never be pretentious. Done that myself--more than once! 
Don't forget to leave a good comment on yelp to the restaurant! Sounds like a good place, fizz. Thanks for sharing it with us.
