Borage and Chive Blossoms

with tomatoes, manchego and garden-fresh lettuce:

Farmers Market Finds

Wednesday was the Columbia City farmers market and I picked up some interesting stuff:

Fresh Bamboo shoots:


After peeling away the tough outer layers, this is what's inside:


You have to boil bamboo shoots for 20 minutes to take away the bitterness. Once they're boiled, they're crisp and ready to stir fry.

I added these japanese greens to the bamboo shoots, along with thinly sliced pork:



Yummy.

Also, at the farmers market I snapped this pic of a little girl holding a baby goat:



Blindingly Cute.

Clams with Fettuccini

arugula and yellow tomatoes:

Just how I like my saturday nights

Roasted fingerlings with parmesan and oregano:



Grilled asparagus wrapped in prosciutto:



Alaskan halibut with backyard fennel:



All made by the mister with love.

Le Pichet

Once again, we had another great night of fine dining with our friends Mike and Victoria. We went to Le Pichet, a favorite from our old neighborhood. Most of the pictures I took didn't turn out, but here are the ones that did:

Sweet Garlic Soup with a Poached Egg and Asparagus

Chicken Liver Terrine

We also had beef tongue which had been lightly fried and nestled atop an unexpectedly delicious bed of carrots with currants and a light cumin vinaigrette. Pork belly over sweet beets. Victoria had the trout with crispy fried polenta triangles. Mike had pork loin stuffed with apricots and accompanied by white beans. And the mister and I had the Steak Frites. Sparking wine for the girls, Brandy and Cognac for the boys and a cheese plate ended the night. Oh. So. Yum.