Palmabella's Passions

Saturday night we were guests at a wonderful summer dinner party at Fiona and Steve's. We began with liver crostini, bacon wrapped shrimp, triple creme French cheese and wine. Then we moved into the dining room. The dramatic table was set with black linens, candles, and lots of floral accents.

Our first course was a crab gazpacho.

Gail brought a marinated veggie salad.

Dinner was a wonderful selection of cold dishes!

Roast pork with caramelized onions

Grilled asparagus wrapped with bacon

Wild rice salad

Grilled tomatoes and portobellas

I made another strawberry tart for dessert.

A tradition at the Altmans: after we finish eating dinner, each person has an English
"cracker" (foil-wrapped cardboard tube containing a tissue paper crown, a joke, and a small gift/prize). You cross arms holding one end of the cracker, while persons on either side are holding other end, forming a chain around the table. At the same time we all pull, they pop, and we retrieve the contents. Then we wear our crowns, read our jokes, and show our prizes. I got a handy-dandy little make-up mirror for a purse.

Here we are just after the "cracker festivities":

Brad and Gail:

Kay and Steve:

Bill and Palma:

Fiona and Herb:

It was a gorgeous evening outside, so after dinner, we sat outside for more wine, honey rum, African liqueur, and Dooley's tastings. Fiona and Steve are were great hosts, as always.