Thursday, October 7, 2010

.those summer nights.


Towards the end of the summer, we had the joy of hosting a dinner party to celebrate a visit from our dear friends, Jamie and Katie Fuller.

Aren't the a couple of cuties! :)
These two have been living all over the country for the past couple years and therefor we do not get to see them that often.  Jamie served as the best man in our wedding and he and Katie have continued to be loyal and loving supporters of Casper and I.  So it was our pleasure to open up our humble abode to celebrate with our closest friends and some darn good food (if I do say so myself).

Here we are in Napa at V. Sattui Winery
For our 1 year wedding anniversary, Casper and I were spoiled enough to go on a trip to Napa Valley (one of our 10 ten places we MUST visit)!  While we were there we partook in a feast for kings as we ate at Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc in Yountville, CA.


If you don't know of Thomas Keller I'm extremely dissappointed... get with the program people! Ad Hoc is a little gem in the Valley that serves gourmet dishes in a family style context.  Each night is a new menu, and you just show up and hope you like what their cookin' (which it would be hard to hate it, let's be honest)!  So for our 2 year anniversary this past June, I got Casper (and myself) the Ad Hoc cookbook!



All of this to say, I thought the dinner party was a perfect time to try out some Ad Hoc recipes.  The flavors and ingredients in this book are unique and bountiful... so I was a bit intimidated as I was checking items off my shopping list.  Although I've never cooked for 8 people, I felt myself being able to follow every step of the recipes and take one thing at a time.  Somehow I found a rhythm and I was really enjoying the process of preparing all these new dishes with unfamiliar techniques and ingredients.  By the end of the night, we too had a feast fit for kings (I hope that's what our guests thought), and I was shocked I pulled it off without a hitch. Here are the photos from our Summer themed Ad Hoc dinner!












summer vegetable gratin... so tasty!







We have the BEST friends ever! Love you all so much!

4 comments:

  1. Um yah you do not have to wonder...your cooking was AMAZING...see that?...all caps amazing! And the presentation was so beautiful and full of character. We loved every second of the evening.
    That week of being able to you guys was so wonderful. We love you guys!

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  2. Beautiful, Jess! Lil' Miss Martha, I tell ya. ;)

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