Over Eating

Ben and I were the recipients of Mike and Elizabeth's great generosity this past Thursday when they invited us to a private cooking demonstration/dinner with Chef Ludo Lefebvre. They had bid on the dinner at an auction earlier this year, and flew out from NYC with some of their friends for the event. We didn't really know what to expect out of the night and were running late as per the usual. What we got was one of the most spectacular meals either of us has ever had. Which of course meant that we both totally over ate. Even with my increasingly smushed tummy, I managed to lick all of the plates clean - though I think I've literally been hungover from the meal ever since. I just couldn't stop eating because everything tasted so good. There wasn't one throwaway course. I only wish we had actually spent more time in the kitchen 'cooking' with Chef Ludo because Ben and I have decided we need to foster some sort of a friendship with him so we can actually get a reservation at the next appearance of Ludo Bites. Apparently last time the 700 available reservations got booked up in 45 seconds.

The Menu (if you care):

Fresh Baked Bread with Black Truffle Butter (I really should have just skipped this and saved room in my belly but it was so darn good I just kept helping myself to slice after slice).

Endives, Citrus, Gingerbread

Celery Root, Pear, Foie Gras, Mustard (Ben was really disturbed when a girl at the table sent back her foie gras, being a vegetarian, and he says he's still annoyed at himself for not asking if he could eat her portion. CA is banning it after the new year so he's going to be SOL. I think I could have skipped watching this get cooked, because while I do actually really like foie gras - it's quite the indulgence in fat - never more clearly evidenced than while cooking it...)

White Truffle Risotto, Raw Mushrooms, Parmesan (Perfection. I think my favorite dish of the night).

Ribeye, Potatoes, Onion Soup Sauce (When I say potatoes, I mean, butter, cream, butter cream, and maybe a little potato. I literally was licking it up).

Burgundy Epoisse, Shallots, Honeycomb (I actually had a different cheese than this, but not sure what kind. The epoisse was sadly on the "no" list for pregnant ladies. But I heard it was amazing, and so was mine).

Vanilla Panna Cotta, Carmel, Caviar (I also had the pregnant friendly version of this with no caviar and fleur de sel instead and thought it was amazing. Ben says the caviar version was maybe the best dessert he had ever had despite it sounding weird).

The food was so ridiculously good it wasn't even fair. That said, I think my Baby Boy might be tipping the scales after that meal.

In Lucy news- we had to leave pretty early in the night for the dinner, and I was concerned that she would be a pukey mess- but she was actually a total dream and ate her dinner really well with her sitter and I was told she was laughing and playing and having a great time. The sitter did say that she was quite "stubborn" with bedtime, falling asleep and getting up three times to holler for company before finally giving up - but THAT is hardly abnormal with my non-sleeping and yet still perfect child.