Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!

Last night my pal Darcy and I sallied east in Red Therapy to Snowqualmie to commune with other earnest cooks to learn tasting and seasoning. This is a bit dicey for Darcy, har har, because she's lost her sense of taste and smell for the most part. But it seems for two years in a row to celebrate her birthday I've invited her to opportunities to regain said lost senses or endure more frustration. Last year Lisa and I took her to DeLille Cellars in Woodenville for a Bastille Day wine and food pairing, which we enjoyed greatly. Poor Darcy was in a special hell as she doesn't really enjoy wine and she sure hates seafood--both of which were in abundance, but she's always a great sport and crazy fun for any occasion.

I'd rather misunderstood what we were going to be doing in the class or perhaps I just projected my hopes, for I don't really use other seasoning except salt, pepper, garlic, onion, cayenne, basil, rosemary and those sorts of things. Seasoning is not about using herbs, it's about salt, pepper, acid (lemon, vinegar) and heat (cayenne, etc)to make the food taste ROUND and bring out the flavors to produce "a party in your mouth" one participant proclaimed.

The menu was varied and interesting. We made three different vinaigrettes, basil and mint pesto for chicken breasts, salmon on an orange and fennel salad, risotto, braised kale and a vege medley. And drank wine. My favorite was the pesto and chicken. The least favorite was the kale that Darcy and I did--it was tough, though flavorful. The chef said that was because it sat too long before we ate. We finished cooking after nine and sat down to the feast. Got home about eleven, full of yummy food and liquid happy.

Can't wait until Darcy's birthday next year for our next culinary adventure, though I'm sure she can wait . . .

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmelinda