A few last second changes and inventory counts and we're on our way. Fully booked, I'm excited. The menu looks amazing and the wine pairings will complement nicely.
Look at all these crazy balloons, blown up earlier today. By midnight, things should be quite festive. Happy New Year!
2010 seemed to go by faster than any previous year of my life. There was a lot going on for sure, taking the Master Sommelier Diploma Exam for the very first time, running around Jeffrey's Restaurant, and exercising my 39 year old body a record number of times, 330 to be exact. Overall, I think I was just a little more disciplined this year, whether it was flipping flashcards at various places around town or getting on my bike or lacing up my running shoes in the morning. I like these routines, not so much for the way I look, but for the way I feel. If I miss a morning workout, the whole rest of the day is like BLAH.
I had the pleasure of running around Town Lake 133 times, 83 of those times with Anne. That's like 340 miles with the wife. Nice.
Last night, Anne and I hosted Jason Fletcher our Maître d’ at Jeffrey’s Restaurant. This was our Boxing Day / Game Night with noshes and cocktails. Jason taught us how to play Cribbage and Anne fed us her Minestrone soup. A very chill evening.
As far as Maître d’s go, to call Mr. Fletcher “slick” would be to miss the mark entirely. Instead, he’s real, which is much better. He interacts with guests, being gracious and genuine. Occasionally, I’ll hear him converse in French with some of our guests, too. This always puts a smile on my face. But when you tell your Maître d’ not to bring anything over for Boxing Day, what does he present to Anne upon arrival? These beautiful lilies. Nice (and classy). Anthony Garcia
This is Anne’s first press. I am so very happy for her. She loves designing and sewing. From the clothes she makes to her awesome magazine totes and all the way down to her reusable gift totes, her style is simple and clean. A little recognition always feels great. Nice job, honey!
Get one before they sell out. **Photo Credit: Brent Lewis (nice pic!)**
More of Anne's Work
Last Sunday, Anne and I booked the balcony seating package at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at the Ritz. It seemed appropriate to have box seats to view Black Swan, a movie set in the world of ballet. For $35 (reserved online, matinée) you get two tickets and an overstuffed La-Z-Boy loveseat/recliner with dual control; they even throw in a bowl of popcorn and an attentive server to check on you every 15 minutes or so. When we arrived to the theater, we were escorted up the elevator, through the projection room, to our perch. The view of the screen is amazing. The whole setup is absolutely soignée.
I’ve been wanting to open this for a while. I knew it would be awesome and would make a small dinner party very happy. Last night, I finally got the opportunity. I didn’t have a cradle large enough to remove the sediment. Lately, I’ve been stretching out my silver decanting basket on magnums at Jeffrey’s Restaurant, but this larger format Barolo would be too much to ask of the equipment. So, I presented the wine in the box, took it to the credenza in the Napoleon Room, and propped the bottle up on top of the neck rest with a serviette underneath. The angle was just steep enough to get the job completed.
Complemented Deegan’s menu perfectly. JM called dibbs on the bottle as a keepsake. Not the biggest I’ve opened, but the biggest in quite a while. I love my job.
Monday night was incredibly fun. Deegan, Kate, Anne and I got a home cooked meal from Ron and Peggy Weiss. Ossobuco, Barbaresco and Amarone. Nice. The meal was superb; the conversation was lively and enlightening. So many stories. Who was the very first guest of Jeffrey’s …what Johnny Guffey was like when he had long red hair, Clarksville then and now …It wasn’t just the past we discussed, but also the future. Exciting stuff. I’m honored to be part of this team and privileged to serve the regulars and the new folks who are just now discovering what Jeffrey’s is all about. Deegan’s food is undeniably amazing, too.
I brought over the last of our 2005 Marc Hébrart Special Club Brut. Ron treated us to this magnum of 1995 Gaja Barbaresco and this 1988 Roberto Mazzi “Punta di Villa” Amarone della Vapolicella. Sublime.
Look at this crazy Konrad 1991 “Admiral’s Quinta” Mendocino Port-styled weirdness, it was butterscotch and blackberry jam. What a treat!
Did you know Peggy is also a published artist? Her collection / Her style