Christmas 2008 (Part I)

Cafe Drake was so happy this holiday to celebrate Christmas with friends and a most welcome visit from our Mother. MUCH more to come soon (including recipes, in-depth restaurant and bar reviews and a feature on Newport, Rhode Island)! In brief review, we enjoyed a seasonal snow just days before the 25th, and wonderful meals at new and old Brooklyn favorites: mounds of fried zucchini strips and tender calamari, braised baby octopus, fresh pasta and fish at the always warm and merry Fiore; sweet and tart Frozen Orchids in the moody twilight of holly-festooned Hotel Delmano; Hard Cider and Whiskey Sours at the cozy and luxe Black Rabbit; surf and turf at tony Dressler; juicy burgers with all the trimmings and Belgian frites at Flatbush Farm; creamy organic grits and Kentucky country ham at ever-popular EGG and much more.

Cafe Drake did manage to whip up a couple of holiday meals with the help of Mother, and we were lucky enough to be joined on subsequent evenings by Jen Lazzaro and Miki-san. Multiple courses spread both dinners over the span of satiating hours. Among the homemade highlights: foie gras pate with toast points, pomegranate molasses, red onion confit, cornichons and endive salad in a chunky mustard vinaigrette; broiled scallops with butter and lemon atop a bed of roasted Campari tomatoes; baked salmon with capers and white asparagus; sage and garlic-rubbed pork loin with tiny yellow potatoes and braised turnips, carrots and radishes; rabbit and wild mushroom pot pie with black truffle oil; ultra-aged Parmesano drizzled with sherry vinegar reduction and nestled amongst pear slices and roasted chestnuts; creamy, pungent Stilton bleu cheese with toasted raisin bread and cranberry chutney; a HOMEMADE bouche de Noel prepared by Miki; naturally, Mother's classic yeast rolls and on and on. Libations were equally festive, with plenty of bubbly (natch), vintage port, reserve Chardonnays and Petite Syrahs, grappa, muscat and ginger dessert wines and on and on again.