Jen Ruske Welcomes Guests on a Snowy Night

Cafe Drake and Miki-san were so lucky to be invited to the swank Clinton Hill pad of Jen Ruske and Anthony Castro for a full-on cold weather dinner party! Glasses of good champagne greeted us at the door as we slipped out out of snowboots into slippers, followed by an antipasto tray of sharp Spanish cheese, bressaleo and oil-cured olives. Starters were a festive melange of baby spinach (expertly dressed in a mustard vinaigrette) with pan-fried goat cheese, beets and carved tomato wedges. Best of all was a luxe and decadent entree of milk and cream-laced soft polenta, resting beneath 3 hour-braised beef short ribs with sauteed mushrooms and cayenne carrots. Ruske kicked out the (dessert) jams via homemade (in the French style) coconut macaroons, handmade salted caramels and (from Anthony) deep mugs of rich and potent espresso. Did Jen stop there? No, not until shot glasses were filled with a smooth and soft Calvados. Truly a meal for our memories!