A Great Way to Start the Year

If the old saying holds true, that where you find yourself on New Year's Eve/Day holds prophetic keys to the year ahead, then Cafe Drake is surely looking forward to the rest of 2012. After the simplest of New Year's quick bites at our place (Hoppin' John, braised greens, buttermilk cornbread) Jen R and Ben T. paid it forward immediately the following evening with a glorious spread of artisanal cheeses from their Cricket Creek Farm CSA share, arugula and avocado salad, smoked and barbecued salmon, roasted winter veggies and no less than two different homemade pizzas, a tangy marinara and olive slice and a white version with ricotta, leeks and mushrooms. Goes without saying, but worth mentioning, was the steady stream of top-shelf booze (red, white, small batch rum and bourbon) flowing freely from start to finish.