Happy St. Valentines Day

First I would like to wish all of you a slightly belated Happy Valentines Day. I realize this holiday has been propagated by greeting card company’s, florist and candy stores, however I still like to celebrate the way I do most holidays. Simple and over the course of a couple of days.

I also found it a little auspicious that a holiday about love was started with the execution of a priest.

On February 14 around the year 278 A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed. To read the entire story you can go to This Day in History at History.com.

As I said I/We usually celebrate all holidays over the course of many days. In fact I remember once celebrating someone’s birthday for an entire week. This St. Valentines Day would be no different.

We started by going to our favorite restaurant on Saturday evening, Californos in Westport. The bartender Joel really knows how to make a great Manhattan (he is also a fan of Mad Men) and the food here is always great. Lots of spicy dishes and I recommend Spinach Salad and either the Mixed Grill or if you like lots of spice the Green Curry & Vegetables with Shrimp. They also have a nice wine menu and the prices here are very reasonable for both food and drink.

We next walked around the corner to Fidel’s where we are members and have a humidor locker (for very, very low annual fee) and enjoyed a fine cigar and as it is BYOB for members I had a Four Roses Bourbon and Central Patti was drinking a nice Bordeaux.

On Sunday we decided to stay in and make dinner I had a recipe for a scotch marinade for steak or chicken that I received from Ed at Smokes and Booze and it was great. We marinated 4 small sirloin steaks and had a side of asparagus and cheesy potatoes.

Scotch marinade for beef or chicken

* 2 garlic cloves, crushed
* 4 tablespoons soy sauce
* 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
* 2 tablespoons scotch (Laphroaig)
* 2 tablespoons maple syrup
* 4 tablespoons olive oil
* Salt & freshly ground pepper

We paired this with a bottle of Pinot Noir from southern France and it was a very nice evening. While eating we were listening to music from CD’s that I have made over the last 6 years from the “That’s Amore” Sunday Night Salon Collection.

While listening to the music and finishing the wine we thought it would be fun to create a list of “favorites” for Valentines Day and an alcohol paring.

Favorite Book – Wuthering Heights a very romantic tale and the only book written by one of the Bronte’s that I enjoy.
Drink Paring – White Port

Favorite TV Show with a Valentines Theme – Cheers was the only one I could think of as I am sure there has to be others.
Drink Paring – Has to be beer or Norm may just get off his bar stool. I vote for a Guinness.

Favorite Drink – French Kiss Martini. Google this one as there are many variations of recipes.
Drink Paring – Duh

Favorite Movie – Casablanca hands down and going away. One of the most romantic movies of all time and for the last two decades the number 2 ranked movie overall by the AFI.
Drink Paring – Scotch Rocks

Favorite Gift – Single Red Rose and a slow, deep, soft, wet kiss that last three days. (Ok, I stole that from Crash Davis but it still applies)
Drink Paring – Sparkling Wine, probably Toad Hollow.

Favorite Song – Lots to choose from, but “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin has always been a favorite of ours. Followed closely by “Make Believe” by Conway Twitty and “Weekend in New England” by Barry Manilow.
Drink Paring – Dry Vodka Martini

Favorite Meal – The one we created was great and we also favor a nice angel hair pasta with a light sauce.
Drink Paring – Bordeaux Wine

Favorite Desert – Bailey’s Crème Brule (Google this and you will not be disappointed)
Drink Paring – Coffee with Baileys Irish Cream.

Favorite Activity - :)

Cheers

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