Magnificent Meals #1

This post inaugurates a new feature on this blog: Magnificent Meals. In these entries, we will be keeping a record of the best meals we've had, and what went into them. The purpose is both to commemorate happy occasions and tell us (and you!) how to repeat the experience.

Gourmet Lunch on a December Saturday
12/08/2007

Following a long walk to Whole Foods and back on a beautiful, crisp, clear December day, we had:
- Herb-crusted D'Affinois cheese (from Whole Foods)
- Port Salut cheese (from Trader Joe's)
- Sockeye Smoked Salmon (from Trader Joe's)
- Trader Joe's Red Pepper Tomato Soup, stewed for a bit with fresh rosemary and basil
- Water crackers (from Trader Joe's)
- Duvel Belgian Ale (from Whole Foods)
- Fresh persimmons afterward (from the California Market in K-Town)

A cracker spread with the herb-crusted D'Affinois is spectacular with a piece of smoked salmon on top.

The Port Salut does not go well with the Salmon; the cheese overwhelms the flavor of the fish. However, Port Salut is great with the tomato soup.

We tried the Duvel on the recommendation of some friends of ours who took a tour of Belgium so they could sample the ales. It's good!