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We had our departmental 'Holiday Themed Employee Appreciation Event'* tonight. It was quite nice and I do feel appreciated, since I got a nice bonus that will actually allow me to buy Yule gifts for my loved ones. Since I hired the caterer and set the menu**, I knew the food would be good, but our graduate secretary is an excellent amateur sommelier and he chose some great beers and wines to go with our goodies.
I had to have a Left Hand Milk Stout because he got those since he knew they were my favorite. Then I had to try the truly excellent bordeaux he had chosen, and after that I was curious about the white bordeaux, and it was vastly better than the white burgundy I had tried once upon a time. I need to find out the vintage on that one so I can look for it myself. He also had brought in some nice chardonnay and some DuBoef beaujolais villages but I didn't try those, I'd had them before. Then I had to try a sip of the Oskar Blue's "Dale's Pale Ale" which was one of the better pale ales I have had. It has a gorgeous deep, almost orange amber color and an interestingly complex, strongly hopped flavor with hints of fruit and spice underneath. First PA I have had in ages that I wouldn't mind having again, being more a fan of darker brews.
Needless to say after all that I had to be extremely careful driving home. But I made it unscathed. ;D
*We are no longer allowed to have holiday parties, though we may have 'holiday themed' employee appreciation events. ;D
Baked Brie
Antipasto tray
Proscuitto-wrapped jumbo shrimp
Crostini with pesto, roasted red-pepper and sundried tomato, and spicy black bean dips
Spanakopita
Stuffed baby crimini mushrooms
Spicy beef empanadas
Dill Deviled Eggs with Caviar garnish
Assorted crudite' with ranch dressing (boring, but people like it)
Hot artichoke dip
Chocolate-dipped strawberries
Mini cheesecakes
Almond creme patisserie tartlets
I had to have a Left Hand Milk Stout because he got those since he knew they were my favorite. Then I had to try the truly excellent bordeaux he had chosen, and after that I was curious about the white bordeaux, and it was vastly better than the white burgundy I had tried once upon a time. I need to find out the vintage on that one so I can look for it myself. He also had brought in some nice chardonnay and some DuBoef beaujolais villages but I didn't try those, I'd had them before. Then I had to try a sip of the Oskar Blue's "Dale's Pale Ale" which was one of the better pale ales I have had. It has a gorgeous deep, almost orange amber color and an interestingly complex, strongly hopped flavor with hints of fruit and spice underneath. First PA I have had in ages that I wouldn't mind having again, being more a fan of darker brews.
Needless to say after all that I had to be extremely careful driving home. But I made it unscathed. ;D
*We are no longer allowed to have holiday parties, though we may have 'holiday themed' employee appreciation events. ;D
Baked Brie
Antipasto tray
Proscuitto-wrapped jumbo shrimp
Crostini with pesto, roasted red-pepper and sundried tomato, and spicy black bean dips
Spanakopita
Stuffed baby crimini mushrooms
Spicy beef empanadas
Dill Deviled Eggs with Caviar garnish
Assorted crudite' with ranch dressing (boring, but people like it)
Hot artichoke dip
Chocolate-dipped strawberries
Mini cheesecakes
Almond creme patisserie tartlets
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