Sunday, February 10, 2013

AIA Dinner at Ann and Harry's


Sunday 3 February
Our friend Jodi Magness flew in to give an AIA lecture, and we picked her up and brought her to a dinner in her honor at the Santens' beautiful new house overlooking the Ohio river.  Ann had put together a gorgeous spread, and the dinner wasn't bad either.  (We do not discriminate against jokes on the grounds that they are obvious.  Obviously.)
Harry is the master of wine, so he tended to each one of the fourteen guests' desires in the way of drink, while Ann and Sarah (who was helping) put out appetizers: enormous platters of smoked salmon with sour cream and capers, and Boursin, both with crispy toasts.  The sour cream is such a good pair with smoked salmon, since the usual cream cheese doesn't spread as easily, and often breaks the toast.
When dinner was announced we all changed places, so everyone could talk to someone different.  The entire group sat around low tables laid end to end before the fireplace, while the hosts carried us trays of individual servings, many of them in handmade bowls or plates or cups. 
We started with a beautiful tureenful of pumpkin soup with croutons; then went on to savory beef stew with onions, mopped up with baguettes.
Dessert was chocolate pots de crème in their special white porcelain cups, and good strong decaf coffee in Harry's handmade demitasses.
It was a perfect dinner, and a chance to meet with a fascinating group of people.  So thanks, Ann and Harry!

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