1982 Mouton Rothschild

Pleasure delayed is not pleasure denied. Find something wonderful to do at home on the night, caviar and Champagne suggest themselves, then go to the restaurant on the next (or prior) night that it would be quiet.

Or find another restaurant. Do Not throw out the bathwater with the baby. One can always get another baby; well-aged bathwater is a horse of a different color entirely. And remember that you will not enjoy the wine or the evening if you have to orchestrate it and then work for it.

pavane

Darn good advice across the board from you. My original ambition as a young man was to become a chef, and I am quite skilled at it. However, the thought of cutting, chopping, sautéing, plating and especially scrubbing pots and pans on that night is what I was not looking forward to. There are times in this world when one feels that they are entitled to be waited upon in a grand manner.

Thanks again,

Godzilla

Godzilla Lizard wrote in news:6d663$4bca6544 $cf9b1189$ snipped-for-privacy@ALLTEL.NET:

I am a bit younger than you are, I also love wine, love to cook (and am reasonably good at it) and have decided that there is no better place for great wine than home.

I understand what you mean with cleaning afterwards. May I suggest that you work in advance so that you do not have to do much cleaning?

When I want to open a good bottle of wine, I always do a low temperature slow roasted roast beef and a gratin daphinois. There is not much to clean afterwards, and for sure nothing to scrub.

Both dishes are so easy to make that anybody with an oven and an Ikea cooking thermomether could do it without needing any difficult technique.

However, I understand your desire to feel like a King at a restaurant. I wish you a very happy 50th anniversary and my best wishes for your second

s.

Thanks for the kind wishes

Godzilla

I usually have a local chef cook at our home. Sometimes I help and act as "sous chef" but it allows me to spend time with guests, etc and the chef takes care of clean-up chores. I think a 50 year anniversary deserves a bit of pomp. Congrats and enjoy!

First of all, happy anniversary. It speaks volumes that despite some hard times you are planning such a special event (and you must be a pretty good uncle!)

I see the advantages of hiring a chef (but $$$) or doing yourself, but I think the idea of a familiar favorite place might be the best. As Pavane suggests, maybe the night before or night after.

I'm a fan of rock (and jazz and classical and bluegrass and ,,,,) but don't generally like live music with my food. If the artist is good, I wish to pay attention- and that detracts from meal and company. If artist isn't good, I don't want to hear them.

Whenever and wherever you have the meal, I hope it is great, and the Mouton is as good as I remember it.

Thanks to all who comprehend my attitude, strange as that may be. :-)

Godzilla

Yours is also a good scenario. However, this is a "no guest" type of event, at least in my humble opinion. This morning, we breakfasted out for a change (only because I had a 2 for 1 coupon at McD's.) That would not be my ultimate ch‪oice for the June 4th dinner locale. Then again, I did forget to ask what their charge for corkage would be, compared to the other place that I had selected. ;-)

Godzilla

Major Bummer, O Scaly One. Is there no other venue for a celebratory dinner out? If not, how about some high quality takeout food to minimize the cleanup at home? Since you live more or less in Whole Foods country, how about a dinner foraged there? With a wine like the '82 Mouton, a simple dinner of roast chicken would be a fine choice. Or roast the chicken a day ahead of time and reheat on the night of the dinner. You can problably concoct more elaborate meals that could be prepared ahead of time and reheated at need.

Best wishes for your celebration! Mark Lipton

Thanks for yet more good wishes from my wine enthusiast colleagues. Living in a small town (pop. 30,000 or so) does limit the choices for dining venues. There are no shortage of fast food and franchise eateries in this area, but I don't believe any of them would fit the bill. :-( My latest thought revolves around picking up a rack of lamb at Costco when I go in this week to replenish the larder. Then, I shall make a "trial run" dinner using it with a lesser wine from my small cellar. With that under my belt (noting any problems or improvements along the way) I may consider that for a viable alternative choice for June 4th. Time is on my side, even though locale is not. ;-)

Godzilla (who may finally learn to use the dishwasher at last)