Cúrate

For the last celebration of Dave's 70th birthday, Dave and Kim took us to tapas at Cúrate, a popular restaurant in Asheville.  It was exceptional.  See the special birthday dessert.  We loved the lamb skewers, herbed white beans, spinach, assortment of ham and much more.

dessert before the crunch...

after the breakage

We learned that the movie "elBulli" was playing Monday night at the Fine Arts Theatre across the street.  The Hottensteins were coming, and were game, so we saw the movie about the most famous restaurant in Spain, and chef Ferran Adriá.  The owners of Cúrate worked at elBulli before it closed - Kate Button is chef and her husband Felix is the house manager.  Kate has been nominated as "The People's Best new Chef" for FOOD AND WINE magazine.  

Once Pat got wind of this story, we were off to Cúrate for lunch on Wednesday.  

We sat at the bar to watch the cooking show

Pat makes friends with Felix, an owner

So Cúrate gave us a focus for the Hottenstein visit. Thanks Kim and Dave.  We also ate at Nine Mile, Limones, West First, Seasons and Rezaz - a feast for 3 days.  

yellow pants and paper airplanes

Mitchell came to visit us for a day while Kim and Dave worked, and teachers were having a meeting. He and grandpa made and flew paper airplanes.  We found one crashed in our bedroom closet the next day.  

yellow pants! (Mitchell's favorite color)

Our friend Maralee stopped by

Grandpa and Mitchell ended the day by watching "How things Work" on TV, a program describing airplane engines...
When asked if he wanted to change to cartoons, Mitchell said no.  He was entranced. 

Dave's 70th birthday paella dinner

Pat came to set beautiful tables!

Albums of the past

Ken the caterer and Kelly prep

Sue H, Nadeen, Gil, Jim, Dan and Drew

Paella

Carl and Ray open many bottles of wine

Flan with fruit and liquor

A mountain of dishes plus 54 wine and water glasses

Can you see how big this bottle of Woodfield Reserve bourbon is?

Dave said "no gifts please, just water from the fountain of youth."
Evelyn and Sid brought wine with "Fountain of Youth" label 

Evil brownies from Leslie

Beth and Bill brought tea!