Wood-Thompson lunch at The Biltmore

Cousin Paul Thompson, wife Lisa and daughter Allie were in Asheville today!  We met them at the Biltmore for the house tour, then lunched at the Bistro.  Really fun to see them.  Thompsons are off to Georgia and South Carolina to look at colleges for Allie, an equestrian.

Paul, Lisa, Susan, Dave and Allie, college bound

Dave, Lisa, Susan and Paul tour the Biltmore mansion

A peak experience dinner

Sometimes in life, things happen in a way that is flawless.  That was dinner at "Inn at Little Washington" on Thursday night March 21st, 2013.  Chef Patrick O'Connell is the tall red head, who opened the inn 35 years ago, and presides over the kitchen.  In 2000, Robert Mondavi visited the Inn and proclaimed Patrick "the Pope of the kitchen."  Since then, the theme was adopted.  We were invited to eat in the kitchen (a privilege), and were greeted by the Chef/Pope, alter boys and accoutrements included.  Music matched.  The Gastrononaut's menu had eleven small portions with wine pairings.  You'll see a truffle theme.  *most photos by Jim on his SONY

With Andrea and Jim Stewart

altar boy washes our hands

notice the goblets

Before the show

The chef has dalmatians - for this the black and white patterned aprons and pants

Popcorn dusted with truffles

Nantucket bay scallops sautéed with curried cauliflower, sultanas and garlic chips

Halibut blanketed with black truffles and leeks in potato leek velouté

Chilled Maine lobster in mustard vinaigrette with horseradish panna cotta

black truffle breast of pheasant on savoy cabbage braised in champagne

Warm chocolate bread pudding and almond ice cream fragranced with black truffle

Chef Patrick O'Connell

Veal Shenandoah:  with crispy sweetbreads, osso bucco ravioli and granny smith apples perfumed with Calvados

Hank, our waiter, the best service ever

the ubiquitous photos with the chef!

The Julia Child Suite where she stayed when visiting