Fearings @ the Ritz

Last night was my annual Christmas dinner with the Dallas Chapter of the USPCA (United States Personal Chef Association). We have meetings through out the year, but at Christmas time we usually go out for a nice dinner. It is a real treat since the association pays for part of the meal. It is still expensive, but gives us an opportunity to experience things we don't get every day. As usual we did a chef's tasting. Kind of like what we did at conference earlier this year, only not as expensive. (mostly because they paid for a big chunk of it). Fearings is a really neat restaurant. They have 5 different types of dining areas. Each has it's own theme. We ate in the formal dining room. You can choose to eat in the wine cellar, the kitchen, the pseudo patio or outside. The outside seating is beautiful with all of the waterfalls, but it was a too cold for that.

Here was our menu:

Salmon Ceviche with Mango, Sweet Peppers, Coconut and Lime

Tsukiji Market Hamachi Duo –
Flash Seared Five-Spice with Avocado Wasabi Puree,
Tartar with Pomegranate Seeds, Hearts of Palm and Miso Cream

Butternut Squash Bisque with Maine Lobster
and Autumn Vegetable Confetti

Apricot Barbecue Glazed Bob White Quailon
Iceberg Wedge Salad with Cider Braised Bacon

Barbecued Shrimp Taco with Mango-Pickled Red Onion
Salad and Smoky Citrus Vinaigrette

Soy Glazed Black Cod with Hijiki Jasmine Rice, Carrot/Diakon Threads, Tempura Herbs and Miso Clam Broth

Wood Grilled Coriander Lamb Chops on “Sweet and Sour”
Eggplant with Crispy Red Onion

Cheese Course:
Chef’s Choice of Five American Cheeses with Grilled
Figs, Candied Nuts, Honeycomb and Toasted Raisin Nut Bread

Dessert:
Banana Cream Pie with Toasted Meringue and Coconut Ice Cream
Pear Cheesecake
Flourless Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Straws
Custard with apple fritters and toffee ice cream.

Sherbet trio (orange and basil, grapefruit and rosemary, lemon and thyme)

It was all yummy, but the Quailon and Braised bacon course was my favorite with the shrimp taco running a close second:)

For Susan - my famous person sighting - After diner we had a tour of the kitchen. While in the back we met Chef Dean Fearing and sitting in his office eating dinner was Casey (if you watched Top Chef, she was one of the finalist)

The highlight of the evening was when the table sitting next to us ordered a $2000, yes I said $2000, bottle of Champagne. It was a couple (really old man and his very young date). I cannot imagine spending $2000 on something I would end up excreting at the end of the night:)) The life I will never understand.

While I was having my fantastic dinner, Todd was having dinner at Rock Fish with the other Bounce U owners. They had a good meeting. The Carlton's own the site in Plano. They have been open for several months now and are doing great. The Nation's bought the Frisco territory. It appears that they may have found a place, really quickly, I might add. They will probably be opening before us:(( We are down to 3 locations, as one is not going to work out. The other location that would be really great, and they really want us there, would be very close to the Nation's territory. As great of a deal that it would be, it is probably not going to work out, because of it's proximity to the other location. We would truly be competing for each others business. That leaves us with 2. There is an old Kmart on Josey and Frankfort. Todd went to see it on Tuesday. It has great potential, so we are going to work up and LOI and see where it leads. The other location is the Kidz Muze that we have been working with for a month or so now. We are still negotiating with them. Just trying to figure out if we are getting the best deal they have to offer.

Just pray that we will find a place soon!!!!
Thought you might also enjoy a little holiday cheer from Santa and his Elf -