Chicken and Shrimp with Pancetta Chimichurri

Egg-White Frittata with Lox and Arugula

Cheese-Stuffed Dates with Prosciutto and Honey-Balsamic Lamb Chops

Via Gelato

I don't even like ice cream because it's too cold (I have a cat's tongue) and it vanishes so quickly seemingly without a trace. But I loved this Gelato. I don't know the difference between ice cream and gelato and I don't need to know to enjoy this treat. I got an affogato which is gelato-salted caramel with espresso (Less cold and also get my caffeine fix). This new place on 12th avenue is very San Francisco Hip/Chic. In spite of the global warming freezing  (72 day/61 night)  temperatures in Paradise there are long lines outside Via Gelato.  Well worth it. 

The last time I had Gelato was in Rousillon Provence (France). They are famous for their Lavender Gelato which tasted like soap.

Roasted Halibut with Pea and Mint Salad

I am at heart a Pescatarian and love all seafood. The Halibut should have been delicate, sweet and flaky but overcooked (Next time bake for 15 instead of 18 min) was tough and chewy. Live and Learn ($40 lesson). The marinate was simple and healthy lemon juice, olive oil garlic, salt and pepper. The mint salad was described as "Ok" by most in the family. No big winners here tonight.

Raspberry Pound Cake with Vin Santo Cream

I love to bake. Recipes like this remind me why I'm a baker and not a cook. Why can't we only eat dessert? It's so much prettier than chicken carcasses and yummier than veggies. IN MY WORLD to quote Alice in Wonderland 

and emulate Willy Wonka, We WOULD ONLY EAT DESSERT and we could start with this lovely, moist raspberry pound cake with fluffy sweet cream. Prefect for the Mad Hatter's Tea Party (whom I believe drank the Moscato Wine I had specifically bought for the cream). 

Roasted Citrus-Herb Cornish Game Hens with Crouton Salad and Gorgonzola Porcini Mushroom Risotto

My S.M. described it as "Good enough to be a Valentine's Dinner".  He was impressed! I was relieved to know that the trauma I had endured was worth it and the hens had not perished in vain. Holding those little hens in my hands as I washed them almost brought me to tears.  I recited the Tibetan Compassion Chant  "Om Mani Pedme Hum" partly for them, mostly for me as I rubbed them with the zest mixture. I apologized for contributing to their death and those to come.  I did not have the inner fortitude to tie their legs together (And I didn't have kitchen twine and was not sure regular sewing thread was an acceptable substitute).  I would have to disagree with Giada when describing this recipe as "ridiculously easy" and  more like "ridiculously complicated". What's wrong with store bought croutons? I want to follow the recipes as close as possible so I toasted olive bread for the croutons. The salad was ok. The Risotto was rich, creamy and delicious. I have never used dried porcini mushrooms before and it felt too much like a witch's potion ingredient so instead I used fresh cremini mushrooms. This recipe was also a labour of Love due to the constant nursing of the rice with the chicken broth every 20 minutes like a  newborn baby. I was crazy to attempt all three dishes at once but the cooking Gods must have been with me this time as it all worked out. 

Grilled Salmon with Citrus Salsa Verde

Everyone in my family loves salmon but they did not love this version. The healthy citrus and herb salsa verde (green in spanish)  was a bit overpowering for the salmon. 

Grilled Asparagus and Melon Salad

Fresh and healthy yumminess. Need to eat it all because like Cinderella after midnight the leftovers trasnform to a less glamorous soggy mess. 

Chocolate Honey Almond Tart

You had me at Chocolate. I love Chocolate. I love Honey. I love Almonds. I love tarts. Did I mention I love chocolate? This was a Home Run before it even got up to bat. Giada is right in describing it as extremely rich and a little slice goes a long way. We still served it with Vanilla Almond Toffee Gelato and enjoyed the sweet sugar comma.  I always wish the crusts in cheesecakes and tarts were thicker so when I make them at home I've been known to double or triple the recipe for the crust. Here it is a MUST. I used raw honey (More antioxidants and enzymes) and Guittard dark chocolate chips. Refrigerated for 5 hours or overnight. This Chocolate Dream is good enough to serve in my Happy Place: Neiman Marcus Espresso Cafe.