Really Happy New Year

New Years Eve evening was a bit different this year. For the past few years we have made a practice of having dinner, or a movie and dinner, with another couple who are our closest friends. We usually wish each other a happy new year and are headed home around 9 PM. The difference this year would be that we really had something to celebrate. The wife of the other couple called to say that her doctor had agreed to remove her halo two weeks early and she was on the way to see him. She had been thrown from a horse last fall and broken her neck. This meant she would not feel like going out, but we would still do dinner. The plan was that I was going to make bourbon pan seared lobster flambé. The husband of the couple really had his heart set on boiled lobster. After I got the call with the good news I threw the lobster tails back in the freezer and headed for the grocery store to stand in line with the last minute New Years Eve crowd. A familiar face behind the counter picked out four nice pound and a half lobsters and I headed to the check-out counter. The two young women at the check-out counter were beside themselves about handling the lobsters, even though they were in bags. Using their fingertips and holding the bags at arms length they were finally able to maneuver the lobster bags into a couple of grocery bags.

I headed out into a light snow fall and drove home to pick up my wife and a bottle of Kirkland Champagne that I had chilled. Stop laughing! Before I bought it I researched online and read several positive reviews including 90 pts by Wine Spectator (WS).

We arrived at their house and for the first time in too long the now neck braced friend was able to great with a hug and a kiss, without being blocked by the bars of the previous contraption. I had to take it all in; it was so great to see her head free. She pointed out the divots where spikes had recently stuck into her skull to hold her neck rigid. After our inspection, we assured her that they would not be noticeable when they healed. We frankly could care less about a few scars; she lived through this and was not going to have any long term deficits. I couldn’t ask for more.
The first wine of the night was a Napa sparking wine (can’t remember the name) that some friends of theirs had stopped by with earlier. It was nice, rather simple but drinkable. We then opened a 1996 Nicolas Feuillatte Cuvee Palmes d'or Brut Champagne.

The lobster pot took forever to boil. While we were waiting, he showed me his new lobster pot boiler. It is basically a steel tripod with a circular top frame and a vertical tube in the center that hooks to a propane tank. It resembles the flame device on a hot air balloon. I can’t wait for us to use it later this year. We didn’t use it new year’s eve, because it was around 3 F and snowing. In the mean time I made the rice pilaf and my wife made the salad with so many ingredients that I can’t remember them all. I do remember, a crumbled gorgonzola, walnuts, mixed greens, Dijon, and olive oil dressing.

By the time we sat down to dinner, with bibs sporting a lobster on the front, we had to open the Kirkland Champagne. It was quite a drop from the Nicolas Feuillatte, but it sufficed. The dinner was great, the company superior and about nine, the woman in the neck brace began to fade fast. We wished each other the best for the New Year and my wife and I headed home.

1996 Nicolas Feuillatte Cuvee Palmes d'or Brut Champagne
(unknown actual price, saw it online for $135.00)
From: Champagne, France
Grapes: "Blend", typically includes Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier.
Light straw color
Tiny streaming bubbles
On the nose: Strong smell of fresh baked bread on the nose with some citrus, ginger, and a bit of lemon peal.
On the palate: Smooth and creamy, lots of green apple, nice acidity on the back end, with a long finish.
One of the best champagnes I have ever had.



Kirkland Champagne NV ($25.00 Costco)
Pale color
Lots of bubbles but not fine
A bit tart, fairly dry, some citrus, a hint of toast, refreshing, medium length finish.
Drinkable, but far from impressive.