Noel 2007

Our Christmas 2007 was nice and quiet. I worked half the day on Dec 24th then headed home to get ready for dinner. Slipped out to the family mass down the street at St. Brigid's at 5:00pm then back to serve my delicious Leek and Potato soup with Black Truffles and Truffle Oil.

Our Christmas tree was lovely. We got it late (Dec 18) but it was the perfect shape and so soft to touch and hang decorations. We traditionally go to the man at the corner store nearby so he gave us a deal as returning customers ($60). Not as great a deal as at IKEA (free because the $20 you spend for the tree is really a $20 credit in store) but better than the $100 my Uncle Wes said fresh trees cost in California.

On Christmas Day we slept in, opened presents then had a visit from Mary. After a late lunch (mussels with frites - both excellent), we enjoyed Chicken Val d'Ostana for dinner. Later on Dori and her family stopped by and brought their Wii game. Lots of fun to play and watch. They even created a custom Wii persona for me.

Afterward we watched one of my Christmas presents: the animated movie Ratatouille - a rat who runs away and becomes a chef in Paris. Loved it!

Which reminds me, I need to post my Top Movies of the Year.

CTV Christmas Party

Now that Rich works for CTV, this is the first year he could bring a spouse to his Christmas party. I was excited to go on a wintery Thursday December 13th and the party was amazing!!


The theme was Zhivago - A Celebration of Life. Outside there were horse-drawn sleighs and inside there were four themed rooms, each with tons of different food and drinks. When we walked in they handed us a Black Russion (vodka and kahlua) and then we happened to stand just outside the prep room so servers would walk by us every minute, each with a different new plate of delectable hors d'oeuvres: tuna tartare, roast duck on cranberry toast, caviar in phyllo cones, chicken, beef, mushroom bites - all delish.

Next, there was a candy room where the chandeliers were made of lollipops and you could fill gift bags with candy to take home (my favourite were the pop-eye cigarettes). Then we moved into the largest room where there were hundreds of people and several food stations. There was live Russian entertainment onstage and with my new Sony 10x Optical Zoom camera (my fantastic advance Christmas present from my wonderful husband) I could get a clear picture of the performers from 30 feet away!

We even saw the CEO of CTV Ivan Fecan. All the food was delish: coriander tuna on potatoe fennel mash with red pepper relish; creamy beef stroganoff; salmon filet with veggies and caviar! We couldn't even get around to it all. Finally we retired to the quieter Russian Tea Room where we hung out on pillow-covered banquettes and enjoyed the end of our evening together with all our friends.

Truly a memorable and impressive affair. Thanks for inviting me Rich!


Zhivago party
Black Russians and seared tuna
Thank you CTV!

Enchanted

Last night November ended on a total high when we went to see Enchanted. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS MOVIE - GO SEE IT!!!! It starts with a few minutes of old-timey animation a la Bambi and Snow White, but be patient. Embrace the hokiness and revel in the singing because suddenly it transitions to live action in modern-day New York and it is 100% charming, irresistible and fun - a real post-feminist fairytale. Mothers take your daughters (age 5 and up because it gets scary later) and sing along. Amy Adams is the ultimate princess Giselle whose naivete and goodness are irrepressible and infectious. You too will be cheering for true love's kiss! Definitely one of my top 10 movies of 2007. And I'm saving another spot for Jerry Bruckheimer's National Treasure Book of Secrets. Who cares if its another Disney holiday money grab? I can't wait!!!