Dinner w/ the Four Coursemen

OK.  I kept thinking I might become a great writer and be able to share something incredible with you all, but it ain't happening.  So now, almost a week after Edward and I were privileged to join Athens' Four Coursemen for dinner last Saturday night, I'm going to have to just break down and tell you about it in my own pedestrian way.

Oh, wow; it was a unique, wonderful experience.  I'm so glad I live in Athens, Georgia and that I'm in love with and married to Edward Brumby.

I had to work at the library last weekend, until 6 pm on Saturday.  Edward called me at the Reference Desk to see if I thought I could get home on time to be back in town to eat at 7:30.  Yeah, why?  Because he scored a confirmation to eat with the Four Coursemen!  What?!?!  I will be there if I have to quit my job!

So around the appointed time we're slinking the car down a crowded Athens residential street, on the lookout for something that resembles a place we've seen recently on TV.  We miss it on the first pass.  Around the block again and BINGO, we see people walking up a nondescript driveway -- this must be the place!  It's rainy and dark and kind of cold when we hike through someone's parking area and onto the porch of a (hopefully) green shotgun house.  Are we in the right place?

Oh yeah, we certainly are.


And what a wonderful experience we've now had.

Here is the menu (I wish I could explain each dish and wine to you as well as our hosts did):

First course = Shrimp Bisque w/ Rouille and Fresh Herbs, w/ Je Pense, "Rimauresq", FR '07;

Second course = Fried Trotter w/ Arugula, Radicchio, Pickled Smoked Egg White and Hollandaise, w/ Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone, FR '09;

Third course = Ravioli w/ Roasted Broccoli, Anchovy, Parmesan and Ham Broth w/ J. Hofstatter, Lagrein IT '06;

Fourth course = North Carolina Rainbow Trout w/ Truffled Cauliflower Puree, Wilted Brussels Sprouts and Grand Mustard Sauce w/ Raul Perez, Mencia ES '07;

Dessert = Cannoli w/ Hazelnut, Ricotta and Pomegranate Molasses w/ Lazzaroni Amaretto, IT NV.

My favorites were the shrimp bisque, the trotter (what a great name after all.....) and the Brussels sprouts, and each wine pairing was perfect.  But everything was so good and obviously a labor of love.  That's what the 4CM are all about.

I want to go back!  These guys were so nice and so talented and so interesting.  And the other guests were a cool mix of townies and students and Atlantans and foodies and old geezers Edward and Donna.

If you've not caught the Four Coursemen program on the Cooking Channel, see it and be envious of us!

And 4CM, I promise if Edward and I get to return, we'll bring a wonderful wine and maybe a special bottle of bourbon.  When's supper?