Matthew's Journal

I'm retiring the use of this software to run my journal and I've switched to Wordpress. The transition is still a work in progress, but, for the moment, you should use the URL millercommmatt.com/wordpress. Eventually, you'll just be able to use millercommamatt.com to view my journal, photos, and anything else I put up.

Last night I made a really good dinner. Christina and I had a broccoli slaw with an Asian salad dressing made with sesame oil, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and mushroom bits. On top of that slaw/salad I served yellowfin tuna grilled rare and coated with more of that same dressing and sesame seeds. I paired my plate with a very nice sake served cold while Christina paired her plate with an American-style lager. We enjoyed our lovely meal outside on the back porch.

Christina and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary yesterday. To mark the occasion, I cooked a pretty fancy dinner. The appetizer course was homemade potato chips with freshly made aioli (garlic mayonnaise). As an entrée I braised lamb shanks with caramelized onions and shallots served over wilted red chard and shitake mushrooms. For desert I made chocolate soufflés with white chocolate whipped cream. We shared a rather disappointing bottle of 2000 Château de Cruzeau from Bordeaux. The wine was thin and somewhat tart. Nevertheless, despite the wine, I think the meal was a success and the soufflés were sublime. I'll be making those again.

I'd like to take a minute to tell all my readers (assuming that I have any) about a wonderful port wine that I've discovered. Hardy's Whiskers Blake Tawny Port comes from Australia. I can't say enough good things about it. It's soft and sweet. It has hints of golden raisins, walnuts, fine red wine... you know what? I'm not a sommelier or a wine critic. I'll leave the tasting notes up to someone who knows what they're talking about. All I know is that this stuff is exquisite. Wine Spectator gave this a 94. That's an incredible rating for a bottle that only costs $13.99 at the Total Wine here in Raleigh. This stuff is a bargain. If you like port or are looking for one to try, buy a bottle or two of this stuff and find some friends to share it with. You should be able to fine it at Total Wine or most any seller of nicer wines.