As promised, I've got several pictures from our 13th Annual Government Hill New Year's Eve progressive dinner. This year's shots aren't as eclectic as last year's pics. I was sort of fading as a result of the flu and just wasn't as aggressive on the photog front as usual.
However, Steve more than made up for my lackadasical effort. He took a bazillion pictures. Hopefully he'll send some of them my way.
Speaking of Steve, you're going to see a lot of him. For some unknown reason, he was in most of my shots.
Appetizers!
First up was the Appetizer Course, which was held at Chez Ski Boy. Kathryn G. and I teamed up to serve: Crab Slather on Toasted Baguette, a Caribbean Guacamole, Shrimp Skewers, and the piece de resistance, a killer Caribbean pizza topped with Boursin, ricotta, mozzarella, and provolone cheeses, garlic, shrimp, and papaya. It was over the top incredible. The libations consisted of beer or Gloria Ferrer Extra Brut.
Here's Steve and Peter. Steve is thumbing through the calendar that he had just received from Kathryn E. Bernie, and Allison.
Salad Course
The salad course locale was at Kevin and Kathleen's (home of the penguin). We had a delightful mesculen green salad with prosciutto, fruit, and candied walnuts. I drank the wonderful Kim Crawford Sauvingnon Blanc.
Kevin and Kathleen also arranged for easy fireworks viewing right outside their dining room window. As we ate, we had a great view of the annual fireworks display set off in the small boat harbour. We didn't even have to stand outside in the cold! It was perfect.
The Main Event!
We tromped our way through the snow and over the hills to Kathryn, Allison's and Bernie's for the main course. And what a main course it was - it was exquisite. It was delectable. It was the best ever.
Baked bananas and mangos. A rice pilaf with dried cranberries and other goodies. And an amazing marinated grilled chicken. Kathryn's cooking philosophy was to cook with alcohol in each dish and wow! Was it amazing. Those bananas and mangos were amazing. And the chicken. The chicken may be my favorite grilled chicken of all time. I've got to get the recipes!!!! The wines were also stupendous - two Steph total favs in the blended white wine category: Evolution and the Caymus Conundrum I was a completely happy camper!
Here's The Ski Boy, me, Melissa, and the Flamingos at dinner. This is before the fabulous eats have arrived. But we're very happily sipping the Evolution.
Steve and Kathleen. I told you Steve was going nuts with his camera!
The Finale!
We staggered our way down to Mike and Melissa's for dessert, a few very tame fireworks (sparklers), and a toasting of the new year. By this point in the game we were all pretty beached and not necessarily inebriated, but we could perhaps see it from there. But we rallied for the Death by Chocolate cake and the Apple Pie pizza. Peter is going to propose to Melissa - he died and went to heaven over the apple pie. By this time, I was pretty much done in on the libation front. So I have no idea what wine was served at dessert. I believe there was a port and a late harvest reisling of some ilk. But the fabulous desserts themselves would have certainly outshone the wine!
All in all, it was another wonderful New Year's Eve. I think our New Year's Eve tradition is the best in the whole world!
8:28:59 PM 
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