Last night's meal

I invited the young neighbors over last night. They had just recently returned from Europe.

The menu:

Clear garlic soup with garlic toast points.
Shrimp scampi.
Tossed salad.
Orecchietta with broccoli and wild boar meat.
Oranges and walnuts with orange liqueur syrup, garnished with dried hibiscus.

Afterwards we sipped on 110-proof absinthe, which they had brought back with them.

Needless to say, I'm a little dry this morning.

[Jenise]

What a fabu meal, Larry. One ingredient you mention is particularly tantalizing--hibiscus. I used to buy the dried flowers to make a delightful punch from, they were always a deep maroon in color. Were yours? I can imagine the gorgeous color they'd impart to your desert.

Oh, and what is the hispanic name for them? I cannot remember, though I believe it started with the letter 'j'.

Sounds delicious. Do you have a local source for the boar, or is this a mail order source (D'Artagnan or that place in Tx)?

What a fabu meal, Larry. One ingredient you mention is particularly tantalizing--hibiscus. I used to buy the dried flowers to make a delightful punch from, they were always a deep maroon in color. Were yours? I can imagine the gorgeous color they'd impart to your desert.

Oh, and what is the hispanic name for them? I cannot remember, though I believe it started with the letter 'j'.

Is it jamaica that you're thinking of? I believe that's the hibiscus drink that our local burrito joint sells along with horchata.


Mike

What a fabu meal, Larry. One ingredient you mention is particularly tantalizing--hibiscus. I used to buy the dried flowers to make a delightful punch from, they were always a deep maroon in color. Were yours? I can imagine the gorgeous color they'd impart to your desert.

Oh, and what is the hispanic name for them? I cannot remember, though I believe it started with the letter 'j'.

I've made drinks from dried hibiscus. These particular ones were from Trader Joe's and were plump and chewy, sorta like gummy bears. There was no color imparted because it was just garnish, but you did give me an idea for next time. The dessert was a real winner, light and tasty, and I'll do it again.

You may be thinking of "Jamaica," pronounced with an "H."

Sounds delicious. Do you have a local source for the boar, or is this a mail order source (D'Artagnan or that place in Tx)?

The boar was shot by an acquaintance. I received a couple of kinds of sausage, including the Italian sausage version, which I used last night. Quite tasty meat.

(Completely off track): I just found out that "quite," when used as a modifier in British English means something was so-so. The Brits use "fairly," instead, to mean something was really good, as in "it was fairly good." Just the opposite of American English, in case your British friends compliment you and you aren't exactly dazzled.