Like many of us, I wear a lot of hats. In addition to the Day Job, I’m a writer. And a publisher. And then there’s that whole Klingon thing that also takes up time. Finding time to spend with my wife was getting harder and harder.
Last December I did something about it. As part of my holiday gifts to Valerie I made up a calendar for 2011 and scattered various outings. Dinner and a movie. Trips out of town. And dressing up and going out to fancy restaurants (points to those among you who recall that my wife trained as a chef!).
Tonight is the first of fine dining events.
This is something of an experiment, but I think it will work. For whatever psychological quirk, once it’s on the calendar some part of my brain is perfectly fine with the time being set aside for that event, and I don’t begrudge the hours being taken away from other things, as I probably would if my wife just popped her head into my office and said, “hey, let’s go out tonight.”
And speaking of tonight, in a few hours we’ll be at the Farmhouse, in Emmaus, PA, a quiet little place “specializing in seasonal, local, organic, sustainable, and farm-to-table” cuisine. They also make some of the very best foie gras I’ve ever had.
This evening’s menu includes such tasty temptations as:
- Farmhouse Style Calamari – lightly dusted fried calamari, tangy peppers, olives & fresh parsley with traditional aioli
- Pulled Duck Corn Crepe – lightly dressed with bulgogi mustard sauce, roasted corn & tangy blackberry glaze
- Wild Mushroom Mac & Cheese (vegetarian) – radiatore pasta with tellegio & triple cream brie
- Spicy Tomato Mussels – herbed tomato broth & caramelized onions spiced with cayenne
- Roasted Curry Cauliflower & Eggplant Panini (vegetarian) – with caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, oregano cream fraiche with Farmhouse fries & pickles
- Black Bean Chile Polenta Cakes (vegan) – green mango mojo sauce & seasonal vegetables
- Pistachio & Honey Roasted Poussin – herbed (coriander) Himalayan red rice with seasonal vegetables & Cumberland sauce
- Olive Oil Poached Organic Sturgeon – Tuscan style borlotti bean stew with seasonal vegetables & vanilla bean olive oil-milk emulsion
- Fish & Chips – Sustainably sourced Alaskan cod in a crispy beer batter served with homemade fries, cucumber dill relish & pickles
- Grilled Goose Meatloaf -horseradish sour cream mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetable & cognac au poivre sauce
- Wild Boar Angliotti – slow braised boar wrapped in homemade pasta with golden raisins, bacon & roasted eggplant in a minted brown butter sauce, topped with a soft poached egg
- Espresso Cumin Beef Tenderloin – Painted Hills beef tenderloin with grilled polenta, seasonal vegetables & a mole poblano demi-glace
Yeah… that’s what I’m talking about. There’s quite a bit more on the menu, but I didn’t want your head to explode.
And yes, for those of you who are wondering where I get my inspiration for some of the Amazing Conroy’s fine dining, on more than one occasion it’s been here at the Farmhouse.
If you’re within driving distance of the Lehigh Valley and you’re looking for a wonderful meal, this place has my highest endorsement!
Tags: Food
