Last weekend was a Dorista bonanza! Â Mary Hirsch came to spend the weekend with us. Â On Friday night, she treated us to dinner at Cafe Nouveau in Ventura. Â Then we got up early on Saturday Morning, packed sandwiches, and headed for Santa Cruz Island on Island Packers. Â On the way to the island, we were lucky enough to see a large pod of Common Dolphins running in the surf alongside the boat. Â Shortly after we arrived at Scorpion Harbor, we sat at a picnic bench where we were almost immediately greeted by an elusive Island Fox. Â Nearly extinct almost 10 years ago, they are now happily growing in number. Â As excited as we were to see a single fox, by the end of the day, we’d seen seven of them. Â One of the things that makes the Island foxes so unique is that they are almost 20% smaller than their mainland cousins. Â Five of the eight Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California are protected by the National Park Service and the Nature Conservancy. Â We thoroughly enjoyed our day. Â It was hot, but perfectly clear and sunny. Â We hiked the Cavern Point Loop which is almost 2 miles long. Â Then we had time to relax on the beach before heading back to Ventura.
After we got home, we set about making our special Valentine’s Day dinner with Mary. Â This week’s French Fridays with Dorie challenge is for Vanilla-Butter Braised Lobster. Â Yes, that’s right – vanilla and lobster. Â It is just incredible. Â Dorie suggests starting with whole live lobsters, but we decided just to use the tails. Â We steamed them briefly, then submerged them in 2 cups of clarified butter scented with the beans and seeds of two vanilla beans until they were saturated in butter and warmed through. Â Then poured the butter into dipping dishes to serve on the side. Â Dorie suggested serving the lobster with spinach, so John made Risotto Milanese which we layered in bowls with spinach and topped with the lobster tails. Â We served them with with sourdough bread and Chevalier de Bayard Blanc. Â We toasted our lovely day and celebrated in style!
On Sunday morning, Mary came to the Channel Islands Farmers’ Market and for coffee with my mom and me.  When we got home, John was making The Homesick Texan’s Carnitas for a taco lunch with fellow SoCal Doristas, Katie of Prof Who Cooks, and Diane of Cafe Mom Cooks.  Of course, all of us chefs gathered around the island in the kitchen while John was finishing up the beans and rice!  We sipped on Sangria and munched on chips, Guacamole (Diane made Dorie’s recipe, of course!), and Pico de Gallo.  When lunch was ready, we made tacos and headed out to the garden for lunch.  The conversation flowed like we were old friends, rather than meeting for the first time.  For dessert, we enjoyed fresh strawberries & Diane’s delicious Hazelnut Crescents (yes, we all asked for the recipe!)  The time flew by and we hated to hug each other goodbye.  But, I’m sure we’ll meet again.  In the meantime, be sure to stop by their blogs to see how they enjoyed this week’s recipe from Around My French Table.
Oh, what fun!!! I’m going to have to hoof it to CA for your next gathering. Please schedule it the next time a Siberian Express is in the MidWest!!! I’d never met a Dorista I didn’t love. Thanks for sharing your weekend with us all, Susan! xoxo
What a FUN post Susan! Nothing better than to get together with fellow foodies and cook!
Sounds like such a good time! And such good food. You’re right — vanilla and lobster is a combination I never would have imagined. But no one can doubt Dorie.
Great photos here, Susan, and the lobster you all made together looks delicious! I want to thank you and John again for hosting and it was so much fun to meet both of you!
Oh dear Susan and John, my colleagues and wonderful friends, you are the perfect hosts in every imaginable and kind way. I still cannot believe the things we did, places we went , people we met and food we cooked. It was only because I hit the sack every night at 8:30pm that I could remain bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (like those seven darling Santa Cruz Island Fox’s) throughout the three spectacular days with you. Yes, the lobster dinner was elegant and delicious. I am putting together my Channel Islands presentation this week-end and will forward a copy to you. Again, merci mille fois, mes amies.
What more can you ask for good company, beautiful nature and excellent food.
Great pictures. Wish I could have gone to Santa Cruz Island. Lovely post, thanks again for everything!
Sounds like a wonderful weekend. That fox is foxy! So beautiful! Getting together with Doristas, new friends are like old friends, immediately. Amazing, isn’t it? Thanks for sharing the pictures! I was surprised how much we enjoyed the lobster and vanilla.
OMG, that recipe sounds incredibly delicious, but how can it not be? I have been craving lobster for weeks now and this hasn’t helped matters! Have to give in soon, but hey I’m headed to Jamaica on Sunday so I think I’ll find some there! 🙂 Great post, Susan!
Wow wow wow. I continue to be both amazing and yet totally understanding of how these Dorie connections ended up putting folks together who feel instantly like old friends. Having experienced it myself in Seattle, then catching up separately with Cher and then Betsy and Howard, it is always the same experience. The connections are strong and folks who found this way to a common interest and discipline do indeed also enjoy successfully meeting up in person. Love it. Just wish Nana and I were there to join in !! The itinerary and menus sound fabulous. John is some fabulous cook – please do make sure to tell him he had me envious. And while I am sure they would not want me to have one of those little foxes running around Valley Forge PA, I would have loved to have a little guy as a pet- they are adorable !!
Great post, Susan, love all the photos. How nice that a few more Doristas got together for a lovely lunch, it certainly must have been fun. The food sounds fabulous, and I am
sure John enjoyed himself cooking for all the lovely ladies. Have a great weekend.
Mark was reading this at the same time and asked, “Vanilla with lobster? I don’t think I need that.” Then, after your description he saidm, “Well maybe we do need to try it!” Your visit with Mary and the others sounds wonderful. I, too, hope to visit you soon. xo, David
Love this! (John’s risotto looks stellar, by the way).
I really need to persuade Joe to take a trip to the left coast 🙂
Awe, sounds like a lovely (and delicious!) Dorista get-together.