for my dear friends with un-spellable last names.

So my Thanksgiving weekend went a bit like this:

Weds night: Cook pies & chutney like a madwoman. Wait for Brandon to get dropped off at my place. Drinks at Meridian.
Thursday: Insane day of cooking, eating, family, Nich's mom meeting my family, games, Brandon, Paul, Linda, goodness.
Friday: Brunch with Brandon. Thanksgiving #2 with Nich's dad and girlfriend and awkward other family units. Then Somali Thanksgiving over at Danielle's house.
Saturday: Sleep in. Civil War Game at the Tanker with Brandon and Nich. General Saturday mayhem with the little brother.
Sunday: Brandon leaves at the crack of dawn. Clean my house like crazy. Go pick up Kelly & Mike in Kelso, Washington. Give them the grand tour of Portland (which included Albina Press and Saint Cupcake). End up at the Horse Brass for fish & chips.
Monday: Took the day off of work for day o glory with Mike and Kelly. Go to brunch, shop with Kelly for a bit, take Mike and Kelly to the Japanese Gardens where MIKE PROPOSES TO KELLY. (Yes, I knew this was going to happen and had been plotting it for weeks with Mike). Nich and I conveniently 'forget' our cell phone in the car, thus leaving Mike and Kelly to their devices and run into town to grab celebratory champagne.

Then, Mike took us our for a celebratory dinner. And, I must say, this is quite possibly the BEST DINNER I HAVE EVER HAD.
While Kelly and I were out doing girl things (i.e. buying antiques) they made reservations at a little place called The Park Kitchen.

We most definitely celebrated the Teutscher & Sycz (yeah, thats right. say it five times fast!) engagement in style.

We decided to go for the taster menu, which is essentially the Chef's choice of small and large plates. They brought out the first few, and I was impressed (but still hungry. the portions are small, you know). And then more plates. And more. And I didn't know how to pronounce most of the ingredients but my tongue and tummy were very happy. I was desperately trying to blog on my cell phone (so as to remember the glory of that meal), but at the end of the meal our waiter so was kind and printed up menus that said "Mike and Kelly's engagement dinner" so that we could remember the night forever. It was rather magical...

So, I wont tell you EVERYTHING we ate, but here is a sampling of some of the amazing things we ate (please note, this menu is not for the faint of heart and/or vegetarian. I will say that the Park Kitchen only uses local farms and butchers their own meat):

Catalan Pasta with sauteed calamari, chorizo, and a squid ink and olive oil sauce.
Pumpkin Ravioli with Cranberries and Rabbit Confit
Roasted pear salad, red lentils and curry
Persimmon, shaved machego and hazlenuts with rose hip dressing
Black Cod seared with duck fat, served with goat cheese creamed cale and cod fritters.
Venison, celery root puree (think mashed potatoes, but better) with lime spiced cauliflower and a savory huckleberry sauce (this was, BY FAR, the best dish of the night. amazing.)
Parsnip & Carrot Cake with coconut-saffron ice cream
Pear and pecan tart with rum anglaise

There was a lot more, but I figure that you are all drooling by now and that this was torture enough.

So, here's to two of my favorite people in the world: Mike and Kelly. Huzzah!
I love you both dearly, and I could not be happier that you two are getting hitched. And, I got a really good dinner out of the deal. So, thank you. :)