The menu focused around an 18 pound, USDA Prime, center-cut rib roast, that had been slathered with butter and olive oil, lotsa garlic, and a multitude of herbs. It rested overnight in that seasoning cloak and then came to room temp before jumping in the oven.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnTMTM11ce9SBpkyUCAyhe9bZy1oJNbZ_mJ56JV2sT68ny1RHDwfhIrZzBVfrW_0mjUzftUdX4J0GBjsiMPWRvWugvRMF4fiXr4ayFctw9k_jr-rMHJy6HQBohP5Qe1JqwRS4NOzmsKE/s320/Canon+First+Shots+027.jpg)
...it was patiently basted repeatedly by Jules, wearing the fuzzy frog PJ's (all of those slug-a-beds were determined to stay in their PJ's all day long).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChxr2BrGqteIoI6XiKIxZwpnsZSnaPt_zQI9HVjfTAPQ2C1rrmpNzSr77YhXszkKqZeJgIgBOtG8SZZWN0eSLIJFqXRaCCJm4zYvDHiI-5wfzhZjkJbQTeS8jxJHZHcurPHgUFptEKEg/s320/Canon+First+Shots+032.jpg)
....this is how the PR looked after roasting, while it was undergoing the mandatory rest period.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-W1hLAHPxS70WkkaW3tPycUW8sgpo86HZkQ4rmTmz7Ya2W133cHQZEb6UB37Z0TUim5XSNulqBAWBMtGb2OEN78WXhyphenhyphenlYRizrS42vyzP0HC6acIqhci6I45WCpsr7e7zzVLRvXx-izOg/s320/Canon+First+Shots+036.jpg)
....of course, there were other courses involved. We started with a pear, walnut, raisin, and garden spinach salad:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiurzohyphenhyphenc4eDCCcUpVJxoAqarEfSYwS1P-P3i9T10sLpq8oE0PbTqGX2bc_1A2mY7lslfwa7jW_ESK4qqtTeWb9u2k6XgskM5ipENTV_03qCOAQvKevTmkYD0vcA6gKRgdttTy8d4WhFU/s320/Canon+First+Shots+037.jpg)
...gorgeous little brussels sprouts that had been steamed, and then tossed in the skillet with copious amounts of butter and garlic.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bMrLZyG6QqZlQI5xLVJisZJ2wXWad-OLNYr93LRWGazztsesptcCxvsj_zONVXwQDc0yy5A-anq5y_lg6vWdmvtUOXJ42JQu6IiCyL5MxZX1hidVX0OR4404M7MoI0eWm1DIH4K-c9Y/s320/Canon+First+Shots+038.jpg)
...snappy green beans and mushrooms all sauteed together with some garlic, butter, and olive oil.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgWfGqcfFzBSQobAXnhcxn9ytplbGGE4mp6CbaLYYf17Xt2WzgYvLyflKZywkIRiLjCQXtY8xkwfsuiInPNa8YX39hjjBV0c963cZ93egqY6qMmubw-uV99uX10TdkA2EWpNgeQL9WfLs/s320/Canon+First+Shots+039.jpg)
...there were massive baked spuds with all the fixins:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq-W0l5t43KNmAWP7mEsQ4IRixxzC5cNJn-8ARgXat4olPy3ehJp2JMCawnS_h_ubb_3lHPiN63oyiEfehwkYSd4lG9cy4Vmq95y15Wi-NoKW2S1Z0hjRChBG33YeCqS3c-CjOOf38cE/s320/Canon+First+Shots+043.jpg)
...atop the slab o'rib was a sauce of my construct. My buddy Art and I took 20 pounds of veal shank bones, roasted them off, flambéd them in Cognac, cooked them with some mirepoix overnight, and came up with about a pint each of amazingly concentrated glace de viande. To that rich base was added some shallots, red wine, chicken stock, and a HUGE mess of re-hydrated porcini mushrooms. Here is the sauce while being mounted with some butter for that final sinful touch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3vB2XpDTR9bm8x0OxBexaV58Iom-ymh3c8K_Qqz1H8jc5QSTKb0S7pbjn4OQQ47aN3wHi2LR0JhW6KXtdQrELt6udmNdQQiCf1RZmZ5elMtkhbhVs8lx_-ZhKY4gowM4jCVohRl68gE/s320/Canon+First+Shots+040.jpg)
Jules had made Nancy's famous chocolate-black cherry cake, Havie had made a cheese cake (raspberry if memory serves), there were sinfully rich pineapple bars I think as well....sorry, no pics of the desserts, and the memory was a little fuzzy by that point.
Robert even got full.....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApnOKhR8lCOVjO7IjwfZprD3UXnfocFqsK7Ae5SfhN9ikDXjZxUvNrB4i3S_apDWwsDY1Qq74ezBheEmRllg9A3jDoLAxmRg4a5r6Wsla2CJJz3KgepjOAS6o4AnQxIEYrXzaUtqihyphenhyphenw/s320/Canon+First+Shots+041.jpg)
...as did Jeffrey and Gina:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-FA33WQxnXh9so3ui6pbFDMQu1qoP2_zBPPdxPiAGexe8w_BoO6dnfvb3xXvDgcZU1L-retsEX2HFPku57OKx4yAsbIhiPlS7ZF4QfPA_rahyphenhyphenjqUyIl9M6MRqXZukg4n10L80b1-Y-Gw/s320/Canon+First+Shots+047.jpg)
...as did special lady friend Rhonda and the ever-irascible Nuunuu:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhXx_aRiithBr0OOdwNqdzAX54CVjfZN4YRFtEbnOHZsuSVfGxI9Q-1Q4kVDq3JcDlngjBPm5uRo10qJco0mo9wcmhlcdjlP_Bvw_vUsWdRqGSWAq7f8q3tHZuNrSBIHmfojwyDpRYfI/s320/Canon+First+Shots+048.jpg)
...and P Di and Sarah too:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRiOM4UGd45SKdPj_rdP_1T8rLuuLKeNpNV5puL2V_owwHLdHRTBS3Ov78N8qQZTGj0sjsz7eFTKS0wi8sT8L6Ye2gyYfO2nwRnSXMYJQX1WNpi0KG65oKjDfjLdl5Ad5xPHZaHCVOeVs/s320/Canon+First+Shots+033.jpg)
...all in all, a real gut-buster of a repast, and a meal to remember.