Mmm, cherries

Yesterday was kind of neat… After I got out of work, anyway. First, I got to make something a little bit new, which is always fun, but I kept experimenting throughout dinner-time, and got some better ideas for the next incarnation! I started out with pork loin chops, and decided to use the tart cherry/cranberry/vermouth/shallot/honey/black walnut sauce that I make to glaze my tart cherry-stuffed pork loin. My mistake was using the thick chops, and not stuffing them. They tasted too “pork-ey” when done, if that makes any sense… Being so thick, they just weren’t redolent of cherry all the way through, which made this particular attempt at the dish a bit less than harmonious flavor-wise. However, I couldn’t help but think I was missing something when it was done and I was working my way through the chop on my plate. Then it hit me: gorgonzola! I ran through it in my head. Walnut, tart cherry, tang of blue cheese, and fairly ran to the fridge, scaring the crap out of Orpheus, who was similarly grazing. When I told him what I was up to, he made a face (not being the world’s biggest blue cheese fan). I sprinkled the precious crumbles over top, and the first bite was even better than imagined. After a few orgasmic face scrunches, even O. wanted to try, and was similarly smitten. Next time, there’ll be some butterflying, and stuffing with wild rice, shallot, cranberry, cherry, walnut and gorgonzola… And some oven time post-sear. Otherwise, yum!

After dinner, we took a quick trip to Target and got an extra laundry basket, as O. figured out that many of the clothes “stealing the floor space” in his efficiency were mine. That done, we proceeded to the theatre, where we saw ‘Kung Fu Panda’ in lieu of the old people/choir movie, much to my relief. It was funny as hell, if predictable. Afterwards, on recommendation of Terra Firma, we went to see Sister’s new boyfriend play at an open mic downtown at the Brocach (pronounced like famed anchorperson Tom’s last name), our “fancy” Irish-themed “pub.” I don’t usually like the place, as it tends to attract tourist assholes, but it was a weeknight, so things were pretty fly. Most importantly, when they’re not besieged, the staff is really nice! I think it was the first time that O. has actively engaged Sister or TF in conversation, and I was proud of him. I did feel a bit bad for Sister, though. Her guy is neat, but he’s much older, and almost never stopped talking about his old partner (female,) who he was with for 20 years. He’s a great guitar player, and a passable singer, probably better when he’s not got a cold. I was so tired when we got back to O.’s place that I fell asleep while he was getting ready for bed. Too bad, as we were supposed to watch a little of a brand new Sean Cody featuring double penetration… Mmm… Now that has to wait for tonight!