Happy New Year !!!

They always ask: How was your dinner sir?

In my mind, I am thinking do you really want to know?

And why do you always ask when I am about to kiss the date?

Well it was a direct reflection of the times. We had called in advance and they specifically mentioned that gluten-free was a priority. Guess what? The cauliflower soup was topped with a piece of fried dough (see above). Makes us wonder what was going on back there and it certainly gives us confidence in the 'gluten free' main course (Turbot with grilled fennel, fingerling pototoes, roasted grapes and topped with a balsamic vinegrette reduction) .

The main course was fine but the atmosphere for a five diamond restaurant is a scary reflection that yes, folks this is the last day of 2008 (a global financial tsunami has arrived).

Teresa and I kept our bearings as we looked forward to the countdown and smiled

for the camera.

There was no gluten-free pastries (although we've been promised these pastries for the countdown) and the creme brulee was not acceptable. Try it one time. To compare and tell the difference: Remove the sugar glazed topping and you'll be able to see/taste if there are any flaws. It is an experience worth having (pic from December 30th of the creme brulee bleh)

So we got our fruit plates. And we had mentioned make sure no pineapples, oranges, berries (this is because the berries were moldy from an earlier meal, pineapples didn't taste right etc). Well, they forgot and we ended our fruit plate with yet another mistake.

Raw & Uncut (dinner occupancy view #1)

Raw & Uncut (dinner occupancy view #2)

But despite all the gloom and doom. A few hugs, kisses, dances and soon everything will be forgotten. Our friends stayed up until the wee hours doing their jig hoping to do a money dance back into 'la-la' land and pretend that may things will be different when we all wake up in 2009. Sweet dreams! =D

Counting down with AnD's shout box!