Oy, hugely BIG food and wine night tonight, courtesy of Ana Scofield & Rudy Maxa, with Debbie & Stu Wiiliams (of course), and new friends Tessa Marchessault & Greg Becker. Yep, major oy. Poor John, he's such toast, he can't truly eat heartily of shrimp cocktail, pickled herring, smoked salmon...and lobster tails with drawn butter, rice pilaf, crusty bread, mixed greens...and fabulous wines, ice cream, carrot cake...while chatting & making merry... At least not without a bit of fading after a good effort. Oh, not because he doesn't love hanging with good friends - because he obviously does - but because he's just naturally rather quiet, my Johnny, aka Mr. Not Party (who very luckily puts up with Ms. Party Party. Party. Wheeew.).

So, we're safely home, oddly (perfectly) matched as we are, and I'm insanely writing at 1:40 a.m. about the greatness of our lovely dinner, particularly the sips of various and sundry wines (but a sampling):
1980 Dom Perignon Champagne
1992 Bollinger Champagne
1996 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
2001 Bourgogne Pinot Noir
2003 Chateau Potelle (VGS, aka Very Good Sh*t, no kidding)
2005 Chalk Hill Botrytised Semillon

Come fill the bowl, each jolly soul
Let Bacchus guide our revels.
Join the cup to lip, with Hip, Hip, Hip
And bury the blue devils.
(aka Rudy's New Yorker cartoon "cards," thank you very much)

Good night. Morning! Yeah.