We've experienced a true embarrassment of riches over the past week. Here's a quick wrap-up:

Aquitaine:
Brunch at Aquitane was delicious. I had Eggs Benedict, and the hollandaise was simply perfect-- light and lemony. The bloody mary was spicy and had a fun rim-- celery salt. I'm definitely going to try that for our bloodys at brunch on New Year's Day.

Holidays:
As usual, everything was wonderful. This year, the Seafood Newburg was a real standout. I might be somewhat biased because we brought down some Maine shrimp that Jane used in the classic recipe. The shrimp broke down somewhat, giving the base an extra-thick creamy consistency.

And, of course, it was wonderful to see the extended family. We had a great time. The one big shocker of the trip was that nobody did a single shot of crown royal, which is usually one of the anchors of the holidays. Perhaps we're all older and wiser?

Anyway, I am going to post my restaurant reviews separately for easy browsing. Happy New Year, all!