Wednesday nights at Braden and Laura's

Every so often I get blessed with an invite to attend a "Drunken Wednesday" at Braden and Laura's. Brade and Laur are phenomenal hosts for these liquored up get-togethers; they cook like 5 [beyond] gourmet courses, they provide the great hospitality, they invite a star-studded guest list, they don't mind the awkward conversations that frequently arise, and they bust out the Scattergories. Brade and Laur do so much more than words can express, and they ask for nothing in return.
Legend has it, Braden and Laura ventured to the top of Mt. Olympus a few years back. It was there that they attended a dinner function with Zeus and Themeter, and exchanged various cooking tips and recipes over a few glasses of Divine Wine (tm), Zeus' house brand. After the meal was through, Braden and Laura tried to leave. However, upon realizing that B + L had cooked a better meal than Zeus, and with better ingredients, Themeter cursed them out of spite to be bound to the kitchen on random Wednesdays - usually centered around minor events such as "over the hump" parties and Mexican holidays. Remorseful for Themeter's actions, Zeus vowed to instill his divine hands and technique upon Brade and Laur during these Wednesday nights, giving B + L divine dexterity in the kitchen. Although we are very sorry for B+L to have this curse, we sure as hell don't mind giving assistance in consuming the fine cuisine that this cursed twosome produce.

This is a mere glimpse at a Wednesday night at Braden and Laura's

They decorate extremely well:



They made their own brewski for the amuse - Spicy Candied Walnuts, Bourbon Spiced Cider and Red Wine Braised Seckel Pears with Bleu Cheese Mousse:



First course - Root Vegetable and Shiitake Mushroom Pot Pie with Arugula, Red Onion, and Shaved Pecarino Salad (scope the leaf-shaped design on the top of the pie):



Second course - Skillet Cooked Polenta Triangles with Braised Portobello's and Creme Fraiche:



Third course - Braised Chicken Legs, Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Mustard Sauce and Bourbon Mashed Carrots :



Dessert - Carmelized Pumpkin French Toast with Cinnamon Stick Iced Cream (I couldn't wait to dig in, so this is what it looks like slightly...modified) :



The killer company:



I would totally pay 60 - 100 bones a person to eat a meal like this, honestly. I hope I just didn't grossly underestimate the net worth of this dinner... Anyways, the level of intricate detail on each meal is outstanding. The taste is outstanding. The company is outstanding. All this has been said, but it cannot be stressed enough. Brade and Laur, you win the 2006 Nobel Diner's Prize for best hosts for a dinner party and unEarthly cuisine.
Also, to hold down the late-great ODB and National Philanthropy Day, Brade, Laur, and Tatie (BLT - Bacon Lettuce Tomato) are throwing down the raw-raw-rawwwest party ever. So shimmy, shimmy-yaah on down with your Wu W's in the air, because it's nothing but raw 8-0-8 drum kits, saggin' pants, timb-o's, stocking caps, flannel shirts, and paper-wrapped 40oz's of OE 8000. Peace.