The menu for the small dinner party I had- it may be one of the best meals I ever made

[cali]

I did a "small plates" thing.

tapenade

feta spread with mint

Thomas Keller's eggplant 'caviar'

french bread, flatbread

grapes

dandelion salad with poached egg and a shallot vinaigrette

mushroom duxelles, walnut and caramelized onion tart with gruyere and parmesan

chicken kabobs marinated in rosemary, lemon, olive oil and dijon mustard

cream puffs filled with grand marnier flavored creme patisserie and served with raspberry coulis, chocolate hazlenut sauce and fresh raspberries.

This was not an expensive meal to prepare at all. the only extravagances were a tiny bottle of grand marnier and the cheese.