Cousins weekend in Virginia, part II.

Funny aside: I have a good friend in Dallas who attended W&L for two years and then transferred back to finish at the University of Texas. I texted him that I was so taken with the beauty of Lexington and of the Washington and Lee campus that I didn't think I ever could have left if I'd gone there. He wrote back: "You would have left if W&L had been all male and you were craving Texas girls and Mexican food!"


Cathy made reservations for us at this charming restaurant in downtown Lexington called the Red Hen


We elected to order the five-course chef's tasting menu


Before our first course our server brought us this Amuse Bouche which was a tiny little white radish


I wish I had taken notes on our courses! First up was this Asparagus Salad - it was shaved asparagus with (I think) quinoa


Next was local trout in some sort of broth


Then chopped pork with spinach and another sort of grain


Beef with cheese grits, asparagus and caramelized shallots atop cocoa powder - I remember this one because it was my favorite!


Dessert number one: flan custard


Second dessert: strawberries and chocolate with a tarragon sauce


Oh, no, we're not done yet! Chocolate truffles with our check


I'm laughing at my cousin Cathy who has just spilled wine all over Nancy Baby while trying to have her do a closed-eye wine tasting!


Nancy Baby was a good sport and let Cathy try again, but I couldn't watch this time!


My sister, who is a Food Network junkie, asked if we could meet the chef


He graciously agreed to have his picture taken with us


We passed this beautiful vista of the James River on our way back to the Lynchburg airport Sunday


Marian took this picture of my cousins and me. What a great time we had!

For an earlier post on my wonderful cousins, click here