About a week ago, Blais came to me and said he needed 3 people to assist Casey Thompson for a dinner she was doing here in Atlanta. And he wanted it to be me and 2 others that I pick. So I got my friend Stacey to do it, I knew she would love it and then Drew volunteered to come too.
I was really excited, I have to say she was my favorite chef from season 3 Top Chef! Any opportunity to do things like this, I am all about it! Blais sent me all the details and I set in motion the plan to meet and get to the house the dinner would be at. Casey and I had been in communication throughout the last couple of days and I was trying to help her find some last minute things that she was having difficulty finding!
We got to the house at 11am and it was time to get started! One of the courses we were doing had octopus in it, so Casey was showing us the one she got this morning!
Drew was our "chopping prep" for the day!
Stacey working with the shrimp!
This was some fresh bamboo that Casey found, neither of us had worked with it before, so we had fun playing with it and figuring it out!
Stacey with bamboo horns!
We took a breather for a moment, we had been working from 11am until 5pm and it was funny cause everyone was sitting in a circle and on their cell phones!
Casey put her phone down long enough to admire this ridiculously large tree in the back yard!
Stacey, Drew and Casey
Stacey, Casey, Me and Drew - dressed for the dinner and toasting to a good time!
Drew working with the octopus
Getting the shrimp on forks
Passed Hors d'oeuvres
Herb Soufflé topped with Bleu Cheese and Serrano Ham 
Oil Poached Shrimp with Avocado, Saffron Aioli and "Salsa"
1st Course
Marrow Beans with Kale, Panko Crusted Bamboo and Octopus
2nd Course
Sauteed Oyster, Beech and Shitake Mushrooms, Seared Duck Breast, Soy Glazed Foie Gras, Purple Watercress and Poached Lady Apple, Garnished with Dehydrated Corn
Intermezzo
Kumquat Granita
3rd CourseOxtail Ragu and Seared Monkfish topped with an Herb Salad
Searing the monkfish
The pot of the most amazing oxtail ragu!!!
Taking a moment to breath...Me and Stacey
Me and Drew
Some of the wines we got to taste!
Me sneaking yet another bite of the oxtail ragu!
Me and Stacey
She is getting the food out of my teeth! lol
Us again :)
Me, Stacey and Drew
Scotti and Casey with one of the tables
Casey with one of the other tables
Time for dessert! Brulee-ing the Banana Puddings!
4th Course
Brûléed Banana Pudding
The most amazing wine I have ever tasted!
Casey cheesing big for us :)
Me and Casey!
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