The True Meaning of a Perfect Meal: A Chef's Perspective

As a culinary artist, my prime intent isn't to impress anyone with a meal; it's to consistently serve dishes made with the proper sourcing of fresh, seasonal ingredients, cooked with love, precision, and the best tools available. The meal I'll share with you today isn't necessarily the 'best' in the traditional sense, but it holds a special place in my heart and in everyone's hearts who has shared meals with me--menus poured with my passion and authenticity.

A Perfect Lasagne or French Onion Soup?

Each year, I make a perfect lasagne for Christmas and other occasions. While a recipe for my once-a-year French Onion Soup from 2016 is available, I must admit that labeling any of my dishes as the 'all-time best' is a matter of personal taste. What I prefer to focus on is the consistency and craftsmanship in every meal, whether it's a local specialty like stir-fries or the renowned stir-fried rice I've made so many times.

Culinary Excellence: Cooking to Fulfill an Internal Need

My cooking journey isn't about impressing diners. It's a deeply personal and passionate endeavor that stems from a deep-seated need to practice my craft to the highest level possible. I use my skill, training, talent, and culinary knowledge to create meals that resonate with my soul. It's not about making a show-stopper or an impressive dish; it's about creating an experience that's both comforting and soulful.

The Most Expensive Menu: Taste, Art, and Experience

If you're looking for an overwhelming sensory experience and an exquisite wine-tasting menu, Daubi's Gibson's Tasting Menu is your destination. Priced at a lavish 750.00, the menu is meticulously designed with a wide range of fine wines and takes around four hours to enjoy. The menu, when coupled with live entertainment, truly transforms this dining experience into something extraordinary. While it might be one of the most expensive tasting menus, it's definitely an experience worth the price tag for those who appreciate craftsmanship, art, and culinary excellence.

The Wines Offered:

PINOT BLANC CHARDONNAY SAUVIGNON BLANC PINOT GRIGIO MARSANNE VOUVRAY CAVA RIESLING SEMILLON TORRONTES CHAMPAGNE GEWURZTRAMINER MUSCAT CHABLI COLOMBARD PROSECCO FUME BLANC ROUSSANNE GRUNER VELTLINER TREBBIANO VIOGNIER CHENIN BLANC SOAVE

The Best Dinner: Sometimes Simplicity Wins

In knowing what truly makes a meal perfect, it's not the intricacies of the ingredients or the cost of the wine. For me, the best dinner ever is simple. It was just me, my husband, and my daughter renting a cabin in the woods. We planned to grill our dinner, but the skies opened up and rain fell in buckets. We had a small rustic cabin with a small fireplace, not sufficient for cooking or heating.

By the time the rain let up, everyone was cold, wet, and hungry. We were all anxious for chicken. I found a way to start a fire and grill the chicken and veggies, shielding them with our handmade awning against the wind and rain. Our attention was absorbed by the smell of food cooking, by the sounds of the storms outside, and by the warmth created within. It didn't matter if the chicken was perfect; it mattered that we had each other and a shared experience. When a second storm came, we huddled together and devoured everything.

Years later, whenever a thunderstorm is impending, I always find myself closing my eyes and inhaling deeply to remember that extraordinary dinner. It was a reminder that sometimes, the most memorable dining experience is the one where the ingredients matter less than the company and the story they share.