Last week was a hard, hard week from a losing weight perspective. We went out to dinner on Wednesday. We had friends over for drinks and hors d’oeuvres on Friday. And we took Sarah up to Napa Valley for a birthday celebration. Amazingly, I did manage to lose a pound. I’m not sure how.

For Sarah’s birthday luncheon we ate at celebrity chef, Michael Chiarello’s, Bottega in Yountville. I thought I did pretty well (though not perfectly) when ordering. For my first course I had, and this is the description from the menu, Caramelized Brussels Sprout Salad – Citrus segments, toasted Marcona almonds, prosciutto bits, aged balsamic dressing. Not the best choice. The best choice would have been just a plain salad but I am a pushover when it comes to Brussels Sprouts. Danger words in the above description are “caramelized,” “prosciutto bits,” and “dressing.”

Caramelized Brussels Sprout Salad - Citrus segments, toasted Marcona almonds, prosciutto bits, aged balsamic dressing

My main course was the best choice on the menu – Mediterranean Seafood Brodetto – mussels, Gulf prawns, clams and Monterey calamari, forno-confit tomato broth, olive oil crouton, paprika-saffron rouille. I gave almost half of this to John. I only had a bite of the crouton. I felt pretty good about selecting the brodetto. It was quite tasty and light.

Mediterranean Seafood Brodetto - mussels, Gulf prawns, clams and Monterey calamari, forno-confit tomato broth, olive oil crouton, paprika-saffron rouille

We all shared one dessert. After all, it was a birthday celebration! The best part of the dessert was a small scoop of caramel and sea salt gelato with espresso poured over it. It was salty, sweet and bitter. Perfect.

As we left, we ran into the chef himself roasting a whole lamb over a wood fire.

Chef Michael Chiarello basting a whole lamb with salt water.