Sh....It's a secret...

Ever feel as if you have a secret and you just want to tell the world--like claiming your earings are CZ when they really aren't because you don't want to appear snobbish, but you're really proud that you scrimped and saved? On a smaller scale, my birthday celebration dinner was at a local restuarant named GLOBAL. I confess the people in this city are heathen. I swear allegiance to chef Bernard and his exquisite culinary creations. We are seriously unworthy. Each meal starts with the obligatory bread which is accompanied by a everchanging spread I haven't decided if the blackbean spread or the honeynut fig is the favorite. The owners will tell you that it's more than a restaurant-- it's a destination. We arrived as they opened @ 5:00pm (reservations recommended on weekends). Dinner starts @ 6:00. We happily ordered appetizers as a way to pass the time--crab cakes and a one-of-a-kind pear and brie quesadilla. The endive salad is a must, but the featured soup of the evening, a cool watermelon and salmon soup, was delectable. (If published in a recipe book this one would be worth the price alone.) And for the main course, the menu changes seasonally but I have been a fan of his Tower of Chicken(alternating layers of grilled chicken breast & fingerling potatoes, served with a Chorizo sauce) and most recently, the tantalizing squash ravioli in a wine reduction. The paella which combines rice, peas, red pepper, Chorizo sausage, chicken, mussels, shrimp, and sea scallops tossed with saffronis truly a work of art, in presentation and flavor. Dessert is always the defining aspect and I have yet to be disappointed. I have even used them in lieu of flowers on the rare occasions when an apology is warranted - or at least I would if it came to that. ("Lie!" Brandon's boyfriend says.) The passionfruit mousse wrapped in white sponge cake is the perfect ending to calm the palette, and the chocolate torte's rich flavor and delicate texture is sinfully sweet.

Painting: Chardonnay by Leon Roulette

Check out their website www.Global-restaurant.com