A rare beef night in the house tonight – Larry’s request. When I make beef, it’s almost always filet mignon. Even though I don’t like mushrooms, I will eat Chantarelles because they have a nice texture. Costco had them (of all places), and for eight dollars a pound! I made the whole pound and they were good.

• Pan-Seared Filet Mignon
• Sautéed Chantarelle Mushrooms
• Sautéed Spinach with Garlic
• Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Chile (Fine Cooking #67, November 2004, p. 49)

Wine: Rafanelli 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon (Dry Creek Valley, California). Last bottle of this vintage, and quite excellent. It’s clearly at its peak right now.