There's only one problem.

There's only one problem with eating at Fish's house. Nothing else measures up.

We had yet another fantastic meeting of the FCC (if you don't know, you're not invited, so don't ask).

The menu (thanks to Cindy for the pictures)

- Duck confit w/cherry gastrique - incredible

- Shaved apple salad, cider vinagrette + bacon - novel tastes and really good.

- Butternut squash soup - smooth, creamy and spot on.

- My rolls - tasty but hopelessly pancaked (a work in progress)

- Crabcakes w/celery slaw - best crabcake I've ever eaten, perfect consistency, superbly balanced flavors.

- Choripan spiced ribs w/maple roasted yams - Pork? Yes please.
- Cranberry granita - put my strawberry watermelon granita to shame.

- Beef Wellington w/porcini duxelle - It doesn't get any better than a perfectly cooked piece of filet encircled in finely
chopped/reduced mushrooms goodness, wrapped in thinly sliced, pleasantly salted pork products, nestled inside of puff
pastry. Yep. Puff pastry. Not to mention killer sauce. Pair it with duck fat roasted fingerlings. Carbs, check. Perfect beef,
check. Butter, check. Giddy full voice, check^2.

- Round it out with pumpkin pie creme brulee and you're well on your way to a blissfull food induced stupor.

So I guess there are two problems. I don't want to eat anything else, and I have to drive home in a food induced stupor. That's dangerous, but I'll take it 11 times out of 10.

All clear.

I finally received word. Everyone in Siumu is okay. I feel much better.

I lived right down the street.

About a year ago, I was in Samoa doing some humanitarian work. I was literally two blocks from where these pictures were taken, in what I consider to be my village. Now, I can't get a hold of anyone, and knowing the layout of homes and the coastline I'm worried. In my mind, I can walk through the village and I've got a pretty good idea of which families made it and didn't. It's sobering. I know these people. I hope I hear something soon.

O lo'o ou tatalo atu i le Alii mo outou, lo'u nu'u e. Ia uliuli lou tino, ae pupula ou mata e pei o fetu i le lagi, ma tafetoto ou ala.