I love surprises

of all kinds. An example of this was when last year when Eric had my birthday present on the kitchen table in a gift bag and I wasn't even tempted to look before the actual day. Another example: I didn't get on the internet, turn on TV or listen to the radio when the final Harry Potter book came out until I had read the whole thing as I didn't want any surprises spoiled (granted I read the whole thing in 2 days, but that is totally not the point).

My love of surprises extends to food. When you can take a very simple dish like chicken salad (chicken, celery, green onions, parsley, poppy seeds), add one surprising ingredient (red grapes) and turn the dish into something spectacular, well, that's what cooking is all about.

My dinner tonight was Sonoma Chicken Salad. This is a dish that I failed twice to replicate. It is made at the deli counter of Bryan's fancy schmancy overpriced grocery in Laurel Village in San Francisco. After trying both sour cream and plain yogurt as the binding agent, we finally had to ask at the counter what it was. The clerk gave us a strange smirk when she informed us, "it's mayonaise". As far as I can figure, the sweetness of the juice from the grapes must counteract mayo-flavor 'cos you really can't tell.
Eric's dinner: nothing; but around midnight the crackers and E-Z Cheeze made an appearance.