After my Nashville plans fell through, I figured I wouldn’t do much for New Year’s Eve. My plans were to do Sunday brunch then go home about 5 and hibernate into the new year. However, things took an unexpected turn Saturday afternoon.
I was sitting at the bar at the Blind Bear Saturday afternoon, my troll standing next to my beer as always. Owner Jeannette, having traded shifts with B-RAD, was tending bar. “Hey Paul, would you be interested in going to dinner with us for New Year’s Eve?” she asked. “A group of us are going to Itta Bena. We have the private room reserved. It seats 25 and so far we only have 16, so you’re welcome to come. After dinner we have the back room reserved here.”
I pulled up Itta Bena’s New Year’s Eve menu on my phone, and it looked good. Four courses with options for each course. Having private rooms at both the restaurant and the bar sounded good too. We’d have a barrier between us and the amateurs who come out to “party” on New Year’s Eve. I told Jeannette I was in. Some of us met up at the Bear a little before 7 and walked over together. Here’s a look at dinner.
First course: Java Crusted Lamb Lollipops with red bell pepper jelly and a Balsamic reduction
Second course: Itta Bena’s famous She-Crab Soup. This is widely considered to be the must-get item at the restaurant.
Main course: Six-ounce filet, lobster claw and knuckle, smoky bacon potato hash, bordelaise, and hollandaise.
Dessert: Bananas Foster Bread Pudding with a rum and brown sugar butter sauce and vanilla ice cream
What a great dinner with awesome people. Service was excellent too. Afterward we walked over to the Bear and watched the ball drop in New York City at 11, then rang in the new year in Memphis at midnight. Couldn’t have asked for a better way to start 2018. Happy New Year everyone, and check back because I’m not done posting today.