Mission Epicurious: Dance Alive opening night

(Republished from 2011)

Friday night, full moon, top down on the Mustang, the GLOB Master and two fellow GOBLers (that's a GLOBer in action) left Harry's (our favorite watering hole) on a lively arts adventure.

Our destination this Friday evening was the season opening Dance Alive National Ballet performance of 'The Olympic Trilogy: Fire & Ice.'

We pulled into the back lot of the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) and quickly noticed the sign outside announcing Fire and Ice - Olympians, Dancers, Musicians. That sounded exciting, but we were drawn to Fackler Foyer East of the CPA and the opening night epicurean feast of hors d'oeuvres, refreshments, and camaraderie accompanied by the beautiful music of the piano man and the hum of the excited audience revelers.

Blue Water Bay primed our palates with the broadest assortment of fine wines it has ever been my pleasure to sample. I understand that every wine can be tasted at their grand opening October 28th.

O!O's chef, Ryan Long, dazzled us with cold and hot hors d'oeuvres. Tropical fruits, prosciutto and cheese, tangy hummus and pita wedges, skewered mozzarella balls and grape tomatoes with a balsamic drizzle.  He won us over with preparation, presentation and, most importantly, wondrous flavor.

If that wasn't enough, we headed to the hot tables. Here I must take a moment to compose myself as I call to mind the meatballs on beds of Napa cabbage and the gingery soy sauce glaze--perfection--I was in love, but then the mini crab cakes caught my eye with their corn relish topping. I was at once loyal, yet fickle as I spotted the oh so fresh guacamole and indulged my yen for south of the border fajitas. Oh my, what delights!.  More photos are available in the photo gallery below.

Desserts (stressed spelled backwards:) from Cakes by Jenny (now called Cakes by JW & Co) were served with Starbucks coffee during intermission.

Much applause to Dance Alive for a stupendous performance featuring magnificent dance interpretations and a piano solo and dance accompaniment by pianist Kevin Sharpe. A special treat was Olympic celebrities, Bob Beamon and Cathy Oerter from the Art of the Olympians Al Oerter Center for Excellence. Also much applause to Gainesville's own glowing Olympian, Marty Liquori, recognized by Bob Beamon.

-- Written by two very happy GLOBers