I’ve discovered one plus about having a blog. It gives me a platform to share experiences that may not make their way into an article for months, if ever.

Last night I attended a special dinner for the launch of a new cookbook, down home: downtown. Being a cookbook author myself, I really try to make the effort to support my peeps.

This book is the work of two Wine Country chefs, Jeff Mall of Zin restaurant and Josh Silvers of Syrah in Santa Rosa, California. The book pits recipes from the chefs side by side (sort of like some sort of crazy, cook-along Iron Chef competition). For example, there’s Zin’s rib eye ranchero sits on the page opposing Syrah’s grilled rib eye with black truffle butter.

The dinner last night was set up in the same format. Yes. We ate two of every course. Four courses, to be exact. If I were more hip to the whole technology thing, I’d scan the menu for you. But I’m traveling, so I’m not going to try and get all fancy.

The entire meal was paired with wines from Rodney Strong, one of the book’s collaborators. (And the wines were one of the meal’s most enjoyable parts). Although it was supposed to be a collaboration, not a competition, you can’t help but weigh the options at a meal such as this — and not that I’m an expert on meals such as this, I was in virgin territory last night. And hey, lets face it, chefs are competitive sorts. You know they were dueling it out in the kitchen. I’m reluctant to name a winner but there was a clear cut one. One chef’s food was far more refined, with more layers of flavor and texture. (This was consistent with every course.) However, my reaction was, obviously, I know whose restaurant I want to visit next time. But surprisingly, it also made me think the other chef’s, the less refined, more comfort-oriented, was the food I want to make at home from the book. So Jeff, if you’re reading, I can’t wait to make that butternut apple soup with the lemon cream at home. Whoops, I just revealed the winner, didn’t I?