Going home to a great meal...

Dudley's is one of those restaurants at which I have celebrated most of the milestones of my adult life. Beyond those occasions -- birthdays, dates, politician/sports figure sightings, etc.-- the menu is consistently delicious. Tonight was no exception to the rule: the classic Lexington dinner spot continues to satisfy.

In honor of visiting our hometown, TLOML and I started off with bourbon cocktails -- a mint julep for me and a Manhattan for him (Maker's Mark, natch.) As you know, bourbon drinks are mixed better in Lexington than anywhere else in the world, and Dudley's is among the top bars in Lex. My julep was magical; it conveyed spring and the Derby, freshness, sweetness and more. I was so enthralled with my cocktail that I decided to forgo the appetizer course to truly savor this drink. TLOML was similarly pleased with his strong and smooth Manhattan. We both adore the taste of bourbon and were thrilled to finally be home where someone could properly mix that spirit.

Our first course soon arrived; TLOML's house salad popped with a lovely mix of extremely fresh greens and a wonderful house dressing. My cream of summer squash soup was fine, but relied a little too heavily on its chicken stock base.

Our entrees were wonderful. TLOML had a delicious fricaseed chicken, while I ordered my old reliable, the Tournadoes Maxwell. The beef medallions were perfectly medium well, to my specification. The edges were pleasantly crisp, while the center was a deep pink. The accompanying whipped potatoes provided a creamy base for the delicious bernaise sauce. However, the real star of this plate was the crab meat; sharp and salty, with the fresh tang of the ocean, the crab was a fantastic contrast to the rich meat, sauce and potatoes. As always, I handed my asparagus off to TLOML, so I can't comment on that noxious weed's consistency.

We accompanied our meal with a Hook & Ladder 2005 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. This was an excellent red table wine, clear and fruity, with a peachy undertone and a peppery finish -- a lovely accompaniment to a wonderful meal.

As always, the Dudley's service was friendly, understated and competent, and the food was wonderful. The understated restaurant, in a converted 19th century schoolhouse, provides a great backdrop for conversation, great food, and a relaxing meal.

h