Last night we enjoyed the most expensive dinner I think I have ever eaten.

We went to the Craftwood Inn in Manitou Springs. Started off with some bottled Colorado spring water…you would think it would at least have bubbles in it. When we finished that bottle, we switched to regular tap water with ice cubes. Cynthia had a glass of pinot grigio, and Berck had a glass of Chivas. I was driving Arthur (the only one of our two cars all three of us could fit in at once) home, so I only participated in the sharing of an excellent bottle of Malbec.

Appetizers were venison sausage and cheddar stuffed mushroom caps and some baked mozzarella on toast with a delicious sort of chutney. Then Berck got his soup and immediately informed us that, if we were smart, we’d order some as well…crab and artichoke bisque, in which you pour a little sherry glass of something sweet and alcoholic that makes it taste amazing.

For the main course, Berck and Cynthia each ordered elk steaks. I got filet each of elk, venison, and antelope. The venison was especially tender. These were accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes, a mouth-watering stuffed tomato (even Berck raved about his), some what we could only guess was millet couscous, and pile of still crisp but wonderfully flavorful slices of zucchini, bell peppers, and other veggies.

Berck ate everything on his plate and the rest of what was on his mom’s. Then he ordered crème brûlée and some Grand Marnier. “I think I impressed the waitress,” he said, smacking his lips happily after the last of the food had been consumed.

We had made reservations for 5:30 when they opened, but by the time we left, the parking lot was full of expensive cars. I think Arthur may have felt a little out of place among the Mercs.

There are pictures of some of our other adventures during Cynthia’s stay under Photographs.