Reviving the Sally/HALO/Foodie dinner during ApacheCon ... what initially started as a late-running reception in Orlando became a series of late-night dinners for twelve+ at Nobu/Vegas, evolved into a fun ten-top in San Diego, and most recently, a wonderfully lavish 9-course tasting menu in Atlanta.

If there’s interest this April/Amsterdam, I’m thinking about doing something at Restaurant De Kas. Yes, it’s a bit out of the way, but seems worth it (Chef’s Table books 2-4 people only: "… dinner is at the mercy of the kitchen brigade"!) http://www.restaurantdekas.nl/ Also possible is Restaurant Greetje for authentic Dutch fare, as well as my missed selections from last year …

Here’s what’s happened at past events:

2007/Atlanta: HALO Dinner -- Quinones at Bacchanalia with hardcore foodies. No alcohol to mar the palate, thank you, and onto nine courses of pure heaven. Course #6 was an absolute dream: glazed veal cheeks with corned Wagyu shortrib, chanterelles, and greens. Worth every penny; would go back in a heartbeat. Lauded by our guests as the "highlight of the trip" – I appreciated Quinones’ exceptional, discreet service, with a nod to the tuffet-footstools magically produced to protect my purse from the floor. Beautiful little mignardises were packaged up for me to bring back to the hotel.

2007/Amsterdam: HALO Dinner -- Not feeling well, I decided to have several, less-intensive dinners across the course of the week. From somewhat-brusque service (but rather good food!) at the Muziekgebouw’s Star Ferry to excellent ristaffel from progressive Indonesian restaurant Blue Pepper to somewhat lackluster experience at Jamie Oliver’s much-hyped Fifteen (I ordered off-menu, which seemed to be a better choice than their Tasting Menu), overall the dining was pretty good. Sadly, I didn’t get to Nomads, Moeders, Vuong, The Mansion, Vermeer, or Chez Georges; 2008, perhaps.

2006/Austin: HALO Dinner -- Aquarelle for serious French. After a delightful amuse-bouche, I surprisingly pass the Menu Gourmande, and find myself swooning over the fois gras au torchon with brioche, and onto the tenderloin that brings tears to my eyes. Finished with a lovely pear tarte and a flute of crisp Piper Heidsick.

2006/Dublin: HALO Dinner -- at Halo in the uber-stylish Morrison; very foodie, very focused dining with impossibly fresh seafood (gorgeous scallops) and foie gras to murder for. Wicked chocolate sampler, wonderful cheese plate. Chic, sexy, cool.

2005/San Diego: ZOT Group re-births and launches as HALO Worldwide. HALO Dinner debuts with a party of 10 at Parallel 33. Wonderful pan-global cuisine from across the 33rd parallel: fattoush, pomegranate duck, tajine, and seared scallops are not to be missed. All order madly and share. We close the restaurant whilst sampling the *entire* dessert menu and Turkish coffee, waiting for taxis.

2004/Vegas: “Sally Dinner” -- Nobu; 16 jammed around the table, with sushi, sashimi, tempuras, toban yaki, yakimono, kushiyaki, and anticuchos flying about the table and being reordered at dizzying speed. Many new faces – who are these people? Closed the restaurant this time too.

2003/Vegas: “Sally Dinner” -- Nobu; 12-top, free-for-all, order madly and pass it along. From Nobu’s signature yuzu-drizzled Tiradito and Kumamoto oysters to tomato ceviche and gorgeous namasu cucumbers, I’m mesmerized by the prawn tempura rolls and loving the dessert samplers. Everyone shares. Stayed so late, restaurant is closed around us.

2002/Vegas: “Sally Dinner” -- Aqua; a long evening of gastronomic indulgence with friends from Xerox PARC and ECMA. Lobster pot pie is a must. Over dessert, O tells me I am their Cecilia Bartoli ;-)

2000/Orlando: “ZOT Group Reception”. Sixty guests -- Apache Group members, developers, corporate sponsors, press, and investors -- squeeze in for a celebration at my suite at the Caribe Royale. W3C’s Eric Prud’hommeaux mans the bar, serving his signature Guinness Floats. A long night ensues. Greg Stein is the last to leave at 4AM.