We all have remembrances of dinners with family and friends over the years which we’ve kept in our treasured memory vaults. The key ingredients of those special times are often not the cuisine or the ambiance of the restaurant but the extraordinary people you were with. Going over the photos made me think about the preciousness of each moment and not taking anything for granted! I’ll share some of those dinner experiences with you. Marla is looking beautiful at a dinner at Fattoria la Striscia in Arezzo, Italy. We rented an apartment in the restored 16th century villa. We had a large kitchen where we cooked most of our meals but one evening we opted for one of their special outdoor dinner events.

Their fabulous Tuscan wines are made on site.

Our chef Marla in the kitchen.

We loved Cafe Fiore in South Lake Tahoe early last June.

We were very fortunate to enjoy a number of fabulous dinners with our daughter Lisa and family! This one was at Restaurant Paul last July in Paris.

When we visit Stacy’s family our favorite family place is Pizzeria Testa in Dallas!

I will never forget this dinner with Marla, Paxton, and Logan, in our villa on our last night at the Komaneka Hotel in Ubud, Bali. They prepared a delicious and unique Balinese menu for us.

While in Paris we have experienced fabulous dinners at Kathy and Philippe’s home. Kathy is a fabulous chef and we will not forget these special moments!

One of our favorite visits in Tuscany was at the amazing Castello la Leccia near Castellina in Chianti. Every meal at the hotel was superb! We are savoring the sunset and our spritz.

We love all of their wines!

The chefs at Canela restaurant in Palma, Mallorca, were incredibly innovative.

I had a beautiful and charming dinner date last July at “O Rev”in Cassis, France.

Logan loved picking out his own seafood at this beach cafe in Jimbaron, Bali.

I could not have been happier to find such a great Italian restaurant at Amari Vogue Hotel in Krabi, Thailand.

While exploring nearby Ao Nang we came upon the Carnivore Steakhouse and Grill. Their steaks were flown in from Australia. We didn’t expect this in Krabi.

We always love visiting our good friends Alex and Chris and family while in California. We dined at Postino Restaurant in Lafayette, California. Alex brought some of her fabulous Champagne for us!

I love dinner outside on a warm Paris evening at Vagenende! One look at their opening video and you’ll understand.

Giant Escargot from Burgundy!

Nothing like superb profiteroles to put a smile on this lady’s face.

A memorable dinner at Les 3 Barbus in Générargues, France. We were on a bike trip in the Languedoc region.

We stumbled upon Sodini’s Trattoria while walking on Green Street in San Francisco’s North Beach. Marla and I first had dinner here in College when it was called Green Valley Restaurant. Marla and our friend Lea chatted with the owner catching a little sun before the crowds start. He looked like he could have been on a casting call for the Soprano’s.

What made Sodini’s special was being with our great friend Lea!

One year we rented a nice apartment in Villefranche sur Mer on the Cote d’Azur.

Our friends Kathy and Philippe came down to join us for a few days from Paris.

What could be better…a nice sunset, a fine wine…and Indian takeout at an apartment in Marbella, Spain.

Chez Dumonet (Restaurant Josephine) is one of my favorite classic Paris bistros in the 6th.

“OK…what would you like?”

An evening to celebrate!

I am truly one happy guy at the Le Melograne at the Tre Vaselle Hotel in Torgiano, Umbria. For some reason an incredible Umbrian wine puts a smile on my face!

A dinner to remember at Restaurante Ruta del Azafrán in Granada.

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.