It took us 3 1/2 hours to drive from our home in Utica to Lake Placid, New York. This was my first visit to this well know Olympic area. It rained during most of our drive but we still managed to appreciate the Fall scenery along the way.
We met with the group for the annual cocktail party at 6pm. An assortment of cheeses and appetizer meats, crackers were offered.
After some fun chit-chat with the group, the two of us left for a recommended restaurant about half a mile down the road called The Mirror Lake Inn. We had reservations for 8:45pm however, we arrived at 7:30pm and they were able to accommodate us.
We placed our wine order. Since the bartender was very busy, the waitress appealed to our patience by offering a sample of split grape tomatoes with balsamic reduction topped with crème fraiche and a chive.
Beginning with wonderful red wines: Le Montesa Rioja 2004 for me (dark fruit, baking spices leading to a velvety finish). This wine was complex. It hit the palette promising fruit however quickly tapered to a velvet earthiness. Wonderful wine! Ted had the Chateau La Fleur Peyrabon Pauillac 2004 (old world wine, good fruit, earthy finish). Ted’s wine was very earthy with sharper tannins. Both glasses were excellent choices.
The bread assortment was presented to the table (unfortunately it wasn’t LEFT on the table 
): Olive loaf and rustic French baguette. We both took one piece of each. The olive loaf was the best we have ever had: soft, moist, savory yet with a mild sweetness.
We ordered simple Mirror Inn Garden Salads as an appetizer. Simple, lightly tossed garden salad with no surprises. Not a $9.00 value what so ever. Ted made note of his disappointment.
We enjoyed conversation while waiting just a short time for entrees to arrive. Ted’s choice was the Pan-Blackened Louisiana Cat Fish finished with avocado cream sauce and yellow tomato salsa on a bed of wilted arugula and candied yams. He said it was PERFECT!
My choice was the Chef’s special: Roulade of Icelandic Sole stuffed with asparagus and crabmeat surrounded by light orange and fennel infused fumet with a confit of lemon.
Aren’t the fingerling carrots adorable? 
The temperature of my entree’ was only luke warm which a disappointment.
We enjoyed some very strong coffee to follow dinner and Ted indulged in a small scoop of black raspberry ice cream in a toasted crepe with cream and chocolate shavings. I snagged the strawberry sitting on top of the whip cream.
To ease the presentation of the bill, two of the most wonderful, smooth, chocolate mints were set in front of us. These went down REALLY easy. You can tell they were too easy to eat because only one was left by the time I picked up the camera and turned it on. More please?!!! 
Saturday we have a full day of touring beginning at 9:15 AM. We’re not quite sure where or what or when because we didn’t get our packets describing the days events but we were warned it’s a busy day. Stay tuned for more joy riding and good eats in the Lake Placid area of New York.
Joanne
