Our first event for 2006, on a wet and windy Vancouver night, was at Senova, Manuel Ferreira’s warm and friendly new Kerrisdale restaurant. We enjoyed an evening of fine Portuguese and Spanish food and wine and some interesting anecdotes from Manuel on his experiences with Iberian cuisine. We started with a reception of Segura Viudas Aria Brut (with thanks to International Cellars and Michael Shuster) and mini tapas of bacalhau fritters, grilled sardines on corn bread and fresh oysters before we sat down to seared scallops with mild piri piri sauce and a refreshing 2004 Quinta do Vallado white wine (with thanks to The Seacove Group and Jack Segal). Next came a duck confit with wild mushrooms accompanied by a 2002 Bodegas Castaño and a very quaffable 2003 Cork Grove Castelão/Touriga Nacional (thanks to Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants and Darryl Weinbren). Our main course featured cabrito, a real goat kid, with roasted garlic and a fine 2002 Quinta do Crasto Reserva (with thanks again to Seacove) followed by Portuguese and Spanish cheeses and 1988 Graham’s Malvedos Port. For a sweet finish, we were treated to warm figs and dates with mascarpone and a very fine tawny port from Quinta do Infantado. A magnificent finish to the evening!