Chef's tasting for six (over 20 utterly glorious courses) with wine pairings for the four of us over 21, and other wines, as well, at Manresa restaurant (which the SF Chronicle called "the French Laundry of the South Bay"), in Los Gatos, California. Over $1100 market value with tax/tip, but I was working for trade. (I did some photography and web redesign/consulting.)

It was easily the best meal of my life, and I think the other five would say the same. One of our group was the youngest member of the Bargetto winemaking family who had been stranded in the Sierra blizzard back in October, surviving on five peanuts a day. He's sixteen, and kept saying, "This is the best thing I've ever eaten" for each course. Pretty sweet.

I can't wait to go back.