Wine is meant to be with food - that's the point of it.
Good french cooking cannot be produced by a zombie cook.
As we say in the American Institute of Wine and Food, small helpings, no seconds. A little bit of everything. No snacking. And have a good time.
I'm afraid that surprise, shock, and regret is the fate of authors when they finally see themselves on the page.
Cooking is one failure after another, and that's how you finally learn.
Always remember: If you're alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up. Who's going to know?