This weekend has shaped up to be a few good days of feasting. As you know, we hit Virtu on Friday. Last night, we hooked up with friends at SakiTumi. And, today was the church covered dish luncheon.
Saki Tumi (for those of you who aren't here in the fair city of Columbia) is one of many sushi restaurants in the downtown area. Neil and I particularly like this place because of the location, the atmosphere, and the owner's a nice guy. We met one my my old friends (I mean, from way back, not old. Um, nevermind) and her husband to quietly celebrate her 15th 29th birthday. I won't mention any names, but if you're on Facebook today, you'll probably figure it out. Neil, who I lovingly refer to as my B-A-C (ball and chain) and I arrived first. I got a glass of wine and Neil ordered a Red Bull (1) and Sprite, separately. (Yuck-a-Ducka with a capital Duck). Once our friends arrived, Neil got another Red Bull (2). I don't know how people can drink that stuff.
Anyway, we shared some edamame & the Drunken Shrimp. And Neil got a Red Bull (3). I've never really been clear on why they named it Drunken Shrimp. I love it, but I'm not gettin' the drunken part. They are nice, big shrimp fried in a very flavorful, seasoned batter and served with what I consider like a curried remoulade-type sauce. Lots of great flavors, but still not understanding the drunken aspect. Laurin I mean, my anonymous birthday friend and I both ordered the shrimp tempura roll. If you read my post before about sushi, you'll know this is what I always order. Birthday girl's B-A-C ordered crab cakes and Neilio had the sashimi sampler plate and a Red Bull (4). I believe it was two types of tuna and salmon. The USC game was on the big screen, which normally would irritate the fool out of me, but I have to give them credit, it was a big game and a big win. So, congrats. There, I said it. It was a great evening of good food, good friends and good wine and Red Bull.
Why am I keeping you up to speed on the Red Bull? As I mentioned, I think it's the foulest of funk, but God help him, Neil likes it. BUT, once we got home, it caught up with him. He was a little shaky & revved up and turns out that plate of raw fish wasn't going the distance. So, he ended the evening with a good fridge raid of macaroni and cheese topped with a healthy dose of homemade chili. Most of you guys are probably nodding your heads about now. Come to think of it I'm betting, no, I'm sure Neil isn't the first guy to have another meal after leaving the sushi joint.
Today, the church covered dish luncheon was complete with all the required elements: fried chicken, casseroles a-plenty, deviled eggs (not my cup of tea though), macaroni and cheese & two tables packed with desserts. The Vivver actually sat in a chair and ATE. That's right, I saw chicken, macaroni, and jello go down the hatch. Not sure if any vegetables made the trip, but that's ok every now and then, right?
Next Sunday, our church has a covered dish luncheon planned. I have had my mind going all day trying to decide on my contribution. It's difficult. My Deep-South raised mind immediately goes to the "classics" like green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, or broccoli casserole. Even though I know there will several of these from various people of the congregation, it's hard not to want to dive into a big ol' creamy casserole. If anyone out there is trying to pretend that they don't agree, well, all I can say is "shame on you!"
The classics are classics because everyone loves them. Some will proclaim it from the mountain-tops, others will covertly admit their casserole love to a trusted friend, some will flat out lie and rebuke the casserole, knowing in their heart that they'd scarf one down in a heartbeat if they could do so undetected, and some (sadly) really don't actually like them. Those poor souls with the mixed up taste buds! My late mother-in-law Mimi once told me, "Every good Southern dish begins with a can of Cream of Mushroom." I told her then and I'll say it now, "Rock on Mimi!"
Ok, having said all that, there's the other side of my brain that starts imagining all the different, creative, maybe even off the wall dishes that I could present to my fellow church-goers and see how adventurous they are (but not too off the wall-it's church with room temperature fried chicken you know) . After all, we are all good Southern, enlightened and progressive people. So, I wonder, what would they think of my tarragon/pecan/grape chicken salad in phyllo cups as a little appetizer? Or that old crazy casserole that my Aunt Dianne used to make every now and then that had carrots and asparagus in it? Or, what about that sour cream/bacon/green onion potato salad that my father-in-law loves? Or, what about the brussels sprouts/candied pecan and blue cheese salad? I took that to Orangeburg for Thanksgiving one year and my Uncle John said to his wife, "Look honey, brussels sprouts! Around here, that's like a foreign food!"
So, I'm looking for opinions and suggestions. If you were on Death Row and you had a covered dish luncheon to go to for your last meal, what would you want to see on the table? Ok, maybe that's a bit macabre, but you get my drift. Speak up!
This is a sweet story, but I have to give you some background info first in order to make sense, so bear with me...
My little girl is in the 'Cherub Choir' at our church. She has choir at 9:00 on Sundays. So, I go to the early service while she's in choir. Then, Sunday School follows. Since I have to work today, my plan was to leave after SS, since I've already been to the service, and have a little bit of time at home with Viv and Neil before going to work.
As we're heading to the car, she says, "But what about the children's sermon?" Ok, turn around, we'll go to the first 15 minutes of the 11:00 service, children's sermon and then go home. No problem, we've done it before. Piece of proverbial cake. Wrong.
Today is World Communion Sunday. For the first time in history, my child actually paid attention to the children's sermon this morning. The minister was explaining Communion and was referring to it as the "special meal." So, Viv listened (everyone who goes to church with us will understand how monumental this is!), put her little hands together and bowed her head for the prayer and we all exited the sanctuary. Vivian has left the building.
So, we're heading to the car again, when she says, "Aren't we going to stay for the "special meal?" Oh, here we go. As I'm trying to logically explain why we aren't, here's my sweet baby wailing through the church building, "I want the special meal!" The car ride was a nightmare. Her tears are flowing as my heart is breaking. I mean really, here's a child begging for Communion and horrible mommy is actually saying no? So, I radioed ahead for reinforcement.
About half way home I got her interested in the story of the Last Supper and the tears finally stopped. By the time we pulled in the driveway, she had recovered and all was right with the world. Daddy greeted us at the door and escorted us in to our own "special meal." We all knelt at the coffee table and went through the ritual with our english muffin and grape juice. Vivian was so into it, that we had to do it twice. The second time, she administered Communion to us. It was a very special meal indeed!
My friend Kelley once talked about how special it was for her to take Communion with her daughter and I saw them do it together this morning. I agree, taking the "special meal" with your child is a very dear and meaningful experience. Especially when she understands it so well to administer it to you.
