“Murder is always a mistake – one should never do anything one cannot talk about after dinner” – Oscar Wilde

Dinner parties successful! (mostly…)

I remember living in LA, having dinner parties was something I would dream about. No, literally. I would have actual dreams about throwing dinners, and inviting actual people over. I would also have dreams about my studio apartment having actual separate rooms.

Believe me, the dreams were correlated.

I dreamt of buying flowers for the table, long stem candles lit, french music playing in the background, perhaps a fireplace in the corner, fancy dinnerware, nice bottles of red wine and putting a course together like it was something I’d been doing my entire life. The dinner would last hours and the stories and laughter would flow like the wine.

In reality, I had only ever cooked Trader Joe’s ready made meals, and it never included more than me and someone else. Eggs and tuna melts were as far as I got generally – and boy, was I good at those!  I felt like fancy dinner parties were my next step into adulthood (besides having a relationship and living with a man, and all that important stuff).

And, here I am. I’m an adult! I mean, obviously, I’ve been one for some time – I can drive a car, I drink tea, I floss as often as I remember to, and I read newspapers (mostly online, but I still read ‘em). All adult things to do.

So, in some ways, my dreams are coming true. Simple though they seem. Dinner party first step. Published author next. I heard that’s the typical order of progress.

Asian theme night:
(oh, did I mention that Asian here means what Americans call Indian..and I don’t mean Native American either…so confusing. So, I’m not saying I made Indian food or Native American. Got it? I don’t know if I do.)

Some problems: The Japanese starter with Avocado also had this strange vegetable called jicama or otherwise known here as a yam bean. Couldn’t find. Specialty shop.

No chicken broth in grocery store either. I know! Simple thing. Not so simple here. Chicken noodle soup is their broth.

Also, Chinese Five Spice. Only one spice. Not five combined. Specialty shop.

Bok Choy – here Pak Choi (seemed the same). Lovely. Truly lovely. Turned out excellent if I do say so myself.

The dessert of Asian Five Spice Chocolate Cake. Flourless. Kind of like mousse. Only, it turned out kind of like chocolate poo looking. Baking skills aren’t up to snuff. (Caroline – whose baby is due to be born any day now – said she loved it. It did taste alright, it just looked like poo. I think she was being nice.)

“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations” – Oscar Wilde

Dinner Party night #2 on Friday.

Mexican theme night!
Everyone thinks since I’m a Lopez that I must be Mexican, so why not try to cook like one, right?! Plus, my dad lives there – I’m practically Mexican.

Starters – Not Mexican. But tasty. Shrimp wrapped in Bacon with melted Stilton. Mexican guacamole and crisps (a.k.a. tortilla chips).

Dinner – Chicken Tostada’s! I was doubtful after pureeing the onions and tom- ahhhh-toes for the sauce. That just seemed weird. But yummmmy! And frying tortilla’s is very fun. Note to self – must use vegetable oil next time – olive oil not quite right.

Dessert – Again, not Mexican! Ok, so maybe only half of the meal Mexican. Rhubarb and Apple Crumble – better than Chocolate cake the night before. Much better. But not perfect. Again, baking not up to snuff.

Dinner parties fun and eventful. No one got toasted – which was a bit disappointing. But I can always try for next time. Next time – not this Friday, but next. What theme shall I do then?

The truth about my tangents about dinner parties is that if cooking, half-ass baking and some wine brings people together to share stories and remind them that their alive – that makes me happy. It just feels important to have dinner with others. It feels like we’re creating something together – maybe memories, maybe ideas, maybe friendships. I can’t put my finger on it at past midnight on a Monday evening…but it’s there. And, I’ll make sense of it. I’ll let you know when I do…

Funny side note – last blog entry had the words “I’m no longer in Entertainment or in a regular job” – and what comes in the mail to Charlie’s house, but a residual check! Gotta love those residual checks. I’m $8 richer! Woo hoo! I guess maybe I am still in Entertainment.

“Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit.” – Oscar Wilde