west hollywood pot-luck

Hosting a pot luck dinner party at my house tonight with a group of friends who live in the neighborhood. They’ve been doing this together for some time; I’m the newcomer & at this point have no idea if they can cook, or what they like to eat. I’m a little worried that prepared food might show up: cocktail wieners, a jar of salsa & a bag of chips, that kind of thing. I confess it’s hard for me to give up control of food served in my house. I wish I could relax, give up this ridiculous attitude and just let it be. I should have more faith.

Okay, I’m working on it.

I’ve made a green salad with vegetables, humus dip with crackers, and Jewish Sushi: half a hot boiled potato, the size of a small egg, topped with cool herring in sour-cream sauce – with a bit of creamy onion too, if you get the picture. A bottle of red and one of white, crusty porcini ciabata bread, and a bowl of good black oil-cured olives. One guest, whom I know is a great cook, is roasting a turkey breast with cherry marinade. I asked for veggies from the others, but don’t have a clue of what’s coming.

No one I know ever reads this blog, however much I beg them to, but somehow, the one person who might take offense – not that any has ever been intended, I swear – manages to read it and get mad at me. So before going any further I want to say this is a great group of people, smart, talented, sexy, Hollywood types; so how bad can it be? And what difference does it make? People are more important than food…. Right?

~~~~~~~~

Surprise, surprise!!! I hang my head in shame. The food that showed up last night was as good as it gets. Even those guests who don’t normally cook picked up cookbooks, went out & bought the freshest ingredients, spent time in the kitchen and prepared fabulous dishes.

Everything worked perfectly together, as though the meal had been planned by a master chef. In addition to the above mentioned dishes we got a brilliant bowlful of steamed red beets, perfectly spiced & seasoned with garlic & mustard seed, a succulent succotash of fresh corn and zucchini seasoned with fresh thyme and sage, mashed potatoes, creamy & dense, topped with fried mushrooms, chopped scallions & chives, and a casserole of roasted onions & shallots in balsamic sauce so tasty you wanted to eat the whole thing. To top it off, a surprise birthday cake to celebrate one of the guest’s birthday. It was a joyful feast – better than thanksgiving. Why, they even sat patiently after dinner & listened to me read a poem.

Great food, great company; what more do I want?

I’m humbled by the goodness of my new friends, impressed with their excellent taste in food, delighted with the synergy we created together, grateful for their friendship and cured of my lack of faith forever. Amen.