“Sitting at a table with family and friends makes life feel worthwhile.” — Unknown cookbook author (at least to me) on today’s Splendid Table
As I look back over the past year, considering what I am thankful for, it’s not surprising that friends, family, and food top the list. While I have shared many amazing meals this year, here are eight that stand out. The only meal missing is a special one with Clyde. We need to work on that for next year.
Jerry and one of Luna's famous knots
Luna’s with Jerry: On our summer road trip to Florida, we had the culinary pleasure of dining at one of my favorite restaurants from my Florida days in the mid-90s. Luna’s has a great white pizza but the real draw is the garlic knots. They are perfect. I’d been on a no-carb diet for a couple of months when we arrived. I have to admit I never got back on. Clyde lost 40 pounds; I lost 8. And I blame those damn knots! The only addition that could make those knots better is my friend Jerry.
Jerry has been in a wheelchair since a swimming pool incident when he was 15. So seeing him has been difficult since I left Florida. When I lived there, we spent lots of time together. He’s not so good with a fork and knife so, when we’d eat together, he’d often ask me to cut his food. Sounds silly but I loved that. Made me feel like a beloved and trusted friend. I still do, although much of the love is sent via email. Knots don’t require cutting so Jerry was on his own for this meal. But it meant so much to me to share it with him.
Pizza for one, please.
Pizza by myself: On a work trip to New York City in the spring, I found myself with an hour of alone time at lunch. Now anyone who frequents multi-day conferences knows the joy in the solo lunch.
As the agenda inched its way closer to lunch, I started googling nearby pizza places. I stumbled upon John’s Pizzeria, housed in an old church. It was absolute perfection — from the building to the attentive waiter to the perfect pizza. New York City and Paris are unique in their ability to entertain the solo diner. I could only eat half the pizza and had to get back to the conference shortly. But it was one of the most satisfying hours of the entire year.
A feast of all things Greek.
Greek with Sarah: On that same trip, my dear friend Sarah and I went to Taverna Kyclades in Astoria, our favorite Greek restaurant outside of Greece. Every meal with Sarah is an event — because she is one of my best friends, because my love affair with food started with her, and because so few people enjoy food as much as she does.
Every time we go, we have such fun narrowing the menu. Soon, more food than we could possibly consume is before us. We struggle to arrange the plates so it will all fit. We eat until we are bursting … and then sometimes eat a little more.
The last time we were here, we were with my extended family — not all of whom appreciated how absolutely divine this restaurant is. We’ve also been there with Sarah’s daughters, which is a different kind of fun. But to be there with just Sarah — to able to give her and these delicacies their just undivided attention — was one of the highlights of my year. I can’t wait to get back and do it again.
Clyde teaches Sawyer his chopsticks moves.
Benihana’s with my boys: We had a crazy summer, during which we weren’t all together for more than one day during one six-week period. On that one day, we celebrated Noah’s 13th birthday a little early at Benihana’s.
It’s always the same dog-and-pony show there — the chef throws a shrimp tail in his hat or pocket; he makes a steam-engine train out of onions — but the kids love it. The food is tasty and it feels more special than your average Asian meal. The next day, we sent Noah off on a monthlong rock climbing trip, the first of many long stretches we’ll be apart as the kids get older. Which is why, I’m sure, times like this stick in my memory. Well, that and the flying shrimp tail.
Nancy, radiant as ever.
Dinner with Nancy & David: My dear friend Nancy is dying of cancer. We’ve spent many times together before and after this meal, but this is one of very few we’ve shared with our husbands. They were both full of delight on this evening, sometime back in the early summer, it seems. Nancy and I have spent hours over the past several years dissecting the joys and tears of our lives, our church family, politics, our husbands, her cancer, our children (most specifically, my teenager). But on this night, it was just yummy food, good friends, good wine, and time to linger.
Lingering with Nancy is something I am always thankful for.
Gorethy, Robyn, and their quilts
A fireside evening with friends from Africa: I don’t have photos of our meal that night (as my computer and all its treasures were stolen back in March). But it was a cold evening and we spent much of it by the fire with friends from Congo and our church. Robyn, our favorite babysitter before she left for UT, was among the guests. She taught our children to sew, cook, and create a very scary Halloween scene in the kitchen. Gorethy, from Congo, is founder of Congo Restoration and is taking care of 30 orphans in the Congo. At some point between the appetizers and African tea, Robyn decided the orphans in Congo needed quilts.
Fast forward to a warm summer day at VBS. Robyn, assisted by children ages 4 to 10, made 10 quilts that arrived in Congo a few weeks ago. And that, my friends, is one reason I believe dinner can change the world.
Michael and his gorgeous cake.
Michael’s chocolate cake: We’ve enjoyed countless amazing meals with our friends Sue & Angie over the year. This one was special because Sue’s mom and her partner were in town. They brought out the good china and insisted even Sawyer use it. They are brave, brave women!
Every bit of the meal was special, but what I most remember is the chocolate cake their 10-year-old son Michael made.
It was beautiful. It was tasty. And he knew it. He was a little shy about it, but I loved that he took the time to create this special dessert for the special people in his life. And I count myself lucky to be among them.
Thanksgiving with my family & Prosper's
Thanksgiving 2009: Last year, I’d just started this blog when I envisioned sharing Thanksgiving with my family, my friend Prosper, and his wife and sons, who had recently arrived from Zimbabwe.
I was a little worried about how it would go. But my family took to Prosper’s family and visa versa. Proper is still talking about Waxahachie and how much he loved it. This year, Prosper and Sarah have a new baby to be thankful for. I am so blessed to have them in my life … and to have a family that embraced them during such a lovely day.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope today’s meal and time with family and friends sticks in your memory as these have for me.
4. When he was having so much trouble sleeping by himself earlier this month — zombies, of course — we offered to get a him a dog to sleep with. Later, when the new dog didn’t completely cure the zombie fear, I offered to help him ease into it, coming into his room at 12:30 am, then 1 am, 1:30 am, and so on, until dawn. To both offers, he said: “That seems like a lot of trouble for you.” Sure it was, and that was fine. And I appreciate that he got that.
10. He knows himself well enough to leave a campfire full of friends and scary stories (see No. 4).
