October 18
Kathryn
Comfort Food
The first chill of autumn made us think of blustery days, falling leaves and comfort food. And good luck brought us Tina Marie, back from Connecticut and settled in Philadelphia again—a comforting thought. October called for a comfort food event.
We have not had a chance to be together—just us--in awhile. I always welcome the chance to sit and really talk with my foodie friends. The first time we ever met, at Jones downtown, Renee, Donna, Tinamarie and I bonded over discussions of family food traditions, champagne, and comfort foods – notably macaroni and cheese. Fitting that a year or so later we would return to it.
Donna made her family’s mac-n-cheese…a pound of macaroni, a cup of milk and a cup of cheese. Bake, serve and enjoy a cheesy, creamy happy meal. Tinamarie made the only natural partner for mac-n-cheese… meatloaf. The perfect pair. Renee surprised us with buffalo chicken egg rolls served with a blue cheese dip. These egg rolls are the perfect group appetizer… oozing flavor and cheese… easy to pick up with your fingers and cram, unabashedly into your mouth…over and over again.
I brought my mandoline and made homemade potato chips, baked then served with crème fraiche and 2 types of caviar. Homey met elegant… but it was too time intensive for a Thursday night after work. And the oven was on too long, making Lesu’s apartment into a dry sauna. But none of that ever really matters with our group. We enjoy each other too much. We like to try new things, reconnect with old favorites and surprise each other. Oh, and we like to eat.
Dana topped off the meal with a chocolate mousse served on whimsical cookie leaves (with chocolate veins). We settled into Lesu’s living room, telling stories, laughing uproariously and planning our coming events – Italy, the December champagne fete—while spooning dark chocolate mousse into our mouths.
We had a guest at this event! A food writer from the Inquirer… Dianna fit right in—and we so love an audience. She enjoyed our food and we enjoyed her conversation.
