From: Maggie Subject: TAN: On Cooking and Carousing in Chicago - A Social Report Date: 07 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT Message-ID: Organization: The Ken Fitton Memorial Fund X-Feed-Me-Chocolate-And-I-Will-Follow-You-Anywhere: Hell yes! Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written.robert-jordan X-Complaints-To: newsabuse@supernews.com Flashback: Thursday, 9:30PM Steve Ginter arrived a bit earlier than I had expected, bearing Cryptonomicon, Death and a huge grin. Social weekends seem to cause big grins, not that I'm going to complain. In spite of the fact that we were going to have to get up early on Friday, we stayed up for a while, drinking Guinness, tormenting Mark, and idly wondering if Steve's car was going to remain intact this time around. (It did.) We took off on time, for a change, just before 10AM. Kenn and I had collaborated on a menu a few days before, so we shopped for non- perishables to save time (and a bit of cash. Groceries are quite a bit cheaper in Toledo!), then were on our way. The drive in to Chicago was enjoyable, punctuated by many laughs and good conversation. We were pleased to have made very good travel time. I ran upstairs to kidnap Kenn so we could finish the necessary shopping, so we would only have to search for a parking space once, and we were off again. We wandered about Jewel, gathering the remaining ingredients for our dinner. Our bag boy remarked that Kenn looked like Larry Flynt, which earned him an evil glare from Kenn, and sputtering laughter from Steve and me. Then it was off to Linens & Things to get Kenn set up with the cookware necessary to pull our ambitious menu off. Kenn is a lot of fun to go shopping with, particularly when it's shopping for something he isn't very knowledgeable about. "Pretend you're shopping to stock your own kitchen, and money is no object." "You need one of everything." A set of hard anodized steel pots and pans, cobalt blue casserole dishes and a lovely oil lamp later, and we were finally out the door to get supper started, just before 5PM. We were really looking forward to a leisurely, if late, supper together. Good food is always most enjoyable with good friends! In the course of chopping vegetables, mincing garlic and par-boiling beans, we discovered that we were missing a few things for the soup, so Kenn and Steve ventured out for the missing items. Apparently, they had quite an adventure, one of them can fill in the details. While they were out, it became obvious that we had been too optimistic in choosing our menu, there was just no way we were going to be able to make the dessert we had chosen, as it had to be refrigerated overnight. As it happened, I'm glad we didn't attempt it, as it would have gone to waste. The guys returned with the missing spices and I estimated that dinner would be ready around 9PM. Though I've been told I'm handy in the kitchen, I must confess that I pulled that particular time estimate right out of my ass. Truth be told, I was very worried about the soup turning out well. In the end, it *did* turn out well, and dinner *was* served promptly at 9PM! Kenn marveled at the soup, and Steve threatened to swirl it just enough to show the ancient symbol of the Aes Sedai, but I growled and threatened Grievous Bodily Harm if he did, so he and Kenn settled for taking a picture of the lovely table they set. Though we had looked forward to dessert earlier, in the end it wasn't missed, we couldn't even move enough to clear the table for quite some time. For the curious/adventurous types, this is what we cooked: Black and White Soup http://food.epicurious.com/run/recipe/view?id=102292 Fettucine with Chicken, Red Onions and Peppers http://food.epicurious.com/run/recipe/view?id=101687 And the dessert we drooled for but didn't get to make: Chocolate-Frangelico Cheesecake http://food.epicurious.com/run/recipe/view?id=5149 When we were finally able to move, we watched The Last Supper. If you haven't seen this deliciously black comedy, go rent it now. Saturday dawned inexplicably early, and once Kenn and Steve recovered from laughing at my blind stumble into the kitchen to make coffee, we collected ourselves enough for a trip to Nookie's for breakfast, where I discovered the one thing my life has been missing: A coffee lackey. Not only was this darling thing easy on the eyes, he seemed to be psychically attuned to my coffee cup. It never once reached below half full. <*sigh*> I'm in love. A quick trip back to Kenn's to learn Chez Geek (more on this later), consult with Koz regarding his arrival (Kenn had forgotten our favorite weasel fan when making arrangements with Jeff!), and we were off again. To where? Ghirardelli, of course! Except for the couple behind us in line, bitching loudly because they had to *wait* (quelle horreurs!), we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and I made out like a bandit at the sale table (no, I won't share it, so don't ask.) A productive trip to B&N, where Kenn bought a wall sized map of the world made by, of all things, MapQuest.com, and again, out the door, this time to rendezvous with Jeff Huo at FAO Schwarz. I'm not really sure how I managed to look up from spending a slightly obscene sum on a Barbie for my beloved sister, just in time to spot Jeff. I've never actually seen him before, but I *knew* who he was! After a warm greeting, we went off in search of my cohorts. Jeff is just as hysterical in person as his posts are. He had many tales of strange things in the ER, also known as You Wouldn't Believe This Shit If You Saw It Yourself, a quick smile and a ready laugh. He was ready to have fun, and we were ready to join in. We arrived at Pizza Capri well before the appointed time, and settled in to nibbling, drinking, and waiting for the rest of the Darkfriends. Eventually, all were present and accounted for. Novak was in the mood to munch and asked who wanted to share toasted ravioli with him. Being on vacation and thus not counting calories, I answered the call. Kenn raised his eyebrows and shook his head, then began laughing as Novak explained that dishes which are shared have no calories, since as soon as you split them, all calories fall to the floor and are forgotten. All this time, I thought I was the only one who practiced that method! Pam had warned us ahead of time to order half portions, and we all listened. Steve ordered the one dish on the menu that did not come in a half portion, the lasagna. Poor dear. Novak: "For the perfect definition of nonplussed, just look at Steve's face." After much laughter and many funny quotes (which I've forgotten, it seems. Steve has the paper), we adjourned to The Stars Our Destination (where I once again spent entirely too much money and acquired a few new buttons with my books) and Kenn's for chatter and games. Tales abounded, both Steve and Kenn wound up spitting water on themselves, having had the misfortune of taking a drink just as someone said something laugh-worthy, and we teased Jeff about his mysterious meeting which would steal him away from us. Novak and Pam toasted chocolate covered graham crackers over the flame of Kenn's oil lamp, "Is that flame high enough?" Novak explained arcing in the microwave, "This is the only way I can explain it without writing vector equations all over Kenn's walls. This would add to the overall character of the place, but still..." and Pam gave us another use for AOL discs. "The colors are pretty. The microwave heats the metal..." Kenn's neighbors were in a party sort of mood, which led to neighbor comparisons: "My neighbor across the hall tries to sell people perfume and whatnot." "Amway gal?" "*Amway*? Dude, she's no Amway gal, she's a *crack whore*!" "We had the fuse box in our *apartment*..." "...the roaches moved to our place after those people moved out because they were looking for something to eat..." "...so my roommate pulled this bag out from under the sink. Pop cans and hundreds of roaches..." Jeff told even more tales from Med School: "...the urban legend about the guy masturbating with the belt sander is *true*...tore off a testicle (cue wincing from everyone at the table)...he sealed his scrotum with a staple gun and the staples *rusted* (cue Kenn and Novak yelping in unison)...waited a week to seek treatment..." Quoth Novak: "Kenn, I think you and I have found something we agree on regarding sex." The Cabal (TINC) then convened to discuss prior and future Socials and other posters: "Why he's so keen on gaining *my* respect is beyond me." "Because the rest of us worship you, that's why." "You know, I have to hand it to [Poster's name deleted], he just doesn't give up. He's persistent!" "*Jock itch* is persistent!" Teasing Kenn about his domesticity: "I need to get a trophy fag!" "Who Wants To Marry A Gay Multi-Millionaire?" Jeff left us all too soon, and we decided to play Chez Geek. OK, Kenn insisted...<*grin*>. The game is hilarious, operating on the premise that you're all roommates. The idea is to gain "slack" to win. Our own Pam Korda is credited as a play tester, so if you buy this game (I did, it's well worth the $20!), tip your hat to Pam! Jobs around the table at any given time: Novak-Drummer: "The Choad Warrior stole my SO! Dammit, that was *my* Nookie!" Steve-Professional Research Subject: "Damn, no booze, no weed. You're not going to cancel my Nookie, are you?" Pam-No Job: "I'm the welfare queen." Maggie-Web Designer: "This picture is me, except the cat should be black with his tongue sticking out. And cow slippers, not bunnies." Koz-Corporate Drone: "Looks like all I can do is go shopping." Kenn-Temp: "I need a new job. I'm going to sell plasma..." I think we called it a night around 3AM, though Kenn's neighbors continued for several very loud hours beyond that. So much for sleeping well. As ever, all good things must end, and this Social ended with much kicking and screaming - Kenn threatened to cage us, and we really didn't want to leave, but Steve and I had to take off around 1PM. Between the 4 hour drive back to Toledo, and then another 5 to Buffalo, he was sure to be exhausted. We consoled ourselves with the fact that the Toledo Social is next weekend, then took our leave. I think I may owe Steve a dollar. We had discussed whether the children would greet me with "Mama, we missed you!" or "What did you bring us?", but I can't recall which he chose. (It was "What did you bring us?") What a wonderful weekend! Thanks, guys! I can't wait to do it again! -- Maggie UIN 10248195 http://www.chocolatefiends.com/princessmoo/ The Ken Fitton Memorial Fund http://go.to/KenFitton