My wife is throwing a cocktail party for friends tonight. I used to dread them, the parties, not the friends. Technically it’s “our” party, but everyone in the room knows who made it happen. It wasn’t me, and isn’t her first.
I don’t have any idea how to put this together, but it always looks beautiful. I am part of the process, it’s just that anything that happens before the party, is all her. Make no mistake.
I’ve been the only person that cooks in our house for 18 years. Breakfast in bed, every dinner, even snacks. But parties are different, and over the years we’ve really become a team.
Although she doesn’t use the stove because it scares her, and used to keep books in the oven, she’s the best sous chef I’ve seen. I sometimes don’t even know what I’m cooking until the prep work is done.
Tonight’s feast is cheese, crackers, potstickers, a mystery appetizer, salad and mussels two ways.
Here’s what I found waiting for me.
Fennel, onion, garlic, diced tomato, and parsley – not a bad start to any dinner.
Chorizo, I throw it in early because it makes a mess and goes in last anyway. Just before we eat I’ll heat up the pan, add the other stuff, wine, chicken broth and have it ready in 15 minutes.
We’re also doing them Thai style. I cheat a bit with the Thai paste but it’s really easy.
Of course the mussels are in the fridge cleaned and iced. The serving bowls are ready and the potstickers, at perfect temperature are waiting for a skillet to brown. Even the remaining ingredients are waiting for me.
All I really have to do is open a nice bottle of wine, thank you Joel.
When the guests arrive, I’ll take over. Cocktails, service, food, pretty much everything else becomes my responsibility. Except the game. Usually some trivia thing, but always a game. Odd I know, but we’ve all gotten used to it, web the guests. If my timing is good, I usually light a cigar just before she’s ready. Oops?
Dinner will be great and the company a blast. And the parties? They keep getting easier.
It’s nice to be part of a team.
