Besides beef and
Banff National Park, Alberta is famous for its
Bernard Callebaut chocolate. Before moving here, work colleagues of mine extolled its virtues. I had high expectations upon settling in Edmonton, which were thankfully met.
Like my arrival in Edmonton, my departure finds me pondering chocolate. In concluding things at my current position, in typical fashion I've spent some time chatting with colleagues and saying our farewells. One such conversation led to a discussion on the perfect number of people to invite to a party. Greg and I hosted
a large party last March, but now I'm thinking 8 people is just perfect.
One pitfall to a small party, as articulated by my co-worker, is that the food expectations are heightened. With eight guests, people are less likely to be satisfied with pre-made burgers on a grill, coleslaw and a slab cake. With eight guests, people are looking for a glimpse into your cooking style and prowess.
Greg and I cook simply. We eat lots of soup, tomato and cucumber salads, grilled shrimp, stir frys and pasta. We enjoy cooking together (most of the time), but our sense of adventure in the kitchen wanes when work is hectic and our plates are filled with other endeavours. I occasionally get into a mood where I want to try new recipes. I collect the new ingredients from the supermarket (hello largely unused jar of turmeric) and try my hand at whipping up a new concoction. This whim has led to citrus salmon fillets, peanut soup and coconut shrimp. Sadly, I haven't been experimenting in the kitchen for a while.
In thinking about what sorts of meals might impress, my co-worker mentioned a chocolate party that she'd been invited to not long ago. I immediately thought chocolate
fondue, brownies, creme
de cacau; an adult take on a dessert party. However, my initial assumption was mistaken. Her friend's party included four
proper courses that each included chocolate; think replacing chocolate
fondue with
chicken mole. Doesn't it sound like fun? I am getting excited at the prospect of mirroring this dinner party.
All this thinking about chocolate is making me want to watch
Chocolat again. Image of upscale
s'mores via
Ulterior Epicure.
I love dinner parties and am excited to get moving on a party we're planning later this month with a Sunday Suppers-inspired menu plan and decor inspired by Ashley Meaders. Image via Sunday Suppers.
Last weekend, Greg and I hosted my (now our) lovely friends MaryBeth and Cheryl. While temperatures were low, it was fantastic to catch up with those two. There were so many things to catch up on - starting soccer teams, navigating newish jobs and office politics, getting engaged (congratulations MaryBeth and Adam), drafting spring shopping must have lists and sharing favourite recipes. Our apartment has never been filled with as much laughter before.
We spent Friday evening chatting and eating (a common theme throughout the weekend) at Joey Tomato's on Jasper. Saturday involved wandering the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market, shopping at Edmonton South Common (there's a great new Banana Republic there), and making a yummy Italian dinner (we're still recovering from the calories). Sunday was a West Edmonton Mall shopping extravaganza (Club Monaco has the cutest headbands for sale now - check them out!).
Here's to good friends, good times and future reunions (March 27th 2010 anyone?).
This weekend Greg and I will be hosting two of my great friends (and sisters) Cheryl and MaryBeth from Toronto. They're fantastic ladies who I had the pleasure of meeting while studying at Queen's School of Policy Studies a few years back. We bonded over memorandums to cabinet, briefing notes and statistics assignments. We ate ice cream on Wolfe Island. Some of us tried to make it to Washington D.C., but ended up on a bus in a snowstorm outside Scranton, PA. Others of us went dancing at Menage in Toronto. We held many parties at Amy's place on Ontario Street. We've been making trips across the country to keep in touch ever since.
