Construction has begun!

We all went into the restaurant to check on the progress - so much has been done!
The half-wall which surrounds the pizza prep area ia roughed in, there are actually stairs again! The floor is being replaced so has all been pulled out down to the underfloor.

Here is a picture of the sign components - yet to be assembled as the facade goes in:

There are 21 property owners that have to sign off on the liquor license: we only need 11 and we already have 4 signatures. Crossing the fingers......

Pulpito

We are turning our guest room into a playroom, mostly to attempt to reclaim the living room from the onslaught of primary colors.

During a cleaning (read : mucking out) episode, I unearthed this toy:

This was the first baby toy Jett was ever attached to. My assistant Miguel named it "Pulpito" ("Pulpo" = "Octopus" and "ito" = "little") Though technically speaking it should be called "Pentapus" as it only has five legs. Never mind.

So I pulled Pulpito out of a box of baby things - a box that has been hidden in that guest room since Jett was about a year old. Jett's eyes LIT UP! He crooned "Peeee-to! Peeee-to!!!" and gave it the tenderest of hugs and kisses. He took it to bed that night, and many nights since. Jett still can't stop stealing glances at it sitting on his dresser. Glances which anyone else reserves for a particularly attractive member of the opposite sex whom you're sure will disappear from view without warning. He gets a sly smile and often goes to grab one of its feet. "Peeto." he says. "Peeto."

All is well with the world.

How did he remember this toy? When he played with Pulpito, he wasn't really talking, and never, ever, did Jett actually say its name (though Chris and I sure did). Did he really internalize Pulpito so thoroughly that he can remember its name, a name unsaid, well over a year and a half later?

It makes me wonder what other early memories he has. So intriguing. And sobering. I think everything we've done, everything we've said or that Jett has seen is in there somewhere. And I hope we've done a good job so far.

Dinner Impossible

We just couldn't get it together before Christmas, what with 80% of the attendees being in the restaurant business, but finally we got everyone to commit to a date.... That may have been the most difficult part, despite the fact that Chris decided upon an ambitious "tasting menu" for everyone with 20 courses (!) Thank goodness he's a chef, is all I have to say! We invested in all kinds of tiny china and teensy cutlery and loaded the bar and kitchen with ingredients!

Chris and I didn't sit for the dinner; there was too much to do plating and serving - but we had the best time! The "before" beauty shot:

(Excuse the window treatments. They are foul. In an old house, sometimes you have to throw your money in less glamorous directions...)

The menu:

Basket of Local Breads with Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar

Caesar Salad Soup/Pizza Soup Duo

Caprese Stack/Tomato,Feta, and Cilantro Salad/Roasted Artichoke Hearts with Saffron Butter

Roast Beef Canapes with Sun Dried Tomato & Horseradish Aioli

Bacon-wrapped Sweet Chile Shrimp/Mini Crab Cake with Remoulade

Blue and Cream-Cheese Stuffed New Potatoes

Puff Pastry with Black Bean and Corn Relish

Celebration Paella

Cheese Ravioli with Aged Gouda Cream/Linguine with Walnut & Blue Cheese Cream

Pork Tender with Cranberry Orange Marmalade

Pan-Seared Lamb with Lavender and Balsamic Glaze

Beef Wellington with Veal Demiglace

Cream Cheese and Raspberry Ice Cream

Milk Chocolate Creme Brulee

Pop Rock Cheesecake Andes Mint

The friends:

The aftermath:

(Yes, you've counted them correctly. Twelve empty bottles of wine. Not counting the cooks' one in the kitchen.)

Thanks to Robert from Kitchen:Impossible and what-his name, Doogie Hauser his guest host, for the mixed soups idea. People were at first a little freaked out by the perfectly-divided in half crazy-flavored soups, but once they tasted this course, everyone wanted more! (Sorry, kids, not how it goes! :)) The pop rock cheesecake was the one course both of us put our heads out of the kitchen for; head after head popped into the air as each person bit in and said "OH!" The best part for us was hearing the boisterous goings-on in the dining room. Everyone had a great time together. We feel so proud of ourselves for pulling this one off.