In addition to the fantastic Christmas Day dinner in brilliant company, we also had already had a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner in brilliant company.Our friends Tynan and Elena invited us to their home for a traditional Spanish Christmas dinner. Like San Geraldo, Elena is a gifted chef. But she has an entirely different repertoire.
Christmas Eve dinner at their house begins with Elena's fish soup. Now, although I didn't tell Elena before-hand, I have never met a fish soup I could tolerate. I can't stand fish soup. But, this was their tradition and I figured I would be polite and eat what I was served.
I'm so glad I behaved. Elena's fish soup is unlike any I've ever tasted (and I've tasted many). Absolutely delicious and nothing fishy about it — except for 'good' fishy. I could have made an entire meal of the soup. But there was more to come. Delicious pork tenderloin in a perfect sauce with a side of sliced potatoes and a splash of white wine. Exceptional.
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| THE BEST FISH SOUP IN THE WORLD! (TRUST ME.) |
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| LOMO IBÉRICO AND POTATOES. |
San Geraldo provided the dessert — I provided the good lucks, charming company, and incomparable humility (although I'm sure Tynan thinks that's what HE provided).
But back to dessert: "Beacon Hill Brownies" (from the Silver Palette Cookbook), a specialty of San Geraldo's.
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| BEACON HILL BROWNIES (A CROSS BETWEEN A BROWNIE AND FUDGE). |
In addition to his brownies, San Geraldo had planned to bake a lemon meringue pie. He prepared his perfect pastry dough Tuesday morning and let it chill overnight. He took it out Wednesday morning intending to complete the pie. But our friends Anne (Slushee) and Darren texted us to meet them for coffee. Of course, we jumped at the chance.
San Geraldo forgot about the pastry, so it sat on the kitchen counter for two hours (not a good idea). When we got home, he put it in the oven and watched it melt. So he picked up a tray of pastries at the bakery. They were OK but unnecessary. The brownies were amazing. Tynan, who doesn't even like brownies, ate three.
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| THE BLOB... AFTER A BRIEF BAKING. I THINK IT LOOKED LIKE INTESTINES. |
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We tried bowling (bolo) with Alexander (14) and Paula (12). They didn't explain to us exactly how to work the controls until half-way through the game. Not knowing how to release the "bowling ball," my first ball flew behind me and sent the spectators bouncing in the air. Still, I came in second. Alexander won.
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| EVERYONE JUMPING TO AVOID MY FIRST BALL. |
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| ALEXANDER, ME (THE BALD ONE), PAULA, AND SAN GERALDO. |
After bowling, Paula and San Geraldo had a dance competition to The Village People's YMCA. Paula was so surprised that San Geraldo knew the song and the moves. He did really well... once he sat down. Paula won.
And then, Tynan had a dance competition with his daughter. As payback for his turkey jokes (in defense, for once, of San Geraldo), I've included a 20-second video clip of Tynan shaking his booty to Abba's "Gimme Gimme Gimme A Man After Midnight." Paula won. But Tynan was so entertaining.
NOT San Geraldo and Paula...
From the post title I expected a Little 'YMCA' sung to the tune of 'O Little Town of Bethlehem.'
ReplyDeleteThis was better. Sounds like a night of great food and booty shaking!
Bob:
DeleteTynan's booty shaking was a revelation. (Is that what that part of the New Testament was about?)
Mitchell, you had a great fun but personallyu I hate fish soup,too.
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteIf you like fish but don't like fish soup, you could very well like Elena's fish soup. I have been converted (but only if she makes it)!
Boy, can that Tynan move! (Answer: More than some of us can)
ReplyDeleteDo the Spanish do their YMCA dance spelling out the letters JHCA? If so, how on earth to they depict the second one? (Sorry, but the question needs to be asked.)
Raybeard:
DeleteThe video was about 2-1/2 minutes and Tynan moved the entire time.
They never did translate the song into Spanish. The "H" would be interesting.But then they would probably just use the word "Jovenes" for "Young Men" and avoid the problem.
ooohh yumm yummm yummm!
ReplyDeleteJudy:
DeleteFish soup, lomo, blinis, and turkey. What an international Christmas.
Looks like a great time was had by all.... (had to laugh at the pie dough, but love the dish it collapsed in!)
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteWe have a couple of beautiful pie plates that we brought with us. That pie dough started out so well!
A straight friend once posed the question to me, 'Why do all gay men like lemon meringue pie?'. Good question and I think she was correct in her observation. So, a fun evening was had by all. Would you believe I don't think I have ever seen that original YMCA clip until now.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteI'm not sure I'd agree with the lemon meringue pie stereotype. I know only a few people (gay or straight) that don't like lemon meringue pie. I love that video. It was shot mostly on 10th Avenue, which is where I was when I went to Chelsea Market in November. That elevated roadway at left is where The High Line park now runs.
Not a big fan of fish in any form, but Portuguese-American friends in Dallas did make a wonderful fish stew that I enjoyed. And I mourn the lemon meringue pie! My mother made a wonderful one and whether that is what made me gay, I don't know.
ReplyDeleteMichael:
DeleteI do like many types of fish. So, if you don't like most, but you liked your friends' fish stew, then you would love Elena's. I've never heard of lemon meringue pie being a "gay thing." Singing in the choir, yes; lemon meringue pie, no.
Sounds like a great evening! When a non-brownie person loves the brownies and a non-fish soup person loves the fish soup...well, those are great compliments to the chefs!
ReplyDeleteMichelle:
DeleteExactly what a thought. What better critique can you get?
Indeed a wonderful evening full of fun, food and dancing!
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that 'fish' anything may be on future menus for you, Mitchell?
Jim:
DeleteI love most fish... just not super "fishy" fish. You'll remember I've even lightened up on my opinion of anchovies. But, I still don't want to look them in the eyes when they're on my plate.
oops forgot about the dancing..Will never forget the Brownies they were exceptional
ReplyDeleteTynan:
DeleteThanks for being such a good sport. The entire 2-1/2-minute video is priceless. And then there was the video to the first song, too!
I must be the only one who likes fish soup. Must be the Portuguese in me.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteJerry loves it. And I am now converted.
Very funny dancing, don't quit your day job.
ReplyDeleteLaurent:
DeleteUh oh. Tynan's day job IS dancing. He's a go-go boy at a bar just down the street. You should see him on the pole.
Sounds like great fun. I must say, it never ceases to amaze me at how straight people love to do the YMCA dance. On both sides of the Atlantic, I've seen gatherings and parties where they all know how to make the Y, M, C, and A and sing along with the music. It's hilarious to see in France, but the French can be forgiven for not understanding the lyrics. And I love soupe de poissons from the south of France, but I'd wager you wouldn't enjoy it. ;)
ReplyDeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteElena is from the North of Spain, so maybe her fish is similar to that of the South of France. I'd be willing to give it a try. Yes, it's amazing how YMCA has traveled the world. And it's also hilarious how many people have no idea what it's really about.
hohoho
ReplyDeletejolly good fun!
By the way, the blob is not intestine but greater omentum. :-)
Spo:
DeleteOK, I just looked at images of the great omentum. Blech! You have it exactly right!
Pretty good, for a psychiatrist!
DeleteTHere you go with all the yummy food again! (Well except maybe that blog!) Does Tynan know he's shaking his booty across the internet universe?
ReplyDeleteAnd aaahh,, I was 14 when YMCA came out, er, was released. I always liked construction guy but now I'm partial to the cowboy!