mwp2paris
Mar 29, 05, 6:17 pm
My dear friend and traveling partner from Sacramento decided to throw a cocktail party to say thank you to all her wonderful Sacramento friends for all their hospitality over the last few years she has lived there after moving up from Newport Beach. Knowing I would, but of course, say yes, she asked me to come out and assist since I am a gourmet chef by hobby. I was able to arrange my schedule so that I flew out to SJC on Sunday, taught a class in Livermore on Monday, flew down to BUR and taught classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, then flew back up to SMF on Wednesday evening.
Since this is, ostensibly, a Trip Report, I guess I should make some comments on the above noted flights.
Sunday morning, I treated Mrs. Paris to one gorgeous apricot-and-fuchsia-tipped long-stem rose for each year of the birthday she was celebrating that day and fixed her a favorite Sunday morning treat…cappuccino, smoked salmon, capers, sour crème, diced red onion and little crisps to enjoy it all on. I also popped the cork on a bottle of Veuve Clicquot that had been in the refrigerator waiting for a special occasion and delivered it all to her in bed on a Pottery Barn tray that has come in handy over the years.
Soon, it became apparent that my departure hour was drawing nigh, so I shaved, showered, exfoliated, and pomaded trying to do what I could with what I’ve got to prepare for travel to San Jose, CA on AA. I was on a YUP fare and every segment upgraded at time of booking except for the DFW-SJC segment today. According to the seat map on AA.com and my frequent calls to the EXP Desk, things were not looking good. Today the seat map showed 2 seats available but they were still being held back for revenue passengers which I thought I was one but just not the right one, I suppose.
I made it to MCI via the MCI Shuttle from the Fairmont Hotel because I just didn’t think it gentlemanly to ask Mrs. Paris to drag herself all the way out to MCI to deposit my sorry self at the AA Terminal. I pranced through security with my shoes off and my dignity intact despite the attempts of the scrutiny brigade to rain on my happy mood and in a heartbeat, I was in the MCI Admiral’s Club gossiping with one of my favorite AAngels and handing off a printout of my www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=402640 Trip Report to Rome and Paris that has become quite the popular read amongst the wonderful staff there.
I was also assured that I was on the airport stand-by list for the upgrade to FC on the DFW-SJC segment and that I was Numero Uno on said list! The glories of checking in early were paying off.
Well, of course, my MCI-DFW flight was slightly delayed but then we boarded and I settled in and ordered a vodka-soda as a pre-departure and perused the NY Times Art Section and Travel Section…all the news that is fit to print!
The flight was uneventful and the FC FA was friendly and served me 1 or 3 vodka-sodas with lime with plenty of cashews to take the edge off my growing hunger.
We landed and I barely had time to TrAAin over from C Terminal to A Terminal. I approached the angry looking Gate Agent working the SJC flight, handed her my boarding pass, and politely inquired about my status on the upgrade list…she clicked for a few minutes then literally slapped my BP back onto the counter and curtly informed me that “there were seats but I wouldn’t get one.” I politely reminded her that I had been Number One on said list for most of the afternoon and she just looked at me and said “well maybe you were, but you aren’t now” and stormed off to piss off the next AA customer.
I was incensed…if I treated my customers the way I was just treated my company would fire my ... in a heartbeat. When boarding for Executive Platinums was announced, I noticed that a “suit” was working one of the BP readers so I went to him and politely said that I was a bit confused because I had been Number 1 on the upgrade list for all afternoon and now was told that even thought there were seats in FC available, I would not be getting one. He went over to the counter and clicked around and the original rude agent came up to him and rudely snapped to her colleague, at a volume just loud enough that she knew I would hear her, “I told him he was getting no upgrade” and stormed off yet again to piss off yet another AA customer.
Well, the polite “suit” continued to click then came back and said, “I apologize, we have had more last minute full-fare FC customers than we expected and in fact, we have more of them than FC seats. That is why you are not getting upgraded.”
I thanked him for his kindness and honesty, pointed to the rude agent who was now in the midst of pissing off yet another AA customer and told him, “I understand that explanation…but did that woman have to be so rude and spiteful instead of just calmly and politely explaining the situation to me?”
“I apologize sir and I will speak to her.”
I hope so…be gone biddy service lady to a hopeful career redirection and thank you, helpful “suit.”
I boarded and found my 20D exit row seat and settled in for the flight. The coach FAs had a bit of humor and they kept me supplied with glasses of ice and cans of club soda which I accidentally sloshed some of my special Aquafina “water” into and I did buy my 2 seat opponents and myself the $3.00 carb-loaded snack box which is just so sad, but it is not like we can order out for pizza to be delivered.
We landed and I headed over to National where I secured a low-mileage Trailblazer then beat my way up the 880 to the San Jose Sheraton where they gladly upgraded me to a lovely suite due to my SPG Platinum status. Rang up room service for a late snack then I hit the hay so I could be up and semi-productive the next morning for one of my regular and favorite clients.
The drive out to Livermore was lovely. With so much rain, the mountains are lush and green. My day went fairly quickly and I whipped it back down to SJC in record time, secured a Southwest Airlines A Group BP, cleared scrutiny with my shoes off, then ran to the SJC American Airlines Admiral’s Club to kill the nearly 2 hours I had until my flight.
I boarded the 737 and found the load to BUR light so settled into a window seat in the second row so I could be the first off. I love deplaning in BUR…those jet stairs are so 50s and I feel very “Gene Kelly” prancing down them and then I run to the National Emerald Isle kiosk where I am granted the keys to yet another Trailblazer which of course is parked in nearly the last spot on the lot but then I make relatively good time across the 210 to the Sheraton 3 and ½ Points, Monrovia where I secure keys to a room on the SPG floor where you are given 2 free water bottles to recognize your loyalty to Starwood.
I hightail it back down to the empty bar where the friendly and service-oriented bartender fetches me a Chicken Caesar salad with extra Parmesan and the appropriate number of glasses of house Chardonnay.
The next two days, I’m conducting meetings for yet another regular client and the days go rather quickly and then finally, it is Wednesday evening and I’m headed back over to my 5:00 BUR-SMF flight which of course is delayed an hour and a half and the 6:00 is oversold by too many so I end up at the nice bar with a bag of those amazing house-made potato chips that they serve at BUR and a couple of Hanger One Kaffir Lime vodkas on the rocks with a splash of soda and a lime, some of which were purchased by the nice gentleman next to me whose first bar tap came to the mid $70.00s and onto which he stuck an amazing tip and then he bought a round or two for the other SMF delayed souls and tipped yet another amazing amount. The lovely and attractive bartender could barely contain herself.
The flight was nice and due to the delay, the FAs bought our first round of booze then we landed, I leapt like a gazelle over to the National Car Rental Executive Elite line where I moaned a little bit due to no TrailBlazers being available and the nice attendant took pity on me and offered me the “fun” vehicle in Space 32.
Well, I would hardly call the V8 waiting for me “fun” but I sped out to my friend’s condo where I slowed the horrid little National Rental Car Dodge Magnum station wagon just enough for my dear friend to jump in and we, of course, headed straight to Scott’s Seafood for their lovely fruit de mer which they call a Tsunami and a few martinis and glasses of white wine with a glass of ice on the side.
I arose early the next morning and drove the hour and a half south to my client where I wowed my crowd with my wit and insight then flew back up the 99 so we could once again plant ourselves at the bar at Scott’s for the evening. Our favorite bartender, Justin, was shaking the martinis tonight and we stayed way too long and he shook way too many Absolute Raspberry martinis with a splash of Campari and lime juice served up with a lime wedge. Then I got hungry and ordered a filet, medium rare, but was informed that they had already turned off the grill and given that sad state of affairs, all our booze was comped for the night so we tipped generously. We then managed to drag ourselves down to Joshua’s Pub, the local dive, for a nightcap where we sat on the patio and lived life large for an hour or so with the attractive and drunk 20-somethings who frequent the place.
Then we realized that we needed to get our wits and good humor home because we had two days to prepare for the Saturday evening event. We bid ciao to the cute little 20-somethings who make Joshua’s their home away from home and crept back to my friend’s condo where we slurped down a last glass of wine and listened to Elton John.
Friday morning, raw ingredients gathering day, dawned bright and fair and we were up and moving much earlier than either of us wanted to be. We had three stops on our to-do list today…Costco, Albertson's, and David Berkley’s, the ab-fab gourmet grocer in the Pavilion’s area of Sacramento.
We hit the Costco and had to absolutely beat our way in with a stick. If my Costco in Kansas City was this packed, I would renounce my membership. We stocked up on racks of lamb, gin, vodka, wine, mushrooms, and various and assorted raw ingredients for the big event.
I, of course, made several passes around the free food that Costco is want to offer and today the selections were not bad…quiche, pizza, chicken tenders in hot sauce, soup, and chocolates…yummy.
Next stop was the Albertson’s but we did manage to drag ourselves through Chipotle’s for a late lunch of chicken tacos, steak tacos, and a Pacifico or two.
Albertson’s was packed as well and we loaded up on more stuff then waited in line forever but then the very friendly and new Store Director came and opened the line next to us and asked us to step over and be his first in line…thanks indeed, newbie Store Director.
We then, of course, had to go to David Berkley’s for crème fraiche, little red potatoes, champagne vinegar, proscuitto, and pancetta. I chatted with the nice deli lady and she was intrigued with my Brussels’s sprouts recipe.
We made it back to my friend’s condo just as the clock struck 5:00 so we immediately fixed a drink…wine for my friend and a cosmo for me…then I called a friend of my friend and told her we were going to be enjoying Caesar salad; grilled rib-eye seasoned with freshly ground pepper, sea salt, and olive oil; and sautéed Brussels’s sprouts with pancetta and did she want to join us and of course, she did.
She said she would be right over and she was. I had her freshly shaken Cosmopolitan waiting for her. I make my Cosmos with vodka (Ketel One this evening but my favorite is Grey Goose Le Citron), a splash of Grand Marnier, a splash of key lime Juice, a splash of cranberry juice, and a splash of Crème de Cassis….shake till freezing cold, pour into a chilled martini glass while it is still frothy and drink while it is still giggling at you.
We laughed and ate and previewed the music selections for the cocktail party. I walked our friend back over to her condo and returned to my friend’s condo to do the dishes and put my racks of lamb down to marinate in olive oil, salt, pepper and a generous shake of herbs de Provence.
Somehow, I managed to drag my sorry self out of bed Saturday morning and from 11:20 on I never left the kitchen. I did manage to watch my favorite cooking show, Barefoot Contessa, on the FoodNetwork whilst prepping my mise en place.
I have included the menu if anyone is wanting to conduct a proper cocktail party featuring heavy appetizers…
Warm mixed nuts oven roasted in a splash of olive oil, salt, pepper, curry, sugar, and cayenne pepper
Olives marinated in lemon juice, orange juice, olive oil, herbs de Provence, and garlic
Roasted red potatoes halved and topped with crème fraiche and caviar
NapaStyle Tuna Dip served with the appropriate crisps
A Cheese plate featuring Danish blue, a creamy goat, Spanish Manchego, and a lovely French Brie served with crackers, grapes, and apple and pear slices
Bruschetta with a Salad Caprese topping (tomatoes, buffalo mozarella, and fresh basil with olive oil, sea salt and pepper)
Deviled Eggs with capers and lump crab meat
Mushroom caps stuffed with Boursin black pepper soft cheese and oven-braised in butter, olive oil, white wine, and garlic
Roasted Rack of Lamb with mint pesto
Sea Scallops seared in butter, garlic and white wine
Oven roasted Asparagus served with a garlic and lemon aioli
Chocolate pirouettes
Individual house-made Key Lime Tarts served with whipped crème and lime zest
No one could believe how fabulous the food was. I barely could and I made it all!
I was the self-appointed bartender and was shaking Cosmopolitans, Margaritas, Martinis, and pouring Ketel One Vodkas, on the rocks with a splash of water like there was no tomorrow. The Woodbridge Chardonnay was a complete hit and they went through 3 large bottles. Someone also found the Crown Royal and sucked through half of it.
We put in the Buddy Greco CD and that was that…the lovely Mexican throw rugs were kicked to the side of the marble kitchen floor and the dancing began…these wonderful, affluent, well-traveled, and fun-loving people can dance, let me tell you.
There are so many stories about these people that just make me so glad I was there…the newly widowed who are still grieving and just need a hug and a shoulder to cry on while dancing to "My Funny Valentine"…the wonderful man who has just been diagnosed with ALS and is already showing the symptoms…his dear wife who is watching him decline and is helpless but still smiles and marches on with dignity and wit through it all…my dear friend who has experienced so much loss but just handles it with such overwhelming grace and is inspirational to all she meets…they are all amazing people I am so fortunate to have met.
Well…the food, the music, the dancing, the booze…it just went on forever. We finally began to bid adieu to all these wonderful people and then the last few who were there to the bitter end all ended up on the patio, smoking and drinking and telling way too many tales out of school.
Finally, the last guest was escorted to their car, my dear friend and I took one look at the mess in the kitchen, and without saying a word, just knew that we had to head out of there and go to a nightclub in Midtown Sacramento at 20th and J Street to de-stress from all the work we had poured into this amazing and over-the-top party.
We ended up at some disco where we danced and pranced and loved life until they turned up all the lights and closed the place at 2:00 in the morning and then we piled back into the hideous Dodge Magnum station wagon and crept back to the condo….where, of course, we poured plenty of wine and I did all the dishes whilst shaking our booties to the amazing Buddy Greco….I love Big Band and Buddy’s rendition of Girl Talk may be the best song ever.
We somehow managed to get to bed just as the sun poked its head over the horizon and were up at around 10:00. My dear friend and I have an invitation to Easter Dinner at the Country Club but I must decline because, for some reason, I have to be on the 2:29 p.m. American Airlines departure to DFW so I can get back to MCI tonight and do a 3-hour session for a company in Kansas City on Monday afternoon. This is a potential big contract so I must be on my best behavior and wow the hell out of them.
On this grey and overcast Easter morning, we settle in on my friend’s lovely Italian red leather sofas with coffee and Bloody Mary’s and watch some silly little movie called “Waking Up In Reno” with Billy Bob Thorton, Charlize Theron, Natasha Richardson, Patrick Swayze, Jr, and Penelope Cruise…crazy casting and they all had to talk with southern accents; then the reality of the situation sets in and I drag myself upstairs to scrub, shave, exfoliate, and pomade so that I can do what I can with what I’ve got to prepare for traveling First Class on American Airlines.
After a round of kisses and hugs and see-you-soons, the trip to SMF is quick and, even though I don’t refill the gas tank on the pathetic little station wagon, I’m not charged for refueling it by National. I hop on the bus and we whip it over to the appropriate terminal and I convince a kiosk to produce my boarding passes then I am momentarily delayed at the scrutiny check-point where I set off the alarm but then am able to prance back through on my second chance without getting felt up by the semi-attractive TSA groper and then snag my wits and stuff and march down to the gate where the wait is not to long before boarding starts.
I board the old TWA 757, which I like because the seats are cushy and leg room is plenty, and have to turn to the left which is just such a wonderful little pleasure in life because the SMF AA station uses the 2nd door instead of the 1st door to board 75s. Seat 1B is lovely and no one is in 1A so I scoot over just because I can.
I recognize one of the male FAs immediately as he does me and I won’t say more but he is very funny. The last time I was on one of his flights, he fell all over himself serving a soldier on his way back to Iraq whom he brought up from Coach Class and planted in First Class. The young man was drinking beer and could hardly believe his good fortune at being on this flight with this service provider.
This FA has worked for AA for 17 years and is a great asset to them. Actually, this entire crew was wonderful and we shared several laughs over the course of the flight.
I present my Easter present to the FAs (See’s Chocolate Eggs) and they fall all over themselves because they so rarely get customers who appreciate them and, of course, I get amazing service the rest of the 2 hour and 40 minute flight.
The movie today was “A Series of Unfortunate Events” which is just so marvelous and the snack was either the Roast Beef panini or the 3-Cheese pizza. I chose the panini which was actually lovely but I would have preferred to have the other half as well. Both came with warm mixed nuts with NO SOY NUTS, a small salad, and Partridge Farms cookies. I had plenty of Gin and Sodas and a red wine to keep me appropriately hydrated.
We finally landed at C21 and my MCI flight was out of C15 so what else could I do but head immediately to the C Terminal Admiral’s Club and enjoy a club soda with lime or 3 at the bar while surfing the web thanks to T-Mobile.
The MCI flight was packed, as always…I swear they could run 777s on this route and sell every seat…but my upgrade came through and I sat in 3E with no one beside me and the FC FA was appropriately slim and attentive and he didn’t mind bringing me more bags of almonds or gin and soda’s with lime and we finally landed and I made my way to the National Car Rental area where they know me by name and I chose, of course, a TrailBlazer from the Executive Elite Line and prance like a gazelle to one of my favorite little bistros in KC for a nightcap before heading home to Mrs. Paris, the Paris offspring, and yet another lovely evening in my wonderful hometown, Kansas City.
My friends, at the age of 44, I am beginning to understand that icon of musical theatre…Mame says it all…life is a buffet and most poor suckers are starving to death so live, live, live…
Not to mix show tunes, but life is a Cabaret and there are no seconds so enjoy…and tell a tale or two if you have the time!
Since this is, ostensibly, a Trip Report, I guess I should make some comments on the above noted flights.
Sunday morning, I treated Mrs. Paris to one gorgeous apricot-and-fuchsia-tipped long-stem rose for each year of the birthday she was celebrating that day and fixed her a favorite Sunday morning treat…cappuccino, smoked salmon, capers, sour crème, diced red onion and little crisps to enjoy it all on. I also popped the cork on a bottle of Veuve Clicquot that had been in the refrigerator waiting for a special occasion and delivered it all to her in bed on a Pottery Barn tray that has come in handy over the years.
Soon, it became apparent that my departure hour was drawing nigh, so I shaved, showered, exfoliated, and pomaded trying to do what I could with what I’ve got to prepare for travel to San Jose, CA on AA. I was on a YUP fare and every segment upgraded at time of booking except for the DFW-SJC segment today. According to the seat map on AA.com and my frequent calls to the EXP Desk, things were not looking good. Today the seat map showed 2 seats available but they were still being held back for revenue passengers which I thought I was one but just not the right one, I suppose.
I made it to MCI via the MCI Shuttle from the Fairmont Hotel because I just didn’t think it gentlemanly to ask Mrs. Paris to drag herself all the way out to MCI to deposit my sorry self at the AA Terminal. I pranced through security with my shoes off and my dignity intact despite the attempts of the scrutiny brigade to rain on my happy mood and in a heartbeat, I was in the MCI Admiral’s Club gossiping with one of my favorite AAngels and handing off a printout of my www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=402640 Trip Report to Rome and Paris that has become quite the popular read amongst the wonderful staff there.
I was also assured that I was on the airport stand-by list for the upgrade to FC on the DFW-SJC segment and that I was Numero Uno on said list! The glories of checking in early were paying off.
Well, of course, my MCI-DFW flight was slightly delayed but then we boarded and I settled in and ordered a vodka-soda as a pre-departure and perused the NY Times Art Section and Travel Section…all the news that is fit to print!
The flight was uneventful and the FC FA was friendly and served me 1 or 3 vodka-sodas with lime with plenty of cashews to take the edge off my growing hunger.
We landed and I barely had time to TrAAin over from C Terminal to A Terminal. I approached the angry looking Gate Agent working the SJC flight, handed her my boarding pass, and politely inquired about my status on the upgrade list…she clicked for a few minutes then literally slapped my BP back onto the counter and curtly informed me that “there were seats but I wouldn’t get one.” I politely reminded her that I had been Number One on said list for most of the afternoon and she just looked at me and said “well maybe you were, but you aren’t now” and stormed off to piss off the next AA customer.
I was incensed…if I treated my customers the way I was just treated my company would fire my ... in a heartbeat. When boarding for Executive Platinums was announced, I noticed that a “suit” was working one of the BP readers so I went to him and politely said that I was a bit confused because I had been Number 1 on the upgrade list for all afternoon and now was told that even thought there were seats in FC available, I would not be getting one. He went over to the counter and clicked around and the original rude agent came up to him and rudely snapped to her colleague, at a volume just loud enough that she knew I would hear her, “I told him he was getting no upgrade” and stormed off yet again to piss off yet another AA customer.
Well, the polite “suit” continued to click then came back and said, “I apologize, we have had more last minute full-fare FC customers than we expected and in fact, we have more of them than FC seats. That is why you are not getting upgraded.”
I thanked him for his kindness and honesty, pointed to the rude agent who was now in the midst of pissing off yet another AA customer and told him, “I understand that explanation…but did that woman have to be so rude and spiteful instead of just calmly and politely explaining the situation to me?”
“I apologize sir and I will speak to her.”
I hope so…be gone biddy service lady to a hopeful career redirection and thank you, helpful “suit.”
I boarded and found my 20D exit row seat and settled in for the flight. The coach FAs had a bit of humor and they kept me supplied with glasses of ice and cans of club soda which I accidentally sloshed some of my special Aquafina “water” into and I did buy my 2 seat opponents and myself the $3.00 carb-loaded snack box which is just so sad, but it is not like we can order out for pizza to be delivered.
We landed and I headed over to National where I secured a low-mileage Trailblazer then beat my way up the 880 to the San Jose Sheraton where they gladly upgraded me to a lovely suite due to my SPG Platinum status. Rang up room service for a late snack then I hit the hay so I could be up and semi-productive the next morning for one of my regular and favorite clients.
The drive out to Livermore was lovely. With so much rain, the mountains are lush and green. My day went fairly quickly and I whipped it back down to SJC in record time, secured a Southwest Airlines A Group BP, cleared scrutiny with my shoes off, then ran to the SJC American Airlines Admiral’s Club to kill the nearly 2 hours I had until my flight.
I boarded the 737 and found the load to BUR light so settled into a window seat in the second row so I could be the first off. I love deplaning in BUR…those jet stairs are so 50s and I feel very “Gene Kelly” prancing down them and then I run to the National Emerald Isle kiosk where I am granted the keys to yet another Trailblazer which of course is parked in nearly the last spot on the lot but then I make relatively good time across the 210 to the Sheraton 3 and ½ Points, Monrovia where I secure keys to a room on the SPG floor where you are given 2 free water bottles to recognize your loyalty to Starwood.
I hightail it back down to the empty bar where the friendly and service-oriented bartender fetches me a Chicken Caesar salad with extra Parmesan and the appropriate number of glasses of house Chardonnay.
The next two days, I’m conducting meetings for yet another regular client and the days go rather quickly and then finally, it is Wednesday evening and I’m headed back over to my 5:00 BUR-SMF flight which of course is delayed an hour and a half and the 6:00 is oversold by too many so I end up at the nice bar with a bag of those amazing house-made potato chips that they serve at BUR and a couple of Hanger One Kaffir Lime vodkas on the rocks with a splash of soda and a lime, some of which were purchased by the nice gentleman next to me whose first bar tap came to the mid $70.00s and onto which he stuck an amazing tip and then he bought a round or two for the other SMF delayed souls and tipped yet another amazing amount. The lovely and attractive bartender could barely contain herself.
The flight was nice and due to the delay, the FAs bought our first round of booze then we landed, I leapt like a gazelle over to the National Car Rental Executive Elite line where I moaned a little bit due to no TrailBlazers being available and the nice attendant took pity on me and offered me the “fun” vehicle in Space 32.
Well, I would hardly call the V8 waiting for me “fun” but I sped out to my friend’s condo where I slowed the horrid little National Rental Car Dodge Magnum station wagon just enough for my dear friend to jump in and we, of course, headed straight to Scott’s Seafood for their lovely fruit de mer which they call a Tsunami and a few martinis and glasses of white wine with a glass of ice on the side.
I arose early the next morning and drove the hour and a half south to my client where I wowed my crowd with my wit and insight then flew back up the 99 so we could once again plant ourselves at the bar at Scott’s for the evening. Our favorite bartender, Justin, was shaking the martinis tonight and we stayed way too long and he shook way too many Absolute Raspberry martinis with a splash of Campari and lime juice served up with a lime wedge. Then I got hungry and ordered a filet, medium rare, but was informed that they had already turned off the grill and given that sad state of affairs, all our booze was comped for the night so we tipped generously. We then managed to drag ourselves down to Joshua’s Pub, the local dive, for a nightcap where we sat on the patio and lived life large for an hour or so with the attractive and drunk 20-somethings who frequent the place.
Then we realized that we needed to get our wits and good humor home because we had two days to prepare for the Saturday evening event. We bid ciao to the cute little 20-somethings who make Joshua’s their home away from home and crept back to my friend’s condo where we slurped down a last glass of wine and listened to Elton John.
Friday morning, raw ingredients gathering day, dawned bright and fair and we were up and moving much earlier than either of us wanted to be. We had three stops on our to-do list today…Costco, Albertson's, and David Berkley’s, the ab-fab gourmet grocer in the Pavilion’s area of Sacramento.
We hit the Costco and had to absolutely beat our way in with a stick. If my Costco in Kansas City was this packed, I would renounce my membership. We stocked up on racks of lamb, gin, vodka, wine, mushrooms, and various and assorted raw ingredients for the big event.
I, of course, made several passes around the free food that Costco is want to offer and today the selections were not bad…quiche, pizza, chicken tenders in hot sauce, soup, and chocolates…yummy.
Next stop was the Albertson’s but we did manage to drag ourselves through Chipotle’s for a late lunch of chicken tacos, steak tacos, and a Pacifico or two.
Albertson’s was packed as well and we loaded up on more stuff then waited in line forever but then the very friendly and new Store Director came and opened the line next to us and asked us to step over and be his first in line…thanks indeed, newbie Store Director.
We then, of course, had to go to David Berkley’s for crème fraiche, little red potatoes, champagne vinegar, proscuitto, and pancetta. I chatted with the nice deli lady and she was intrigued with my Brussels’s sprouts recipe.
We made it back to my friend’s condo just as the clock struck 5:00 so we immediately fixed a drink…wine for my friend and a cosmo for me…then I called a friend of my friend and told her we were going to be enjoying Caesar salad; grilled rib-eye seasoned with freshly ground pepper, sea salt, and olive oil; and sautéed Brussels’s sprouts with pancetta and did she want to join us and of course, she did.
She said she would be right over and she was. I had her freshly shaken Cosmopolitan waiting for her. I make my Cosmos with vodka (Ketel One this evening but my favorite is Grey Goose Le Citron), a splash of Grand Marnier, a splash of key lime Juice, a splash of cranberry juice, and a splash of Crème de Cassis….shake till freezing cold, pour into a chilled martini glass while it is still frothy and drink while it is still giggling at you.
We laughed and ate and previewed the music selections for the cocktail party. I walked our friend back over to her condo and returned to my friend’s condo to do the dishes and put my racks of lamb down to marinate in olive oil, salt, pepper and a generous shake of herbs de Provence.
Somehow, I managed to drag my sorry self out of bed Saturday morning and from 11:20 on I never left the kitchen. I did manage to watch my favorite cooking show, Barefoot Contessa, on the FoodNetwork whilst prepping my mise en place.
I have included the menu if anyone is wanting to conduct a proper cocktail party featuring heavy appetizers…
Warm mixed nuts oven roasted in a splash of olive oil, salt, pepper, curry, sugar, and cayenne pepper
Olives marinated in lemon juice, orange juice, olive oil, herbs de Provence, and garlic
Roasted red potatoes halved and topped with crème fraiche and caviar
NapaStyle Tuna Dip served with the appropriate crisps
A Cheese plate featuring Danish blue, a creamy goat, Spanish Manchego, and a lovely French Brie served with crackers, grapes, and apple and pear slices
Bruschetta with a Salad Caprese topping (tomatoes, buffalo mozarella, and fresh basil with olive oil, sea salt and pepper)
Deviled Eggs with capers and lump crab meat
Mushroom caps stuffed with Boursin black pepper soft cheese and oven-braised in butter, olive oil, white wine, and garlic
Roasted Rack of Lamb with mint pesto
Sea Scallops seared in butter, garlic and white wine
Oven roasted Asparagus served with a garlic and lemon aioli
Chocolate pirouettes
Individual house-made Key Lime Tarts served with whipped crème and lime zest
No one could believe how fabulous the food was. I barely could and I made it all!
I was the self-appointed bartender and was shaking Cosmopolitans, Margaritas, Martinis, and pouring Ketel One Vodkas, on the rocks with a splash of water like there was no tomorrow. The Woodbridge Chardonnay was a complete hit and they went through 3 large bottles. Someone also found the Crown Royal and sucked through half of it.
We put in the Buddy Greco CD and that was that…the lovely Mexican throw rugs were kicked to the side of the marble kitchen floor and the dancing began…these wonderful, affluent, well-traveled, and fun-loving people can dance, let me tell you.
There are so many stories about these people that just make me so glad I was there…the newly widowed who are still grieving and just need a hug and a shoulder to cry on while dancing to "My Funny Valentine"…the wonderful man who has just been diagnosed with ALS and is already showing the symptoms…his dear wife who is watching him decline and is helpless but still smiles and marches on with dignity and wit through it all…my dear friend who has experienced so much loss but just handles it with such overwhelming grace and is inspirational to all she meets…they are all amazing people I am so fortunate to have met.
Well…the food, the music, the dancing, the booze…it just went on forever. We finally began to bid adieu to all these wonderful people and then the last few who were there to the bitter end all ended up on the patio, smoking and drinking and telling way too many tales out of school.
Finally, the last guest was escorted to their car, my dear friend and I took one look at the mess in the kitchen, and without saying a word, just knew that we had to head out of there and go to a nightclub in Midtown Sacramento at 20th and J Street to de-stress from all the work we had poured into this amazing and over-the-top party.
We ended up at some disco where we danced and pranced and loved life until they turned up all the lights and closed the place at 2:00 in the morning and then we piled back into the hideous Dodge Magnum station wagon and crept back to the condo….where, of course, we poured plenty of wine and I did all the dishes whilst shaking our booties to the amazing Buddy Greco….I love Big Band and Buddy’s rendition of Girl Talk may be the best song ever.
We somehow managed to get to bed just as the sun poked its head over the horizon and were up at around 10:00. My dear friend and I have an invitation to Easter Dinner at the Country Club but I must decline because, for some reason, I have to be on the 2:29 p.m. American Airlines departure to DFW so I can get back to MCI tonight and do a 3-hour session for a company in Kansas City on Monday afternoon. This is a potential big contract so I must be on my best behavior and wow the hell out of them.
On this grey and overcast Easter morning, we settle in on my friend’s lovely Italian red leather sofas with coffee and Bloody Mary’s and watch some silly little movie called “Waking Up In Reno” with Billy Bob Thorton, Charlize Theron, Natasha Richardson, Patrick Swayze, Jr, and Penelope Cruise…crazy casting and they all had to talk with southern accents; then the reality of the situation sets in and I drag myself upstairs to scrub, shave, exfoliate, and pomade so that I can do what I can with what I’ve got to prepare for traveling First Class on American Airlines.
After a round of kisses and hugs and see-you-soons, the trip to SMF is quick and, even though I don’t refill the gas tank on the pathetic little station wagon, I’m not charged for refueling it by National. I hop on the bus and we whip it over to the appropriate terminal and I convince a kiosk to produce my boarding passes then I am momentarily delayed at the scrutiny check-point where I set off the alarm but then am able to prance back through on my second chance without getting felt up by the semi-attractive TSA groper and then snag my wits and stuff and march down to the gate where the wait is not to long before boarding starts.
I board the old TWA 757, which I like because the seats are cushy and leg room is plenty, and have to turn to the left which is just such a wonderful little pleasure in life because the SMF AA station uses the 2nd door instead of the 1st door to board 75s. Seat 1B is lovely and no one is in 1A so I scoot over just because I can.
I recognize one of the male FAs immediately as he does me and I won’t say more but he is very funny. The last time I was on one of his flights, he fell all over himself serving a soldier on his way back to Iraq whom he brought up from Coach Class and planted in First Class. The young man was drinking beer and could hardly believe his good fortune at being on this flight with this service provider.
This FA has worked for AA for 17 years and is a great asset to them. Actually, this entire crew was wonderful and we shared several laughs over the course of the flight.
I present my Easter present to the FAs (See’s Chocolate Eggs) and they fall all over themselves because they so rarely get customers who appreciate them and, of course, I get amazing service the rest of the 2 hour and 40 minute flight.
The movie today was “A Series of Unfortunate Events” which is just so marvelous and the snack was either the Roast Beef panini or the 3-Cheese pizza. I chose the panini which was actually lovely but I would have preferred to have the other half as well. Both came with warm mixed nuts with NO SOY NUTS, a small salad, and Partridge Farms cookies. I had plenty of Gin and Sodas and a red wine to keep me appropriately hydrated.
We finally landed at C21 and my MCI flight was out of C15 so what else could I do but head immediately to the C Terminal Admiral’s Club and enjoy a club soda with lime or 3 at the bar while surfing the web thanks to T-Mobile.
The MCI flight was packed, as always…I swear they could run 777s on this route and sell every seat…but my upgrade came through and I sat in 3E with no one beside me and the FC FA was appropriately slim and attentive and he didn’t mind bringing me more bags of almonds or gin and soda’s with lime and we finally landed and I made my way to the National Car Rental area where they know me by name and I chose, of course, a TrailBlazer from the Executive Elite Line and prance like a gazelle to one of my favorite little bistros in KC for a nightcap before heading home to Mrs. Paris, the Paris offspring, and yet another lovely evening in my wonderful hometown, Kansas City.
My friends, at the age of 44, I am beginning to understand that icon of musical theatre…Mame says it all…life is a buffet and most poor suckers are starving to death so live, live, live…
Not to mix show tunes, but life is a Cabaret and there are no seconds so enjoy…and tell a tale or two if you have the time!