It’s Good to be Loved

I must admit, I have a tendency to take birthday food extravagances far. In the past I have fixated on gifting and challenging myself with high echelon ingredients and have indulgently created environs for my crew and me to feast in celebration of…another year loving food as much as I do. This year, my beautiful friend Suri took it upon herself to create an elaborate brunch of culinary activities; a deserved break from the kitchen and what would become a perfect afternoon, organized and cooked up with love. Here’s what went down…

Preemptively factoring in hangovers, folks were told to arrive at 1PM and began to fill up the rustic Brooklyn garden and divulge in the first course. As various cooking roles were allocated, out came Suri’s Grandmother’s Bread Pudding made with Challah bread; a sweetly custardy and surprisingly light baked (pan)cake served with warmed gooey Maple Syrup.

Drinks followed including Breeze's pristine spiked Blueberry Lemonade and Ms Mary Pryor’s Watermelon concoction. Multiple strains made this creamier than imaginable.

From this point forward I wasn’t allowed in the kitchen. While wafts of seductive sensory perfumes seeped out of the kitchen, I was told to simply enjoy the company of my friends. But let’s be real, I knew what was going down. Corn was being grilled, Potatoes were roasting and Refried Beans were absorbing their perfectly seasoned bath. Indeed, breakfast would soon be served, but not before an activity. Enter my assignment.

First came a bag of industrial tools, fittingly presented by Eso. I looked on, excited and perplexed.

Then Suri’s diatribe of how I brag about my scrambled eggs, which to her credit I do and will continue to ;). Then the Ostrich egg appeared (equaling approx 24 eggs in one!).

My job: to complete the Breakfast Burrito moment by serving up a batch of scrambled eggs for 10+ hungry folks. And so I did, happily! And yes, they were perfect; airy and lightly seasoned.

The meal consisted of Roasted Corn and Mushrooms, Salsa, Refried Beans, Guacamole, Grilled Shrimp, Micro Greens, Mango Slaw, Grilled Asparagus, a sweet salad of Watermelon and Goat Cheese and…Ostrich Scrambled Eggs.

I love my friends, steadily, forever and always!

Grazie per tutti*