After watching all the cooking and preparation in the movie Julie & Julia, I have been more inclined to cook. So tonight I sliced and diced up some fresh, firm and perfect yellow and orange bell peppers, a big artisan onion (yes the store had them labeled so) and succulent boneless chicken breasts to be served with lightly seasoned and fluffy rice pilaf. The entree will be accompanied by a composed salad featuring market fresh ingredients. You may call this gourmet dish something else depending on your ethnic or regional differences, but here at Chez Smallenburg, we call it leftovers. I love to slice and dice and toss things together. It makes me feel like a real cook. I like to add last night's meat to fresh stuff to make a totally different meal for tonight. It makes me feel efficient. I like to go out to dinner. It makes me feel pampered.
I have been buried in rehearsal dinner favors and place cards. They can't just be ordinary. No. I expect more from myself. The bride has not given me any direction and has turned me loose to come up with things on my own. Why, oh why, does that make the assignment so much more difficult? I have too many ideas and too many things I can use. I finally have narrowed it down to one idea with a couple of dozen steps. Sometimes I just look at myself and ask why.
The rehearsal dinner is at a restaurant called Pinot Bistro in Studio City CA. The website has captured my interest. They have Saturday Morning 3 hour cooking classes for $90. That sounds fun. They have a special for locals a 3 course meal on Sunday nights for $32. If you want more, they have an offer where one can plan a meal with the chef, cook the meal under the chef's supervision and then have 8 of your best friends join you to be served the meal with champagne and wines included for a mere $750. They didn't mention who has to clean up. I really like the concept. Have any of you West-Coasters eaten at Pinot Bistro?
Thank you to yesterday's commenters and those who e-mailed me with their favorite love quotes. There were some gems that I will be using.
Check out the Loretta Paganini Cooking School in Chesterland. They do a lot of similar things. I've been wanting to take a class out there but just never seem to find the time.
Posted by: Aimee | Friday, 14 August 2009 at 03:34 PM
Your making me hungry Ginny
Jen
Posted by: Jen Crossley | Saturday, 15 August 2009 at 04:49 AM
I don't live far from there and drive by often but never checked it out. I might just have to go soon. I've eaten at other places run by the Patina group though. The food is usually really great.
Posted by: Robbie | Saturday, 15 August 2009 at 02:51 PM
"They can't just be ordinary. No. I expect more from myself." Oh I knoooooooooow that feeling. My husband and I between the two of us are quite capable of turning a simple project into something akin to building the pyramids with one hand tied behind our backs. ;) It's just because I think there's no natural stop in the brain for us creative types. If you think of a good idea it just grows and grows and groooooows and before you know it you're thinking you could go ahead and plant the seeds that grows the trees to mill for pulp to make the paper to collage and cut and paint and stamp for invitations...haha ;) well it's heck of a lot better feeling then having no ideas at least.
I havn't seen the Julie and Julia movie yet but I'm looking forward to it. I very much enjoy cooking, I find it's just another creative outlet. The other night I made homemade graham crackers and discovered you could sculpt the dough into a face to bake and let your husband eat to satisfy any zombie-esque cravings he might have. hahahahaha
Posted by: TACE | Monday, 17 August 2009 at 12:00 PM