Wednesday 7 January
Susann and Bert had kindly
arranged a surprise party to honor the retirement of Jim Anderson, celebrated
teacher, author, and Rome maven. They
had called in family, friends, and colleagues, and arranged it to be
catered by, and in, Tartine, a lunch place so small and neighborhoody that even
our 90-year-old taxi driver had never heard of the place.
While we helped set up the
decorations, chefs Cara (pastry) and Evan (not pastry) were laying out the
food. There was a bounteous charcuterie
platter, featuring salami, mortadella, olives, cornichons, paté, and relishes,
to start. Holt loved the spice-boiled,
mustardy-sauced shrimp gougères, and luscious
deviled eggs with crabmeat.
One could progress from there to an
array of roasted vegetables: beefy portobello mushrooms, red peppers, asparagus,
zucchini, yellow squash, and red onion.
There was a side of house-smoked salmon (with green tartar sauce, capers
and other condiments), a whole grilled beef tenderloin with mustard and
horseradish sauces, plus fresh rolls, and if that didn't fill all the gaps, a mixed green salad.
Once we had fressed our fill of
those, the desserts came out: two traditional king cakes, as it's now Carnival; plus brownies,
frosted macaroons, chocolate chip cookies, and a toast to Jim in prosecco. We were honored to share the evening with him
and his family and other friends; all our thanks go to Susann and Bert for
arranging it, and to chefs Cara and Evan for cooking it.
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