Now where was I?

Oh yes, I had finished the PDX trip post and we had friends over for dinner the night after we got home... Sheila & Mary, Laure (with new baby Hugo and six year old Alix) and Lee and Neil - just a nice evening of friends gathered on the occasion of the introduction of Hugo to the Chicago friends.

We had some good wines to go along with crab lasagne, green beans, salad and a cherry almond crostada for dessert....

Then the gang got together at Sheila & Mary's place on Saturday and grew when Arno arrived from NYC and Ross & Dario from St Louis (where they moved two weeks ago) with four year old Andrea in tow... the kids played; the adults drank and ate and talked and talked and talked....

the meal was Sheila's fabulous smoked ribs and chicken with a terrific rice salad and slaw and Mary's famous Tres Leches cake... all yum - along with some spectacular wines transported by us but a gift to the group event from Neil - 1976 and 1978 burgundies!

Then we started our first leg of the farewell tour - with dinner at Orange Garden - old old old place in the hood for Chinese and Bien Me Sabe - the new-ish Venezuelan place in the hood....

Then tonight we joined the Chicago Gourmets dining club for a dinner at the Duck Inn... good duck as always...

the regular menu from the Duck Inn- front and back -

Chef Kevin Hickey (shown below) explained how the name was taken from a diner his family ran in the neighborhood in the early decades of the 20th century and how his dad still lived nearby and his dad's bowling trophy is in the bar here.  He grows produce in his dad's yard.  He also gave some of the history of the tavern where the Duck Inn is now located... fun background info!

the wines poured - we had talked about bringing our own but decided against it- I had the red and it was drinkable - have no idea about the white...LOL

these flowers (at each table) were from Don Newcomb's garden- he always does the most lovely arrangements!

The mural is called Duck Under Water--- 

the kitchen hard at work -

the menu for the evening-

a vinyl collection in the bar provides many choices for background music -

and tomorrow night a collaboration dinner with Spiaggia and Osteria Langhe, after we attend at least part of the condo board meeting.... having some fun now! LOL and then the following night a fund raiser dinner at Monteverde (for the Chicago Food Depository) so more to follow as always.  Then we need to stay home a night or two to pack for our trip to the Republic of Georgia.

zoom zoom zoom.... and not the Mazda one - this is the sound of time flying by and the upcoming arrival of Florida time.... stay tuned!

absolutely perfect weather

for an evening event outdoors... so we went off to the first Chaine des Rotissuers  event for the 2015-2016 season.  The kick off dinner was at the Duck Inn where we have had several memorable meals. Chef Kevin Hickey a long time Chaine member cooked up a fabulous menu for our meal-

so on with the "show" just a small portion of the glassware for the nearly 70 members and their guests who attended the festivities-

Chef Kevin and helper work on the pig- which is being steamed in a contraption known as a Chinese Box...

guests and members begin to arrive-

each place setting has the full menu and background information on the food and the organization along with a list of members of the chapter..

the pig gets paraded around the garden - a nice tribute to his sacrifice for our enjoyment

a couple had a shared birthday celebration on this exact date-

some promo materials from the restaurant -

their signature dish - recommended to order ahead to guarantee getting one when you visit-

the Chaine menu booklet-

The food was very very good but not photogenic- LOL- but trust me- worth a visit to the Duck Inn to try it out... so you have to imagine it from the descriptions of the preparations... we left before dessert because our day tomorrow is a busy one- with last minute details to get to the house sitter about cat stuff and I haven't packed yet (Phil planned ahead and did it over the weekend...)

so this was a brief summary of dinner al fresco at Duck Inn - and my only complaint was it was over subscribed- too many people in too little space... should have been a 60 limit 56 would have been even more manageable- but live and learn- next time I will keep an eye on how many tickets are available - because those who know me know how much I HATE crowds.... I was lucky because I sat between Phil and a woman I know from Chicago Gourmets and like very much... - LOL the trend to communal tables is seriously NOT me... but that is why I am spending the next three weeks with a group tour of TWO of us- LOL... only me and Phil.... and our driver and our guide... it works so much better that way...

so we are off! and when we get back we have a whirlwind of final Chicago stuff before we head south - and further south (Cuba) and back to school etc... all our now usual winter activities... stay tuned...