Alison's Bridemaid's Luncheon, The George Town Club, Washington DC

Hello dear ones. I had to dust off the 'ole blog to share Alison and Michael's wedding weekend adventures.  It's been over a year since my last blog post. Feels like confession. That's three Bloody Mary's.

Driving into Washington, DC from Baltimore felt like coming home for a family reunion. The bride, Alison, was one of my "youth groupies" so hilariously named by Lizzo years after the actual J2A classes. Alison was 13 when she was in my class. She admitted she HATED it at first. Man, I'm so glad she stuck with our youth group at Christ Church over 20 years ago.  

Ewalking and I left DC ten years ago. I was the Director of Catering at The George Town Club then and ironically, the luncheon was held at the club on Friday. It really was a blast from the past. They have opened up the windows in the Main Dining Room, refreshed the sofas in lighter shades of beige, and done an outstanding renovation in the Club Room. It was such a treat to see it looking so fresh. 

I also worked for Ali's dad, Stuart when I was at Christ Church, Georgetown. I remember Fran opening their home for a rectory new member reception, I was maybe 23 years old and remember hanging out in the kitchen with their youngest daughter Margaret Grace and middle child Stuart. Ali's dad was the rector of Christ Church and married us 10 years ago. When Stuart came to our wedding my cousins all greeted him like an old friend, since he had been participating in our football and basketball bowl pools for years. When Stuart finally won the pot one year, I remember everyone cheering for him on-line because it had been quiet a long, dry run of loosing. 

But I digress. See, I still go around the world to tell a story. Back to Bridesmaids and bubbly.

And garlic scapes in the flower arrangements. Be still my locally grown heart. Fran and Linda hosted this beautiful party and the flowers were from Ultra Violet. 

Franny, these are all for you. Since we love to document all the little details,especially the food.

The mother's were beaming ear to ear. Laughter and wise womanly advice was given freely. And a few tears were shared when Michael's sister told us all how much Michael comes alive when Alison is in the room.

Alison, Fran and Jeanne.

Linda thought of absolutely everything. She gave each friend a vintage handkerchief tucked in a Victorian paper nosegay cone. I desperately needed this gift on Saturday watching Stuart walk Ali down the aisle. But let's not jump ahead. She also asked friends to write letters of advice to the bride.

Alison's fabulous vintage dress was a score on one of her many trips around the country at Bad Granny's Bazaar in Oklahoma City. She is an award winning producer at ABC for Good Morning America and met Mike on a Bike at work. Watch their video below learning to tango!

I'm sure I'm not the only one having a wedding weekend happy hangover. I loved meeting all of these smart, brilliant and beautiful women. And of course hugging your faces, Hadley, Margaret and our beautiful bride!

As we left, Fran gave us these fabulous Scout bags. Expertly filled with comforting welcome goodies. That Popped Republic Popcorn is a game changer!

Words and pictures really can't express the love I have for the Kenworthy's. Stuart gave me a job after loosing mine after 9/11. Teaching J2A at Christ Church with Shep and Ann will still be one of the favorite seasons of my life. Ali loves to travel and I think, just maybe, it's because we all went to England on a holy pilgrimage together in 1999. Then in 2001 we camped in the dessert of Mexico on a mission trip. We took bucket showers and grilled our food. Now she jet sets all over the world telling stories. By the grace of God she found Michael who is the perfect ying to her yang. Michael's mother hugged me as if we had known each other for decades too. It was a full-on-love-fest and we truly couldn't be happier for you both. 

Chicago Tribune Building and Graham Elliot

I hope everyone had a great week. My trip to Chicago was busy and wonderful.  It began with this view out of my hotel room at the InterContinental Hotel on Michigan Avenue. Having the Chicago Tribune building (left) next door brought tears to my eyes. The Wrigley Building clock tower, the Trump Tower and the "Sears" Tower were also majestic. This city has incredible architecture and I'm just sorry I didn't have time to take a tour to learn more about it.

I grew up three hours east of Chicago in Kalamazoo, Michigan. My family would visit after Thanksgiving to go Christmas shopping on Michigan Avenue. We were such tourists and I loved every minute of it. The Chicago Tribune Building was marked in my memory as a small child.

It is a beautifully detailed Gothic building. Most significant however are the bits of buildings embedded in it from all over the globe.

I remember my Mom and step-father David showing me this building and we touched all the bricks we could reach. My David is no longer with us so it brought back sweet memories and a few tears.

I had one free night for dinner and choose to go to the restaurant we went to last year for our event, Graham Elliot. I didn't plan much in Chicago other than my work related events and ended up eating alone. I was greeted warmly by my waitress Sarah from exactly a year ago who remembered me. I have told everyone who will listen about the brioche Twinkie they served with the Caesar salad last year. The food is outstanding but doesn't take itself too seriously. There are no table cloths and you can see anything from jeans to fedoras being worn by guests. Instead of bread you get "cheese" popcorn. Parmesan Cheese is dusted over the top with chives. 

Nouvelle Vague was playing in the background.

Sarah brought me a glass of champagne on the house and this playful amuse bouche. It's called a foielipop. Watch the clip about Chef Graham Elliot Bowles. It is foie gras with sea salt and watermelon Pop Rocks. The creamy foie and the sweet candy explosion was a bizarre and perfect match. I could NOT stop smiling. I made it a four bite event. I didn't want it to end. Food evokes memory and I thought of the St. Monica's playground in fourth grade when I first tried Pop Rocks. Even solo I was having the best food experience ever.

The second amouse was a take on American apple pie. The bottom layer was a cheese pie crust covered with apple sauce, four year aged Wisconsin cheese and an apple gelee to top it off. "Apple pie without the cheese, is like a hug without the squeeze." Fran Kenworthy, our priest's wife from Maine always rattled off this cute saying. She would have been in heaven after this amusement for your mouth. 

Sarah also sent me the fluke tartare. This was such a nice palate cleanser after the foie gras. The pink peppercorn tuile was sweet sugar crack with a nice spice of the preppy pepper. The fish was fresh and simple. The yellow cubes were Meyer Lemon gelee and went well with the shaved fennel. 

I ordered the Chicken Noodle Soup. Every soup at Graham Elliot has a marshmallow. This star of the dish was carrot infused. The celery was served five ways: celery gelee (green cube), salt, seed, leaf and celeriac. The chicken was pressed in between thyme tagliatelle. 

The hen veloute was served a la minute.

I was encouraged to give it a good stir and dive in. The most wonderful surprise is when the marshmallow began to melt. It was so wild and fantastic blending sweet and salt together.

I had the Wagu beef for my entree, Chef Bowles' play on steak frites. There were two bars of Roquefort panna cotta melting on the wilted arugula. Truffle jam and arugula cream sauce with shoestring fries decorated the plate.

I didn't have room for dessert and they sent this bite sized brownie with the bill.

On a Tuesday the restaurant wasn't packed and everyone was so friendly. My flash gave me away as a freak so the lady across the room and I took photos of each other. She was also taking photos of her courses.

I also befriended this cute couple from Toronto who came for the popcorn and stayed for the foie gras. They did the tasting menu and I couldn't keep quiet when the Caesar salad arrived.

Alex the bartender made me a delightful dirty martini with this small batch gin that they use at Woodberry Kitchen. Bluecoat is from Pennsylvania.

Sarah snuck me back into the kitchen for a tour of their extended work space. Chef Jacob Saben was there and I gave him major thanks for my meal. He also remembered me from last year.

I still have my "g" shirt from last year. I'm wearing it as I compose this post.

Carrot Marshmallow

Chef was so busy but had time for a quick photo. 

And finally, I had to have a shot with sweet Sarah Humphrey's. Go check out Graham Elliot for a great time and tell them I sent you.

Chef Bowles, I'm so bummed I still have yet to meet you. I'm such a fan and loved my experience even more this year. Kristina Kennedy is the greatest Events Director. You are lucky to have such a great team that is still working for you a year later. That is a great testament to you and you mission. Sarah thanks so much for spoiling me to death. It was great seeing you again.