Well, I said that it would be over the top, and it was. I've got a photoessay, I've got pictures, I've got recipes, I've got a LOT of typing to do. It's 12:19AM right now, and I have been working on these photos since 9 to get them ready. How long-winded will I be today? Will anybody actually read the words, or do you all just want to see the pretty pictures?

My purpose for this entry is threefold- a story about how my day went- what worked, what didn't, etc; a record of the recipes I used, for my own reference, and in case somebody else wanted to try some; and of course a photographic spectacle of the meal.

The day was crazy. I was in the controlled panic of a competition chef from 9AM pretty much through straight until 11PM. As I worked through the prep list, slowly getting further and further behind, I just kept pushing myself.

By noon, it's looking pretty grim.

...

OK, enough of that- I was going to try and give at least a summary of how I was way behind, and try and figure out how I managed to pull up my bootstraps and be mostly ready by 7 o'clock. But even just thinking about it is totally stressing me out right now. SO lets just do a montage version-

Here's me:

Shelling Pistachios as fast as I can

Cutting up a Pumpkin in about 1 minute and steaming the pieces immediately

Fumbling with CDs to put on something fast to keep me jumping

Poking a Periwinkle with a fondue fork- this isn't working...

turning from the stove to the cutting board to the sink to the juicer to the fridge and back to the stove

Shelling Chestnuts as fast as I can (faster faster faster!)

Poking a Periwinkle with a skewer- a HA!

Literally running to Pete's Frootique to get the last ingredients

Running home, and right back out again to borrow plates from the Prince George

Calling Phil to tell him sorry I can't make it to the wine tasting, just meet us here

looking: all my burners are full, every pot, every measuring cup, and I've got pappadums in the oven. Now how am I supposed to cook rice?

Now maybe we can do a shot of the prep list getting crossed off, one item after another... and finally all that is left is Spinach Dumplings (supposed to be done by 12:30). It is now 7:12PM - my cellphone rings- it's Phil- pan right and he and sonya are standing outside. Everything is done except the dumplings, but I've got the first 2 courses already plated, so we can chat and drink wine and eat the first two courses while I put together the dumplings. Simple!

Yes, the montage version is much easier to deal with than a blow by blow.

So now that guests have arrived, let's talk about how the meal went- a much less stressful tale, believe me!

( More pics, and recipes are here )
OK, I've just spent three hours on this post, it is 3:37AM There are still two more courses to write up, but I'm done for now. Perhaps in the morning I'll do the rest. But for now- Sleeeeeep!

Oh yeah! PS- Happy Birthday Jesse!