Shana Tova with the Rich and the RICH
I just got back from one of the glitziest, richest, most posh Rosh Hashana dinner I have ever experienced. Abby and I got hooked up with this family to spend Rosh Hashanah dinner with by the local schul, and we went into it not knowing much about them besides the fact that they would prepare me a special "vegetarian" meal because they don't keep kosher. Of course I expected them to all eat their brisket and potatoes while I eat a bowl of salad, but these expectations were more than exceeded.
Abby and I walk into this enormous house on 3 Grange Rd off the Highgate tube stop, and are escorted by Mr. Steven Rose into his living room and are asked if we'd like anything to drink. I ask what he has and his first offer is champaigne. I accept the kind offer and enjoy the bubbly with great appreciation. The Roses' cousins arrive shortly after, as does their granny and old friend who was going deaf. After about an hour of chit-chat in the living room we are ready for dinner. They don't know the order of the service, so I help them out, telling them to do the kiddish first. The mother, Vivian, says the blessing over the wine, then their cousin Dave does the blessing over apples and honey then the dad says the Motzi. Boom, boom, boom. Ready for the first course. A creamy vegetable based soup is served, with cream mixed in on top. The family has 3 kids, a 19-year-old boy, a 17-year-old girl, and a 14-year-old girl, and all of them were very proper and British. Quite an interesting group. The dinner conversation ranged from local British politics to Ali G to QPR soccer to the American elections, which I stayed quiet about because no one in the house seemed too keen on anything close to liberal. I know that the cousin Dave worked for an American law firm and was an active member of the conservative party. Still, Abby quipped that she is definately voting for Kerry and the rest of the family admitted that they don't feel that Kerry stands much a chance, given the current poll numbers. I made sure to let them know that the poles mean very little, but they quickly made it clear that they although they're not too keen on Kerry, they don't like Bush at all, not even the active conservative.
Anyway, because I told them I kept Kosher, they served salmon for dinner, and it was absolutely delicious. They put this creamy custard sauce over it, and served it with mashed carrots, green beans and potatoes. Absolutely delicious.
Dessert was even better. Poached peaches, apple strudel, ice cream, weird pastries filled with custard, and honey cake--all incredible. I hadn't eaten a meal that nice in a long, long time. We then went back to the living room to eat the chocolates we brought them and drink chamomile.
The hostess' sister offered Abby and I a ride home, which we gladly took up. So we hopped into their new Mercedes and I, sitting shotgun, felt completely out of control and bizzarre sitting in the left side of a moving car without a steering wheel infront of me.
Even though this was a lovely Rosh Hashanah dinner, I can't finnish this blog without saying that it came nowhere near to the Rosh Hashanah dinners at home. The food was amazing, but nothing can compare to Mom's briskit and potatoes, Aunt Amy's Simmis with marshmellows, and that cherry pie we always get. I want to wish everyone a happy and sweet new year...Shana tova!
Abby and I walk into this enormous house on 3 Grange Rd off the Highgate tube stop, and are escorted by Mr. Steven Rose into his living room and are asked if we'd like anything to drink. I ask what he has and his first offer is champaigne. I accept the kind offer and enjoy the bubbly with great appreciation. The Roses' cousins arrive shortly after, as does their granny and old friend who was going deaf. After about an hour of chit-chat in the living room we are ready for dinner. They don't know the order of the service, so I help them out, telling them to do the kiddish first. The mother, Vivian, says the blessing over the wine, then their cousin Dave does the blessing over apples and honey then the dad says the Motzi. Boom, boom, boom. Ready for the first course. A creamy vegetable based soup is served, with cream mixed in on top. The family has 3 kids, a 19-year-old boy, a 17-year-old girl, and a 14-year-old girl, and all of them were very proper and British. Quite an interesting group. The dinner conversation ranged from local British politics to Ali G to QPR soccer to the American elections, which I stayed quiet about because no one in the house seemed too keen on anything close to liberal. I know that the cousin Dave worked for an American law firm and was an active member of the conservative party. Still, Abby quipped that she is definately voting for Kerry and the rest of the family admitted that they don't feel that Kerry stands much a chance, given the current poll numbers. I made sure to let them know that the poles mean very little, but they quickly made it clear that they although they're not too keen on Kerry, they don't like Bush at all, not even the active conservative.
Anyway, because I told them I kept Kosher, they served salmon for dinner, and it was absolutely delicious. They put this creamy custard sauce over it, and served it with mashed carrots, green beans and potatoes. Absolutely delicious.
Dessert was even better. Poached peaches, apple strudel, ice cream, weird pastries filled with custard, and honey cake--all incredible. I hadn't eaten a meal that nice in a long, long time. We then went back to the living room to eat the chocolates we brought them and drink chamomile.
The hostess' sister offered Abby and I a ride home, which we gladly took up. So we hopped into their new Mercedes and I, sitting shotgun, felt completely out of control and bizzarre sitting in the left side of a moving car without a steering wheel infront of me.
Even though this was a lovely Rosh Hashanah dinner, I can't finnish this blog without saying that it came nowhere near to the Rosh Hashanah dinners at home. The food was amazing, but nothing can compare to Mom's briskit and potatoes, Aunt Amy's Simmis with marshmellows, and that cherry pie we always get. I want to wish everyone a happy and sweet new year...Shana tova!
posted by xdredd at 4:56 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home