Last night signaled the end of an era.

When I first moved to the city eight years ago, I was somehow lucky enough to immediately secure a tight group of girlfriends.  Apple Crisp and I were besties from college, as were Vert and Frites. All of us graduated under the Dome in ’03 and somehow all came together in Chicago that same summer of ’07. Legume and Fava rounded out our group of six, and by August we were all having weekly drinks at Matisse, which was, back then, a neighborhood haunt for us all.

At that point, only Vert of us was married, and only just. Apple Crisp and Apple Pie were dating, but he hadn’t put a ring on it yet.  Legume, Frites, Fava and I were all flying solo, and ever week we’d meet over martinis in a very Sex and the City-ish way to discuss jobs, boys, and navigating our shiny new city.

When we met, we were suffering through unemployment, unfulfilling first jobs, law firm slavery and 24-hour residencies.  Making too much with no time to spend it, or not enough and too much time to notice it.

Looking around the table last night, it was very clear how much had changed. Apple Crisp and Apple Pie, now married with two apple treats of their own, were unpacking box after box in their new suburban house.  The Verts were there, also rearing two kids, one starting Kindergarten this fall.  The Legumes had just hit four years of wedded bliss, and the Frites still exhibited the newlywed glow from their wedding a few months ago.

And we all came together to say goodbye to one of our own. Fava is moving to Denver next week and in an effort to clean out her pantry, had us all over for dinner one last time.

Now, if you’re like a normal person, this would mean possibly some chili, saltines, a lackluster pasta dish or stir-fry veggies and rice.  Not Fava.  In typical fashion, she served up a five-course Italian feast, complete with wine pairings, which she joked was a bribe to get us to come visit her.  Not that any of us needed any convincing, but the promise of a good Fava meal upon arrival would most definitely be gravy.

So, today’s post is a little different. Rather than one tried and true recipe, a menu for recreating your own Italian dinner party, complete with wine pairings.  There are a few recipes that Fava gave me, but like so many good cooks, she doesn’t have exact measurements, but rather lists of ingredients.  Measure to taste and you might just do as good of a job as Fava did last night. Something to which we can all aspire. (more…)

The sky is falling. Seems like it anyway. Rain is literally drowning the city right now. I was still at work when the tornado sirens starting screaming and the few remaining in our office slowly made our way downstairs and in the center of the building. Thank God there was no actual tornado. We all clearly lacked any sense of alarm or urgency and would have died. Anyway, volleyball for the night was canceled because of it, and while I really wanted to go out somewhere to watch the hockey game, I settled for dry land (as in my floor), pajamas, hot chocolate and a home cooked meal with this Pork Milanese.

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You guys-breakfast! Arepas!

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