Fine Dining

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Grandson Nathaniel wanted to cook a special meal for us. In joking about it, he said he wanted to give us a fine dining experience. I’ll let you be the judge of his success. He and John picked out the beef roast, which he began preparing the day before he cooked it. We had no deadline for the dinner, but he was working that afternoon and knew he had to have food on the table by 1. He did it easily, with no wringing of hands or histrionics. I gave him 1,000 points for that. He posed for me as he began carving the meat.

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John came when called, wearing a jacket and tie! I ran to change my Tee for a top and added earrings. You can’t see that we still had on jeans. Nathaniel lit the candles just after he poured water for John. Looking at the photo, you can see the slices of beef on the plate – perfection pink! He knew we prefer rare meat.

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The menu:

Stuffed cucumber rounds (cukes from neighbor Marla)

Rare roast beef with gravy

Yorkshire pudding

Glazed carrots

German roast coffee

The behind-the-scene picture shows our chef preparing the Yorkshire pudding.

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What does not show is all the work Nathaniel did to set a perfect table. He took apart the candelabra before polishing it. He polished the silver flatware, trivet, and coffeepot. I wish I had a before and after picture of the coffeepot. It was a wedding gift (54 years ago) and had never been used. I can say that freely, because the giver has been dead for years. John helped him find a tablecloth and make the table smaller. He would have used cloth napkins if I had found them.

Having just seen a video on etiquette the day before, we passed dishes from left to right, did not slouch, and did not put our elbows on the table. I made the egregious error of looking at my phone, thinking it was David letting me know he was on break at work. It was neighbor Joyce. Being proud of our grandson, I compounded my error and snapped a picture with my phone to send to her. Go ahead. Heap shame on my head. I deserve it.

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Ignoring my bad manners, I’ll say we ate leisurely, enjoying the food and the conversation. There was only one moment of twitching when the men’s feet tangled under the table. Smiles in place, they controlled themselves as we finished the meal with piping hot coffee.

Would you care to judge the success of our fine dining experience? I won’t give you a Christmas present, but I’ll still speak to you if you say we failed.

Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

Published

52 thoughts on “Fine Dining”

  2. I’m particularly impressed that everything was timed so well. That Yorkshire pudding bakes at a very different temperature, doesn’t it?

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  3. Well Anne, I say recruit this young man to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner – he will be living nearby and able to come in the night before. You know John will go fetch him at school. The Thanksgiving feast is not a chore or obligation for Nathaniel, it is nirvana for him and to all who get to enjoy the food, the perfectly set table and put on their best bib and tucker to receive the food that Nathaniel has lovingly prepared.

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  5. I think it was successful- I hope for a slice of Christmas cake. Was the Yorkshire pudding dessert?
    Noticed the cucumber rounds and the pink beef roast slices. Kudos to Nathaniel from afar- his work is the work of an artist. I missed seeing you in your top and earrings though with jeans still.
    The pink table cloth is a beauty. What a day of outing for the 54 year old tea pot.
    I wil always pass dishes from left to right if someone asks me.
    Susie

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  6. Stuffed cucumber rounds are new to me and the met may have been a little rare for me but this is my perfect meal IF,the Yorkshire pud is served with the meal and neither before not after. He did a wonderful job of bringing you the fine dining experience.Well done him.
    xxx Ginormous Hugs xxx

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    1. The Yorkshire pudding was served with the meat. Grandson David heated his meat after he came home from work, and it was no longer pink, the way he likes it. You and he could have dined together.

      xxx Yorkshire Hugs xxx

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  8. Nathaniel has skillz. What a wonderful meal, served at a beautiful table. I haven’t eaten like that in years. It all looks delicious and perfect.

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  10. WOW! Nathaniel sure is spoiling you both and you both deserve it! Truly you are the most generous and hospitable couple I know. The table and menu looks luscious😋 By the way…..can we borrow him?????

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  11. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if we see Nate on Food Network one day. Love that boy – and y’all, too! 💙😇💚

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  15. The meal looks delicious…the meat cooked to perfection. The stuffed cucumbers are beautiful in appearance. I wish I could have tasted one…I love the flavor, texture, color…in short I love cucumbers.

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