RSVP – An Imaginary Celebration

Today’s Blogging 101 class assignment is titled RSVP and requires that we “plan the ultimate celebration for the person we’re closest to and describe it in detail.” Well there’s no question on the who….

The bigger questions are the where and what. Don’t get me wrong, Michael, my dear hubby of 26+ years, is an equal opportunity eater. Not an overly picky guy, there’s not much he wouldn’t eat. However, if we’re talking about an imaginary celebration for someone, we’re talking about selecting what they love, not what they’ll eat if you put it in front of them.

From what I have been able to piece together over the years, Michael is a guy who’s happiest with well executed basics – hamburgers,  potato salad, goulash, mac & cheese and of course any thing sweet.

Especially a great piece of coconut cream pie from an authentic diner on Route 66! But the crazy thing is, his list of favorites would also  include things like Foie Gras and Haggis. I guess that’s what a rich life of travel does to a man – expands his food horizons to include the exotic! (If you are unfamiliar with either of these foods, it’s my opinion that you best leave it that way.)

Michael is also an avid outdoorsman who relishes his venison, including the heart, which he considers a great delicacy. He also forages in the spring for coveted wild morel mushrooms.

So for this imaginary feast, I would have a picnic for Michael on a glorious summer day at an ocean-side park. There would be no appetizers (because as Michael says, they just take up valuable room before the meat and carbs!) It would include grilled burgers and wild game sausages, a full compliment of sides like potato salad, macaroni salad, goulash, and various other hot dishes and salads. Of course the table would be laden with a delicious array of desserts – flourless chocolate cake, bread pudding with rum sauce, coconut cream pie, key lime pie, rice pudding and other nostalgic but wonderful treats.  After our sumptuous picnic, we’d frolick in the surf and play bocce in the adjacent park. Then we’d bask in the glow of the setting sun, building a campfire so we could linger into the evening, to share stories and frosty beverages with our wonderful family and friends.