The Husband and I along with two of our other sons spent Father’s Day with my super-competent older son, his wife, and their firstborn son, Jack, at their apartment in a nearby New York suburban village. My son and his wife entertain often and comfortably. They go to places like farmer’s markets and someplace called “Whole Foods,” where they joyfully find fabulous fresh ingredients for simple-to-prepare, healthy, and delicious meals. Listening to them talk about where they find an incredible smoky, slightly tart roasted tomato product that would give life to any dead sandwich, I could not picture going to a farmer’s market. I’ve chosen Fresh Direct over the unpleasant New York City grocery store experience for many years now. Just email the grocery list in and wait for delivery.
My sons grew up in a home where dinner parties and surprise events were not frequent, because of my work schedule, but they were always memorable. Mommie, Esperanza, Ro, and I loved planning special meals and always, always overdoing things. The boys were witness to the chaos. Guests were chosen, menu prepared, lists created for many people . . . this was something like preparing for a military adventure. The to-do list often began days before the event: linen checks, wine availability, flowers or seasonal fruit? Grapes falling over the sides of antique silver bowls, books in stacks on the long dining-room table (YES! Let’s find just the right book for each of fourteen people, a book that would serve as their place card!!!) Then, would the suckling pig fit in the oven? When should the small pumpkins be reinvented as soup bowls for a fall dinner? There was an endless list. This kind of entertaining was always fun, but never serene. _ But the new father of six-month-old Jack does it all differently. He knows how to plan and shop and cook and be a comfortable, unhurried host. He created a lovely brunch for Father’s Day for the family to celebrate at home. And he has a natural ease with his son that is surprising, because he was the firstborn and always the center of attention. Now his son is the center of his attention, and he shares childcare and home care without complaint with his wife, who also works full time. _ There was so much discussion of this “Whole Foods” place that The Husband and I (who do not shop for food in grocery stores—but that is another story) decided that we would visit the new store on the Upper East Side in New York City after brunch. The younger son, who knows everything, insisted that there was no new Whole Foods store on the Upper East Side. I insisted that Dr. Google be consulted for a second opinion. Brainiac right again. New store called “Fairway.” However, the smart one, who likes to shop for food and cook and entertain as much as his older brother, informed me that Fairway was fantastic. He waxed poetic. I persuaded The Husband that we should travel to this food emporium on 86th Street between Second and Third and put something in our fridge other than low calorie items. Perhaps we could enliven our dinner table with fresh foods and posh olive oils?
Greetings to the followers of women’s voices…
I thought Pat Allen’s piece was charming and reminded me of the equally delicious one she wrote about Christmas dinner and it’s preparation.
It seemed to drive home the fact that off-spring never understand anything much until they themselves have a living reason to set their own tradition, all by themselves.
The rabbit warren now known as organic food shopping is funny if you didn’t seriously consider the ill-effects of the alternative. You enter the fray seizing upon all the fresh produce and succumb about a month later to long trays of pre-prepared food…
Of course all of us can spot the lie in Pat’s piece. Everyone who knows Dr. Allen KNOwS she didn’t buy heavy cream to pour over her fruit.
A fiction!
Happy week to all.
mary moss greenebaum
Sounds like a lovely day! Great last line.
Pat, loved your insights. Let’s try to have dinner sometime this summer if you are around.
Love,
Andrew and Cathy.
Delightful! Read aloud to my husband and we laughed lovingly.