When I haven't spent time with someone in a long time, holding a conversation can be intimidating.
It's been almost an entire week since my last post. Unfortunately, my pre-holiday workload has been exhausting. I've been faced with: looming pre-2005 work deadlines, tiring holiday parties, maniacal Christmas shoppers at the mall, needing to robotically scour Craigslist to find a new place, and packing and moving thousands of boxes with rock-solid junk.
Whew! But I haven't forgotten about the faithful friends of Passionate Eater. I am going to make "time stand still" to discuss a meal that I have been meaning to write about for over two weeks: the meal I had at my friend's "corporate" holiday party. It will definitely be a stark contrast to the holiday potluck at my work--which is well . . . let's just say very, very anti-corporate.
As I've indicated in some of my previous posts, I have been trying to glean "entertaining" ideas from my friends, the television, and various magazines to prepare for some parties that my companion and I have in the works. The "corporate" holiday party was a way for me to scrutinize (and criticize) how high-powered and well-paid executives like to be fed at their get-togethers, and also it was an excellent forum for me to blatantly rip off good ideas from fancy caterers.
One table I paid particular attention to, was the crudité table. Usually, for my own entertaining purposes, I just arrange cleaned vegetables in concentric circles on a large serving platter. Okay, not very original, and I'll admit I get my inspiration from Safeway / Vons. Plus, I usually just use celery and carrots. (Again, not particularly innovative, but it gets the job done.) That's why I was impressed with the "corporate" spread of jicama, three colors of sliced bell peppers, turnips, multi-colored radishes, and baby carrots--and these weren't the pre-peeled, pre-washed, and bulk-packaged baby carrots that have their edges chemically sanded off! The carrots still had their tops and looked "natural"!
The next table that I vigorously inspected, had a selection that actually wasn't that appealing to me as an "entertaining snack." I love dim sum, but there is inevitable "weird" feeling in the pit of my stomach whenever dim sum is not being eaten for breakfast. Example: Imagine eating oatmeal or Lucky Charms and milk for dinner. See? It's kinda wrong.
Also, I was taught to eat dim sum in moderation, and only sneak petite bites of each dumpling between prolonged sips of tea. Wolfing down a bundle of those dumplings can be a nightmare to my rapidly inflating waste line.
However, just because I probably wouldn't serve dim sum when entertaining my own guests, didn't mean that I didn't load up on the tasty buns like I hadn't eaten in five days.
Another "note to self" I made during the "corporate" party, was not to serve communal soufflé.
I also really liked the idea of serving "one" piece of seafood with vibrant flavors and vivid garnishes--like a scallop or oyster served on the half-shell with a sprig of mint and lemon zest, or one tail-on shrimp encrusted with black and white sesame seeds.
Warning: These next images are particularly graphic. Please do not view them unless you are certain you will not be jealous or angry.
Okay, now I officially hate Corporate America! They can afford to hire caterers to hand-mold sushi for them at their buffet tables!
But my hatred and jealously was partly redeemed by a tremendous entertaining faux pas--at least in my eyes: the dreaded and contaminated chocolate fountain. I call it, "the breeding ground for disease."
I never understood the appeal of a chocolate fountain. Just seeing filthy hands reaching towards the sloppy brown sludge that is sliding down a hot metal tower makes me nauseous to the point blacking out.
By the way, the hand on the left is mine.
Wow! Sushi and dim sum at a corporate X-Mas party! That's just insane! Mine was at a hotel, and although the food was marginally good, they also had that chocolate fountain...seems like it's there for the oooh-factor than anything else. Everyone seemed to agree that the chocolate was disgusting...pasty, oily, and gritty.
ReplyDeleteHi PE - Happy Holidays! Seems that chocolate fountain is all the rage, especially since they started selling them at Costco!
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly Elmomonster! I've worked for the government for some time now, and there was a time when my department couldn't even afford central heating, much less dim sum AND sushi!
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting that you point out the "oooh-factor." I guess that a chocolate fountain is a proven crowd-pleaser.
Thank you Kirk for the warm wishes. I also hope that you and the Missus had a wonderful holiday season--with lots of delicious foods made the "mmm-yoso" way!
I gotta check out kitchen section of Costco more often, I do know they often have "good buys" on professional-quality kitchen ware.