Wednesday, August 3, 2011

You're Invited (Not Really): My First LA Dinner Party

So far my hospitality posts (and now that I think about it, my hospitality itself) have exclusively covered one-on-one, extended visits. But about a year ago, I invited a group of friends to my then-new apartment for some conversation, over/undercooked food, and enough booze to erase all of it. I thought they'd forget. They didn't! After several postponements, the time has finally come. The time...for a dinner party.

THE INSPIRATION


My love for Amy Sedaris began with the cult series Strangers with Candy and was recently revived by her often disgusting, surprisingly useful party guide I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence. My appreciation of this lady is shared by...

THE GUESTS

Eight in number, fabulous in nature. A ragtag team I met when I first came to Los Angeles, and part of the reason I decided to keep coming back. Here are three of them. They deserve a fine meal, no?


THE MEAL

Aggressively middle-America, with a touch of spice to distract from the poor preparation. Chili fried chicken, Grandma Van Luchene's potato salad, and jalapeño cornbread. 

Can I manage? Who cares, because there's always...

THE DRINK

I found this on some old codger's dinky website, but 1) it looks pretty, inexpensive and refreshing, 2) I love to muddle, and 3) old people really, really know their drinks. 



1 lime, quartered
2 sprigs fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 slices cucumber
2 ounces white rum
4 ounces club soda



You squeeze the lime in, muddle the mint leaves and sugar, throw in the cucumbers, then finish with the rum and club soda. Easy!



Keep your fingers crossed, pray to whatever culinary gods you believe in, and stay tuned.