dinner with Dale

One great thing about having ALA Annual in the city where I live (and believe me, I have many complaints, gripes, brickbats related to having it here in Chicago) is that I get to have friends from out of town over for dinner. Or dine out with them, at the very least. It's a rare treat, and I took advantage last week to have Dale over.

Ah Dale. We met virtually through mutual friends/colleagues, then met in person when he was in Chicago for a different library conference last year. I have many good things to say about his charm, wit, humour, and handsomeness. He was someone I turned to early in Dad's illness, and he was a good font of information and advice. He listened. If he's reading this, he's blushing by now, surely.

Anyway, I was keen to have him over and for Conrad to meet him, and I'm delighted that it was a success all around. We had a good evening of vegetarian food, much wine, and conversation, and we were happy to sort of repeat it a few nights ago over tapas and then dessert and cocktails at a couple of Boystown restaurants.

I also have to say, I love cooking for vegetarians. They challenge me. Dale, in fact, was not too difficult - few dietary restrictions paired with a love for pulses, grains, and cheese. Easy enough.

I got the table set, some cheeses ready for us to devour when he arrived, and then mugged for Conrad's camera. I am shameless. And vain: the table was a nice sight, and the cheeses were well-softened by the time Dale showed up.

Up first was gazpacho. I may be rushing the summer season a little, but I was in a mood for a simple chilled soup. First time making it, and while I might ease off some of the olive oil in the future, I was pleased. What a shame I broke my blender jar, dropping it on the floor while doing my kitchen clean up before Dale came. Darn. Fun to go shop for a new one, but the old one really did work fine.

After that, I put out a bowl of a fava bean, leek, and feta puree to go with the remaining bread as well as some radishes and a simple salad. More wine. Easy meal.

Dessert was an old standby, and a tasty one at that: Plum cardamom upside down cake. really, I should have had more eaters there - it merits a bigger group to polish it off in one go. No matter. I loved the piece I ate and sent the rest in to Conrad's office the next day.

I hope that we'll see Dale later in the year when he may have to return to Chicago for business. We'll stock the bar a little differently and attack late autumn/winter vegetables. Should be fun!