Shrimp truck dinner and Washburn Water Tower

[pegkerr]

I was invited to dinner at minnehaha K. and B.'s tonight. The shrimp truck had come to town, and so all sorts of seafood courses were planned. "I'm sure you'll have a great time eating food I would never touch," Rob said. And we did. I have been coming to the dinners at minnehaha K. and B.'s for awhile, and I am always grateful to be invited. Friends take turns serving courses: there are often eight to ten courses, with appropriate wines, and can last four hours or so. I love the gatherings, but I will admit to being somewhat intimidated at times: the group that gathers is very knowledgeable about wines and food whereas I am not. I have never done a course. This time, I wanted to do one, but I had to take Fiona to karate and take Delia to a birthday party, so I knew I would not be able to stop at a grocery store at all. So I once again just ate: a cold marinated bean salad with shrimp, fiddlehead ferns and coconut dusted shrimp, and homemade chipotle pasta with crawfish tails (I think??), and korean shrimp pancakes, and salad and an incredibly delectable dish made of crab and morel mushrooms, cooked in cream. Wine with each course (I am too ignorant to tell you what they were). minnehaha brought out some vodka he brought back from St. Petersberg yesterday for us to try, and then we ended the meal with a bottle of Armagnac. It was bottled in 1939. Apricot torte for dessert.

I helped dry dishes between courses to earn my keep.

After dinner, minnehaha K. suggested a walk, offering the lure of "Let's go see the Washburn water tower!" I had never seen it before. We set off, and after some confusion and a few detours out of the way (this section of town is not called "Tangletown" for nothing), we found the tower. It is certainly worth seeing. If/when I write the ice palace book, I'd like to find a way to work it in, just because it is so cool. The stone figures that ring the tower are sixteen feet high. If they had an arm outstretched, they would look like the Argonath. It was a lovely night, perfect temperature, too early for mosquitos. We sat at the foot of the water tower and talked quietly, staring up at those enormous brooding figures while the Big Dipper wheeled in the sky overhead.

Then we came back and washed more dishes. And I came home to tell you about it.

edited to add: lsanderson posts pictures from the dinner here.

Comments

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

The alcohol beginning with a -- could it be Armagnac?

MKK

[(Anonymous)]

I love that tower, and have spent happy hours on that hill.

The faces on the Guardians are all slightly different.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

All of that food sounds amazing!

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful evening. I'm glad it was yours.

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

Some years back Sue Grandys & I were invited to a wine tasting party over in North Oaks, and I'm pretty sure we were the comedy relief... I have no appreciation for wine (other than the "horrid" pink stuff Terry Gery (sp?) talks about in her book).

Actually, I have to take that back. When my Phyllis & Carl took me out for birthday dinner we can a very nice white wine, which I mainly liked 'cuz it didn't have the normal "clench the back of your tongue" bite to it. Don't recall what it was.

[sheryll.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a marvelous dinner! Where did anyone find fiddleheads? It's past the sadly short fiddlehead season here.

fiddleheads

[mizzlaurajean.livejournal.com]

Were found at the Wedge Coop by Shannon.

[sraun]

I love that water tower!

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Tsk, and tut. You're perfectly welcome to make something and if we ever manage to give you more than a few hours notice, I'll bet you'll make something fabulous. Your various recipes and creations mentioned in LJ always sound pretty good to me.

The help with the dishes was far more welcome than I let on, probably. There's nothing left to do but the stems, and those I'll get to presently. Thanks for joining us.

K. [who knew everybody would like the water tower, once I found it ;-)]

[davidschroth.livejournal.com]

but I will admit to being somewhat intimidated at times: the group that gathers is very knowledgeable about wines and food whereas I am not.

I'm pretty sure I can make a convincing case that you're just as knowledgeable as two of the attendees at the dinner.

I'm wondering about that water tower, though. My recollection is that one member of the party attempted a census of the Guardians of Health, and arrived at the number nine. I attempted my own census, and arrived at the number eight. Apparently they (the Guardians) have the ability to fog minds...