virtual dinner party
come over for a barbie, mate…
A little while ago I was tagged by Crazy Train To Tinky Town to host a virtual dinner party.
The rules guidelines are:
At your perfect dinner party you can invite:
5 guests + yourself, relatives allowed but it’s more interesting if it’s a public figure.
Dead or Alive
Any language.
Fictional characters allowed!
By direct association, my stomach constructed the first draft of the guest list. I was inclined to make up the entire entourage from my favourite TV chefs:
Simon & Maggie, The Cook & The Chef
But, I came up with many more combinations of 5: family, friends, famous, past and present. Then it came to me – anyone can dine with live people, I’ve invited dinner guests from the astral planes, none of whom I’ve met or are related to me. All of whom had a great impact on my life, in different ways.
Heading the guest list, in case I need her assistance to call up the others is Linda Goodman. Author of many astrological & esoteric books, such as Suns Signs, Love Signs and my favourite – Gooberz, Linda’s light led my way.
Followed by:
Bon Scott. My adoration of Bon is no secret. From the minute I heard Baby Please Don’t Go, in 1975, I was hooked on the music and the person. There was and is no other like Bon. I’d like to know what he was really like beyond the showman and the boozy persona portrayed by the media & PR.
Robert Atkins. Discovering Atkins was my first step in thinking for myself about food. I’d worked for a multi-national weight loss company, bought the profit-driven hype, and suffered the health consequences of a low fat, carb laden regime. He changed the way I look at food, made me question, learn and be informed.
M. Scott Peck gave me skills to navigate my life. Reading at the start of The Road Less Travelled, the words “Life is difficult” was a turning point. I stopped feeling entitled & wounded, and started acquiring the tools I needed to live life on my own terms. I’ve been enlightened and informed by his books, which are many and varied.
Ned Kelly. Although Ned’s story and life fascinates me, this pick is not so much for me, but for the G.O. as I couldn’t do the dinner party without him. In common expression “as game as Ned Kelly” and as an icon of challenging authority, Ned lives large in the identity of many Australians, and his cultural effect is significant.
Do I hear you ask “what do these people have in common besides having influenced EllaDee, that would make them interesting dinner party guests?” The answer: I reckon they could all tell a good yarn, and we’ll be up ’til the wee small hours…
My dinner guests are a mixed bag, and the only way I know to cater for this… a backyard barbie!
Following family tradition I’m putting out chairs & tables under a marquee dragged out from the shed & hosed off, lining up a few eskies of ice & drinks, and firing up the hotplate. Fairy lights draped through the trees and over the Hills Hoist sparkle as the sun goes down. To set an auditory mood, I face the speakers to the window, select random play and turn the volume up a little. The scent of burning citronella candles mixes with the fragrance of night blooms and aroma from an array of sizzling veges, tofu, seafood & meats (to cater for all tastes), while rounds of appetisers circulate.
For the evening’s menu, I’ve selected the best of backyard classics.
Appetisers:
Corn relish dip with dipping veges & Jatz.
Baba Ganoush served with toasted Turkish bread fingers.
Bloody Mary Shots: original, virgin & oysters.
My guests warm to the evening & each other, and wander chatting with glasses in hand around the garden. As the night slips away, we dine & sip, and stories unfurl. We serve the main course barbequed by the G.O. and Ned, on platters, and help ourselves.
Vegetarian: eggplant, juicy red capsicum, zucchini, new potatoes, sweetcorn cobs, tofu & haloumi.
Seafood: local snapper filets, prawns & scallops.
Meats: chicken tenderloin, pork fillet, lamb cutlets & steak medallions.
Warm sourdough bread and butter or olive oil.
Dishes pushed aside, laughter drowns out the music and our sides ache. A few hours after midnight, we are still gathered under the stars, a little mellow from the company and fellowship of the evening.
A simple late dessert of fresh berries, good cream, laden cheeseboard embellished with ripe figs, along with small cups of sweet black coffee and shards of dark chocolate reinvigorate us, and the stories continue.
By the time astronomical dawn occurs our truths are told, then cups of strong milky coffee and green tea prepare the guests for their journeys. By nautical dawn, they are gone.
The G.O. and I, we sit among the detritus of the evening, share the dregs of the tea and looks of wonderment. As the sun rises, we go to bed.
I’ve tagged 5 bloggers who I think could come up with a pretty interesting dinner party, but if you’re not tagged, and feel like creating your own dinner party, feel free to do so. Similarly, if you are tagged, and it’s not your thing, that’s fine also:
Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge
All Poetry and Creative Writing
Dallas, it’s taken me a while to get to this but thinking about it has been entertaining me since you posted “Your Mission Should You Choose To Accept It…, and I want to thank you – it’s been SO much fun 🙂
