FIESTA!

You know, I took four years of Spanish back in the day.  Two years in High School, two years in College. At one point in my life, I was actually able to hold my own and basically have real conversations with Evelyn, the housekeeper at a vacation rental in Costa Rica.  She told me about her family and taught me how to make some authentic Costa Rican dishes, while I explained that I wanted to be a Chef and start my own catering business one day.  I wished I didn't understand so much Spanish as my family and I were on a bus going in to the Super Market...being called hateful, ugly things simply for being from a different country and not being quite as tan as they. But I loved being able to able to ask the store manager to point me in the direction of the Avocados, or ask the night guard at the house if he would wake us up if the sea turtles came up to lay their eggs on the beach.  Alas, Spanish is one of those "if you don't use it, you lose it" type of things...and I've reverted back to being able to say "Gracias" or "De nada" or "Por Favor", and not much else.  I couldn't even come up with a fun title for this blog and felt too ashamed to google a Spanish phrase to use.  Pathetico!! 

Anyways, a few weeks ago, I was asked to cater a Supper Club monthly gathering for Stephanie Depriest Robbins and 11 other couples in the Supper Club.  There are 12 couples total, and each couple hosts the monthly gathering at their house once a year.  Pretty cool idea!  They have been going strong for over 20 years, and I was so thrilled that Stephanie decided to let me take the load off her hands and get in on the fun! We decided to REALLY have some fun, and do a Mexican Buffet.  As I pulled the Sofrito out of my freezer, stirred together the Guacamole, and pulsed the Salsa in the food processor- I found myself longing for the days in Costa Rica, where the Spanish poured out of me like I had been speaking it my whole life, and Evelyn showed me the beauty of cooking real Hispanic food with a pinch of spice, a spoon of Sazon, and a whole lotta love.

Enjoy the photos from the FIESTA buffet, and if you are craving a little homemade Mexican food sans the Ol Del Paso seasoning packets, give me a call and I'll show you how it's done.  (I promise to speak English.)

 Stephanie's nifty tablescape!

 Her killer Margarita Punch....at the end of the night!

 Buffet table in her gorgeous kitchen

 All the fixin's!

 The spread. Taco Salad, Chicken Fajitas, Saffron Rice, Black Beans, Queso, Chips, Salsa, Guacomole, and on and on and on.

 It was so much fun! Thanks for having me, Stephanie. Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner.....do YOU need a Fiesta in YOUR house??  Call me.

Cheers,

The Chef Next Door