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Dinner Parties
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Dinner and a Show" - January 2009 Party report coming soon! "Radio Free Dinner Party" - January 2009 Party report coming soon! "Sophie's First Dinner Party" Dinner - Dec 2008 reminiscences - both funny and cringe-worthy - and a lovely kick off to the holidays. :"Huron Street Gang Reunion" Supper - Nov 2008 Party report coming soon! "Wine and Chinese West of the Loop" Dinner - Nov 2008 West Loop - this reporter lost count at 21 guests at Marcus McElroy ("First Crush Picnic" Dinner)'s Chinese and sparkling red wine dinner party. Friends and neighbors came from near and far, including previous Roto hosts Mia McElroy and Christy Uchida, and puppy Jean-Luc made his dinner party debut! A favorite Chinese restaurant in River Forest did the cooking and the rest of us did our part with the eating and talking and laughing at the all-around high spirited, rocking party. Things were still going strong when this reporter had to make her goodbyes or turn into a pumpkin. You know how they say the West Loop is full of really hip, cool, fun people? Well, it's not just a sales pitch; Marcus McElroy and friends are the real deal. "The Clouded Dream" Brunch - Nov 2008 Lincoln Park - Dinner guests ("First Crush Picnic" Dinner) Barry Benson and Nelson Boyette invited 11 brunchers to what they affectionately call their "trailer in the sky" and this reporter thinks is better called a "high rise gallery of really cool art." The lucky guests enjoyed marinated orange salad, a couscous salad ring, baked fish casserole, and a really addictive potato and onion side. Oh, and the deliciously addictive apple cider punch that was re-named "The Clouded Dream" in honor of how reality keeps getting in the way of the Roto characters' dreams. Through careful questioning by this reporter, the creativity of the group was revealed - there were two who threw pots, three writers, one who had written and produced her own musical, several dance, opera, and theater aficionados, and the youngest guest - a three year old fellow - appeared to be an interior designer in the making with his interest in rearranging Barry and Nelson's floor lamps. Click here for the Clouded Dream drink recipe! "Make Yo Dumpling" Dinner - Oct 2008 Lakeview - Videographer Mark Kenseth took a break from filming other people's dinner parties to host one with Theresa Au. With bowls of veggie-friendly and not-so-veggie friendly stuffings and a never-ending supply of dumpling wrappers, the 11 ready-and-willing dumpling makers set to work while Theresa steamed and fried and cooked up our creations. This reporter didn't get the hang of it until the very end, but undiscovered dumpling making superstars were thick as thieves and everyone devoured both the pretty and pretty ugly results. A side dish of Brussels sprouts were raved over but it was the chocolate mousse made from tofu that brought down the house. SERIOUSLY you have to try this at home. It's unbelievably delicious. Click here for the recipe! "First Crush Picnic " Dinner - Sept 2008 River Forest - Dinner guest ("Mind Your Manners" Dinner) turned host Mia McElroy, welcomed 12 hilarious guests to her picnic dinner. Upon arrival guests filled out nametags with their own name and the name of their first crush (real or celebrity). Everyone then shared their stories and copious tears were shed from the huge gusts of laughter. Confessed crushes ran the gamut from Vinnie Barbarino (NOT John Travolta) to a fellow kindergartner named Marty who liked to draw monsters. Baskets and coolers served a picnic-style dinner (complete with deviled eggs!) in honor of Mia's best first date. Click here to watch the video - and all the live, love and laughing that went on. "Bungalow Chic" Dinner - Aug 2008 Portage Park - Friendly and exquisite described this reporter's experience of Christopher Chantson and Matthew Clarke's dinner party for nine. The gorgeous original woodwork gave the whole house a warm and homey glow while fresh flowers bloomed on sidetables and bookshelves and the scents wafting from the kitchen made everyone's tummies growl.. The hosts with the most made sure that even the gluten-free amongst us were well-fed on a delicious Italian dinner of asparagus tips in cheesey pasta, a farmer's market salad, and an unbelievably beautiful (almost too pretty to eat, but ate it we did) pear tart. "Mind Your Manners" Dinner - July 2008 Loop - Host Christy Uchida christened her condo with its very first dinner party to support the Roto cause and bring together 13 artists and arts-lovers over Greek Town delicacies. (When questioned, Christy admitted to this reporter that she had turned on her oven at least once since moving in.) To break the ice with Christy's wonderful group of mostly-new-to-one-another friends, a 1923 book of etiquette led to a game of true or false and interesting bits of trivia (i.e. a bachelor may host a dinner party and invite unmarried ladies and gentleman provided he has asked a married woman to serve as his hostess). Click here to watch the video - curious about the owls? Christy's grandmother collected them! "Quick While the Baby Is Sleeping" Brunch - May 2008 East Garfield Park - the Dynamic Brewster/Lakin Duo didn't let two children under 2 put a crimp in their plans to welcome Roto cinematographer in from NYC during the first location scouting trip for the film shoot. The Chicago-based crew turned out in droves to meet and greet and eat and eat. This reporter continues to dream of the platter of perfectly crispy bacon, the perfect accompaniment to Todd's famous Spanish tortillas (potato omelets) and Twania's fabulous fritattas. Mimosas made everyone very "mmmmmm-y." "Bon Cassoulet!" Dinner - February 2008 Wrigleyville - Monday was definitely the new Friday with fancy homemade French cassoulet cookery by host Liz Barrett. This PR executive really can bring home the salt pork and cook it up in a Le Creuset! Homemade tapanade along with yummy cheeses and a variety of wines turned the group of 9 strangers (knowing the Roto playwright was the connecting link) into acquaintances. Then out came the cassoulet and acquaintances became friends. But the unforgettable grasshopper brownies made everyone family - the group (including this reporter) were ready to name their first child after Liz and host dinner parties of their own. Click here to watch the video - my what a lot of hand talkers we were! "The How Do You Pronounce It?" Kick-Off Roto Dinner - November 2007 East Garfield Park - The Brewster Sisters served up a supper of salmon, shrimp, spinach in a night of a thousand ssses and 11 yeses as this reporter and the other guests played "please pass the pasta." Lots of red wine led to much hilarity, and the eureka that maybe we were on to something good with this dinner party thing. In vino veritas! (Oh, we also discovered that another glass of wine does not make Rotogravure easier to pronounce.)
Great and glorious thanks and heaps of praise are hereby extended to... Theresa Au and Mark Kenseth Liz Barrett Barry Benson and Nelson Boyette Atoya Brewster Twania Brewster and Todd Lakin Christopher Chantson and Matthew Clarke Marcus McElroy Mia McElroy Christy Uchida
The production team has been fortunate to work with video artist Mark Kenseth of Sipsitter films who has created mini-movies from some of the dinners to date. Check out Mark's videos at the links below!
Chocolate Tofu Mousse from the "Make Yo Dumpling" Dinner courtesy of Theresa Au and vegan-food.net ingredients 12 oz Silken Tofu 12 oz Chocolate Chips (Ghiririadhelli Semi Sweet or dark) 3 T Maple Syrup (Real Stuff) how to -Open the tofu, and drain. It does not have to be bone dry. Wet is A-OK! -Toss the Tofu into a food processor and turn it on. - While that is happening, stack 2 saucepans on your stove top. In the little one, put some water. In the medium one, put the chocolate. Be sure, the little one, is under the big one. You probably should have turned off the food processor by now. -Turn the burner on under the little pot AS HOT AS IT WILL GO. Stir in the chocolate chips. Once they are completely melted, add the Maple Syrup. -Suddenly it will change consistancy on you. Freak out at this. Say "The recipie didn't say anything about it turning into chocolate fudge taffy!". Re-read this part. Feel better about it. Put the newly forged chocolatefudgetaffy into the food processor as well. -Turn it on for about 3 mintues. -Chill it for a few hours and then wow and amaze all who eat it The Clouded Dream from the "Clouded Dream" Brunch
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"The Rotogravure" is the inaugural production of Sad Hat Productions, NFP Administrative Offices: 5732 N Kenmore Avenue, Chicago, IL | contact@therotogravure.com |
