Oranges and Avocados

Carlos’ mom, Ivonne, celebrated her 70th birthday in January. We threw a party for her and invited family from the East Coast, her sister Margoth and nephew Eddie. Our friend Ron, from Germany, happened to be visiting that week too and joined the festivities. I was gone the two days beforehand and have been so busy that I left most of the party prep up to the husband. Ivonne had a fabulous time in the spotlight, surrounded by loved ones. I loved having a house full of family, food and laughter.

I had to share the husband’s clever menu ideas, taken from special moments in his mom’s life. The clams casino below are old school New Jersey, where he grew up. He riffed on a Salvadoran dish called pan con chumpe, serving turkey confit on sliced baguette with watercress, pickled onions and tangy pepita salsa. Mark my words, pan con chumpe will be the next food truck sandwich craze. For desert, because his mom loved eating at Jose Andres’ molecular gastronomy wonderland, The Bazaar, he made spherified espresso caviar served with vanilla ice cream and a ginger crisp cookie.

Damn, that man can cook.

I helped. Really. I made Ivonne’s favorite bourbon chicken liver pate and a bright romesco sauce with vegetables for dipping. Your are going to expect some form of recipe next, right? I don’t have any for you yet. I have promised the pate a few times, and it is coming. I will make it again soon just for you. If you’re nice, I might even make the romesco, so simple and delicious. I can’t do a thing about the husband’s recipes. He just goes into the kitchen and good food comes out, like Willy Wonka’s, if Willy Wonka made sausage and such.