Monday Night Dining…

Welcome to our new food blog!  Monday night dinners started for us during a difficult time for us and many of our friends.  Shawn and I extended an invitation for dinner one Monday to our friend Steph and changed our lives. Monday night dining has now taken on a life that we never expected.  It has now been over 2 years and we have never looked back..  until now. This blog is starting as a way to keep track of  meals, menus and more importantly friends. It may take a while to get the hang of this and to practice our food photography, but bear with us.

We realized on that first Monday that you could indeed serve a proper dinner, in a limited amount of time, and still get to rehearsal on time. The next Monday we planned a little better and put together 3 courses and what has become our “in season” schedule.  Prep often starts on the weekend and continues when we get home from work Monday evening.  Guests arrive at 5:30 (or whenever they can get there).  Greetings and welcome cocktails must be swift.  Appetizers need to be served by 6 at the latest. Everyone is sent off to rehearsal at 7. If we can’t serve dessert due to time constraints, then diners may return after 10 to complete their meal with dessert and an aperitif.

What I have come to realize is that it’s not really about the food…  Shocking!!!  It’s about spending time with people you care about, meeting new people and breaking bread together. While we explore cuisines, we sit together and talk about life, music, travel, politics, family, beliefs, etc.  In an electronic age, where we are more connected that ever before, we are also more isolated.  My challenge to you is to call that one person that you keep thinking of, better yet meet them face to face. If you really want to do it up in the spirit of Monday Night Dining, invite them for a meal. Turns out it doesn’t have to be fancy.  You don’t have to be a chef.  Just prepare it with love. Break bread and the rest will follow.

So far in this post I have mentioned 2 people who have changed my life… But we want to dedicate this blog to a third. He was a mentor, organist, music director, drinking buddy and dear friend to Shawn. To me he was an inspiration, a friend, and helped me find my way back to my beliefs and singing. Most importantly to Steph he was husband, friend, confidante, partner in crime and more than I can put into words…

We dedicate this blog to Bruce (Juicy) Kirkpatrick-Hill. Larger than life whether “at the bench or table”, never stingy with his time nor talent, and a life changer. He may not be with us, but he is a huge inspiration for Monday night dinners. To you Bruce.

D

If you wish to donate to the Bruce Kirkpatrick-Hill memorial fund, please do so at Bruce Kirkpatrick-Hill memorial fund