"STRETCH OUT AND WAIT"

Well, yesterday was festive. I usually delete rude comments but decided to publish one and it was the comment that launched a slew of others. Thanks to everyone who commented productively. It's all over now.

Now, I want to tell you a story. I had many different dayjobs before. I was an admin, I did retail, I was a housekeeper, a housepainter, a carptenter (Don't let the lipstick and manicure fool you. I know what the fuck is what when it comes to tools and building), a seamstress, a stagehand, a receptionist, a research assistant, and a waitress. But, being the daughter of a man in the hotel-restaurant industry, and having grown up hanging around his offices and kitchens, the same industry provided me with plenty of jobs for a while, too, both in front and back of the house, even once I lived miles and miles away from my parents. Point being, we all have a few things we know we can do well and I can run a tight ship when it comes to throwing a party. And, that's just what I am about to do.

Leah is becoming a Bat Mitzvah. Well, I guess technically, she is already a Bat Mitzvah, since she is a Jewish adult, but this is the ceremony. You know what I mean. (In my own way, I'm perhaps too anal about halacha-- Jewish law and its technicalities.) Anyway. Homegirl, after much hard work and dedication, is getting her Torah chant on and I'm cooking up the grub.

So, everything is pretty much set. It's being held in a (very beautiful) private home. The menu is set. The wine is purchased. I have a few extra sets of hands to help with the cooking and prep. I have pulled out my table linens and serving platters and found beautiful glasses and dishes. No stress. No drama. Just a nice time. (It is a celebration, after all.) And, last night, I went to get the groceries with the owner of said very beautiful private home. You see, the Bat Mitzvah keeps Biblical kosher with separation of meat and dairy, I keep and cook Rabbinic kosher vegetarian and the hostesss keeps wheat and gluten-free. (Note: I was going to give you guys a link to a discussion about the difference between Biblical kosher and Rabbinic kosher but everything explanatory seemed either Jews for Jesus-based or way, way insidery/confusing. Eh. Let it go for now.) Anyway, let me tell you, the hostess is on top of her game in the wheat and gluten-free world. She goes to conferences, she special orders prepared baking mixes, she hunts down the finest and tastiest wheat and gluten-free foods and is healthy as can be and doesn't deprive herself one bit. Love that. So righteous, if you ask me.

And, although it seemed rather daunting at first, I'm enjoying the challenge of making a fancy, extravagant, delicious buffet that is kosher (dairy) and wheat/gluten-free. Well, everything except for her cake. The cake will be kosher and vegetarian but not wheat or gluten-free. The cake is a little thing I'm reaching into my bag of tricks for. But, it will be surrounded by wheat and gluten-free cupcakes. And chocolate-dipped strawberries.