Diner

Tuesday, August 18, we watched Diner and made Meatloaf Sandwiches.

5 dudes in a Diner clinging to their youth. Steve Guttenburg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, and Tim Daly play 5 friends that return their hangout at Christmas as they are dragging their feet over the crossroads to adulthood. Ah, typical boys: the playboy with a gambling problem, the groom-to-be with cold feet, the married friend stuck in a rut, and the nice guy who knocked a girl up who just doesn't like him. "If you don't have good dreams,... , you got nightmares." In the end, they all accept their lives and move forward-well, at least until next Christmas...

These meatloaf sandwiches were well worth the wait! We used bacon instead of pancetta, but the sauteed onions and grilled tomatoes are must-have toppings.

In attendance: Barb and Lindsey

Ratings: Movie = 3, Dinner = 4.5!

The Big Chill

Wednesday, August 12, 2009 our movie was The Big Chill (1983). We dined on a Chilled Dinner of Tuna Niçoise Sandwiches and Gazpacho.

In The Big Chill, a group of college friends are reunited at a funeral. One of the group has committed suicide and they all struggle with why, what they could have done differently, and how to keep from falling out of touch again. Several couples intermingle in interesting ways but everyone comes out on the other side better for having spent that unexpected weekend away, reconnecting with people who really mean something to each other. Jeff Goldblum, Glenn Close, William Hurt and Kevin Kline star. It will make you want a new pair of sneakers.

On to dinner: Mmm. These were the best tuna sandwiches we have had! The only substitution was tuna packed in water rather than in oil, and I would make it this way again. Definitely take the time to press the sandwich and let it stand--it was even better the next day for lunch when all the flavors "cured" together. We also made the gazpacho, which I have to say, we were not keen on. The manchego cheese was delicious to snack on though!

In attendance: Eric, Lindsey, Barb
Ratings: to come

The Big Easy

Wednesday, August 5, we watched The Big Easy and made New Orleans Red Beans and Rice.

I'm going to make this post very brief because this movie night was a FAIL! After all my effort to soak the beans overnight and then cook them in a crock pot all day... they never cooked. And let me tell you, trying to dance around eating red beans in a red beans and rice dish is just far to much effort. The andouille sausage was yummy though!

Much like the dinner was a "fail," so too was the movie, even though this film came highly recommended by a good friend of ours. I am going to have to disagree with her. I just couldn't get past Dennis Quaid's muddled accent. Here is a short synopsis of the film:
Remy McSwain (Dennis Quaid) is a detective in a New Orleans Police Department that has some shady goings-on involving drugs and murders. Ann Osborne (Ellen Barkin) comes in as the beautiful attorney investigating the corruption within the department. The two have a steamy, film noir romance (which i found to be poorly written and not believable). The end.

In attendance: Barb and Lindsey
Ratings: to come

City Slickers

Wednesday, July 29, 2009 our movie was City Slickers (1991) and we made City Stickers: Grilled Beef Kebabs with Scallions, Cilantro, and Mint and Tomatoes Stuffed with Grilled Corn Salad.

Let me just start by saying that Lindsey and I are going on a cattle drive that marries Lonesome Dove with City Slickers the year we both turn 30 (minus the whores and death). Hopefully that fact will help explain how excited we were while watching it.

Mitch (Billy Crystal), Phil (Daniel Stern) and Ed are buddies who travel together experiencing all life has to offer. As they approach middle-age, the three set out to the trail for a cattle drive. Curly (the trail boss, played by Jack Palance) dislikes the ways of the city-dwellers and gives Mitch a particularly hard time after an incident with a coffee grinder (!) at camp. Luckily Mitch's "punishment" involves delivering Norman the calf, and he finds a renewed sense of well-being.

The movie some sobering parts--the three friends discussing their best and worst days in life--along with the overall comedy that made it a hit!

Dinner was intended to be grilled, but our plans were ruined by down pouring rain. So, we broiled the kebabs and boiled the corn and everything was still deeeelicious. One kebab recipe tweak would be to use at least half ground lamb mixed with the beef in the meat mixture.

In attendance: Lindsey, Eric, Barb, Sarah
Ratings: Dinner = 4, Movie = 4.5