culture and stuff

[gfrancie]

It has been a weekend of culture.
Yesterday we went to the Seattle Art Museum. They have just begun their latest special exhibit. It is Roman Art from the Louvre. It is art and archeology all in one. There are some amazing displays of marble statues, (some of emperors and their distinctly dysfunctional family members) every day objects that Romans used, mosaics, reliefs and other decorative objects. They don't just display what the wealthy had, there is even a section of the exhibit devoted to slaves, foreigners, non-citizens and freemen. It is an exhibit that goes from birth to death. One piece in particular that I liked was a section of wall painting that was devoted to Bacchus and it was from Herculaneum and it had been buried in ash and rock from the explosion of Vesuvius and had survived in rather good condition.
The exhibit was crowded as it was a Saturday but I think I will go back again on a weekday to examine more of the art and objects. There was so much to see.
After a light lunch with the family, Mr. Jenner and I took Senor Onion home and Mr. Jenner's parents had a wander around downtown and also went back to the museum to see more exhibits. They really loved the museum. I was pleased that they liked it. I encourage anyone who is in Seattle to go to SAM. The renovation turned out well and the variety in the collection is terrific.

Today we took the family out to Ballard. The locks for Granddad as he likes water, fish and boats. We then went to the Sunday market since it would appeal to Nana. Food and interesting objects to look at.
I bought some cheese from Estrella Family Creamery. Their cheese is amazing. I think it will go well with dinner tonight.

I am roasting this chicken that has a ton of Danish butter underneath the skin. I took two heads of garlic and peeled each clove of garlic and placed the garlic in and around the chicken. The house smells so good right now. I wish the internet had smellovision or something so I could share with everyone how it smells.
I also made pasta from scratch to have with the chicken. I am a horrible enabler and my Mother in law is now looking at pasta rollers so she can make pasta/ravioli. I tell her, "easy as anything. You would love having one."
So. There will be the roasted chicken, pasta and slowly roasted vegetables. (red bell pepper, asparagus, mushrooms... maybe leeks) For dessert there is a cheese plate, the choice of cake, biscuits, ice cream and sorbet.
Plus we will have plenty of wine and other things to drink.

I should have a small dinner party sometime. I like cooking for a few people and sometimes it is easier than hosting an all-out party.

Tomorrow we are taking Mr. Jenner's parents for dim-sum. We took them the last time they visited. They had never had it before and thought it was awesome. Plus it will be a nice way to end their Asian eating experience this past week.

Alright. Time to check on that chicken some more.

Comments

mmm...

[(Anonymous)]

That chicken sounds delicious! I was really glad to see you all last night - had a great time! :-) And I had some of the Sisters' condom packets - would have been happy to show an example to the folks! ;-)

- E

Re: mmm...

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

That would totally stop dinner dead.
We need to have you over sometime.

[rockrgirl8.livejournal.com]

oooohhhhhhhhhhh i can almost smell the garlic chicken cooking if i close my eyes and breathe deeply. sounds absolutely wonderful!

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Best part is that the chicken doesn't really taste of garlic. It is moist and buttery but it smells great. We took the softened roasted garlic and spread it on toast.

[serorobele.livejournal.com]

My friend Steph and I used to joke about having a "Smell CD". Whenever we would smell something particularly good, we'd make a mental note to put it on the CD. Alternately, when we would smell something bad, we'd make sure to remember NOT to put it on the Smell CD!

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

See, I think this would be a genius idea. A Mix-smell CD!!!!

[thiscantbesoy.livejournal.com]

You must have endless energy to enertain the out-of-towners. I am exhausted just reading about all the places you take them and all the cooking you do. :)

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Not really.
Often I demand that I do nothing or just hang out in the afternoon. Because the lady of the house gets a might bit itchy.

[sunshine95.livejournal.com]

That chicken sounds amazing. What kind of cheese did you buy?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Old Apple Tree Tomme. It is good and stinky.

[maliekai.livejournal.com]

I am curious about the locks. Are they kinda cool with a decent viewing area? I am pretty fascinated by ship-type things and feats of engineering and would very much like to visit next time I am down.

Dim sum and I don't get along AT ALL.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

They are kind of neat. They aren't "ohmahgawd what a party" neat but you an get right up to the edge and watch them move boats about and watch the locks fill or empty of water. Plus you can go to another part and watch fish either go up the ladder or come through the water (depending on whether they are smelt or full grown fish) and there is also a botanical garden with a nice walk.

[maliekai.livejournal.com]

That sounds plenty interesting to me.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

You will enjoy it then.
And then you can walk up to Archie McPhees afterward.

[maliekai.livejournal.com]

Wazzat?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

http://www.mcphee.com/

[meowlet.livejournal.com]

Small dinner parties are the best. Even if you aren't the most seasoned (har har) cook, like me. I'll host one if you do!

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

That might be an idea.

[meowlet.livejournal.com]

Although in my experience you aren't much for other people's shindigs.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I am working on that.
I promise I won't make any babies.