Fun Times with Faraway Friends

Although each Alphabet Dinner has proven more enjoyable than the last, the core Alphabet Dinners crew was fully fired up for F Night. The reason? F Night would feature face-time with two faraway friends who had flown in for fun, food, and fellowship. The first? Steve's longtime family friend Steve Miller, who had flown like an eagle to the NW from his home in DC for a few days of fun before starting a new job. The second was the famous Amy Finkel (F Night was in fact timed for Finkel to be our guest of honor), who should be credited with fixing up our force of foodies in the first place. Here's the four-one-one: Amy went to high school with Abby, Preston, and Lawrence; she went to college with Steve; she lived in Brooklyn near Steve and Kristen; and finally, she fixed all of us up as friends when Steve and Kristen moved to Seattle in December. For that, Amy, we are forever fankful.

Now let's shift focus from friendships to food and talk about the fabulous fare upon which we feasted. This alphabet diner feels that it would not be flagrant flattery to declare this evening's offerings as some of our team's finest feats. I might even go so far as to call it four-star. Preston and Ashleigh provided a full array of finger foods, including French Bread, Fat Free Feta, French Blue Cheese, Four Fruit Jam, and a fantastic Fig Spread. (Fun fig fact: figs have more fiber than any other fresh or dried fruit.) Our thirst was fulfilled by several fine wine offerings, including a fantastic Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc and a Fuzelo Vinho Verde known for its fruity and floral finish.


Finger foods on display

The first main-course offering was a delicious Fettucine al Funghi furnished by Steve and Kristen. We were all charmed by the way they each credited the other as being the foremost force behind its flavorfulness. The fettucine was accompanied by Steve Miller's sauteed fiddlehead ferns. These unfurled fronds of a young fern are popular in New England, but also in some Asian countries, hence their availability at Uwajimaya.


Steve Miller sautees fiddlehead ferns

Filling out the main course was an amazing Fillet of Fish over Favas, again fashioned by Steve and Kristen. Many of us exclaimed that this dish could easily be served at some of our favorite restaurants in the city. It was beautifully sauteed halibut with a finish of lemon, mint, and red pepper flakes — all finely perched on a gloriously green mash of favas. Fantistique! Fortifying these selections was a salad that Dan and I forged from fennel, Fuji apple, and finocchiona salami. It was modeled after a fine salad we sampled at Il Bistro near the Pike Place Market, and featured finocchiona from Salumi. Finally, Kristen's first-rate Fennel Flatbread is not to be forgotten. It may have set off a few fire alarms early on in the evening, but it was worth it!


Kristen and Steve's amazing (fenomonal?) Fillet of Fish over Favas

Unfortunately, our furnisher of sweets, Holly, was delayed at a family Seder extravaganza — her first since joining Lawrence's family. Due to her family obligations, we were not able to enjoy the meringue letters that were to accompany her Fresh Fruit Flambe until the following evening at the Finkel family residence.

After a quick foto session of jumping shots (including Kristen's fabulous heel-tap in the kitchen), we headed home to the musical accompaniment of Amy's "The Alphabet Dinner Club: A Celebration in Song." With a food-related song for each letter, the limited-release compilation features such classics as "Greasy Grit Gravy" by Dr. Hook, "Voice of a Pork Chop" by Jimbo Mathus, and "Delicious!" by Jim Backus & Friend, which had me laughing out loud on the ride home.

I will now finish this post with a final, fervent plea to Amy Finkel. Please, for the love of Alphabet Dinners and jumping photos, move back to Seattle!