2 Weeks Notice

A long standing joke between Chin and Chef Laura has always been that he never gives me enough notice to make dinner for him when he visits.

So - this time, he did give notice. About 5 hours.

1pm - Lunch

Daryl: "What are you doing tonight for dinner?"
Chin: "No plans, why?"
Daryl: "Oh, you want to come over for dinner?"

Chef Laura casually chokes on carnitas burrito

Chin: "Sure!", turns to Randy & Sharlene "You guys?"
Randy: "Yeah no plans, we'll be there"
Daryl: "Ok, 7pm"

Chef Laura: wait... Did I just get pimped out to make dinner?

2:15pm Costco Trip & Farmer's Market

The goods -
5.5 lbs Ribeye Roast
1 lb Lump crab meat
Ramps
Chives
Baby Yukon Potatoes
Various types of oranges: Blood, Cara Cara, Navel
Ripe Melon ( hard to find usually)
Strawberries
Eggs
Creme Fraiche

Menu after much grumbling -

Crab & Citrus Salad with Melon Consomme
Prime Rib
Roasted Asparagus with Lemon & Parmesan
Smashed Baby Yukon Potatoes, roasted with Ramp Aioli
Meyer Lemon Butter Cake with Homemade Dulce de Leche and Strawberries

3pm: Nap Time

4pm: Start work after a large cup of instant coffee

Preheating the oven is always the first thing
Prepare the cake batter & bake
Meanwhile, set the evaporated milk & sugar on simmer, get Daryl to stir, since he volunteered
Set a large pot of water on the stove to boil potatoes
Kim & Joon arrive for a chat - send Daryl to entertain them for 20 minutes, buying me enough time to finely brunoise the onions for the crab salad, and spin the melons in the food processor without distraction
Chat with guests while prepping the rest of the ingredients, finely knife chives, zest & segment oranges, prepare ramp aioli, smash potatoes and lay them on trays,make crab salad.

The Finished Roasted Potates Roast Beef Dinner with Chin

Prep Rib Roast

5:15pm: Cake comes out of the oven and Roast goes in for 20 + 90 minutes

Salt & Pepper Roast Beef Roast Beef Dinner with Chin

6pm: Guest arrive one hour early!!! WHAT! Kim & Joon take off.

Chef Laura sends the early guests out to the citrus trees to work for their food. Meanwhile, portion the desert, slice strawberries and whip cream for desert.

Dulce de Leche Cake with Strawberries Roast Beef Dinner with Chin

Chin comes back with a bag of citrus - dang, now we have to use it. Slice & juice citrus, while making simple syrup.

Side of Asparagus Roast Beef Dinner with Chin

7:10pm: Bathroom break to freshen up

7:30pm: First course served!

Next time - 2 weeks notice please!

Happy Chin & Cal Roast Beef Dinner with Chin